Eric Wayne "Rick" Asmussen

Other Events:

• FindAGrave: https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/205239220
• Eby ID Number: Waterloo-328406
• Misfortune: 1969; car accident

Other Events:

• Business: Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Lavern Asmussen Construction
• FindAGrave: https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/205241425
• Eby ID Number: Waterloo-400966

Notes:

ASMUSSEN, Lavern Surrounded by his family, Lavern died peacefully at St. Joseph's Home, Guelph, on Wednesday, June 20, 2012, in his 93rd year. He was a lifetime resident of Waterloo Region. Beloved husband and devoted partner of 70 years to Margaret (nee Spencer). Loving father of Sandra (Alan) Dunnet, Diane (John) Schmidt, and Susan (Reg) Reed. Grandpa will be lovingly remembered by his grandchildren, Travis (Angie) Cobean, Robyn Cobean (Jamie Lawlor); Sonja (Randy) Smith; Luke (Andrea) Reed, Tovah (Martyn) Basierak, Jake Reed (Marilyn Atkin); Jennifer (Matt) Burn; Stephanie Asmussen and great-grandchildren, Kai and Ari Cobean; Brenden, Ryan, Grant and Faith Smith; Ella Reed; Amber and Avalon Burn; Ella and Ben Asmussen. Lavern will be sorely missed by his family, many friends and acquaintances. Predeceased by his sons, Eric (Rick) and Brian, and his parents, Albert and Elma Asmussen. Lavern began his successful career in construction as a bricklayer with his father. In 1947 he started his own general contracting company, Lavern Asmussen Ltd. Many notable buildings, including Kitchener's Courthouse, Library, Police Services Building and the Marsland Centre were built by his company. In retirement, he designed exotic tours through CAA and used his photographic talents to market these tours. He was an accomplished violinist and a longtime choir member of the Highland Road Baptist Church. Lavern was an avid award winning gardener. He was a dedicated member and a former President of the Preston-Hespeler and Galt Rotary Clubs, and Charter President of the Kitchener-Conestoga Rotary Club. He was a recipient of the Paul Harris Fellowship award and a long standing member of the Gyro Club of Kitchener-Waterloo. At Lavern's request, there will be no services. Cremation has taken place. As expressions of sympathy, donations to the Kitchener-Conestoga International Rotary Club would be appreciated by the family. (Cards available through Henry Walser Funeral Home, Kitchener, 519-749-8467) Visit www.henrywalser.com for Lavern's memorial.

Waterloo Region Record 20 Jun 2012

Lavern Asmussen - Wednesday, June 20th, 2012 (2023). Available at: https://memorials.henrywalser.com/lavern-asmussen/1248330/obituary.php (Accessed: 16 August 2023).

W. — Margaret Alice Spencer. Margaret (daughter of Reginald F. Spencer and Agnes D. E. Froom) was born 3 Nov 1923, Preston (Cambridge), Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; died 5 Feb 2014, Paris, Brant County, Ontario, Canada; was buried , Woodland Cem., Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada. [Group Sheet]

Other Events:

• FindAGrave: https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/205241457
• Honoured: K- Oktoberfest Woman of the Year Award
• Name: Margaret Alice Asmussen
• Eby ID Number: Waterloo-401871

Notes:

Asmussen, Margaret Alice: Formerly of Kitchener and RR#1 Ayr.

In the arms and hearts of her daughters, Margaret passed away peacefully at Park Lane Terrace, Paris, on Wednesday, February 5, 2014 in her 91st year.

She was born and raised in Cambridge (Preston), daughter of Reginald Spencer and Agnes Fromme.

Predeceased by her husband of 70 years,Vern (2012); sons Brian and Eric; sister Vera Feaver and nephew Larry.

Beloved mother of Sandra (Alan) Dunnet of Bedford, Nova Scotia, Diane (John) Schmidt of Ayr, and Susan (Reg) Reed of Fullarton. Adored grandmother of Travis (Angie) Cobean, Robyn Cobean (Jamie Lawlor), Sonja (Randy) Smith, Luke (Andrea) Reed, Tovah (Martyn) Basierak, Jake Reed (Marilyn Atkin), Jennifer (Matt) Burn, Stephanie (Scott) Asmussen; loving great grandmother of Kai, Ari; Nixon; Brenden, Ryan, Grant, Faith; Ella, Max; Amber, Avalon; Ella and Ben. Dear sister of Laverne (Joyce) Spencer. Aunt of Heather and Reid. Also survived by Samantha Waters, Sarah McKay, and Charles Asmussen and their families. Margaret will be sorely missed by her family, many friends and acquaintances.

Margaret was a loving wife, mother, devoted grandmother and adored great grandmother.

She received the Paul Harris Fellowship Award as a Rotary Ann and the K-W Oktoberfest Woman of the Year Award. As her children were growing up, she contributed her talents and time to numerous organizations. She dedicated time to create needlepoint quilts for family and many fundraising events. Margaret was a beautiful alto singer who sang in choirs and performed in many stage productions. One of the greatest delights of her life was her personal world travels with Vern and her association with CAA as an assistant travel guide.
In honour of our Mother, follow her example - do a good deed, hug a loved one, smile at a stranger and forgive a hurt.
Private family services and interment have been held.

In memory of Margaret, donations to the Lavern and Margaret Asmussen Fund through the Kitchener-Conestoga Rotary Club would be appreciated by the family (cards available at the Henry Walser funeral home 519-749-8467).

Visit www.henrywalser.com for Margaret's memorial.

Margaret Asmussen (2023). Available at: https://memorials.henrywalser.com/book-of-memories/1795447/asmussen-margaret/obituary.php (Accessed: 16 August 2023).

Other Events:

• FindAGrave: https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/205239246
• Eby ID Number: Waterloo-37103
• Residence: 1891, Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Lutheran
• Occupation: 1901, Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Helper in Glove Factory
• Occupation: 1950, Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; works - V. Asmussen
• Residence: 1950, 30 Shoemaker Ave., Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada

Albert — Elma Grischow. Elma (daughter of John Henry Frederick "Frederick" Grischow and Mary Rhodes) was born 14 May 1881, Waterloo Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; died 20 Oct 1963, Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; was buried , Woodland Cem., Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada. [Group Sheet]

Other Events:

• FindAGrave: https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/205239263
• Name: Elma Asmussen
• Eby ID Number: Waterloo-72314
• Residence: 1891, Waterloo City, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Lutheran
• Residence: 1950, 30 Shoemaker Ave., Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada
• Residence: 1963, 80 Shoemaker Ave., Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada

Other Events:

• FindAGrave: https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/155368147
• Eby ID Number: Waterloo-383461

Reginald — Agnes D. E. Froom. Agnes was born 1899; died 1981. [Group Sheet]

Other Events:

• FindAGrave: https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/155368181
• Name: Agnes D. E. Spencer
• Eby ID Number: Waterloo-383462

Other Events:

• FindAGrave: https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/72699819
• Name: Henry Asmussen
• Eby ID Number: Waterloo-37099
• Immigration: 1873, , Canada
• Naturalization: 1876
• Occupation: 1881, Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Farmer & Broom Maker
• Residence: 1881, Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Lutheran
• Occupation: 1891, Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Broom Maker
• Residence: 1891, Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Lutheran
• Occupation: 1901, Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Broom Maker

Notes:

Born Johan Carl Heinrich Asmussen in the village of Twederholz Germany, near Flensburg January 12 1854, He was the eldest son of Johan Heinrich Asmussen and Catherina Asmussen and baptized at Adelby church near Flensburg

Henry immigrated to Berlin, Ontario, Canada with his younger brother Christian as a young man in 1873.

Henry purchased a property of about 8 acres with house at 268 Mill Street in Berlin in 1879. Henry worked as a broom maker from a shop on his property and was also a farmer of his own lands and also used lands nearby.

He married Lucinda Haubner on October 02, 1881 in Berlin (now Kitchener) in Waterloo County.

They had a total of 11 children, but sadly only 8 matured to adults.

Henry is entered in the 1881, 1901, and 1911 census of Berlin in Waterloo County.

He died of Apoplexy (Stroke) or aneurism on May 26, 1924 in the town of Kitchener, Ontario.
He was 70 years, 4 months and 14 days old according to his Death Registration #032070.
He was living at 268 Mill St. at the time of his demise. He was found by neighbors in his pasture land on Heiman Street.

Date of Burial was May 29th, 1924.

The memorial stone was erected by his youngest son William Lorentz Asmussen sometime in the 1960s.

More information about the family history before immigration may be found at www.adelby.com

Cemetery, Saint, North America, Waterloo Municipality, and Saint Cemetery. 1854. " Henry Asmussen (1854-1924) - Find A Grave...". Findagrave.Com. https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/72699819.

Johan — Lucinde Haubner. Lucinde (daughter of Anton "Antoine" "Anthony" Haubner and Margareth Heppner) was born 13 Jan 1860, Centreville (Kitchener), Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; died 30 Oct 1935, Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; was buried , Saint Peter's Lutheran Cemetery, Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada. [Group Sheet]

Other Events:

• FindAGrave: https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/72700539
• Name: Lucinde Asmussen
• Eby ID Number: Waterloo-37100
• Residence: 1861, Waterloo Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Baptist
• Residence: 1881, Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Baptist
• Residence: 1891, Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Lutheran
• Residence: 1935, 268 Mill St., Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada

Other Events:

• Name: Frederick Grischow
• Eby ID Number: 00023-1802.1
• Immigration: 1860, , Canada
• Immigration: 1868, , Canada
• Naturalization: 1876, , Canada
• Naturalization: 1878
• Occupation: 1878, Wilmot Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; labourer
• Occupation: 1891, Waterloo City, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Laborer
• Residence: 1891, Waterloo City, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Lutheran
• Occupation: 1901, Waterloo Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Farm Laborer
• Residence: 1921, Waterloo Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Lutheran

Notes:

Rsrch. Note:
Lydia Clemens was born in Williamsburg, Waterloo County, and Fred Grischow in the northern region of Germany called Mecklenburg-Schwerin. Fred immigrated to Canada in 1868 and became a naturalized Canadian citizen in 1878.
Frederick's birth year is a bit unclear. Three sources peg his birth year at 1845: the 1881 census says he is 36 years old, his first marriage registration in 1873 says 28 years old, and his second marriage registration in 1878 says 33 years old. The 1901 census states he was born May 4, 1840. His death registration says he was born May 4, 1837 and his tombstone says 1837-1923. Assuming his death record is correct, it seems his birth year got earlier as Fred got older. Of course, as an immigrant whose birth record was back in Germany, it would be hard for any of his peers to double-check. It could be that Fred initially wanted people to think he was younger than he really was.
Lydia Clemens' birth record was discovered in New York State in the 1960s. There was a collection of documents owned by a rare book dealer that originally belonged to Thomas Saunders, the Clerk of the Peace during the 1840s for Wellington District, Upper Canada. The documents were purchased by A. Leone Hinds, who transcribed them and donated the originals to public archives in Ontario.
Waterloo County was part of Wellington District in those days. Some of the documents were letters from church ministers complying with the new requirement to submit lists annually for all births, marriages, and deaths that they presided over in their congregations. Many from Waterloo County were from the Mennonite Bishop Benjamin Eby. One birth record was the following:
May 8, 1848, Abraham D. Clemens, Veronica formerly Shantz, a daughter.
p. 19, Waterloo County Marriages, Births and Burials, 1840-1849 as Recorded in Wellington District by the Clerk of the Peace Thomas Saunders, compiled by A. Leone Hinds, Waterloo-Wellington Branch of the Ont. Genealogical Society, June 1992.
That was the entire official record of Lydia Clemen's arrival. Notice that in those early days of collecting vital statistics, the baby's name was not even included in the birth record!

Family Life
On Jan. 12, 1873, Frederick and Lydia were married by Jacob Hoelsche, a Lutheran minister. Both are residents in Lydia's birthplace, Williamsburg, Waterloo Twp., a small hamlet south-west of Berlin. Fred is a farmer.
On their marriage record, both bride and groom are listed as being Lutheran, although Lydia was raised Mennonite. They seem to have raised their family Lutheran without completely losing Lydia's ties to the Mennonite church. Both of them were eventually buried at First Mennonite cemetery, and daughter Mary would eventually marry a Mennonite (Leander Snider).
Six months after Fred and Lydia married, on June 20, 1873 son Noah C. was born. The "C." likely stood for Christoph, after Fred's father. Mary Lydia came on Feb. 5, 1877. At this time, the family is still in Waterloo Twp., and Fred is a labourer, likely a farm hand.
Ezra Eby, writing in his Biographical History of Waterloo Township in 1895, records a third child of Fred and Lydia, Susannah, but with no birthdate. He lists her first, but it is unlikely she could've been born before Noah given how soon he was born after his parents' wedding. She may have been a twin to Noah, or may have been born between Noah and Mary. There is no birth record for Susannah, but neither is there one for Noah as it was just after mandatory birth registrations had been introduced. She is not listed with the family in the 1881 census, nor is there any death record for her. If Susannah Grischow did exist, she apparently lived a short life.
Shortly after Mary's birth in 1877, the family moved from Waterloo Twp. to Wilmot Twp., probably close to New Dundee. Fred likely got a job working for a different farmer.

Death & Remarriage
A couple months after daughter Mary's first birthday, her mother became very sick. After a month of gradually getting weaker, Lydia died of consumption on May 3, 1878, 5 days before she would have turned 30. Consumption was a medical term of that day referring to a gradual wasting away of the body, usually related to pulmonary (lung) dysfunction. The most common cause of consumption was tuberculosis. Lydia's physician was Dr. H. Miller from New Dundee, and a neighbour, John S. Hallman, informed the local registrar of the death.
Needing a mother for his two (or three?) young children, Fred remarried 10 weeks after Lydia's death, on July 21, 1878. Mary Rodass (Rhodes) was a Lutheran from Germany, born Nov. 20, 1855. Her parents were John and Dorothea Rodass. Her immigration year is not known.
Fred and his new wife would have 8 more children, half of them "May babies": Lillie (May 24, 1879), twins Ella and Elma (May 14, 1881), Ivan R. (May 17, 1883), Ida Hulda (Dec. 15, 1887), Alfred F. (June 2, 1891), Dorothy A. (Sept. 1, 1892), and John Milton Herbert (Sept. 21, 1895). Alfred was known as "Freddie" and Dorothy as "Dora." The youngest went by "Herbie."
Throughout these years, Fred is consistently listed as a labourer, probably a farm hand. The family moved back to Waterloo Twp. after the twins were born (May 1881) and that would turn out to be the final move for Fred. He would live at that residence for another 42 years until his death.

The Grischow Kids All Grown Up
Noah Grischow was a 28-year-old miller in Berlin when he married Harriett Bartholomew on Nov. 20, 1901. Harriett's parents were Martin Thomas Bartholomew and Sarah Lesham, who were born and married in Kent, England. Both Noah and Harriett listed their denomination as Church of England. (Harriett may have also gone by the name Lucy.) In 1904-5, Noah was the postmaster of Strasburg, a position his father-in-law had held since 1891 and one his mother-in-law would later take on until that post office closed in 1914. (For the postmaster data, see this page by Mrs. A. Reist and scroll down towards the end of the article.)
They had five children: Ford, Roxie, Noah Jr., Thomas, and Elmer. Roxie would marry Henry Sittler , who became one of the founding managers of Home Hardware.
Noah and Harriett's married life would not last too long however. On Mar. 14, 1914 at age 40, Noah succumbed after a year of suffering from asthma. Dr. J. H. Cormack from New Dundee recorded the immediate cause of death as "hemorrage of lungs, duration 1 week." Harriett would remarry in 1919 to Andrew Holt, and would live to age 65, passing away in 1945. Noah and Harriett are buried at Strasburg Cemetery on Biehn Dr. in Kitchener.
Mary Grischow married Leander Snider and died at age 40 of diabetes.
Lillie Grischow married Joseph Miller on Sept. 4, 1898 in Berlin. Joseph's parents were Ferdinand Miller and Hannah Wagner.
What happened with the twins Ella and Elma is not yet known. Elma was a witness at her sister Lillie's wedding.
Ivan R. Grischow is buried at Woodland Cemetery in Kitchener. He died in 1957. Beside him is his wife Amelia (1890-1972). There are two stones adjacent which are likely sons of Ivan and Amelia: Howard Grischow (1914-1970) and Walter Grischow (1921-1998).
Ida's later whereabouts are not yet known, nor are Alfred's.
Dora Grischow had a son out of wedlock on Sept. 22, 1908 in Waterloo Twp. However, young Stanley Lloyd Grischow died of pneumonia less than 2 years later on May 27, 1910.
Herbert Grischow's life appears to have been varied and the details are still sketchy. We have 3 pieces of information about him.
Fact #1: Kathleen Dorothy Grischow was a 2-day-old infant who died March 19, 1923 in Kitchener. Her parents are listed as Herbert Grischow, born in Waterloo Twp., and Venata Mader, born in Breslau. Venata's father was Aaron Mader.
Fact #2: Martha (Snider) Arndt remembers a visit from a Herbie Grischow and his American wife Belle in the late 1940s or early 1950s. They drove all the way from California, an unusual accomplishment in those days. They had no children.
Fact #3: Herbert Grischow died in Los Angeles, California, on Dec. 10, 1953 at age 58. He had no social security number, suggesting he never became an American citizen. His death record can be viewed online.
Piecing together these three facts, it appears Herbie was married twice. Sometime after being widowed or divorced from his first wife, he moved to the U.S. and remarried an American.

Later in Life
Fred Grischow lived to be 85 years 10 months and 10 days old, according to his death registration. He died of heart failure on Mar. 18, 1923 and was buried 5 days later at First Mennonite Church cemetery in Kitchener.
His wife Mary died in 1931 and is buried with Fred.

[

John married Mary Rhodes 21 Jul 1878, Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada. Mary (daughter of John Rhodes and Dorothy S. E. Schlentz) was born 20 Nov 1855, , Germany; died 16 Jul 1931, Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; was buried , First Mennonite Cemetery, Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada. [Group Sheet]

Other Events:

• Nationality: , Canada
• Name: Mary Grischow
• Eby ID Number: Waterloo-72312
• Immigration: 1862, , Canada
• Residence: 1878, Wilmot Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada
• Residence: 1891, Waterloo City, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Lutheran
• Residence: 1921, Waterloo Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Lutheran
• Residence: 1931, Mannheim Rd., Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada