Irma Baasch

Irma Baasch loved to experience and appreciate the world around her. She did many things in her life, all of which shaped her into the wonderful person her family and friends loved dearly. The turn of the century decade, from 1900 to 1909, was one of transition and progress. The industrial age was in full swing and mass production made prices fall to all time lows. Henry Ford provided the first affordable car and Sunday drives became a national pastime. On the north side of the bustling city of Chicago, Illinois, life for William and Florence (Lange) Baasch was also in transition. On March 28, 1909, they welcomed the birth of the second child, a beautiful daughter they named Irma Catherine Baasch. Irma and her older sister, Edna, undoubtedly filled the Baasch home with their share of laughter, sisterly spats and great memories. It was obvious from a young age that Irma was more of a tomboy than a frills and lace little girl. In fact, she dreamed of being a cowboy when she grew up. As young girls, Irma and her sister, Edna, took music lessons, and by the time they were teenagers, they were using their love for music as part of an all girls band called The Bon Johns Girls. This was such an exciting time in Irmas life as the band toured throughout the United States, Canada and Europe. She cherished this once in a lifetime opportunity and moreover, she could share it with her mother and sister. When the harsh economic days of the Great Depression swept the country, the band broke up and went their separate ways. Irma and Edna continued to play for a while with small groups around the Chicagoland area. Irma was very close to her mother and sister, and many of her fondest childhood memories were shared with them. She recalled how her mother was a great cook, and her sister Edna was very talented with arts and crafts. For Irma, though, there was nothing better in life than heading to the Muskegon pier on a sunny day with rod in hand, to fish for some perch. Every year when summer vacation came around in July, the three of them would pack up the car and hit the road for a week or two long trip, quite often to the sunny beaches of Florida. In the early 1930s, Irma left the busyness of Chicago and moved to the city of Muskegon, Michigan, on the eastern shores of Lake Michigan. Once settled, Irma secured a job at Shaw Walter Company, and over the years she worked her way up to an Executive Secretary position. She loved her job and was a hardworking and loyal employee at Shaw Walker for 42 years before retiring in 1979. Having a good job meant that Irma could lavish herself with a new car every 2 years. Every car she bought had to be white though, except for the one time she mistakenly let her sister talk her into a blue one but never again. Irma had a few loves in her life one of which was for the great outdoors. She loved to take leisure walks and just admire the beauty of nature around her. Later on, when she moved to Freedom Village, Irma always found time to get outside for a walk or just to feel the warmth of the sun on her face. She liked to stay active and often went bowling, but when relaxing, she liked to watch one of her favorite TV programs, like Golden Girls and Wheel of Fortune, or a Chicago Cubs game. Of course, anyone who knew Irma, knew her other love was for animals she had a tender heart for any cat or dog that crossed her path. She had a cat of her own named Bootsie for 8 years, who was the love of her life. After her beloved sister Edna died, Irma moved to Freedom Village in Holland, where she fostered many new friendships and was happy in her new home. It was here she passed away on Monday, April 28, 2008, at the age of 99. Irma was a wonderfully caring woman who brightened and enriched the lives of everyone around her. She will be dearly missed. Irma is survived by her adopted Holland family: Robert & Donna Rieckmann, Blair Rieckmann, Elizabeth Brandt, Ronald & Pam Nienhuis; 2 cousins: Emily Maida of Rosemont, IL, Vivian (Arthur) Rude of N. Muskegon, MI. She is preceded in death by her parents and her sister. Services for Irma will be held on Friday, May 2, at 11:00 a.m. with visitation 1 hour prior to the service at Clock Chapel of Clock Life Story Funeral Home, 3593 E. Pontaluna Road, Fruitport, MI, with Donna Rieckmann officiating. Interment will be at Fruitport Mausoleum. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the charity of your choice. Please visit Irmas memory page at www.lifestorynet.com where you may share a memory or sign her online guest book.