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- The Freeman
Waukesha, Wisconsin
Thursday, May 30, 2013
Alvin C. Basse
Alvin C. Basse, 80, of Muskego, passed away Friday, May 24, 2013. He was the loving husband of more than 55 years to Carolyn (nee King); beloved father of Daniel (Jean) Basse, Gloria (Melissa) Basse, Linda (Max) Wenck and Roger (Becky) Basse; proud grandfather of Blake, Alec, Taylor, Sarah, Adam, Austin, Evan and Andrea; dear brother to Ruth Klussendorf; and brother-in-law to Judy Basse, Jack (Bernice) King and Dean (Marilyn) King. He is further survived by nieces, nephews and other relatives and friends. He was preceded in death by his parents, William and Rose Basse; his brother, Robert Basse; brother-in-law, Delbert Klussendorf; and sister's grandson, Brian Hirsh. Alvin loved to grow things. He was a farmer, a father and a friend to all. For more than 50 years, Alvin managed Guernsey Grove Farm where he raised Guernsey dairy cows. Besides milking twice a day, every day, he showed his prized cattle at local fairs as well as the Wisconsin State Fair and World Dairy Expo. The milk was shipped to Golden Guernsey Dairy, where his parents were founders and he served as chairman and president as the dairy cooperative grew under his leadership. Locally, Alvin was known for his ability to grow some of the "best" sweet corn, apples and pumpkins around. Initially, from a "little white stand" on the front lawn of his home that later grew into Basse's Country Delight farm market. If you knew Alvin, you know the fruit he produced was far sweeter than just fruits and vegetables. He planted seeds of faith and friendship throughout his life. Alvin was a man of deep faith and great love of family and friends. He was a lifetime member, elder and past president of Emanuel United Church of Christ in Hales Corners. He was a graduate of Waukesha High School. He was honored into Master Farmers of Wisconsin and held various offices including president. Alvin was a past director of the American Guernsey Cattle Club and the National Milk Producers Federation. He served on the board of directors for Rural Mutual Insurance and was past president of the Waukesha County Agri-business Organization. As a young adult, he initiated the Yorkshire Association of Wisconsin, and enjoyed serving as a 4-H leader for 35 years as well as being an active FFA member. Alvin was on the Muskego Plan Commission and a proud Army veteran, serving in Germany. Visitation will be from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. today, May 30, at the Max A. Sass & Sons Funeral Home, W173-S7629 Westwood Drive, Muskego (Wednesday's notice contained an incorrect address). Additional visitation will be at Emanuel United Church of Christ, 10627 West Forest Home Avenue, Hales Corners, on Friday, May 31, from 10 a.m. to 11 a.m. A funeral service will follow at 11 a.m. Burial with full military honors will be in Arlington Park Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, two memorial funds are being established in the name of Alvin C. Basse, one at the Emanuel United Church of Christ (Hales Corners) and another for a Youth Scholarship of Agriculture Excellence. Max A. Sass & Sons Funeral and Cremation Services is serving the family. For more information, call 679-1560 or visit online at www.maxsass.com. "He has showed you, O man, what is good. And what does the LORD require of you? To act justly and love mercy and to walk humbly with your God." Micah 6:8
Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, Wisconsin
Thursday, May 30, 2013
Farmer Basse had sweet corn secret
Alvin Basse was born to a life of milking cows, and growing sweet corn and apples and pumpkins. And he wouldn't have had it any other way. "He loved the earth and he loved to grow things. It was God making things beautiful," his wife, Carolyn, said of Basse, whose life in farming included serving as chairman and president of the Golden Guernsey cooperative co-founded by his parents. Basse died Friday at Waukesha Memorial Hospital of a perforated intestine. He was 80. Alvin Basse was a third generation farmer whose parents originally farmed in Greendale. They sold that land to the federal government for construction of the historic "Greendale originals" during a New Deal project. The family bought 160 acres in Muskego in 1936. Basse had always worked on the farm. At age 7, he had just one wish - a milking stool - and he got it for that Christmas in 1940. That milking stool was used for decades and remains in the family, his son Daniel said. His son also remembered a dedicated friend who helped a high school classmate who had polio. Alvin Basse was prom king and president of his class at Waukesha High School, but he was also the guy who picked up and carried his friend, Tom Uthovien, between classes. "And when I say he carried him around, that's exactly what he did," his son said. "He would race to Tom's class, pick him up off his chair, dash up the stairs with him in his arms and still make it to his own class later," his son said. They remained lifelong friends. Basse served in the Army and got married in 1956 while on furlough after training and before heading to Germany, where he served for 21 months. He had met Carolyn King at a March of Dimes dance at "a little dance hall" at Tess Corners through her cousin, who was involved with the Yorkshire Association of Wisconsin, founded by Alvin Basse. Her cousin raised the Yorkshire breed of swine. The couple met in March, but he didn't get around to calling her until October for a date. "He said he had to get the harvesting done first before he could think of anything else," she said. Carolyn understood. She had grown up on a farm five miles down the road from the Basse place. "I was looking for a farmer because I knew I liked that type of life," she said. They married after Alvin finished his stint in Germany. In 1957, after returning from the service, he went into partnership with his father, William Basse, on the family's Guernsey Grove Farm. In 1964, they took over the farm after his father died. They were known for three things, according to son: sweet corn, apples and Guernsey cows. His son noted that his father often said "there is no better place to raise a family than the farm - to teach all the values of hard work, discipline, teamwork and the gentleness of God's hands." The Basse family market had begun as a stand under a maple tree in front of their place on Janesville Road and was in business since the 1940s. It grew into Basse's Country Delight Farm Market, S70-W16050 Janesville Road, with hay rides, an annual Pumpkin Fest in October and a reputation for some of the sweetest sweet corn around. After selling their dairy cows, they expanded the market. The Basses continued with the market even after they moved from the farm and found a couple, Tom and Kim Schaefer, to run things about seven years ago. "He taught some secrets to growing some really good sweet corn. And the key word there is secrets," Tom Schaefer said. "There's some very key things to growing some consistently super-tasting corn that most people don't know about, and he taught me that. "And as far as what those secrets are, I can't say." Basse served as chairman of the Golden Guernsey cooperative and later became president, serving for about 15 years. He left the post in 1992 after the couple sold their Guernseys. Basse also served for about 20 years on the Muskego Planning Commission. He showed the Guernseys he loved at the State Fair and World Dairy Expo, served as a director of the American Guernsey Cattle Club and National Milk Producers Federation, and held offices with the Master Farmers of Wisconsin. He was a 4-H leader for 35 years. Looking back on more than 55 years of farming and marriage, Carolyn can remember only one argument, when she told him she was going home to live with her mother. "I don't even know what we were arguing about anymore," she said. "We could always work side by side, do field work, milk cows, make hay. Whatever needed to be done." Besides his wife and son, he is survived by another son, Roger; daughters Gloria Basse and Linda Wenck; eight grandchildren; and a sister, Ruth Klussendorf. Alvin C. Bassee visitation will be held from 4 to 8 p.m. Thursday at Max A. Sass & Sons Funeral Home, W173-S7629 Westwood Drive, Muskego. Services on Friday begin with visitation at 10 a.m. at Emanuel United Church of Christ, 10627 West Forest Home Avenue, Hales Corners, until time of funeral services at 11 a.m.
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Bassett Family Association Database
1933 - 2013 (80 years)