Herman William Tasler

Herman William Tasler, 85, died on Saturday, June 26, 2010. Services will be at Hamilton’s on Westown Parkway, 3601 Westown Parkway, West Des Moines, Iowa. Visitation will be held on Tuesday, June 29, from 4 to 8 pm and the funeral on Wednesday, June 30th at 12:00 noon. Burial will follow at Iowa Veteran’s Cemetery in Van Meter, Iowa.

Herman was born at home on March 25, 1925 in Lohrville, Iowa to parents who immigrated to the United States from Germany. Herman and his sisters learned to speak English only after they started public school. The family moved seven times before saving enough to purchase the family homestead on March 1, 1941. Herman enlisted in the Army in 1945 and served in Korea. He received an honorable discharge in 1947. He then moved to Waterloo where he worked for the John Deere plant. Herman’s parents needed him on the family farm, and so he returned. During this time, he met Irene Allen; they were married on January 21, 1951. The couple continued to farm until they moved to Des Moines in 1960. They were married for 25 years and had 4 children. Herman was employed and retired from Younkers Furniture Warehouse, where his favorite responsibility was restoring furniture.

Herman was a longtime member of the Central Iowa Two-Cylinder Club, the Train Collector’s of America Club, and the Lionel Collector’s Club of America. He also enjoyed the Iowa State Fair, collecting and restoring tractors, and his favorite was collecting Lionel toy trains and other such memorabilia. While dancing and listening to live polka music (a favorite pastime), Herman met his longtime companion Fern Thacker.

Herman loved his acreage and all things rural, and was a farmer at heart. He was also very proud of his German heritage and was heard to introduce himself as Herman the German. Much to his delight he would, on occasion, even play his accordion.

Herman is survived by his four children: Jeannie (Paul) Havnen, Bill (Ellen) Tasler, Lonnie McClain, and Jim (Sara) Tasler; his sisters Frieda Schoeberlein and Marilyn Dillon; seven grandchildren; five great-grandchildren; numerous nieces and nephews, and other family members. He was preceded in death by his parents, William and Anna Weirauch Tasler, and grandson Frank Tasler.

Condolences may be made at www.hamiltonsfuneralhome.com.

Print