Family History Contributors
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Martha Wilhelmine Kassel was a caretaker and housekeeper for Barbara (Kraus) Kirmse and then became a daughter-in-law.
When Martha Wilhelmine Kassel was born on May 1, 1896, in Farrar, Missouri, her father, Philipp, was 31, and her mother, Clara, was 17. She married Joseph Kirmse on May 10, 1921, in her hometown. She died on August 22, 1996, in Perryville, Missouri, at the age of 100, and was buried in Farrar, Missouri.
Caretaker and Housekeeper
After their father, Julius Kirmse, died in 1915, there were two batchelor brothers still living in the Kirmse residence and working the Julius Kirmse farm. To take care of their aging mother, Barbara (Kraus) Kirmse, the brothers hired Martha Wilhelmine Kassel to take care of their mother and do the housekeeping so that the brothers could do the farming.
Married Joseph “Joe” Kirmse
After, Barbara died in 1920, Martha continued on as a live-in housekeeper and the following year married one of the brothers, Joseph Kirmse.
Martha lived to be 100 years old
100 Years Old – Martha Kirmse celebrated her 100th birthday May 1 at PerryOaks Care Center. She was feted with songs and birthday cake. Martha is the daughter of the late Magdalena and Philipp Kassel of Farrar. She was married to the late Joseph Kirmse. Her brothers and sisters include William Kassel, 85, of Farrar; Sarah Mikusch, 93, of St. Louis; Marie Grove, 91, of Cedar Hill; Ida Bitsch, 89, of St. Louis County; and the late Lena and Emilie Schmidt.
staff photo/JC. Fallert
[May 1, 1996]
Contributions
During the five years that Martha took care of Barbara, she apparently learned of Barbara’s family history. And, Martha became a major source of Barbara (Kraus) Kirmse’s family lore.