Albert William Basten

Albert William Basten, age 96 of Kenosha, passed away on Saturday, October 24, 2015, at St. Joseph’s Nursing Home.

Born in Boxmeer, Netherlands on September 21, 1919, Albert was the son of the late William P.and Johanna F. (Verheyen) Basten.  As a child he traveled with his family to the U.S. and settled in Wisconsin, moving to Kenosha in 1926. He attended St. Thomas and St. Mary’s Catholic Elementary Schools, and also attended Kenosha Vocational Technical School. Albert worked at Quaker-Stretcher Company prior to World War II.

Two days after the December 7, 1941 attack on Pearl Harbor, he enlisted in the U.S. Army. Al served as an ambulance driver with Company A of the 102 Medical Battalion; 27th Division, in the Pacific Theatre, until his honorable discharge on September 28, 1945. He participated in the Ryukyus and Western Pacific campaigns and received the Purple Heart for action on Saipan.  He also received the Asiatic-Pacific Theatre Ribbon with two bronze stars and the Good Conduct Ribbon.

On January 26, 1946 at St. Mary’s Catholic Church, in Kenosha, he was united in marriage to Hazel N. Edquist.  Early in his career Albert worked as a machinist for a number of Kenosha manufacturers.  He retired as a quality control inspector in 1981 after more than twenty years with the J.I. Case Company in Racine, WI.  Albert was a member of St. Mary’s Catholic Church, AFL-CIO Local #180 and a life member of V.F.W. Post #1865.

Albert was a quiet and gentle man of many talents.  He had keen observational and technical skills.  He welcomed challenges and he was more than willing to lend a hand to help others.  He supported his immediate family in his youth and continued to work hard throughout his life to support his own family.  He gently cared for his mother and his elderly aunt, following the loss of their spouses. Helping others in need was just one of his many fine attributes.

After retiring, Albert learned to play golf and thoroughly enjoyed golfing with his buddies until the snow fell in November. Al golfed well into his mid-80’s, always playing the “back 9″ at Petrifying Springs.  His group always walked the golf course rather than riding and always teed off as soon as the course opened each weekday. He enjoyed bowling during the winter months and looked forward to many early breakfast conversations over coffee with his friends. Al also loved working on cars throughout his years and especially found freedom and pleasure in driving his own car until he was 93. He was a faithful and faith-filled believer and never missed Sunday Mass. He realized that God had blest him with a great family and good health for many years. Albert was also very interested in current events. He always enjoyed reading his daily Kenosha News and weekly Time magazine.

Al is survived by his loving wife of 69 years, Hazel, and their two daughters, Joanne (Eugene) Boyle of Wadsworth, IL, and Sharon (John) Kirsch of Kenosha and his five grandchildren: Kerry (Matt) Marcinkus, Wadsworth; Kevin (Jenny) Boyle, Kenosha; Gregory (Megan) Kirsch, Germantown, WI; Mary (Christopher) Rupp, Green Bay, WI and Ryan (Aubrey) Boyle, Wadsworth.  Also left to treasure his legacy are his 15 great-grandchildren. Albert is also survived by his sister -in -law, Marian (Glen) Rasmussen and many loving nieces and nephews.

In addition to his parents, Albert was preceded in death by his sister, Ann Krogh and his brothers George J. Basten and in infancy, Gerardus. He was also preceded by his brothers–in–law:  Charles Krogh and Arthur, Russell, Kenneth, John and Robert Edquist.

Many special thanks to the sisters and staff at St. Joseph Home & Rehabilitation Center in Kenosha for their kind and compassionate care of Albert.  The family also would like to thank Dr. Ned Mejalli for his interest and assistance in monitoring Albert’s health care needs over the past three years.