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LOUIE L. BEELER
Sept. 26, 1925 – Jan. 16, 2020
Beeler obit pic
Our beloved husband, father, grandfather and great-grandfather passed away at home after a lengthy illness. Born in Tracy, CA to Adolph and Katharine Beeler, immigrants of Switzerland. At two years old the family moved to the Escalon location on the corner of Highway 120 and (the now named) Beeler Road to start the family dairy. At a Swiss Club wrestling event in Portland, he met Susanna Holenstein in 1946. It was a match made in heaven.
They married Sept. 9, 1950 in Portland, Oregon. He was drafted into the U.S. Army (Korean War) in 1951, stationed in El Paso, Texas for two years. Never actually being deployed to Korea since the Army did not have boots big enough! After his discharge in 1953, the Swiss-American Dairy was established with brother Adolph on French Camp Road, Ripon. In 1966 he left the dairy business and drove transit mix trucks in Tracy, CA for 21 years all the while continuing to farm. He ‘retired’ to farming full time until he was 80 years old. His music interests started in high school with a violin. He soon realized that his hands were too big for that instrument and quickly changed to the bass fiddle and never looked back. The Beeler Laendler Orchestra was formed in the late 40’s and Louie joined in after his return from his army stint.
Louie and Susie traveled the world extensively from the mid 70’s until 2007. He loved his Swiss heritage and all events such as Swiss music, dances and card parties. He especially enjoyed the “schwingfests” (Swiss wrestling) since he was a crown wrestler from 1943 to 1954. If he was playing the bass fiddle (Giga) he had a big smile on his face – nothing made him happier, except being with his family. A highlight of his music experience was being called on stage to play with Carlo Brunner Orchestra on a Baltic cruise.
Survived by wife of 69 years, Susanna; Children: Hans (Denise) Beeler, Discovery Bay, CA; Kathryn (Bill) Emanuel, Gardnerville, NV; Edward (Terri) Beeler, Escalon, CA; Rudy (Dawn) Beeler, Ripon, CA.
Grandchildren: Brian Beeler, Monterey, CA; Wesley (Lisa) Tuchtenhagen, Belgium; Sonia (Tim) Tuchtenhagen, Littleton, CO; Katie (Jonathon) James, Modesto, CA; Alexandra Beeler, San Luis Obispo, CA; Hannah Beeler, Walnut Creek, CA.
Great-grandchildren: Camerin Tuchtenhagen, Cullowhee, NC; Casen, Samuel and Roman James, Modesto, CA.
Deegan Funeral Chapels is honored to serve the Beeler family. A visitation is scheduled for Thursday, Jan. 23 from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. with a rosary/vigil service beginning at 7 p.m. at St. Patrick’s Catholic Church in Ripon. A funeral mass is scheduled for Friday, Jan 24 at 9:30 a.m. also at St. Patrick’s Catholic Church.
In Loving Memory please make donations to: San Joaquin Valley Swiss Club (SJVSC), P.O. Box 373, Ripon, CA 95366 or Hospice of San Joaquin, 3888 Pacific Avenue, Stockton, CA 95204.
The Escalon (Calif.) Times

Jan. 22, 2020