Trachsel, Charles S. (1888-1948)

Mennonite Weekly Review obituary: 1948 Jul 22 p. 7

Birth date: 1888 Feb 12

text of obituary:

CHARLES S. TRACHSEL,

Charles S. Trachsel, 60, member of the City high school faculty, Iowa City, Iowa, for more than 30 years died suddenly at 9:30 a. m. Sunday, April 11, at his home in Iowa City after a heart attack.

Mr. Trachsel was born at Goodland, Kans., the son of John A. and Lydia Schlatter Trachsel, February 12, 1888.

He was graduated from Bluffton academy in Bluffton, ohio in 1910 and from Bluffton College in 1917. During three years of study at the college he was a tutor at the academy. Part of his undergraduate college work was at the University of Iowa.

He also served in 1914-1915 as superintendent of schools and teacher of mathematics and physics at Cantril, a community in far southeastern Iowa, just north of the Missouri border.

He joined the Iowa City high school faculty in 1917, but took a one-year leave of absence for World War i army duty. On September 1, 1920, he was married to Marguerite Hilles of Cantril, who survives him.

In 1917-18 he was teacher of mathematics, physics and chemistry at City high school, and in 1919-21 he was head of the science department and chemistry teacher. From 1921 until his death he was head of the science department and physics teacher, directing in recent years the school's instruction in radio. After summer session work he received an M.A. from the University of Iowa in 1927.

He was a member of the First Methodist church and of Epsilon chapter of Phi Delta Kappa, national honorary society in education.

Surviving him besides the widow are two daughters, Patricia, who is studying at the Curtis institute of Music at Philadelphia, Pa., and Annette, a student at City high school; and a sister, Stella, who is a school teacher at Goodland, Kans.

Funeral services were held at 3:00 p.m. Wednesday, April 14, at the Methodist church, with Dr. L. L. Dunnington, minister, officiating.

The Mennonite obituary: 1948 Jul 20 p. 9