Loren Basler

The greatest generation lost another member on November 16, 2013 when Loren S. Basler departed from his earthly life into the glory of Heaven where there is no pain. A Celebration of Loren's Life will be held at 10:00 a.m. on Wednesday, November 20, 2013 at the East Cross United Methodist Church with Pastor Jeff Burruss and Reverend Chad Perceful officiating. Mr. Basler will lie in state from 9:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. Monday and Tuesday, November 18 and 19, 2013 at Walker-Brown Funeral Home and will then be moved to Galesburg Methodist Church in Galesburg, KS where he will lie in state from Noon to 2:00 p.m. Wednesday. Interment will be at 2:30 p.m. in Mount Hope Cemetery in Galesburg with Reverend Dr. Stan Basler officiating. Local arrangements are under the direction of Walker-Brown Funeral Home. In lieu of flowers, two memorials have been established in Bartlesville - East Cross United Methodist Church, 820 SE Madison Blvd, Bartlesville, OK 74006 - Bartlesville Sportsmen's Club, PO Box 391, Bartlesville, OK 74005 and in Galesburg - The Galesburg Relief Fund, 6520 Irving Road, Galesburg, KS 66740. Loren, the 12th of 13 children, was born June 21, 1925 to Alec M. and Anna (Badger) Basler in rural Thayer, KS. While still a young boy, the family relocated to rural Erie, KS where he received most of his education until his Junior year of high school then went to live with his sister and brother-in-law in rural Galesburg, KS. As war clouds were gathering, his brother-in-law went to work at the Ammunition Plant in Parsons, so Loren was needed to help with farm chores. It was at Galesburg High School where he met Dorothea Shaw who was to become the love of his life. They had many happy times together until December 7, 1941 when their carefree days came to a sudden halt. The day after graduation they said good-by when Loren left to be inducted into the U.S. Navy. After a period of training, he was among the original crew stationed aboard the newly commissioned air craft carrier, USS Savo Island, and went directly into war. They were involved in nine major battles on the South Pacific including the battle of Leyte, October 23-25, 1944, which went down as the worst Naval Battle in history. His group was awarded the Presidential Citation and later survived a Kamikaze attack. While fighting in Okinawa, unaware his brother was also there, he was notified that his brother had been killed in action. During this time another brother in Europe had been wounded and was a prisoner of war and survived. On August 14, 1945 while making their way to the Japanese home-islands for a planned major invasions, they received word that the war had ended. They continued on and served a Tour of Duty with the Occupational Forces off the coast of Japan. The Carrier then made her way to the Boston ship yards where she was decommissioned and destined for scrap. Loren was discharged with many medals and ribbons on April 23, 1946 and he and Dorothea were married two months later on June 23, 1946. They spent their first year in Parsons, KS and in 1947 moved to Bartlesville. At that time Loren began a 38-year career with Phillips Petroleum Company which led to a supervisory position. Loren was the last survivor of the five men who had organized the Bartlesville Sportsmen Club. During the early days of Tri-County Tech he served on the Board of Directors for several years. After retirement in 1985, Loren and Dorothea built a second home on one of their acreages back in the Galesburg area and thus began some of the happiest years of Loren's life. Besides being a member of the Bartlesville Sportsmen Club, he was a member of East Cross United Methodist Church, Bartlesville Masonic Lodge #284, Supreme Council 33, Disabled American Veterans and a Benefactor in the NRA. Loren is survived by Dorothea, his wife of 67 years, son, Reverend Dr. Stan Basler and wife Janet; daughter, Kathy and husband James Shelton, all of Oklahoma City. He was blessed with three granddaughters; Laurell (Kevin) Ellis of Tulsa, Dr. Roseanne (Lindsey) Kuhn, Denver, CO, Adrianna (Josh) Jenson of Oklahoma City, three great grandchildren; Naomi, Ian and Nolan Ellis of Tulsa as well as numerous nieces and nephews. Loren was preceded in death by his parents, seven brothers and five sisters.

Loren Basler

June 21, 1925 - November 16, 2013