Bucyrus natives Howard D. and Doris J. Elsasser were creative people who enjoyed doing for others.
Like his grandfather, Howard was a skilled wood craftsman. He made cabinets and furniture in the shop behind his home. He also made wooden cradles for the Picking Company. Howard was employed as a pattern maker, first with Rieddel Company, then with Ryder-Heil Bronze Company.
Doris (Gubernath) Elsasser was an accomplished needlecrafter who enjoyed making sweaters, shawls and afghans to give as gifts. She was a homemaker and a Gray Lady volunteer at Bucyrus Community Hospital.
The couple resided at 622 Ann St., the house where Howard grew up. Their two children, Michael and Susan, are deceased.
Their nephew, Jon Elsasser of Zoar, Ohio, said that with the exception of his uncle's service in the Navy in Pensacola, Florida, during World War II, the couple lived in Bucyrus all of their lives. They were longtime members of Good Hope Lutheran Church. Howard died on June 28, 2006, and Doris passed away nearly three months later on August 21, 2006.
In 2008, the BACF received a large (in excess of $1 million) unrestricted gift from the Elsasser's estate, which allows the Elsassers to continue to give back to the community they called home.
Did You Know?
The Bucyrus Area Community Foundation is blessed to have approximately 90% of our funds unrestricted. These funds allow for ever-changing community needs - including future needs that often cannot be anticipated at the time your gift was made. The Board of Directors of the BACF works extremely hard to ensure that all aspects of the community are addressed within our grant making efforts.
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