Ingeborg Baechler Obituary

Ingeborg M. Baechler ISLE OF PALMS - Ingeborg Martha Carstens Baechler, 99, of Isle of Palms, South Carolina, entered into eternal rest at her Isle of Palms, SC home on June 21, 2024, the first day of her 100th Summer. Born in Omaha, Nebraska on November 22, 1924, Inge grew up in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, graduated from the University of Wisconsin Madison with a BA in English (after studies at the University of Houston during WWII). She continued her education by studying for a Master's in English and Guidance when, as she described it, campus life opened a world of cultural experiences with world famous professors, theatre, exhibits, social life, football, basketball and campus leadership opportunities. While writing her Master's thesis on the poems of Emily Dickinson (and dreaming of becoming an English teacher abroad or a college dean), she met her husband-to-be, Wilton Baechler (10 years her senior), at a campus gathering while they were both resident counselors in the UWM dorms. Inge and Wilton married in her parent's back yard in Milwaukee 1949, living first in Baraboo, WI, where daughter, Anne, was born (1950) while Wilton was commuting to UWM to study for his Ph.D. They moved to Indianhead, MD, where daughter, Sue (1951) and son, Bill (1952) were born in Bethesda Naval hospital when Wilton served as a Navy Lieutenant Commander during the Korean War, then to Park Forest, Illinois, where daughter, Kristina was born in 1955 while Wilton was teaching at DePaul University in Chicago. In 1956, they found a homesite in Elgin, IL where sons, John (1957) and Ken (1961) were born, and Inge and Wilton built their first and only home in 1956, a unique split level designed by Inge's engineer Dad. They raised six children together in Elgin on 'Baechler Hill' with Wilton traveling multiple states as a college textbook sales representative, and Inge active as President of the PTA, teaching Sunday school, leading neighborhood, family and community events. All while encouraging and teaching each of her children to pursue their dreams, which they did: Anne as a teacher and naval commander, Sue as an education innovator and game designer, Bill as a bush pilot, mechanic and Alaskan adventurer, Kristina as a banking and risk management executive and fabric artist, John as an entrepreneur and Alaskan hunting and fishing lodge owner, and Ken as a national guardsman, fleet driver and car restoration pro. In 1967, Inge earned her teaching certificate through correspondence courses, which led to teaching third grade at Sheridan Elementary School in Elgin for 22 years while still raising children at home, caring for Wilton until he died in 1983, and helping to raise her grandson, Ryan, alongside her daughter, Kristina, who lived with her in the 80's and 90's. Upon retiring from teaching in 1989, Inge was a daytime sitter for her grandson, Gunnar (1995), visited her sons, Bill and John and their families in Alaska, helped care for family and friends, then started researching retirement options. Inge chose to retire and "live a life in Paradise" with her oldest daughter, Anne and family in Isle of Palms, SC. Overlooking the Intercoastal Waterway, she loved watching birds, boats, and dolphins daily. Determined to "reinvent herself", she spent the next very active 25 years either leading or participating in numerous large (and often musical) organizations and serving as a role model to members of each: East Cooper Newcomers President, Line dance instructor, "Mama Belle" to the popular Coastal Belle Singers, performing 30 times a year to area assisted living and retirement centers, co-founder with her daughter of the East Cooper Community Chorus, President of Thursday Morning Dolls bowling league, Chairwoman of her Isle of Palms Methodist Church Tearoom, head of tearoom bakers, member of the church Ladies Ensemble and choir, and volunteer head of her church Evangelism team. Inge is preceded in death by her parents, Frederich and Magdalena Carstens, husband, Wilton Baechler, and daughter, Kristina Baechler. She is survived by her sister, Ellen Shear, Menomonee Falls, WI, her five children and their spouses, eight grandchildren, two step-grandchildren and twelve great-grandchildren: daughter, Anne Bushong and husband, John Bushong, Isle of Palms, SC, grandson, Danny Bushong and wife, Nicole Bulone Bushong, Mount Pleasant SC; daughter, Susan Baechler and husband, Brad Trom, Brentwood, TN, step-granddaughter, Kelsa Trom of Brooklyn, NY, and step-grandson, Erik Trom of Seattle WA; son, William Baechler and wife, Shere Schudel Baechler, Homer AK, granddaughters: Hannah Baechler, Paris, TN; Britta Baechler and her husband, Chris Tenorio, Portland, OR; Nyssa Baechler Russell and her husband, Charlie Russell, Kodiak, AK; great-grandchildren, Atlas Doolan (Hannah), Miles Russell, Abrie Russell (Nyssa), Kairie Tenorio, Connor Tenorio (Britta); Son John Baechler, Iliamna, AK, grandson, John Jr. Baechler and wife, Naidene Krushke Baechler, Palmer AK, granddaughter, Martha Baechler Salitan and husband, Erik Salitan, Iliamna, AK; great- grandchildren, Lucas Anelon, Victor Salitan, Sterling Salitan (Martha); Zachary Baechler, Aria Baechler (John); son, Ken Baechler and his wife, Carol Salzman Baechler, Belvidere, IL, grandson, Gunnar Baechler, Rockford, IL; and grandson, Ryan Baechler and his wife, Chazmin Gober Baechler, Geneva IL; great-grandchildren, Nate Baechler, Marnie Baechler (Ryan). Her granddaughter-in-law, Chazmin so eloquently wrote in tribute: "Inge was a singular presence. Always joyful, energetic, thoughtful and intentional. Her life and legacy are inspirations to all of us." Inge's friends and family know that her love is forever and, as she quoted in her final days 'It is well with my soul'. Her stated wishes were that no formal funeral or celebration of life be scheduled; rather, as informal gatherings of her many groups, friends, family and church happen over the next weeks and months, she hoped to be remembered with love and laughter, and that others pass on what they have learned from her. Her family wishes to give special thanks to the care given by Lutheran Hospice, Home Instead Senior Care, and to Mae Bunkem, who gave tender and compassionate care through Inge's final hours. In lieu of flowers, contributions can be made to the First United Methodist Church at 12 21st Ave., Isle of Palms, SC 29451; or ECCO (East Cooper Community Outreach), 1145 Six Mile Road, Mount Pleasant, SC, 29466. Arrangements are being handled by Simplicity Cremations of North Charleston. . . . for love is immortality. Emily Dickinson