Edward A. Reser

Edward A. “Ted” Reser passed away peacefully, Saturday, May 28, 2016 at the age of 92. The following excerpts are from a brief auto-biography Ted wrote and shared on his 90th birthday:
On May 3, 1924, I was fortunate to have been born to great parents – Roy M. Reser and Louise Wheeler Reser. My dad was a founder and director of Ross Gear and Tool Company, and my Mother was a loveable, charming Southern belle. I was fortunate to have an older brother, Robert whom I adored.
Growing up during the Great Depression was difficult, but the problem was eased by the fact that everyone was in the same boat.
Our biggest event each year was taking Dad’s vacation to Jacksonville Beach, Florida, to visit my Mother’s family. Having Southern relatives left me with very fond memories. Even the trip itself was an adventure driving on wet, slippery red Georgia clay. It wasn’t until 1932 that we could drive the whole 890 miles on smooth paved roads.
My favorite school time was at Jefferson High School. From grade school on to college, we had a wonderful “gang” that enjoyed being together. There were dance lessons, picnics, canoe trips down the Wabash and Wild Cat Creek and even sleigh rides in the winter.
At Jefferson High School I enjoyed being on the football first-team. Besides making close friends, I was President of the Hi Y Club and Vice President of our class. After high school my college career began in mechanical engineering at Purdue where I attended for two years and sat on the Purdue football team bench. Our family was devastated in 1943 at the loss of my older brother Robert in a military plane crash during World War ll.
One thing I miss now, because of World War II, is that our high school class exploded away from home, and many never returned. Starting in 1943, I wore a Navy uniform for 3 years, and saw the South Pacific, including Guam, Saipan, Korea, Okinawa, China and Japan. It was during this time that I learned to love the sea and poetry.
Returning home from the Navy I finished my education at Indiana University, and received my degree in Business. It was at IU I met my first love and married Susie Murray in 1948. Our marriage lasted 33 years, and she blessed me with the joys of my life – my children Robin, Dan and Tave.
My first job was in Chicago at the Celotex Corporation in sales training. After a year in Chicago, a position opened up as Assistant to the Treasurer of Ross Gear in Lafayette which I applied for and was hired. After 8 years in that role, I decided I wasn’t happy with the situation. While talking to Bud Baugh, a boyhood friend who was also not happy with his job, we decided to go into business together, and opened Baugh & Reser Hardware Store. Our motto was “We have bolts for all the nuts in Lafayette!” We rented a 3-story building downtown; we repaired the leaky basement, installed new floor, and made our own fixtures. We didn’t get rich, but enjoyed thirty-eight years of comfortable living.
The Reser family has contributed to Tippecanoe County since settling here in the early 1830’s. I have tried to continue to add something. My first home was a National Home on Elk Street, and we helped organize Bethany Presbyterian Church. When we moved to South River Road, we helped to start Faith Presbyterian – “a church born in a barn”. I was one of the first elders, and for 5 years it’s Treasurer.
Later we joined Covenant Presbyterian, and I enjoyed teaching Sunday School to teenage Christians.
I have been busy as past President of the Tippecanoe Historical Society – which saved our stately Court House and The General Lafayette Fountain from being replaced. We increased the Feast of the Hunters’ Moon from a gathering of 30 people to an annual attendance of 80,000. At Lafayette’s 150th Anniversary, we began the Art Around the Fountain. I have also been busy as Past President of the Lafayette Kiwanis, President of Camelback Home Owners Association, and Federated Church Endowment. I served 16 years on Tippecanoe County Council.
I have been Treasurer of Purdue’s Phi Delta Theta alumni House Corporation for over 60 years, and a member of the Lafayette Art Association board. I have been awarded Lafayette’s Journal/Courier George Award, Phi Delta Theta Leadership Award and Indiana Governor’s Sagamore of the Wabash.
I have enjoyed almost 70 summers in Pentwater Michigan, honing in on my hobbies of sailing on Lake Michigan, gardening, oil painting and poetry. It was in Pentwater that I met my second love, Shirley Ann Shields Messerlie. We married in 1984. I experienced 29 wonderful years with Shirley Ann and her beautiful blue eyes. We thoroughly enjoyed our retirement years in West Lafayette and Pentwater and we were able to explore Africa, Europe and much of the US including river trips on the Mississippi and Columbia.
If I had a goal in life, I suppose it would be to be considered a good father and grandfather to my children, a good friend to many, and remembered with a smile.
Preceding Ted in death were his parents and brother mentioned above, his first wife Sue Murray DeMars, and his second wife Shirley Ann Reser. Survivors include daughter, Robin Reser Martens (Roy Martens) of Pentwater, MI.; sons, Daniel M. Reser (Ulrike Steinecker) of San Rafael, CA. and Edward (Tave) A. Reser Jr. (Lesley Reser) of Chicago, IL; stepsons, David Messerlie (Carol Messerlie) of Ponte Vedra, FL and Doug Messerlie (Theo Messerlie) of Atlanta, GA. Grandchildren, Caroline Burgess of Chicago, IL, Roy Burgess (Jackie Burgess) of Oak Park, IL., Jared Reser and William Reser, both of Encino, CA., Isabella Jaffe and Emma Jaffe, both of San Rafael, CA, Lucy Reser of Greenville SC. and Great- Grandson, Elliott Charles Edward Burgess of Oak Park, IL. Ted is also survived by his dear friend Jean Cooper of West Lafayette and his loving cousins in Jacksonville, FL.
Ted’s life will be celebrated by friends and family at Soller-Baker Lafayette Chapel visitation from 5-7pm Friday June 24,2016 and Funeral service Saturday June 25,2016 at 11:00am at Federated Church West Lafayette. A memorial picnic will be held in Pentwater, MI for friends and family on August 14, 2016. In lieu of flowers, charitable donations may be made to The Tippecanoe County Historical Association (1001 South Street, Lafayette, IN 47901), Federated Church of West Lafayette (2400 Sycamore Lane, West Lafayette, IN 47906) or the Pentwater Historical Society (P.O. Box 54, Pentwater, MI 49449.)