Obituary of Irene Lowene Kaser Sachtler Bacon

Irene Lowene Kaser Sachtler Bacon July 25, 1915 – November 7, 2013 Irene was born in Silverton, Oregon, the 5th of 6 children, of Alice Elizabeth Eggiman Kaser and Samuel Victor Kaser, with a strong Swiss German heritage. Her father once had five farms in the Silverton area, but he died of heat stroke several days after his 45th birthday, when Irene was 7; Alice was unable to keep all but one of the farms. The family moved to Salem, where Alice worked at several jobs, one being a nurse at the State Mental Hospital. Irene went to Salem High School, where she met and later married Robert Mark Sachtler, Jr. on March 26th, 1936. Irene earned her beautician’s license, worked in several beauty shops, as a waitress at Tom’s Restaurant at 39th and Division, the Fred Meyer Warehouse, Fiber Board, and others. Son, Jeffery, was born in 1943, and daughter, Lynne, arrived in 1946, while the family was living at a house owned by Irene’s mother at 17th and Rex. She continued styling the hair of relatives, friends, and neighbors in the basement of their home at 30th and SE Cora St., where they lived for over 30 years, and where Irene and Mark invited Alice to live with them. She and Mark later lived in the Gettysburg Townhouses (she was president of the association) near Lynne. Mark’s health began failing, so Irene was taking care of him and helping Lynne after her stroke, which greatly tested Irene’s strength, faith, and well-being. Mark died in 1996. Through friends, Irene met Gordon Bacon a couple years later, married, and they were able to enjoy each other’s company for 3+ years until Gordon’s death in 2000. They socialized often with friends and went on little trips. In September of this year, 2013, she requested to be baptized at Moreland Presbyterian Church, which was accomplished a month before she passed away. Throughout her life, Irene loved family, friends, gardening, cooking, providing holiday meals for many family members, crafts including ceramics, knitting, crocheting, sewing, and reading voraciously. Irene didn’t wish to use new technology, such as a microwave, computer, etc. She painted and wallpapered the interior of her homes, “antiqued” her furniture, and picture frames, with gold accents on white. She loved having lively gatherings with lots of talking (she liked “stirring the pot” to get a “rise” out of people), laughing, playing cards, and other games. Saving her earnings from fixing hair, etc., she would go on bus trips to Reno, Winnemucca, and later to Spirit Mountain, to play Keno using her secret numbers. She participated in Eastern Star, Sellwood Chapter, for many years, and other groups like the “Air Pilots” (a group originating from church), and a monthly bunko gathering. Irene was a private person with much pride and dignity; for her, that meant not sharing problems or health issues outside of her immediate family, and sometimes not even with them. If asked how she was doing, her customary response was “Everything’s lovely,” even if it wasn’t. She felt that one should take care of all that oneself, and it was none of anyone else’s business; on the other hand, she wanted the details of how all was going in others’ lives, always offering unsolicited advice, opinions, food, and other help generously. Never straying from her traditional convictions, Irene consistently stated her feelings, opinions, and worldly views without a filter. She was not always politically correct, yet her comments were never meant to be hurtful—just statements of facts according to her perceptions. On the other hand, she was very sharp-minded, up-to-date on family, community, country, world happenings, and could recall background information as subjects came to her mind or were brought up. She read the newspaper every day. Irene cherished being a grandmother to David and Randall, and never told them, “no.” The boys loved spending time with her and Mark, and were always kept busy and well fed! Irene had her first plane trip when she attended Randall and Karen’s wedding in Orange, California, in 2006, then was delighted to become a great-grandma to Randall and Karen’s daughter, Paisley, in 2010. She helped fund a few educational experiences for both grandsons. Irene lived through a variety of major events and turmoil in America’s history: Great Depression Roosevelt’s New Deal WWII Korean Conflict Cold War Civil Rights Movement Cuban Missile Crisis Assassinations of JFK, and ML King, Jr. Berlin Wall tear down Watts Riots Oklahoma Bombing Technology – Cell Phones, Computers, etc. Twin Towers 9/11 Iraq Afghanistan Increase in minorities Gay and Lesbian Rights Welfare Beneficiary Increases Irene was a good-humored, energetic, loving, caring, hard-working, creative, warm, fun, generous, make-do-with-little, positive-thinking, one-of-a kind, “original,” who was the end of an era, and who will always be a legend in the family. Her legacy will live on forever with smiles or chuckles in the lives of the people she touched. Survivors include: son, Jeffery Sachtler, daughter-in-law Stephanie, grandson David Sachtler of Beaverton, grandson Randall Sachtler and granddaughter-in-law, Karen, great-granddaughter Paisley of Irvine, CA, step-daughter Linda Bacon Russ, and numerous nieces, nephews, cousins, friends. Preceding her in death, husband Robert M. Sachtler, husband Gordon Bacon, daughter Lynne A. Sachtler, parents, siblings. Special thanks to the family’s long-time physician, J. Edgar Crawford. Also the owner and staff of Candlewood Senior Care Home provided extra special care for Irene, with the support of Adventist Health Hospice, allowing Irene comfort and dignity in her last days. Service Information