Preached in the Texas Conference for 6 years and in the Kansas Conference 3 years. He moved to Topeka in 1907.
Fred was born on William Johnsmeyer homestead, Riley County, Kansas, 1/2 mile west of Grandview Cemetery and 1 1/2 miles east of Riley/Leonardville Unifed School.
Fred talked very fast and was very assertive.
Fred bought his own farm in the Grandview area of Riley County after leaving the family homestead. In 1926, he moved to Topeka as he probably lost the farm due to the dust bowl and tough economic conditions of the day. In Topeka, he was able to purchase another farm near Berrytown, Kansas. He raised dairy cattle in addition to farming.
Mary Louise was the sister of Joanna Buss who married Carl Frederich Johnsmeyer. Thus, Earl and Harry Johnsmeyer were double cousins. A photograph of them together as babies is shown with their Great Grandmother Koester.
Grew up in Berrytown, Kansas on his father's farm. Graduated from Rue High School, South of Topeka.
Earl graduated from Emporia State University in 1937. He received a teaching degree for high school business and had minors in math and physical education. He started his teaching career at Glendale High School in Saline County by Salina, Kansas. He was there for two years teaching business, business math, and coached. He moved to Prescott, Kansas in Lynn County near Ft. Scott and taught from 1939 to 1942.
In June 1942 he was inducted into the military. He served in Northern Africa and Italy during the Second World War with the 8th Evacuation Hospital. He moved from Casablanca across Africa to the coast of Algers. On Sept 22, 1943 at 4:00 PM, he landed on the Salerno Beachead in an LST. He was then selected to go to the 5th Army Surgeon General's office given he was a college graduate. He sailed for home on Sept 22, 1945 at 4:00 PM.
In Spring 1946, Earl returned to his teaching career in Kanopolis, Kansas. From 1946-1948, he taught in Winchester. From 1948 until he retired in 1977, he taught high school business in Lansing, Kansas.
Earl was a very successful teacher and high school coach. He coached basketball for 23 years from 1948-1964. He won the league tournament at every high school. Lansing won the league title for 10 straight years under Earl. He took a Lansing team to the state championship tournament. He was a great motivator and had an exceptional ability to draw the most possible from his athletes. Due to the superior school district, Army officers stationed at Leavenworth, Kansas would try to get their children into the Lansing schools.
Bill Johnsmeyer met with Earl at his home in 2001. As an 85 year old man, Earl had an extremely sharp mind. He has an uncanny memory, a very quick wit, and even had his own personal computer that he used for typing and maintaining the investment results for his investment club. At that time, he drove, traveled extensively, and had just attended the state track meet with his nephew, Larry Peterson.
Earl was a wonderful uncle and his nieces and nephews revered him.
Earl died of an inoperable brain tumor. It was first diagnosed in early 2002 and evaluated at The University of Kansas Medical Center. He was able to return home for a couple of months before being hospitalized again in Leavenworth where he passed away.
Irene was a high school math teacher who met her husband, Earl, while teaching in Winchester, Kansas. She was a graduate of Tarkio College in Tarkio, Missouri. Throughout the time Earl knew and was married to her, her hair was white.
Like Earl, Irene was an extremely effective teacher. Her reputation was one of the reasons Army officers stationed at Ft. Leavenworth, Kansas would try to get their children into Lansing High School.
240. Doralyn Johnsmeyer
Married, but had no children.