William Musshel Family

William Musshel was born on April 30, 1867, in Mecklenburg, Germany, the son of Frederick Mussehl.

At the age of sixteen years, in 1883, William came to America and established his home in Toledo, Ohio. It was at this time the spelling of his family name was changed from Mussehl to Musshel, and happened during the immigration procedures, and his family has since used the spelling Musshel. When William's brother, Frederick K. Mussehl came to America, his family continued to use the family spelling Mussehl, and several of his descendants still remain in the Toledo area. Frederick was born on November 10, 1858.

William Musshel worked with the Toledo street department as a surveyor for many years.

He married Mary B. Reisinger on August 15, 1894. Mary was born on April 8, 1867, in Toledo, Ohio, a daughter of Anthony and Mary Ann Deichelber Reisinger. They had one son, Raymond F. Musshel, Raymond married and moved to Napoleon Township, Henry County, Ohio, west of Napoleon on U.S. 6, in 1918. His parents soon joined him in Henry County as they moved to Bostelman's Corners, in Napoleon Township, near Raymond's home, on twenty acres they had purchased. William worked at the gas station at Bostelman's Corners and helped his son farm for six years. William died on October 1, 1926, at the age of fifty-nine years. His wife, Mary, continued to live with Raymond until her death on July 22, 1932, at the age of sixty-five years.

William and Mary were members of St. Paul Lutheran Church, Napoleon Township. They are buried in the church cemetery on County Road 17.

Raymond F. Musshel was born on September 14, 1895, in Toledo, Ohio.

He was educated in the local schools. He worked as a tradesman doing odd jobs around the neighborhood. He was married on February 3, 1917 in St. Paul Lutheran Church, Toledo, Ohio, to Pauline Borstelmann who was born on April 7, 1898, daughter of Frederick and Emma Rabe Borstelmann, Buchhop of Napoleon Township. Pauline's grandfather, Peter Borstelmann, and her father, Frederick, were owners of one of the two tavern-roadhouses located at Bostelman's Corners.

Late in 1918, Raymond, Pauline and son, Robert, moved to Napoleon Township and purchased sixty acres on U.S. Route 6, near Bostelman's Corners, from Pauline's family.

Raymond then farmed the sixty acres and the twenty acres his father had purchased. They raised many hogs until 1928 when their herd was destroyed by hog cholera. At this time, Raymond quit full time farming and went to work at the Napoleon Products in Napoleon, Ohio. He worked at the factory until his death.

Raymond was crowned sergeant at the Elery Schuetzenfest on May 21, 1934 and the king was Dick Ranzau, of Ridgeville Corners, Ohio.

Raymond and Pauline had two sons, Robert and Kenneth. Raymond died at the age of fifty-six years on November 3, 1951, in an automobile accident on U.S. 6. Pauline died of a heart attack on May 5, 1958, at the age of sixty years. They are buried in Union Chapel Cemetery, west of Napoleon, Ohio, on U.S. 6, just west of the Musshel home.

Raymond Robert Musshel, the oldest son, was born on March 7, 1918, in Toledo. He has always used the name Robert, or Bob, and when he was a small child the family moved to Napoleon Township. There he attended Veigel Rural School, and the Napoleon High School.. When eighteen years old, Robert went to work at Napoleon Products Company. A year later he started working at Suber's Foundry and Machine Works, Deshler, Ohio, where he earned $12.50 a week. While working in Deshler, he lived with an aunt and uncle, and later found a room in downtown Deshler. In 1940, he returned to Napoleon Products and returned home to live.

Robert married Erma Dehnke on September 21, 1941, in St. Peter Evangelical Lutheran Church, Ridgeville Corners, Ohio. Reverend Henry Ide officiated. Erma was born on August 11, 1920, to Emil and Erna Thielman Dehnke, of Ridgeville Township. Erma graduated in 1938 from Ridgeville High School. After their marriage, Robert and Erma lived on Yeager Street, Napoleon, Ohio.

Robert served in the U.S. Army from November, 1943 until January, 1946. He served eighteen months in the Pacific serving with the 3605th Ordinance Heavy Automotive Maintenance Company.

After Robert returned home, he went back to work at the Napoleon Products. In the spring of 1948, Robert with the help of his father and brother built his family a new home on the corner of Ohio and Sheffield Streets in Napoleon, Ohio. The family lives there in 1978. Erma passed away in late 1978.

In the spring of 1949, just after moving into their new home, Robert was laid off. He worked for a year at General Motors in Defiance, Ohio. From sometime in 1951 until September of 1963, Robert worked as an automobile mechanic at Bokerman's Studebaker Sales and Service on North Perry Street, Napoleon. September, 1963, he went to work at Clevite Harris, now Gould, Inc., in the maintenance department and he is still employed there.

Robert and Erma Musshel have four children: James, Patricia, Richard and Nancy. The oldest son, James Kenneth Musshel, was born on April 16, 1943, in Napoleon hospital. James and his mother lived in their home on Yeager Street from November, 1943, until June, 1946, while his father served in the U.S. Army. James attended St. Paul Lutheran School and graduated from Napoleon High School in 1961.

On June 16, 1961, he entered the U.S. Air Force and was stationed in Texas, Oklahoma, Spain, Thailand, and was discharged in June, 1965. From August, 1965, until December, 1967, he attended Pittsburgh Institute of Aeronautics. Jim worked for United Airlines in Chicago for one year. In 1968, he joined Lockhead Aircraft in Toledo as a field mechanic: In 1970, he went to work for the federal government as an air technician with the 180th Tactical Fighter unit based at Toledo, Ohio, and he is a member of the Ohio Air National Guard where he is still employed.

He married Mara Jean Rohrs on October 30, 1971, in Emanuel Lutheran Church, Napoleon, Ohio. Mara was born on April 24, 1949, daughter of Arthur C. and Denelda Meyer Rohrs of Liberty Township. The Rohrs history is in this book under MeyerRohrs. Jim and Mara reside at Route 2, Napoleon, at the corner of U.S. 6 and County Road R., on the Musshel farm were they built a new home just before their marriage.

Mara Jean graduated from Liberty Center High School in 1967. For a number of years she was 'a receptionist and switchboard operator at Campbell Soup Company at Napoleon, Ohio. In the fall of 1976 and 1977, she worked as a bookkeeper for TV Time Popcorn Company on Route 6, west of Napoleon.

James and Mara Jean have two children, Bradley Robert born on February 27, 1973, and Shelly Renee born on April 5, 1974.

Patricia Ann Musshel was born on February 6, 1948, in Napoleon. She attended St. Paul Lutheran School in Napoleon, and graduated from Napoleon High School in Napoleon in 1966. She also attended Miami University and Ohio State University.

Pat married Michael Lloyd Franz on September 16, 1967, in St. Paul Lutheran Church, Napoleon. Michael was born on February 15, 1945, son of Merle C. and Dora B. Vonier Franz of Napoleon. Mike and Pat reside in Worthington, Ohio, where Mike is a physician specializing in allergies. Michael graduated from Napoleon High School in 1963. He received his Bachelor of Arts degree from Miami University, and his medical degree from Ohio State University. Michael's internship and residency was spent at Children's Hospital in Columbus, and his Fellowship in Allergy at the University of California, Irvine, California.

Pat and Mike are the parents of Kimberly Ann, born December 8, 1969, Stephanie Lynn, born October 12, 1971, and Michael Andrew, born September 5, 1976. In August, 1978, they will be moving into a new home which is being built for them on Oakhurst Lane, Worthington, Ohio.

Richard Robert Musshel (Rick) was born on January 14, 1955, in Napoleon. He attended St. Paul Lutheran School and graduated from Napoleon High School and Four County Vocational School in 1973. He is presently employed by Kahle Builders in Defiance, Ohio, as a carpenter.

Rick married Connie Marie Bostelman on October 22, 1976, in St. John's Lutheran Church of Holgate, Ohio. Connie is the daughter of Harry G. and Helen Armbruster Bostelman of Marion Township. Connie was born on February 25, 1956. They reside in a new home on Bordeaux Drive in Napoleon. She is a 1974 graduate of Holgate High School, and attended Bowling Green State University, and the Northwest Technical College. She is employed by the Farmers Home Administration in Defiance as a county office clerk.

Nancy Jean Musshel was born on September 5, 1960. She attended St. Paul Lutheran School and will graduate from Napoleon High School and Four County Joint Vocational School in 1978. Nancy hopes to pursue her- career in the secretarial field after her graduation.

Kenneth William Frederick Musshel was born on November 10, 1923 in Napoleon Township. He attended Veigle grade school, and graduated from Napoleon High School in 1942. During World War II, he served as a commissioned officer in the Army Air Corps and was attached to the 101st and 82nd Air Borne. He was stationed in England and France. His plane was shot down over the Rhine River on March 23, 1945, and they were later rescued by the Dutch Underground.

Kenneth Musshel married Ester Louise Grubaugh on December '18, 1947, at St. Paul Lutheran Church, Napoleon, Ohio. Ester was born on October 3, 1928 to Forest and Enid Core Grubaugh of Napoleon. Kenneth and Ester are the parents of Mary Kay, Jane Ann, Kathy Sue, Karen Louise, and Pamela Jo. All of the children were born and spent their childhood in Napoleon. Ken and Ester live at 1075 Westchester, Napoleon. Ken has been employed at Central Foundry Division, General Motors, Defiance, Ohio, as a supervisor of core room since August 23, 1948. He will soon be completing his 30th year with a perfect attendance record, having never missed a scheduled day of work. Much of his spare time and vacations are spent flying his four-seater airplane. He and his family enjoy taking cross-country vacations whenever time permits. Ken has both his pilot and instrument rating licenses. He is a member of the AOPA Association.

Mary Kay was born on October 11, 1948. She attended St. Paul Lutheran School and graduated from Napoleon High School in 1966. She graduated from Computer Programming School, Toledo, Ohio, and was employed for nine and one half years at Campbell Soup Company, Napoleon, Ohio. She married Patrick Lavin on October 18, 1969, at St. John's Episcopal Church, Napoleon, Ohio. Patrick was born on April 6, 1947, a son of Joseph and Mary Finerty Lavin. Mary and Pat live on Route 4, Napoleon, where they built a new home in 1972 on the Musshel farm. Pat is employed at Midstates Farm Automation. They raise horses as a hobby. Pat and Mary Kay were the parents of Michelle Lee born August 18,1973 and Sharon born on February 13, 1977. Both infants were stillborn.

Jane Ann was born on April 6, 1952, and attended St. Paul Lutheran School and graduated from Napoleon High School in 1970. From the age of twelve years, Jane was a member of the Ohio Track Club, Columbus, Ohio, and ran on a national level for six years. Jane and Melvin Frederick Zehnder were married on June 3, 1977. He is a son of Harold and Erna Roedel Zehnder, and was born on February 9, 1940. Melvin is project coordinator of Frankenmuth Independence Village, a retirement center. Jane, Mel, and daughter, Rachel Johanna, reside . on Portsmouth Road, Saginaw, Michigan.

Kathy Sue was born on May 25, 1957, and attended St. Paul School and graduated from Napoleon High School in 1975. She graduated from the Buckeye School of Nursing, Archbold, Ohio, and is employed at Defiance City Hospital. She married George Schmidt III, who was born on November 6, 1949, a son of George and Nina Dyer Schmidt, on October 9, 1976 at St. Paul Lutheran Church in Napoleon, Ohio. George is employed by the Napoleon Police Department. They reside on LaGrange Street, Napoleon.

Karen Louise was born on April 22, 1961, and attended St. Paul Lutheran School, and is a junior in Napoleon High School. She is a member of the girl's basketball team, and her favorite hobby is horses.

Pamela Jo was born on September 29, 1963. She will graduate from St. Paul's School on June 5, 1978. Pam has played clarinet in St. Paul Crusader band for four years. She is active in various sports. Next fall she will attend Napoleon High School where she hopes to participate in band and girl's sports activities.

Submitted by: Mara Jean Musshel