William Iles Gansert

GANSERT, BAWDEN, MUELLER, DETJENS

Posted By: Carol Bawden (email)
Date: 5/29/2007 at 15:20:04

WILLIAM ILES GANSERT (Mary Louise Iles5, Mary Terrill Bawden4, Stephen & Mary Terrill3, Stephen and Elizabeth Jelbert2, Stephen and Lucretia1) born 13 July 1896 in Davenport, Scott County, IA, son of William and Mary Louise Iles Gansert.

Shortly after his birth, the family returned to their home at 807 22nd Street, Rock Island, Rock Island County, IL. This is now part of the Broadway Historic District. William graduated from high school and attended private Stanford University near San Francisco, CA. “Iles” returned to Rock Island shortly before his father’s death in 1919 to work in the family candy company.

On 4 June 1920, William married Helen Katherine Detjens in Trinity Episcopal Church in Rock Island, Rock Island County, IL. Helen was born 2 May 1897, daughter of Herman and Katherine Mueller Detjens in Rock Island. Helen graduated from Rock Island High School and Monticello Seminary in Alton, Madison County, IL. She attended the University of Chicago [IL] and graduated from the Technical Normal School of Chicago as a dietician.

After William and Helen were married, mother Mary Iles Gansert moved to Davenport, Scott County, IA, giving the Gansert family home to her son. In 1925, William left Helen and 4-year-old son John Iles Gansert, and moved to the San Francisco bay area.

Helen remained in Rock Island where she was society editor for the [Davenport] Daily Times newspaper until 1944. In 1945, she became society editor for the [Rock Island] Argus newspaper, and editor of the International Harvester [farm implement mfgr] magazine.

After John graduated from Grinnell College, Grinnell, IA, Helen moved with him to Pasadena, CA, where she organized the scientific library at the Naval Ordnance Test Station at Inyokern, CA. Helen Gansert attended college near her home in Scottsdale, AZ She died in Scottsdale, Maricopa County, AZ on 15 February 2001