MILDRED (von TOUR) BASLER 12/08/1917 - 6/19/2016 The amazing 98-year-old fireball, Mimi Basler - brilliant, beautiful, talented... so many other adjectives - passed away peacefully in her sleep in her own bed last Sunday night in Honolulu with her husband Clint by her side, as he has been for over 73 years, in the house his grandfather built in 1918, the house in which Clint was born almost 98 years ago, and the home Mimi loved so much and where she and Clint have lived since 1977 after many years abroad. Anyone who ever knew Mimi knows her as uniqueness on steroids - elegant, dramatic, literary, bright, cosmopolitan world traveler, fantastic artist (who else could paint a coal-black dog of whom we could hardly even get a decent photo?), fabulous gourmet cook, the family's queen of 'Hearts', hostess with the mostest. Most of all, she was a loving mother to her daughters Tina and Fuzzi, and a devoted wife to Clint, who spent this last Father's Day alone without her. Mimi was born in Buhl, a little village in the northern iron range of Minnesota. Her mother, Mary von Tour, was married to Theodore Madrinovich. As the family fell on hard times, when Mimi was seven, she was left in the care of a caring, young schoolteacher in Skybo, Minnesota. The teacher, Miss Martha Anderson, took Mimi in, provided a strong early education, and provided her first 'job' doing chores in the one-room schoolhouse. (Many years later Mimi and her husband Clint visited Skybo, found the relocated schoolhouse and remarkably discovered Miss Anderson who, at 106 years old, still remembered and talked about Mimi's two-year stay with her!) Mimi was the youngest of five remarkable siblings. Though impoverished, all attended college: an older sister worked in public administration, one brother becoming a doctor at the Mayo Clinic, and the other two brothers became distinguished veterinarians. Mimi attended Northwestern University, but did not finish for lack of funds. Given her style and talents, Mimi found work readily in Chicago and soon met Clinton Basler, then a freshman at the University of Chicago. Clint and Mimi were immediately attracted to each other. Their casual relationship continued and deepened for several years until finally, seriously minded, they were married January 19, 1943. With the onset of World War II, Clint served as an Army Captain and Company Commander in the 771st Tank Battalion in the European theater. Mimi moved with his postings to Texas and Fort Benning, Georgia. When Clint was sent to overseas, Mimi headed to Washington, D.C., living with his mother and stepfather. There, Mimi worked for the Brazilian Embassy, learning Brazilian Portuguese, which stayed with her the rest of her life. Mimi and Clint started their post-WWII life by settling in New Jersey for Clint's management training with the Sterling Drug International Division. Two daughters, Kathryn (Tina) and Deborah (Fuzzi) arrived over the next few years. Clint's first posting for Sterling was to Hawaii; he and Mimi and the two girls lived for three years in Kailua. A six-year stint in Singapore followed and Mimi founded and led the first Girl Scout Troop in Southeast Asia. Mimi took the girls camping, braving tropical coral snakes and other exotic wildlife! She also studied classic Chinese cooking with Prime Minister Lee Kuan Yew's mother; Mimi's dinner parties in Singapore were legendary. Mimi and the girls followed Clinton with his next assignment in Kingston, Jamaica, where the family lived for seventeen years, residing for a time in the former home of Ian Fleming, the author of the James Bond novels. Reposted to Hawaii in 1977, Mimi and Clinton moved into the home built for his mother, Iwalani Ripley, by his grandfather, distinguished architect Clinton Ripley, a home Mimi and Clint have loved and lived in for 38 years. During that period, Mimi was very active and involved in the community; she served as docent at Iolani Palace, docent and volunteer at the Bishop Museum, and was active in the Outdoor Circle, Kaneohe Yacht Club, Outrigger Canoe Club, and the Daughters of Hawaii. Please send your prayers, thoughts and wishes to Clint, who cared for her and was with her until the very end - she passed away holding his hand. They were married for almost 74 years, and his devotion to her, their devotion to each other, was humbling and magnificent. Mimi leaves her husband Clinton; daughter Katherine 'Tina' (Mark) Terry of Star Valley, AZ; daughter Deborah 'Fuzzi' Basler (husband John 'Tam' Tamulonis) of Eugene, OR; grandson Sean Basler of Brooklyn, NY; grandson Clinton (Kai) Tamulonis of Seattle, WA; and best cuddler, visiting emotional-support dog, Maile. The Baslers would especially like to thank our angel-caregivers, Polla and Louise, who helped make Mimi's last several months safe, healthy, comfortable, and fun. Mimi's grandson, Kai, described her passing in this delightful way: "While she's moved on from this world, she's got the best seat on the lanai up above." That's for sure. Aloha nui kako, Mimi/Mummy/Tutu! Services Tuesday June 28, 2016 10:00 AM Reception to Follow Oahu Cemetery Chapel 2162 Nuuanu Ave., Honolulu Aloha wear, please, and no flowers or donations
MILDRED (von TOUR) BASLER 12/08/1917 - 6/19/2016 The amazing 98-year-old fireball, Mimi Basler - brilliant, beautiful, talented... so many other adjectives - passed away peacefully in her sleep in her own bed last Sunday night in Honolulu with her husband Clint by her side, as he has been for over 73 years, in the house his grandfather built in 1918, the house in which Clint was born almost 98 years ago, and the home Mimi loved so much and where she and Clint have lived since 1977 after many years abroad. Anyone who ever knew Mimi knows her as uniqueness on steroids - elegant, dramatic, literary, bright, cosmopolitan world traveler, fantastic artist (who else could paint a coal-black dog of whom we could hardly even get a decent photo?), fabulous gourmet cook, the family's queen of 'Hearts', hostess with the mostest. Most of all, she was a loving mother to her daughters Tina and Fuzzi, and a devoted wife to Clint, who spent this last Father's Day alone without her. Mimi was born in Buhl, a little village in the northern iron range of Minnesota. Her mother, Mary von Tour, was married to Theodore Madrinovich. As the family fell on hard times, when Mimi was seven, she was left in the care of a caring, young schoolteacher in Skybo, Minnesota. The teacher, Miss Martha Anderson, took Mimi in, provided a strong early education, and provided her first 'job' doing chores in the one-room schoolhouse. (Many years later Mimi and her husband Clint visited Skybo, found the relocated schoolhouse and remarkably discovered Miss Anderson who, at 106 years old, still remembered and talked about Mimi's two-year stay with her!) Mimi was the youngest of five remarkable siblings. Though impoverished, all attended college: an older sister worked in public administration, one brother becoming a doctor at the Mayo Clinic, and the other two brothers became distinguished veterinarians. Mimi attended Northwestern University, but did not finish for lack of funds. Given her style and talents, Mimi found work readily in Chicago and soon met Clinton Basler, then a freshman at the University of Chicago. Clint and Mimi were immediately attracted to each other. Their casual relationship continued and deepened for several years until finally, seriously minded, they were married January 19, 1943. With the onset of World War II, Clint served as an Army Captain and Company Commander in the 771st Tank Battalion in the European theater. Mimi moved with his postings to Texas and Fort Benning, Georgia. When Clint was sent to overseas, Mimi headed to Washington, D.C., living with his mother and stepfather. There, Mimi worked for the Brazilian Embassy, learning Brazilian Portuguese, which stayed with her the rest of her life. Mimi and Clint started their post-WWII life by settling in New Jersey for Clint's management training with the Sterling Drug International Division. Two daughters, Kathryn (Tina) and Deborah (Fuzzi) arrived over the next few years. Clint's first posting for Sterling was to Hawaii; he and Mimi and the two girls lived for three years in Kailua. A six-year stint in Singapore followed and Mimi founded and led the first Girl Scout Troop in Southeast Asia. Mimi took the girls camping, braving tropical coral snakes and other exotic wildlife! She also studied classic Chinese cooking with Prime Minister Lee Kuan Yew's mother; Mimi's dinner parties in Singapore were legendary. Mimi and the girls followed Clinton with his next assignment in Kingston, Jamaica, where the family lived for seventeen years, residing for a time in the former home of Ian Fleming, the author of the James Bond novels. Reposted to Hawaii in 1977, Mimi and Clinton moved into the home built for his mother, Iwalani Ripley, by his grandfather, distinguished architect Clinton Ripley, a home Mimi and Clint have loved and lived in for 38 years. During that period, Mimi was very active and involved in the community; she served as docent at Iolani Palace, docent and volunteer at the Bishop Museum, and was active in the Outdoor Circle, Kaneohe Yacht Club, Outrigger Canoe Club, and the Daughters of Hawaii. Please send your prayers, thoughts and wishes to Clint, who cared for her and was with her until the very end - she passed away holding his hand. They were married for almost 74 years, and his devotion to her, their devotion to each other, was humbling and magnificent. Mimi leaves her husband Clinton; daughter Katherine 'Tina' (Mark) Terry of Star Valley, AZ; daughter Deborah 'Fuzzi' Basler (husband John 'Tam' Tamulonis) of Eugene, OR; grandson Sean Basler of Brooklyn, NY; grandson Clinton (Kai) Tamulonis of Seattle, WA; and best cuddler, visiting emotional-support dog, Maile. The Baslers would especially like to thank our angel-caregivers, Polla and Louise, who helped make Mimi's last several months safe, healthy, comfortable, and fun. Mimi's grandson, Kai, described her passing in this delightful way: "While she's moved on from this world, she's got the best seat on the lanai up above." That's for sure. Aloha nui kako, Mimi/Mummy/Tutu! Services Tuesday June 28, 2016 10:00 AM Reception to Follow Oahu Cemetery Chapel 2162 Nuuanu Ave., Honolulu Aloha wear, please, and no flowers or donations
Our deepest condolences to the family and friends of the deceased
