Albert Raymond Caler, 90, of Columbus died Thursday, May 5, 2011, at Maude Norton Hospital in Columbus.
He was born Oct. 16, 1920, in LaHarpe, to Albert D. and Alice Maude (Ransom) Caler. He attended a country school in a small community between Piqua and Yates Center and later earned his general education diploma.
He worked at the Lehigh Cement Plant in Iola where he did timekeeping and safety training. He worked for the Kansas Job Service Centers in Abilene and Coffeyville.
He was inducted into military service at Fort Leavenworth on Aug. 22, 1942, and went into the U.S. Army Air Force Division. He completed quartermaster school at Camp Lee, Va., on Nov. 11, 1944, and was discharged Jan. 26, 1946 with a rank of sergeant.
On Aug. 19, 1989, he married Sandra Kauffman Daniel in Independence. The couple liked to dance, and he enjoyed feeding and watering the birds, and he liked to go fishing.
He was a member of First United Methodist Church, Columbus, and previously of First United Methodist Church, Independence, and Neewollah Campers of Independence, Elks Lodge of Iola, and American Legion of Columbus. He sang in the church choir at both churches, and was formerly a member of the Monday Music Club, Independence.
He is survived by his wife of the home, stepson, Bill Daniel, Griffin, Ga.; stepdaughter, Susan Daniel-Brey and her husband, Ed Brey, Columbus; grandchildren, Robert Daniel and his wife Leann, Burlington, and Stephanie Brey, Columbus; two stepgrandchildren; three stepgreat-grandchildren; many nieces, nephews and cousins.
Al was preceded in death by his brothers, Dewey, Wayne and Dale, and sisters, Nadine Hoag and Lucille Lang. He was the father of Dennis Caler, who was born in 1952 and died in 2004.
Memorial services will be at 10:30 a.m. Thursday at First United Methodist Church, 320 W. Maple, Columbus, with his stepdaughter, the Rev. Susan Daniel-Brey, officiating. Visitation will take place 30 minutes prior to service. Inumment of his ashes will be in Highland Cemetery in Iola at 3 p.m. Thursday.
Memorials to Johnson Cancer Center, KSU may be sent in care of Murdock Funeral Home, 132 E. Pine St., P.O. Box 227, Columbus, KS 66725.
Albert Caler
