On July 1, 2009, the 89-year-old WWII pilot Herb Kaiser made his final fly-up attempt, but the control-tower EMTs brought him back for engine repairs. Next day, Herb used all his remaining strength to get out of gravity, and the world lost his presence at 9 p.m. on July 2, 2009.
At the time, Herb was at home in Ouray, Colorado where he had spent summers since 1971. As a child, Herb lived with his parents and younger brother, Guy, in Ft. Wayne, Indiana. Musical pursuits led to a BA in Music Ed from Jordan Conservatory of Butler University in Indianapolis. Herb and future wife Charmion met in the Butler-Jordan Performing Choir and were married in 1944, while Herb was in flight training.
Herb and Charm moved to Ojai in 1949 where Herb joined the staff of Nordhoff High School and taught music for 32 years. He served on the OUSD Board and took a turn as president of the Teachers Association and the Lions Club. Herb expressed himself musically in a barber shop quartet and as the choir director at the local Baptist church. He greatly loved playing Santa for the Mormon Church as the children tried in vain to figure out who he was. Herb's sense of humor and generous heart were with him all the days of his life. The Kaisers left Ojai in 1980 and enjoyed living in Ventura for 10 years. They then made their final move to Los Osos where canoeing and bird watching, mahjong, and working for the Morro Bay Art Association kept Herb busy.
Herb is preceded in death by his parents and son Adrian who was 25. Survivors include the love-of-his-life Charm, daughter Adele and son-in-law Douglas Schmalenberger, grandson Derek, brother Guy, one niece, and five nephews.
A celebration of Herb's life is planned for Aug. 23 in Ouray, CO and all are welcome to attend. Herb's ashes will be laid to rest in Ventura and a memorial will be held at that time in September.
I will never forget the years in choir with Mr. Kaiser. We sure put him though things in choir...he hated it when people chewed gum and made them deposit it into the trash can when he caught them. One year he invited all the choir members to come to his house so we could see the huge Christmas tree with all the wonderful decorations that he and his wife had collected from all over the world. That made such an impact on me that when I married I also started colleting decorations from all over the world, as well as buying unique and different decorations from the old round balls our parents had on their trees. He had a sense of humor, but it was hard to read him sometimes. I wondered if he still lived in Ojai or had moved, and now I know. He will be remembered for much, but never forgotten...
Katy Shaffer (Johnson)
I will never forget the years in choir with Mr. Kaiser. We sure put him though things in choir...he hated it when people chewed gum and made them deposit it into the trash can when he caught them. One year he invited all the choir members to come to his house so we could see the huge Christmas tree with all the wonderful decorations that he and his wife had collected from all over the world. That made such an impact on me that when I married I also started colleting decorations from all over the world, as well as buying unique and different decorations from the old round balls our parents had on their trees. He had a sense of humor, but it was hard to read him sometimes. I wondered if he still lived in Ojai or had moved, and now I know. He will be remembered for much, but never forgotten...