Bastian "Cap" Wabeke

Bastian 'Cap' Wabeke was born July 27, 1931 to Cornelius and Helen (Muilenburg) Wabeke on his parent’s farm near Hatfield, Minnesota in Pipestone County. The family moved to Pipestone when he was five and he attended school there into the eighth grade, at which time the family moved to Iowa. He graduated from Sioux Center High School in 1949. After working a year on the farm, he joined the U.S. Air Force on May 23, 1951 and served in the Korean War. He was discharged on May 20, 1955. On August 30, 1955 Bastian married Marilynn Dekker in her parent’s home. He resumed his education, studying two years at Northwestern College in Orange City, Iowa, and graduated with a bachelor’s degree from Westmar College in Le Mars, Iowa in 1959. Bastian then began a long career in education and coaching. After teaching two years in Archer, Iowa, he came to Ruthton in 1961 where he taught Physics and Higher Math, moving to Russell-Tyler-Ruthton High School when the districts paired in 1987. He retired in 1993. He had coached multiple sports, and was named Minnesota Class A Basketball Coach of the Year in 1981. In 2014 he became a resident of the Golden Living Center in Slayton, Minnesota. There on Sunday, December 21, 2014 Bastian died at the age of 83.

Bastian was a member of Peace United Methodist Church in Pipestone. He was a member of Woodrow Wilson American Legion Post #506 in Ruthton. He enjoyed hunting, bowling, fast-pitch softball, baseball, woodworking, gardening, and bird watching, although he got his greatest joy from watching his grandchildren play sports.

Bastian is lovingly remembered by his wife, Marilynn, of Ruthton; his children, Dawn (Bruce) Schelhaas of Balaton, MN, David (Anita) Wabeke of Arlington, VA, Renee (John) Vande Voort of Enumclaw, WA, Michael (Colleen) Wabeke of Albert City, IA, Gary (Mary) Wabeke of Ruthton, MN, Bastian (Chong I) Wabeke, Jr. of Manassas, VA, and Christopher (Laura) Wabeke of Branchville, NJ; 19 grandchildren, 15 great-grandchildren; brothers, Francis of Battle Creek, MI, Gerrit (Betty) of Pipestone, MN, and Cornelius Jr. (Delores) of Newell, IA; and many other relatives and friends. He was preceded in death by his parents; sister Christina (Wayne) Pike; brothers John, Arie (Betty), and Jacobus (Margaret); and sister-in-law Juanita Wabeke.

Blessed be his memory.

A tribute page for memorials for Cap Wabeke and the fight against Alzheimer’s disease may be found at: act.alz.org/goto/cap