JOSEPH KAISER

KAISER, WELL KNOWN MUSIC TEACHER, DIES
Was Leading Figure In Country Music Circles For Many Years
Prof. Joseph Kaiser, 73, a leading figure in county music circles
for the past 50 years, died at his home, 1023 Chicago street, Friday
afternoon. He suffered heart attach about 3 p.m. and died before the
arrival of a physician.
Coming here 50 years ago with renown as a concert violinist and having
already directed the Minneapolis orchestra, he started giving private
music lessons and continued doing so until a few years ago when he
became director of the Manitowoc Concert orchestra, which was disbanded
about a year ago.
Many musicians in the county received their training under Prof. Kaiser,
who also gave piano lessons and instructions in harmony. His pupils came
from all over the county and he went to Two Rivers and other places to
give lessons.
Funeral Services will be held Monday afternoon at 2 o’clock from the
Wattawa, Urbanek and Schlei funeral home with the Rev. C. H. Phipps
officiating. Interment will be in Evergreen cemetery.
Prof. Kaiser was born Bingen-on-the-Rhine in 1869. His musical education
started when he was a boy and when his parents moved to Darmstadt he
became a pupil of Miroslaw Weber, famous violinist who was concertmaster
at the Court Opera. He often appeared in concerts there and later entered
the conservatory at Frankfurt, continuing to Mayence from there. At the
age of 19 he became a teacher at the conservatory at Mayence and connected
with the Opera.
Before he was 21 he came to the United States and maintained a studio in
Minneapolis where he also directed the orchestra and often appeared in
concerts. After a few years he was induced to come Manitowoc where he
remained.
Many piano and violin compositions were credited to him and he arranged
nearly 100 compositions for string quintets. Among his activities here in
addition to his private lessons was the direction of the Manitowoc Freier
Seangerbund for several years.
When the Manitowoc Concert Orchestra was formed several years ago through
cooperation of federal agencies, he was named the director. This
organization was composed of some of the best musicians in the county and
rehearsed and gave concerts almost daily. With this job he had to drop the
giving private lessons, and he did not resume after the orchestra was
disbanded.
About 37 years ago he married Miss Libby Barta, who survives with two sons,
Joseph Jr., and Corp. Fred Kaiser who is stationed in New Jersey.
Manitowoc Herald Times, Sat, 31 Oct 1942
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[d. 10-30-1942/age 73 yrs./cause: coronary occlusion]