The Dale Trumbore Hagenbuch Family

One would think that after all these years, Andrew and I would be able to easily place any Hagenbuch relative that we find onto our family tree. In most instances this is true, as it is with the people this article is about. However, once in a while we still run across Hagenbuchs who we don’t have enough information about. That stymies us from placing them, until we get more details from the family about their ancestors, including a grandfather, great grandfather, and so on.

Right now, this is happening with a Hagenbuch family group from Michigan that we received an inquiry about. They should fit right onto the branches of our already known Michigan relatives but, alas, they do not. I am hoping that in the next few weeks I can write about this Michigan family and share their descent from the patriarch, Andreas Hagenbuch (b. 1715).

In the meantime, we’ll explore a Hagenbuch family from the Quakertown, Pennsylvania area who have been placed in Beechroots; however no article has ever been done about them. Andrew suggested I write about Dale Trumbore Hagenbuch who died in January of this year. Previous to writing this article we had names, dates, and places about Dale’s family but no other details—until he passed and his obituary was published.

Dale Trumbore Hagenbuch (b. 1940, d. 2024). Credit: Nauglefcs.com

Andrew sent me Dale’s obituary and after reading about his interesting life, I knew I had to do an article on his family. The text of his obituary is below:

Dale T. Hagenbuch, 83, of Quakertown, PA passed away in his home peacefully on January 4, 2024, surrounded by loved ones. He was born in Quakertown, PA on Dec 7, 1940 to the late Raymond and Blanche (Trumbore) Hagenbuch. He was married for 62 years to his devoted wife Helen.

Dale had developed a strong work ethic as a young boy by setting traps before school, newspaper delivery, movie theater attendant and a cigar box maker. After graduating high school, Dale began his career as a carpenter at Moyer Construction. Dale loved his carpentry career hanging drop ceilings for large businesses including hospitals and large department stores for 40 years. After retirement, Dale worked part time as a handyman at Success Rehabilitation. He had a joy of being up early every day to start a new project or to just tinker in the garage or basement. Dale’s hobbies include restoration of his 1968 Pontiac Firebird, vacuums, cap guns, big bang cannons and Schwinn bikes. He also enjoyed car shows, remote control cars, fishing, metal detecting, watching comedy sitcoms, following NHRA drag racing, listening to oldies, car maintenance and walks with his wife. Dale loved spending time with his grandchildren often taking them to playgrounds, teaching them how to ride a bike and giving them big hugs. His favorite meal was any meal that included a meat and a potato especially if it ended with his wife’s chocolate cake. Dale was a Pittsburgh Steelers fan and would often be waving his “Terrible Towel” proudly during games.

Dale is survived by his wife Helen (Lehman) Hagenbuch, his two sons; Scott Hagenbuch (Lisa), Brian Hagenbuch (Angela), and grandchildren; Alex Hagenbuch (Lerin), Dallas Hagenbuch (Kylie), McKenzie Hagenbuch, Grant Hagenbuch, Samantha Hagenbuch, Larson Hagenbuch; his great grandchildren; Parker Hagenbuch and Millie Hagenbuch and other loving friends and family. Predeceased by siblings Elaine (Hagenbuch) Carson and Raymond Neil Hagenbuch.

Dale was married to Helen Lehman in 1961. They have two sons Scott Brian (b. 1964) and Brian Scott (b. 1972). Dale had two siblings: Elaine, who married Alfred Carson, and has one son Robert Carson; and Raymond Neil, who married Emilia Gugliandolo, and has four children: Lisa, Steven, Michael, and Melanie.

Dale’s father, Raymond Paul was born at East Greenville, PA in 1914 and died in 2005. He married Blanche Trumbore in 1932. They divorced in 1946. Raymond did not remarry that we know of as, I was in contact with him in the 1980s when he was living in Fort Meyers, Florida. He gave me information on the family at that time.

Interstate Hosiery Mill in Lansdale, PA, c. 1940: Credit: Facebook.com/Lansdale Historical Society

According to the 1940 census, Raymond and Blanche lived in Lansdale, PA where he was working in a hosiery mill. Their children, Elaine (7 years old) and Neil (5 years old), were also listed in the census, but Dale was not since he had not been born yet. In 1943 Raymond enlisted in the army. Five months later he received a medical discharge, including a diagnosis of acute nasopharyngitis “in the line of duty.” Nasopharyngitis is defined as the common cold.

Raymond’s parents were Stewart Samuel Hagenbuch (b. 1882, d. 1955) and Elizabeth Garr (b. 1892, d. 1934). Along with their son, Raymond, they had two daughters: Evna Victoria (b. 1909, d. 1958, m. Allen Dorn) and Rita Edyth (b. 1923, d. 2003, m. Mr. Santana—his first name is not known). In the 1920 census, Stewart Samuel Hagenbuch’s job was recorded as “cigar maker” and he was living with wife “Lizzie” and their children Evna and Raymond in East Greenville, PA. Stewart and Lizzie are buried at St. Mark’s Church Cemetery in Pennsburg, PA.

Gravestone of Stewart Samuel and Elizabeth (Garr) Hagenbuch at St. Mark’s Church, Pennsburg, PA. Credit: Findagrave.com/Tom Meyers

Stewart’s parents were Andrew J. Hagenbuch (b. 1852, d. 1939) and Andrew’s first wife, Ellen Schnabel (b. 1850, d. 1888). Along with Stewart, four other children were born to this marriage. After Ellen died in 1888, Andrew remarried to Diana Stroh and that marriage produced 10 children. In other words, 15 children claimed Andrew J. Hagenbuch as their father! Andrew was a farmer northeast of East Greenville, PA. He and both wives are buried in Pennsburg at the United Church of Christ cemetery.

Dale’s legacy as a descendant of a Hagenbuch family with a lot of relatives is well grounded. His line is Andreas (b. 1715) > Henry I (b. 1737) > Henry II (b. 1786) > Joseph (b. 1811) > Andrew J. (b. 1852) > Stewart Samuel (b. 1882) > Raymond Paul (b. 1914) > Dale Trumbore (b. 1940).

The satisfaction that Andrew and I receive from tracking down and learning about Hagenbuchs and our allied families is fulfilling. But, even more fulfilling is making a personal acquaintance with our long lost relatives. I have read through Dale’s obituary several times and I regret that we never met, although he lived only a few hours from my home in Dillsburg, PA. Hopefully, this situation does not happen often and we Hagenbuchs get to know each other through written articles and meeting face to face.