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Connie Balder Mickolajak
put us in contact with cousin Martha Greenwood Spaans, who is the granddaughter of
Ernest and Clara Greenwood (née Kampa).
Clara was one of the "Famous Fourteen," children of ancestors Joseph and
Theresa Kampa (née Balder). Martha did an incredible job of researching her
Greenwood family line, and her siblings have contributed much to her efforts. All have
graciously shared the information, biographies and old family photographs with us, excellent material too numerous to list
individually. We invite you to come meet our Greenwood-Kampa
cousins, and extend our heartfelt thanks and gratitude to Martha and her
family!
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This fantastic old photograph pictured in miniature at left was
originally made from a daguerreotype supplied by Gerry Stimmler of Clear Lake, MN in 1972. The daguerreotype is of
ancestors Johann, Lenaney, son
Nicholas (later Father Valentine Nicholas Stimmler, OSB) and an unidentified
priest, circa 1856-1858 or possibly earlier. Both Robert Mullally and
Paul Stimmler contributed this picture to the family group, for which we are
most grateful. Also, discovered through research was a reference in the
book History of Philadelphia, 1609-1884 to
Johann's and Lenaney's older son
Johann Stimmler (1829-1906)'s service as Sergeant-at-Arms for the Catholic Total
Abstinence Archdiocesan Union.
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Linda Ward recently returned from a trip to the Midwest and while visiting
her sister, Kathy, and going through some boxes of old family photographs and items that had been in her parents' attic for years,
she discovered some wonderful pictures and a newspaper clipping with an obituary for her
grandmother, Magdalena Kampa (née Haaf) which she now kindly shares with
the family. Thank you so much, Linda, for your generosity!
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Connie Balder Mickolajak
recently connected with her Zertler cousins. After her great-grandfather Frank Balder the brewer
died, Connie's great-grandmother Dora Balder (née Eckles) married
Frederick "Fritz" William Zertler, who had served as a
"guard-Artillerist" in the 1866 Austro Prussian War. Dora and Fritz had a son, Arthur,
who was half-brother to Connie's grandfather Louis. Arthur's
son, Art Zertler, and his family have shared with Connie and the family group
photographs of the Zertler clan. We welcome this new branch of the family!
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Dana Stimler has kindly contributed two old family photographs of her great-great-grandmothers
Mary Catherine Rhoades (née Seibert) and
Anna E. Stickney (née Noonan) with her granddaughter
Alice Stickney (Dana's maternal grandmother). The photograph of Anna Stickney
is the only known picture of this ancestor. We appreciate Dana sharing these rare photos with the family group.
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There is a new group of photographs entitled Moving
the Herd at the Flaming "A" Ranch showing Dick Stimler, friends and family
working on his Oregon ranch in the 1970s. An additional photograph of the Weingard and Stimler kids was added to
The Weingards Visit the Stimlers, May 1968, Vallejo California. And two undated letters
from Ruby Stickney (née Rhoades) to her great-grandchildren telling of her meetings with Santa Claus, one from
approximately December 1955 and the other approximately
December 1956, have been included along with photographs of Ruby's great-grandchildren
from that same time frame.
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Martin Holz, through his
professional genealogy contacts, has connected with German researcher Wilhelm A. Schmitz who, with two other
partners, uncovered arcane information about the three Stümmler family lines of Boke and Holsen, Germany. The Stümmlers may be related
to or ancestors of our Stimmler / Stimler lineage. Mr. Schmitz's and his partners' research was from ancient records only available
in person at Paderborn's Archbishop Archives which were shared with Martin; Martin has generously passed this
information on to us. A copy of the letter and kind translation by Martin's cousin
Lucia Nezlek is listed at Ancestor Lineages on
Stümmler. We are most indebted to Martin, Lucia and Mr. Schmitz for their roles in uncovering these unique
pieces to the family puzzle, and thank them so much for sharing!
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Herbert Wood Jackman,
the father of Kathi and Charley Jackman, passed away earlier this year on February 4, 2003
at the age of 91. His daughter-in-law Judi Bordeaux created a moving celebration of
his life in a slide show format with music for his funeral. This is our first multimedia presentation on the family site
and requires a RealOne Player be installed on your computer.
A free copy of the software is available at the link above. An added bonus is a photograph
of Judi's brothers Tom and Leon Bordua in front of Leon's first car, a Corvair,
circa 1966. Thank you so much, Judi!
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Marlene Armentrout and
Mabel Howarth have kindly contributed further family obituaries, including one for
Otto Balder; his wife,
Cora; two obituaries each for Rena
and Joseph Brambrink; one for
Alvina Balder (née Rau), a death certificate
for Charles Balder, and the baptismal
certificate for Adelaide Laughery (née Balder). In addition, they
shared information relating to her great-uncle, Barney Balder,
including a copy of two newspaper articles regarding his tragic
demise and resulting court case. We are very grateful for Marlene's and
Mabel's contributions.
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We suffered two heartbreaking losses in one week -- Craig and Denise Collings McGlone's beloved son Jason and our
Stimmler cousins' dear Aunt Gertrude passed away. Jason was only 26 years old when he died on October 7, 2003 in Oakland
County. Mary Francis (Gertrude) Smith (Sister Rose of St. Joseph's), age 90, passed away peacefully in her sleep
the following evening, October 8. The family's grief is shared by many and we send our prayers and deepest sympathy to all
at this sad time.
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We are saddened to report the death of family member
William F. Herbst at the Foley Nursing Home on July 31, 2003 at the age of 75.
He was the son of William Joseph and Clara J. Herbst (née Kampa).
William lived his entire life in the Duelm area where he worked as a heavy equipment operator
until his retirement. He was a US Army Veteran of the Korean War and an Honorary Life Member of the Foley Knights
of Columbus Bishop Marty Council #3603, Glendorado VFW Post #806. Funeral services will be 10:30 a.m. Monday,
August 4, 2003, at St. Lawrence Catholic Church, Duelm with the Rev. Tom Olson officiating. We extend our sincere
condolences to his friends and family.
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Cousin
Joe Hall has shared his copies of some family obituaries, including those of
his aunts Mrs. Helen Parent (née Stimler),
Mrs. Alma Hamer (née Stimler), Mrs. Florence Sauer (née Stimler)
Mrs. Marie Parent (née Stimler) and
Mrs. Leona Olsen (née Stimler). He also has shared his research
of the photograph collection at the Minnesota State Historical Society, and as a result there now is a photo gallery of
old Foley, Minnesota from approximately 1912 through the 1950s. Our thanks go out to Joe for his kindness and good work!
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There's a new star in our family firmament! Tyler Nicholas "Ty" Stimmler
was born at Bryn Mawr hospital in Bryn Mawr, Pennsylvania on July 30th to parents Terri-Lynn and Andrew Stimmler. He was 7 pounds and
13 ounces and is the seventh grandchild (and first Stimmler surname grandchild) of Gale and
Paul Stimmler. Both mother and son are doing fine, and the baby is beautiful!
Congratulations to all!
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Denise Collings McGlone has some wonderful pictures of the
Dziuk and Popilek families, including this fantastic photograph of her great-grandmother, Annie Dziuk, in five generations taken in 1975 in miniature at right.
As a result there are now biographies for pioneer ancestors Peter Paul and
Mary Anna Popilek (née Kurz), and their son Joseph and
his wife Annie Popilek
(née Dziuk). She also has provided family relationship pages for the Urban Popilek and Johanna Wotka
and the Nicholas Kampa and Maria Jurczyk (Jurek) lines. Thank you so much, Denise,
for sharing your excellent research and great photos!
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There will be a Jurek family reunion at
Gilman Recreational Park on June 28, 2003. Dinner will be at 1 p.m. and the cost is $7.
Please contact Jan Rueckert, 38373 48th St., Foley, MN 56329 (320) 355-2491 for
reservations and further information. A memorable time will be had by all!
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Robert Mullally has
been sharing a number of fascinating family photographs, plat maps and information regarding our
mutual ancestors. A couple of these items are pictured in miniature. At left is a tintype of
Father Valentine (Nicholas) Stimmler OSB,
about the time of his first Mass, celebrated at the Assumption Church in Manayunk, PA on
April 11, 1869. At right is a photograph of matriarch
"Lenaney" Stimmler (née Schmitt), wife of
Johann Stimmler (1791-1870). Robert has written a
Anthony Stimmler Chronology,
Anthony Stimmler Civil War Record Chronology,
and provided copies of the Anthony Stimmler Civil
War Pension File (including Widow's Pension File). Other contributions of interest
include a plat map of Laketown Town Road, a detail
of the plate map of Lake Town, MN (showing location of Stimmler and Schaaf properties), a
detail of the plate map of Lake Town, MN (showing location of Stimmler
and Kaufmann properties), a recent photograph of the
F. Anthony Stimmler's farm and barn he built in Clear Lake, MN,
in addition to a map of the new Hennepin County Park in Maple
Plain, MN showing the location of the old Stimmler household. There are photographs of Robert's grandmother
Sophia Dingmann (née Stimmler), including her
as a young woman, Edward H. and Sophia Dingmann
(née Stimmler) on their wedding day, May 14, 1895 and the
Ed and Sophia Dingmann family about 1917.
There's also a wonderful picture of the Robert R. and
Mary Ann (Thurk) Mullally Family. Thank you so much, Robert, for all your excellent work!
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Marlene Armentrout has
kindly contributed a number of family obituaries, including one for
Mrs. Catherine Balder; her husband
Edward Balder; obituaries for Martha
and Frank Balder; one for
John Abfalter and another for
John Siscely (husbands of Lucy Balder); plus an obituary for
Lucy's sister Clara and two for Clara's husband,
Frank Winkelman, one from the
St. Cloud Daily Times and the other from the
Benton County News. In addition, she and relative Mabel Howarth
shared information relating to her grandparents, Reuben "Ruby"
and Mabel Balder, including a copy of their
marriage certificate and several obituaries
for them both. We are very grateful for Marlene's and Mabel's contributions.
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Martin Holz has
accomplished some fantastic research into the roots of the Abfalter family in Germany. As a result,
there are new biographies for ancestors Aloysius (1755-1826)
and Maria Abfalter, and also their eldest son
Frank (1787-1846) and his wife
Catharina Abfalter (1793-?). Working with him has
been Sharon Farrah, who has discovered immigration
records for Frank, Catharina
and Peter Abfalter, Paul Popilek,
Thomas J. and Johanna Kampa,
and their daughter, Anna Marvin (née Kampa).
Sharon's research has taken her to the St. Cloud Diocese, Benton County Courthouse and
Minnesota Historical Society where she found baptisms, marriages and death records for a number
of relatives, including those of Joseph and
Elizabeth Abfalter.
Thank you so much to Martin and Sharon for their excellent work in this regard!
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Cousin
Michael Stimmler has shared some wonderful photographs of
his parents Gerald and Ruth Stimmler (née Powley),
including their lovely wedding photograph circa 1937
seen in miniature at right. His cousin Paul Stimmler
contributed a biography for uncle Jim Stimmler. Some other items of interest
are death certificates for Joseph Schaaf (1828-1911), his wife
"Francis" Schaaf (née Stimmler) (1835-1912),
their son Joseph N. Schaaf (1856-1933),
John Max Stimmler (1874-1959), and Helen Parent (née Stimler) (1901-1926)
and her infant son John.
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Marian Sakry's family web site
has some recent
additions of interest to the family, including many old photographs of the
Sakry relatives. Other new items are pictures of the ancestral Komprachcice area, both of
Gumpertsdorf
(taken from 1936 to 1945) and Comprachczuetz.
Our thanks go out to Marian for sharing these with the
family group!
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Two more chapters have been posted from
Don Kampa's book, Gram and Gramps:
Chapter 10 Kampa Tire Company and Chapter 11 Social Life
along with some of Don's photographs from that time. We greatly appreciate that his son
Dick Kampa is sharing this book with us.
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We have lost dear family members early this
year. Joan's father, Alexander T. Dziuk,
passed away on March 18, 2003 at the age of 93 years. He was a World War II veteran
and was interred in Fort Snelling National Cemetery in Minneapolis. Helen M. Maslonkowski (née Kampa),
age 92, of Foley, died April 1st at the Foley Nursing Center. She was the daughter of
John T. and Katherine Kampa (née Jurek).
She and her family lived and farmed in the Duelm, Oak Park and Gilman area. Dale Smith's
mother, Margaret Mary Smith (née Balder)
passed away April 5th at the age of 97. Among her ancestors were both prominent early settlers of St. Cloud
and pioneer settlers of Minden Township. All three will be greatly missed. Many friends and
family share their grief and we extend our deepest sympathy at this time of sad bereavement.
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