It’s like a “cosmic coincidence” to have these strands come together! It’s definitely an affirmation for the good work you’ve put in on the Warroad story.
It looks like Meta & Kathryn were the middle child out of 6…? (According to what was written on the bottom of a family chair.)
The chair says:
Helene 1894
Martha 1895
Kathryn 1898
Meta 1900
Carl 1904
Willard 1911
😊
I have been in touch with some Hilgendorf’s within the past year.
Carl’s daughter Gretchen just died after my father’s little brother Wayne just passed away.
Bill, Carl’s son is still with us, and his sister Kareen as well. As far as Wolertz’s go, my father is still alive, but in assisted living with a lot of health issues. My father has a sister named Ruth and my grandfather wanted to adopt her, but she isn’t a Wolertz genetically.
I remember hearing about Grandma had a brother Willard but I'm not sure I ever met him. And Grandma went on a trip to Hawaii with her niece Gretchen in the 1960s. Interesting your grandparents adopted Ruth, your aunt. Did you dad have any other siblings besides Wayne and Ruth? I think Meta and Kathryn were particularly close sisters. Best wishes to your father.
My grandma was a widow with 2 kids when my grandpa married her. He wanted to adopt Allen & Ruth, but they both said, “No.”
Allen (Chase) died about 20 years ago and was the oldest of the kids. The ones left are Ruth (Meyers) and my father, Bruce.
I am curious about how it all lines up since Dhaivyd Hilgendorf reached out to me because of my last name. I’ve been talking to his sister Kris a lot since she’s kind of a family historian.
I will admit that your post probably only showed up for me because of the match with my last name.
I figure there are less than 10 Wolertz’s left in the world.
I will share your regards with my father. He has been sad recently because he can recognize the effects of vascular dementia on him. Aunt Ruth has Alzheimer’s.
Thanks for the information about your grandmother and Allen and Ruth. I wondered how you had found my Substack but I assume you must have an alert for the name of Wolertz. I didn't realize there were so few left. I have not yet met Kris or Dhaivyd, but hope to some day soon in the Twin Cities. Dementia is a horrifying illness and I am sorry to hear about your dad and aunt. A reminder of how precious memories are.
Mom (Meta’s only daughter; Carol Swenson Ronning) always talked about her aunt & uncle’s lovely home on Lake of the Woods. They would spend many special summer days there in the 1930’s-1950. A couple of special memories were sleeping on the screened in porch on a swinging bed held up like a porch swing, and sliding down a long slide that went from the yard all the way down into the lake! I went with mom to a summer party at a home on Lake of the Woods back in the 1970’s. I thought she said it was her aunt and Uncle’s house. It was a beautiful well-built white 2-story home from maybe in the 1920-1930’s era.
HI Staci! I'm glad you heard these stories from your mom. I don't think Kathryn and George Muggaberg ever lived on Lake of the Woods but two of his sisters lived in Warroad and other siblings and his parents lived in Kenora on the Canadian side of the lake. Or maybe they had a summer cabin up there.
Do you remember did you fly in or drive to the summer party in the 1970s?
Thanks for indulging in my joy over serenditipity.
A Swedish bell pull is a long embroidered or needlepointed tail to attach to a hanging bell but for centuries have become purely ornamental. Norwegian bell pulls are similar.
What an amazing treasure hunt. It's wonderful to have your sister Barb sharing the details she remembers and for the two of you to share this adventure into family history. I have a photo going back 6 generations of women on my Danish side and those stern women in their black dresses are precious to me. You make me want to do more research looking for surprising family treasures.
Six generations of women relatives in photographs is mighty impressive.
I keep turning over rocks to make all kinds of interesting discoveries. That Kathryn was a secretary in the 1920s and worked at the same company as her husband from 1925-1930 is interesting. I had to look up El Dorado, Arkansas, and learned it was the heart of an oil and timber boom in the 1920s. Accountants must have been in demand there. So many new discoveries.
It’s like a “cosmic coincidence” to have these strands come together! It’s definitely an affirmation for the good work you’ve put in on the Warroad story.
Making the connection wouldn't have happened if my sister hadn't told me about meeting Kathryn Joy's daughter. Readers have helped me more than once!
You are apparently my cousin, then. My grandfather was your grandma’s baby bro.
Glad to connect! Who was your grandfather? Your great-grandfather is Charles Wolertz?
Yes. And, great-grandma was Johanna.
My grandfather was the youngest child, Willard.
It looks like Meta & Kathryn were the middle child out of 6…? (According to what was written on the bottom of a family chair.)
The chair says:
Helene 1894
Martha 1895
Kathryn 1898
Meta 1900
Carl 1904
Willard 1911
😊
I have been in touch with some Hilgendorf’s within the past year.
Carl’s daughter Gretchen just died after my father’s little brother Wayne just passed away.
Bill, Carl’s son is still with us, and his sister Kareen as well. As far as Wolertz’s go, my father is still alive, but in assisted living with a lot of health issues. My father has a sister named Ruth and my grandfather wanted to adopt her, but she isn’t a Wolertz genetically.
I remember hearing about Grandma had a brother Willard but I'm not sure I ever met him. And Grandma went on a trip to Hawaii with her niece Gretchen in the 1960s. Interesting your grandparents adopted Ruth, your aunt. Did you dad have any other siblings besides Wayne and Ruth? I think Meta and Kathryn were particularly close sisters. Best wishes to your father.
My grandma was a widow with 2 kids when my grandpa married her. He wanted to adopt Allen & Ruth, but they both said, “No.”
Allen (Chase) died about 20 years ago and was the oldest of the kids. The ones left are Ruth (Meyers) and my father, Bruce.
I am curious about how it all lines up since Dhaivyd Hilgendorf reached out to me because of my last name. I’ve been talking to his sister Kris a lot since she’s kind of a family historian.
I will admit that your post probably only showed up for me because of the match with my last name.
I figure there are less than 10 Wolertz’s left in the world.
I will share your regards with my father. He has been sad recently because he can recognize the effects of vascular dementia on him. Aunt Ruth has Alzheimer’s.
Thanks for the information about your grandmother and Allen and Ruth. I wondered how you had found my Substack but I assume you must have an alert for the name of Wolertz. I didn't realize there were so few left. I have not yet met Kris or Dhaivyd, but hope to some day soon in the Twin Cities. Dementia is a horrifying illness and I am sorry to hear about your dad and aunt. A reminder of how precious memories are.
Thank you…!
Mom (Meta’s only daughter; Carol Swenson Ronning) always talked about her aunt & uncle’s lovely home on Lake of the Woods. They would spend many special summer days there in the 1930’s-1950. A couple of special memories were sleeping on the screened in porch on a swinging bed held up like a porch swing, and sliding down a long slide that went from the yard all the way down into the lake! I went with mom to a summer party at a home on Lake of the Woods back in the 1970’s. I thought she said it was her aunt and Uncle’s house. It was a beautiful well-built white 2-story home from maybe in the 1920-1930’s era.
HI Staci! I'm glad you heard these stories from your mom. I don't think Kathryn and George Muggaberg ever lived on Lake of the Woods but two of his sisters lived in Warroad and other siblings and his parents lived in Kenora on the Canadian side of the lake. Or maybe they had a summer cabin up there.
Do you remember did you fly in or drive to the summer party in the 1970s?
I love these discoveries. We all live for these serendipities! What is a Swedish bell? Google wasn't helpful.
Thanks for indulging in my joy over serenditipity.
A Swedish bell pull is a long embroidered or needlepointed tail to attach to a hanging bell but for centuries have become purely ornamental. Norwegian bell pulls are similar.
So cool! You are you're own Henry Louis Gates Jr. with all this finding of your roots! So many discoveries for you. It must be exciting.
It was certainly a surprise to make this connection.
You betcha!
Happy Birthday! Thanks for reading.
What an amazing treasure hunt. It's wonderful to have your sister Barb sharing the details she remembers and for the two of you to share this adventure into family history. I have a photo going back 6 generations of women on my Danish side and those stern women in their black dresses are precious to me. You make me want to do more research looking for surprising family treasures.
Six generations of women relatives in photographs is mighty impressive.
I keep turning over rocks to make all kinds of interesting discoveries. That Kathryn was a secretary in the 1920s and worked at the same company as her husband from 1925-1930 is interesting. I had to look up El Dorado, Arkansas, and learned it was the heart of an oil and timber boom in the 1920s. Accountants must have been in demand there. So many new discoveries.
That’s a lot of unraveling the connections!
What's the saying? Six degrees of separation?
Did I lose you with all those complicated relations?
Wow! That is quite a story, Jill, and quite a double-connection. You have Warroad and Lake of the Woods in your genes.
I'm not sure if it's the genes, or the jeans. These connections through marriages and across borders is remarkable. Thanks for reading!
Snort of laughter here! It's definitely in the jeans, too, and I agree, the weaving of families and cultures and borders is absolutely fascinating.