Tombstone Tuesday - Adelbert Boegel

Full view of the Kleinmann/Boegel marker in Holy Cross

I previously shared the funeral card I had for Adelbert Boegel and now thanks to a FindAGrave contributor I can share his tombstone!

So since I don't have much on Adelbert aside from his funeral card and what was in an old handwritten family tree I was given, I decided to do some research for this post...Adelbert can be found with his parents, Raymond and Katherine in the 1920, 1930 and 1940 census. He was single in all of those records and with spelling variations on his name (1920 - Edeberd, 1930 - Adelbert, 1940 - Adalbert). According to both the SSDI and the Wisconsin Death Index he died in Richfield, Washington County, Wisconsin although Holy Cross is in Milwaukee. I can find him in multiple U.S. City Directory listing, but only the one in 1953 list his spouse. She is another Catherine! Most have him listed as living in Fond du Lac and then later in Richfield.

Close-up of the names on the Kleinmann/Boegel marker

Catherine isn't on his tombstone though, but a Kenneth G. who died in 1980 is as is a Janet who died in 1948. Janet only has "1948" on the tombstone. That this is the year she died is my assumption because if it was for someone that was born in 1948 and hadn't passed yet there would be space for an update in the future and there isn't. So who are Janet and Kenneth G? My guess is that they are his and Catherine's children. Why do they share a tombstone with the Kleinmanns? Perhaps Catherine's maiden name was Kleinmann. The other side of the tombstone (which is not shown)  has Roland (1899-1960), Barbara (1902-1994), and Kenneth (1924-1935). Perhaps Adelbert and Catherine named their son after a brother of hers that died young? I don't know for sure, but I have Adelbert's obituary on my research calendar and I hope to be able to pull his obituary the next time I get back to Wisconsin.

Close-up names on the Kleinmann marker (reverse of Kleinmann/Boegel)

Kenneth is the son of Roland and Barbara as I can see by looking in the 1930 US Census and there was another son, Gerald/Gerold. Catherine wasn't born yet. In the 1940 Census I can see that Kenneth is no longer listed, which I would expect, but Catherine isn't there. Gerald is though so it's the same couple. Where is Catherine? Is my assumption that Roland and Barbara being her parents wrong? Is one of them her brother or sister and Kenneth was a nephew that they named a child after? I can't confirm or disprove that yet. I can easily find Roland in the 1900 through 1920 census with his parents, but there's no Catherine in there. Perhaps Barbara was her sister.

Now let's get crazier. I can't find anything for the death of Adelbert's wife, Catherine Boegel nee WhoKnowsWhat. In a public family tree I see that Adelbert is married to a Barbara that died in 1994...but that would be the Barbara on the tombstone...who I found in the census married to Roland! My head hurts. According to this public tree Barbara and Roland were married and then Barbara married Adelbert after he died. So this would be second marriages for the both of them.

I'd like to take this time to point out that you should not just take information from someone else's tree and treat it as true. I've said this before, but I'm going to say it again because it's that important...Public Family Trees are a great way to guide you down the right path, but you need to then follow up with your own research because they're also a great way to be guided down the wrong path! I put Barbara on my research calendar to pull an obituary for as well. I still need to figure out what happened to Catherine, Janet, and Kenneth G! Barbara is mentioned in the obituary for Adelbert's brother, Raymond, as his wife. It may be quite difficult to find any information on Catherine if she isn't in Adelbert's obituary.

As I continue on (and just to be more confusing) Kenneth G. wasn't the son of Adelbert and Catherine. I couldn't find a Kenneth G Boegel in the SSDI with the year range of 1961-1980, but I did find a Kenneth G. Kleinmann born on 06JUL1961 and died on 31OCT1980. Time to pull another obituary because I need to see more about this Kenneth. He may not even be the child of Barbara and Roland. He was born after Roland's death and too long after his death for it to be Roland's...not to mention Barbara was a little too old to be having children at 60-something. Perhaps it was a grandchild. Who knows. I certainly don't.

So one little post about sharing a Boegel tombstone opened up a lot more questions than I ever expected to get. It seems that Adelbert is the only Boegel really on that tombstone. Stay tuned until I can get those obituaries pulled!

(A very big thank you to FindAGrave contributor Phillip #46971271 for permission to share the photos he took of the Kleinmann/Boegel tombstone in Holy Cross Cemetery and Mausoleum. They may be "just a rock with letters on them," but they mean so much. Thank you!)

Tombstone Tuesday - Henry and Henrieta Boegel

Henrieta Boegel

Henry Boegel

Henry and Henrieta Boegel are buried in Sacred Heart Cemetery, Cty Rd MM, Chippewa County, Wisconsin.  As you can see the tombstones aren't holding up exceptionally well, but you can make out their names.  You can also see that no additional information was put on their stones.  From census records I know that Henry was born sometime around 1817.  The 1900 census puts his birth at July 1817 in Germany, but we know that doesn't make it so.  It does, however, give me a place to start.

As for Henrieta, the 1880 census (she died prior to the 1900 census) had her 61 years of age so that would put her birth around 1819.  She too was born in Germany.

The Wisconsin Death Index has Henry (with his surname spelled "Baigel") passing on January 7, 1901 and Henrieta (spelled "Henrietta Beagle") passing on January 24th, 1899.  I still need to pull these death certificates and verify that they are indeed the right Boegels.  I'm fairly certain they are, but research must be done! Hopefully I'll find obituaries on them both as well, but I'm less hopeful there considering the time they died.  If they weren't prominent in the community there might be nothing or very little.  Still worth a look.  I'll cross my fingers that I'll hit some gold. It didn't happen during my most recent trip to the land of deep-fried cheese, but hopefully next time!

I wasn't deterred with the misspellings of their surnames in the Wisconsin Death Index either.  I was a German major in college and I sit there and shake my head at how some names were pronounced once they came to America.  I do know from my mother-in-law that Boegel (German would be Bögel) was pronounced "Beagle" in Wisconsin so this actually confirmed rather than frustrated my efforts.

A special thank you to Rachel and Paul Depa for allowing me to use their photos from FindAGrave.com

Sunday's Obituary - Lorraine Ryan nee Kuehl

I posted a couple years back when my husband's, Aunt Lorraine was killed in a car accident. A man than never should have been behind the wheel of a car due to previous drunk driving convictions was driving. He wasn't drunk. He was on his phone and crossed the center line. Aunt Lorraine was killed and a sister that was in the passenger seat was seriously injured.

I didn't realize until recently that I had never actually posted her obituary. I want to remember her and I want others to remember her. She was a sweet, sweet woman and is missed by her family.

"Lorraine B. Ryan, 79, of Eden went to her heavenly home on Sat. May 19, 2012 at Theda Clark Hospital in Neenah. She was born November 26, 1932 in Barton, the daughter of the late Romand and Leona Boegel Kuehl. On May 24, 1952, she married Vincent Ryan at St. Kilian Catholic Church, St. Kilian. They farmed together in the town of Eden and she also worked at Mammoth Springs Canning Company in Eden. Lorraine was a member of Shepherd of the Hills Catholic Church and St. Mary's Christian Women. She worked at many of the parish's chicken dinners and enjoyed playing cards with her sisters. Most of all she enjoyed spending time with her family, especially her children and grandchildren. Survivors include her children, Diane (Richard) Blackmore of Eden, Mary (Charles) Kraft of Fond du Lac, Kathy (James) Uelmen of Kewaskum, Michael (Lori) Ryan of Eden, Patty (Mark) Watters of Fond du Lac and Joanne (Jim) Binder of Plymouth, her grandchildren, Ryan and Marissa Blackmore, Joshua, Katie, Kelly and Karissa Uelmen, Jennifer, Michelle, Matthew and Megan Ryan, Jasmine Watters and Julie and Josie Binder, her sister, Alice Wood of Eden, Helen Beisbier of Kewaskum and Dolores Cayemberg of Green Bay, other relatives and friends. She was preceded in death by her husband Vincent on June 13, 2000. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 7:00 PM, Tuesday, May 22nd at Shepherd of the Hills Catholic Church W1562 Hwy B Eden. Rev. Joseph Juknialis will officiate and burial will be Wednesday, May 23rd at 10:00 AM at St. Mary's Cemetery, Eden. Visitation will be at the church from 3:00 PM until time of Mass. Twohig Funeral Home, Fond du Lac, is serving the family with online guestbook and condolences at www.twohigfuneral.com"

Funeral Card Friday - Adelbert W. Boegel

I was looking through funeral cards while waiting for a friend to arrive to brain-storm events for our Cub Scout Wolf Den and came across this card for Adelbert W. Boegel.  What struck me about this card and why I decided to share it today was because it had a piece of information on it that I rarely see on funeral cards.  It actually had which plot Adelbert was buried in!

"In Loving Memory Of

Adelbert W. Boegel

Born To Life

March 22, 1911

Born To Eternal Life

May 27, 1986

Services Sat. May 31, 1986

St. Boniface Church

Goldendale

Interment Holy Cross Cemetery

Blk. 18 Sec. 3 Lot 325 No. East

THE LORD'S PRAYER

Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name; thy kingdom come; they will be done on earth as it is in heaven.  Give us this day our daily bread; and forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us; and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. Amen."

According to the family tree my mother-in-law gave me, Adelbert was the son of Raymond Boegel and Catherine Schrauth and the grandson of William Boegel Sr and Katherine Melzer.

With just a quick search the family tree that was given to me can be verified through US Census records that show Adelbert with his parents, Raymond and Catherine, at the right age and in the right location.  I'm still working on verifying all the information in the handwritten tree they gave me, but for now I have no reason to believe that they would be wrong.

As to the burial information I did some checking online and St. Boniface Church is on Glendale Road in Washington County, Wisconsin, but their cemetery isn't Holy Cross.  It would appear that Holy Cross Cemetery is in Milwaukee County, Wisconsin.  I began thinking that maybe the cemetery name had changed, but 1986 wasn't that long ago.  Then I had another thought...you know...the obvious kind...maybe he really was buried in a different cemetery.  So I checked directions on Google Maps and found that the church and this cemetery are only about 15 minutes apart.  Very feasible although I still don't know why he wouldn't be buried in the church cemetery unless Holy Cross was where the rest of his family was buried.

The fun of genealogy...there's always something else to look into!

Sunday's Obituary - Katherine Boegel

Catherine (Melzer) and William Boegel

I posted previously on how information can be wrong in obituaries and Catherine and her husband, William, were the examples I used.  I figured that it was about time to transcribe Catherine's two obituaries.  One is short, sweet and to the point (and lacking in genealogical excitement) and the other is certainly longer and filled with more detailed information.  Sadly, you can see what the obituary looks like for this longer one.  The newspaper must have been bound and when they microfilmed it the left side of the obit was a casualty.  Catherine's obituary was on the front page of the paper and on the far left side.  She was apparently important enough to have her passing make front page news, but the image doesn't do it justice.

As luck would have it the majority of the information that isn't visible in the crease is relative easy to make out, especially when comparing some things between both obituaries.  I'm a bit bummed about the name of the city/region in Austria that she was born in was lost in the microfilming process.  I haven't done any searching to recover the lost information, but at least I've got a good bit of it.  It should help (unless, of course, the information is wrong!).

Catherine and William are my husband's 2nd great grandparents.

Fond du Lac Commonwealth Reporter,  24MAY1927

"Expires at St. Kilian

Mrs. William Boegel Dies Today at Home of Son, Raymond

Although confined to her bed by illness for 10 days Mrs. William Boegel died unexpectantly at 7:50 a.m. today at the home of her son, Raymond Boegel, at St. Kilian, passing away in her sleep.  Surviving the deceased are seven children.  William of Kewaskum, John and Ray of St Kilian, Peter of St. Bridget, Mrs Catherine Bonleder of St. Kilian, Theresa at home and Mrs. Gebhart Strobel of Milwaukee.  The funeral will be held at 9 a.m. Friday from the Catholic church at St. Kilian.  Burial will be in the church cemetery."

The Campbellsport News,
26MAY1927

"Mrs. Catherine Boegel

Mrs. Catherine Boegel, age 80, passed away at the home of her son Raymond in St. Killian at 7:50 o'clock Tuesday morning following a (unk) years' illness.

Mrs. Boegel was born in Bischof (unk), Austria, December 12, 1846, and immigrated to this country at the age of 22 years settling at St. Kilian where she has since resided.  She was united in marriage to William Boegel on October 13, 1874, at St. Kilian.  Her husband preceded her in death four years ago.

She leaves to mourn four sons and three daughters namely:  William of Kewaskum; Kate (Mrs. Joseph Bonlender), John and Raymond of St. Kilian; Peter of Kewaskum; Mary (Mrs. Gebhard Strobel) of Milwaukee; and Theresa at home.  Two sisters and three brothers also preceded her in death.  She is also survived by 20 grandchildren and seven great grandchildren.

The funeral will be held Friday morning at St. Kilian's Catholic Church with burial in the adjoining cemetery.  The pallbearers are: Or(unk) Strobel of Milwaukee, Adelbert and Roman Boegel, Reynold and Oth(unk) Bonlender or St. Kilian and Ar(unk) Boegel of Theresa.  Rosemarie (Boegel) and Elvira Bonlender are the (unk) girls."

Tuesday's Tip - The Obituaries Aren't Always Right!

Fond du Lac Commonwealth Reporter, 24MAY1927

The Campbellsport News
26OCT1922

So I visited the Wisconsin Historical Society in June.  It was a long day and I was so absorbed in my research that I forgot to eat or drink the entire time I was there (fellow genealogists can understand this completely) and by 4:00pm my head and stomach were starting to hurt so it was time to start the 2-1/2 hour drive back to Green Bay (construction...yuck!).  By the time I got back, my head was a little better, but I couldn't bring myself to look at any of my finds until the next morning.

Now maybe I'm wrong to not be looking at my finds as I get them, but honestly I don't.  I get to the WHS once, maybe twice, a year if I'm lucky and by then I've got tons to look up.  In fact, I didn't get through everything I wanted to yesterday, but I did get through 3/4 of it.  Saturday morning as I sat down with my coffee and my printouts I showed my mother-in-law the obituaries for her great grandparents, William and Katherine Boegel nee Melzer.  I was bummed about the fact that Katherine's was scanned from a newspaper that was apparently bound and her obit was on the inside edge so part of it is unreadable, but we enjoyed looking at them, and then I noticed it....

The Campbellsport News
26MAY1927

In both Katherine and William's obituaries it states that they were preceded in death by their spouse.  Did I have the wrong Katherine or William?  I was confused and concerned.  I pulled both obituaries with dates that I had from their tombstone and they were on the same tombstone!  I found it hard to believe that there were two Katherine or William Boegels that died on the same day in the same town.  I then compared the rest of the obituary.  Same kids.  Same wedding date.  The newspaper had made a mistake.  I'm sure Katherine must have been delighted when reading her husband's obituary that she died years before.  She may have felt like it at the time, but I assure you she was quite alive.

I know those of us that have been researching our families (or other families) for more than a hot second, already know that obituaries, death certificates, etc can have mistakes in them, but the death of a spouse in the obituary is certainly something that many of us might have used to at least narrow down a date of death for the other if it was still unknown.

Taking a line from The X-Files, "The truth is out there," we just need to figure it out amidst the details that may be leading us astray.

Sunday's Obituary - William Boegel

The Campbellsport News 26OCT1922

"Old Settler Called By Death

William Boegel, aged 73 years, died at the home of his son Raymond, in town of Ashford, last Saturday evening, after an illness of four weeks with diabetes.

Deceased was born near St. Lawrence, Wis., on December 21, 1848, and resided there until three years of age when he moved to the farm in town Ashford where he has since resided.  On October 13, 1874, he was married to Miss Kathryn Melzer, who preceded him in death.  He is survived by seven children, (all of whom, except William were at his deathbed) they are: William and Peter of Kewaskum, Mrs. Gerhard Strobel of Milwaukee, John, Mrs. Joe Bonlender, Raymond and Theresa living in town of Ashford.  He is also survived by two sisters, Mrs. Anna Majerus of Campbellsport and Mrs. Lizzie LaBelle of Stanley.

The funeral was held Wednesday morning at 10 o'clock from St. Killian's church, Rev. Father Reechel officiating and interment taking place in the adjoining cemetery.  The pallbearers were his six grandsons, Edgar, Erwin, Raymond and Reynold Bonlender and Roman and Oscar Boegel.

The deceased was one of our oldest settler and one of our highly respected citizens."

William Boegel is my husband's great great grandfather.  The obituary didn't tell me anything shocking there.  I knew that.  Just like I knew the names of his children and that he had at least 3 siblings.  The obituary lets me know that his sister Johanna obviously went by "Anna" and Elizabeth was obviously "Lizzie".

What I didn't know was that Anna was married to a man with the surname "Majerus".  I had her married to a John Altenhofen, and guess what?  I had no sources to support that!  I really need to get back to verifying my tree like I had started oh so long ago!  Now that doesn't mean that she wasn't married to a John Altenhofen, but it does mean that I'm got some researching to do to either verify a first marriage or rule him out.

Something else not in this obituary that I would have liked to see?  His parents' names.  I need to confirm them and it would have been helpful.  Time to order a death certificate (among other things). Back to work!

Sunday's Obituary - Raymond Bonlender

"Mr. Bonlender

Raymond J. Bonlender, 77, of St. Kilian, retired farmer, died Monday, June 23, 1980, at Hope Nursing Home, Lomira, where he resided for 1 1/2 years.

He was born April 20, 1903, in the Town of Wayne, Washington County, a son of the late Joseph and Kathrine Boegel Bonlender.  He married Josephine Weiglein at LeRoy, and she died Jan. 22, 1976. [Handwritten "Married May 1929"]


Mr. Bonlender was a member of the Holy Name Society of St. Kilian Catholic Church and Catholic Knights.

Survivors include three sons, Elroy Schrauth of rural Campbellsport, Alton Schrauth of rural Allenton and Lloyd Bonleder of Watertown; two daughter, Mrs. Orville (Lila Jean) Kreilkamp of Rubicon and Mrs. Robert (Diane) Flasch of rural Allenton; 26 grandchildren; and 15 great-grandchildren.

Also surviving are two sisters, Mrs. Paul (Rose) Just of Milwaukee and Mrs. Alvira Wettstein of West Bend; and two brothers, Reynold of St. Kilian and Othmer of Milwaukee.  Two brothers and a sister preceded him in death.

Funeral services will be held at 10:30 a.m. Thursday at Miller's Funeral Home, Kewaskum, and at 11 a.m. at St. Kilian Church, St. Kilian.  The Rev. Joseph McDonald will officiate, and burial will follow in the parish cemetery.

Visitation for Mr. Bonlender will be after 4 p.m. Wednesday at the funeral home."

Raymond Bonlender is my husband's 1st cousin twice removed.  According to my mother-in-law the marriage date was May 4, 1929 and I have Josephine's maiden name as "Werglein".  Supporting documentation is still needed.  Time to add that to my research calendar!

[Newspaper clipping was passed on to me by family in Green Bay, Wisconsin.  There was no publication information on this clipping]

Sunday's Obituary - Roman Boegel

Eleanor (Delling) and Roman Boegel

Roman was the oldest of four known children born to John and Bertha Boegel nee Rosbeck.

Roman was my husband's great uncle.

"Roman Boegel

Roman W. Boegel, 78, of 445 E. Main St., Kewaskum, died Monday, March 31, 1980, at St. Agnes Hospital where he was a patient for three days.

He was born Sept. 16, 1901, in Milwaukee, a son of the late John and Bertha Rosbeck Boegel.  On May 20, 1930, he married Eleanor Delling at St. Michaels.

Mr. Boegel was a retired Town of Theresa, Dodge County, farmer before moving to Kewaskum 16-1/2 years ago.

Surviving are his wife; a son, Paul of rural Kewaskum; a grandchild; and a sister, Mrs. Romand (Leona) Kuehl of St. Kilian.  Two brothers preceded him in death.

Funeral services will be held at 8 p.m. Wednesday at Miller's Funeral Home, Kewaskum, and at 8:30 p.m. at Holy Trinity Catholic Church, Kewaskum.  The Rev. John T. Budde will officiate, and interment will take place in Shrine of Rest Chapel Mausoleum, Ledgeview Memorial Park Cemetery.

Friends of Mr. Boegel may call after 3 p.m. Wednesday at the funeral home."

Funeral Card Friday - Praying for the Dead

Today, I'm not sharing one particular Funeral Card, but sharing/explaining something that many will see on Memorial and Funeral Cards, but may not understand. Indulgences.

Now, this isn't an "Everything You Ever Wanted to Know About Indulgences, But Were Afraid to Ask" post.  I'm not an expert on all the intricacies of indulgences nor do I feel that it is important to explain how the praying of an indulgence doesn't help every sin.  That's besides the point.  If you'd like to know more than what I'm presenting on indulgences you can check out more on "Catholic Answers".  What I want to do is explain why they are on these cards and why the living pray for the dead.

Catholics are taught that there is a Purgatory.  That when we die a soul goes to Purgatory until their sins are atoned for.  Purgatory is like jail for the soul.  If you are in Purgatory, you will eventually go to Heaven.  If you go to Hell, well, you go to Hell.  Sorry about your luck (but that really doesn't stop Catholics from praying for those either...forever hopeful).  We naturally like the thought of our loved ones getting to Heaven sooner, so we pray for them.  Does it help?  God only knows, but it couldn't hurt, right?

Card & indulgences in German

Catholics aren't the only ones to pray for the dead.  Other faiths have this practice as well, but Catholics may be the best known for it, because indulgences have been abused in the past as well as misunderstood by Catholics and non-Catholics alike.  The bottom line on the abuse of indulgences, or the "selling" of indulgences is that we don't really know that God will accept them.  A corrupt clergyman "selling" an indulgence...well, I could sell you a bridge in New York too and that would be about as worthless.

Indulgences went out of practice in the 1960s, but I'm told that the Catholic Church was bringing them back to some extent.  So you may notice them on cards up to and including the 1960s and then not in more recent cards, but don't be surprised if they start appearing again!

So on the back of many of the cards, when you see a certain number of "days of indulgence" are granted for praying the card's prayer or for saying so many "Hail Marys" or "Our Fathers" we are talking about a period of time lessened for the person that died.

Why does/did the Catholic Church encourage the praying of indulgences?  "...To spur them to works of devotion, penance and charity...", and that doesn't sound like a bad thing to me.

A "quarantine" is equal to 40 days

*Some interesting information in the comments below from someone a lot more familiar with the intricacies of Catholicism than this old Catholic! Check it out!

Funeral Card Friday - Rosemarie Amerling

"In Loving Memory Of 

Rosemarie T. Amerling 

Born September 7, 1917

Died October 18, 1989"

I decided to post this funeral card today because it had been one heck of a week and my blog was being neglected.  I wanted to get something...anything up tonight.  I didn't start by looking at my family tree, like I usually do (and like I should do).  I did a search for Rose Amerling but didn't find a whole bunch that this card wouldn't tell me.

There was a link to FindAGrave where I could see that her husband was Edwin and when he died, but nothing that helped me with her maiden name.  Amerling isn't a very familiar name in regards to my family, in that it isn't a direct line ancestor so I've heard it before, but that's about it.  So I did what I should have done in the first place and got onto my family tree and there she was.

Rosemary (which is what I had her as) Amerling nee Boegel and Edwin had four known children (which I won't mention by name since they may still be living).  The point is, that she's a Boegel.  My mother-in-law's side of the family and Boegel is a direct line surname for my husband and sons.

So, yes, I had her in my tree and I had this card, but until I put it in my blog I didn't make the connection.  No huge break-throughs, but a little connection is better than nothing at all.

(Rosemarie Amerling nee Boegel is my husband's 1st cousin twice removed).

Sunday's Obituary - John Boegel

John and Bertha Boegel nee Rosbeck (sitting)

John Boegel is my husband's great grandfather.  He was the fourth son of eight born to William and Katherine Boegel nee Melzer.  William and Katherine's children were:

Unknown newspaper

William Boegel Jr (b. 25JUL1875 / d. 09AUG1939)
Maria Boegel (b. abt 1876)
Katherine Bonlender nee Boegel (b. 21FEB1877 / d. 29NOV1956)
John Boegel (b. 12NOV1878 / d. 02MAR1935)
Peter Aloysius Boegel (b. 07FEB1881 / d. 19SEP1945)
Raymond Boegel (b. 29SEP1883 / d. 10JAN1946)
Mary Strabel nee Boegel (b. 29JAN1886 / d. 20JAN1947)
Theresa Boegel (b. 08OCT1888 / d. 04JUL1949)

John married Bertha Rosbeck on April 24th, 1900 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Their children are all accounted for in the obituary below.  Their daughter, Leona, was my husband's grandmother.

The obituary is pretty standard.  Of course some of the women were merely listed as Mrs "so-and-so", but his daughter's name was actually listed with her husband.  Very interesting.  I was also impressed by the last paragraph.  It's evident that John was well respected in the community.  I wish I knew more about him!

"John Boegel

John Boegel, age 56 years, 3 months, and 10 days, a resident of the vicinity of St. Kilian, passed away at his home there at 5 a. m.  on Saturday, Mar. 2, after an illness of about a year due to a complication of diseases.

Mr. Boegel was born in the town of Ashford, Fond du Lac county, on Nov. 12, 1878.  Growing to manhood, he married Miss Bertha Rosbeck, who survives, on April 24, 1900, the couple coming to their present home 30 years ago.  Four children were born to the couple, three of whom survive their father as follows:  Roman at home, Leona (Mrs. Romand Kuehl) of St. Michaels, and Clarence of St. Kilian.  A son, Rudolph, predeceased his father 10 years ago.  Deceased also leaves one granddaughter, three sisters, and three brothers.  The brothers and sisters are William of Jackson, Peter of St. Bridget, Mrs. Gebbardt Strobel of Milwaukee, and Raymond, Mrs. Joseph Bolander, and Theresa of St. Kilian.

Funeral services for Mr. Boegel were held at 10 a. m. on Tuesday, Mar. 5, from the Miller funeral home at Kewaskum to St. Kilian's Catholic church, the Rev. John Reichl officiating.  Interment was in the parish cemetery.

Mr. Boegel was a man who filled his station in life with credit to himself, always giving the best that was in him to his family, his community, and his country.  His righteousness and sincerity gained for him the esteem of his fellow citizens and his family requited his devotion with love.  The memory of him will be kept alive by those who knew him best, the memory of a noble soul and a life that was worth living. The News extends its sympathy to the bereaved survivors."

[The clipping was hand-dated with John Boegel's date of death.  The newspaper's name and date of publication is unknown]

Tombstone Tuesday - Theresa Boegel

St. Kilian Cemetery, Fond du Lac County, WI

Theresa Boegel was the daughter of William and Katherine Boegel nee Melzer.  She was born on October 8, 1888 and died July 4, 1949.  She was the youngest of eight known children and never married.  Her siblings included:

William Jr (married to Mary Zwaska)
Maria (unknown if ever married)
Katherine (Mrs. Joseph Bonlender)
John (married to Bertha Rosbeck and is my husband's great grandfather)
Peter Aloysius (married to Elise Marten)
Raymond (married to Catherine Schrauth)
Mary (Mrs. Gebhardt Strabel)

Since Theresa never married and has no children to pass on her legacy, I will remember you today and always in our family history. Second great aunt to my husband.  Third great aunt to my children.  Your memory lives on.

Tombstone Tuesday - William and Katherina Boegel

The autumn is always a crazy time of year.  School is back in session and Cub Scouts starts anew.  It usually means that I've got to put genealogy aside to complete the obligations I have in Scouting and PTA.  And although this year seems to be running much more smoothly than last year, I still have found myself hard-pressed for time.  I really wanted to get the 1890 census form up tonight, but reality and wishful thinking are two very different things.  Instead of not posting anything at all, however, I decided to get up a reasonably quick post with a beautiful family tombstone.  I simply have too much family data to not post something.  I'm always hoping to run across those distant cousins researching the same lines!

This tombstone always caught my attention when visiting St. Kilian's in Wisconsin.  It's just so huge.  This is my husband's side of the tree.  My side, well, I have yet to come across something so grand!  It's beautiful.

William and Katherina Boegel nee Melzer are my husband's 2nd great grandparents.  They were the parents of at least 8 children (that I've found so far), William Jr., Maria, Katherine (Mrs. Joseph Bonlender), John, Peter, Raymond, Mary (Mrs. Gebhardt Strabel), and Theresa.  John was my husband's great grandfather.

William Boegel Sr was born on December 21st 1848 in Wisconsin.  The son of Henry Boegel and Herietta (maiden name unknown), he married Katherine Melzer around 1875 (still working on that marriage certificate) and died on October 21st, 1922.  Katherine was born on December 12th 1846 in Germany (I know...that doesn't narrow it down by much) she died on May 24th 1927.  I don't know who her parents were yet.

What I do know is that St. Kilian's cemetery in Wisconsin has been completely recorded online, and while I may have over-looked the other Melzers in there when I passed through in genealogical bliss several years back, I can easily reference the interments by going to the Campbellsport, Wisconsin website.  And hey...writing this quick post did make me realize that finding relatives of Katherina (nee Melzer) may not be too difficult after all.  At least I have some names as leads now.

Well, time to jump in bed and prepare for a PTA-filled day tomorrow.  I need all the rest I can get for it!  Have fun tending those roots!

NOTE:  And after posting this and jumping to the wonderful Wisconsin Historical Society website I found the image numbers for a marriage of William Boegel and Katherine Meker.  I love their website!  It's now in my research calendar and when I get up to Wisconsin for Christmas I'll be copying that record!

Wordless Wednesday - A 4 Generation Photo

Four Generations of Women

I wish the photo was a bit clearer, but I'm just delighted to have it.  Only minor changes made to sharpen and get rid of flaws (unedited photo is on the bottom).

Sitting on the bench on the left - Bertha Boegel nee Rosbeck (my husband's great grandmother)

Child standing on the bench - Lorraine Ryan nee Kuehl (my husband's aunt)

Sitting on the bench on the right - Margaretha Rosbeck nee Thelen (my husband's great-great grandmother)

Standing - Leona Kuehl nee Boegel (my husband's grandmother)

Before photo corrections

Sunday' Obituary - Clarence Boegel

 





















[handwritten - Jan 29, 1977]

"Clarence Boegel

Clarence R. Boegel, 71, who was employed by Line Material Co. at Barton for 15 years, died Saturday at Samaritan Home, West Bend, where he resided for 13 years.

He was born May 29, 1905, in rural Campbellsport, a son of the late John and Bertha Rosbeck Boegel. He never married.

Surviving are a brother, Roman of rural Campbellsport; and a sister, Mrs. Leona (Romand) Kuehl of rural Campbellsport.  A brother preceded him in death.

Funeral services will be held at 10 a.m. Tuesday at Miller's Funeral home, 215 Forest Ave., Kewaskum, and at 10:30 a.m. at St. Kilian Catholic Church at St. Kilian.  The Rev. Arthur Kulinski will officiate and burial will be in the parish cemetery.

Visitation will be after 4 p.m. today at the funeral home."

Clarence was my husband's great uncle.

Clippings were passed on to me by my mother-in-law, Dolores, Cayemberg nee Kuehl.  It is unknown which Wisconsin newspaper the clippings were from.

Amanuensis Monday - George Rosbeck Obituary

George Rosbeck

George Rosbeck is my husband's Great-Great Grandfather.  This obituary was sent to me by a distant cousin of my husband's, Dennis Wondra.  It's great when you find family members that want to collaborate, and sharing copies of the originals is extra awesome!

Thanks, Dennis!

Kewaskum Statesman, 17SEP1927

"GEORGE ROSBECK

After an illness of five weeks with dropsy, George Rosbeck, an esteemed and well known citizen of St. Kilian, died at the home of his daughter, Mrs. John Boegel at St. Kilian on Tuesday, Sept. 13, 1927.  Deceased had attained the age of 75 years, 5 months and 9 days.  He was born in Germany on April 3, 1852.  When still a young man he came to America with his parents and settled in the town of Wayne.  he was married to Margaret Thelen 50 years ago at St. Martin's church in Ashford.  He is survived by three sisters, Mrs. Wenzel Janous, Mrs. Joseph Wondra, and Mrs. John Petersick, Besides he leaves, his wife and the following children:  Frances (Mrs. Peter Steichen) of Milwaukee; Bertha (Mrs. John Boegel) of St. Kilian; Anna (Mrs. Wm. Pesch) of New Fane; John of Minnesota; Herman of Knowles; Martin, Adolf and Alfred of Milwaukee.  The funeral was held Friday at 10:00 a.m. with services in the St. Kilian Catholic church.  Rev. John B. Reichel officiated.  Burial was made in the adjoining cemetery."

George Rosbeck, St. Kilian Cemetery, WI

Sunday's Obituary - Mrs. Nick Uelman

Unknown Wisconsin newspaper clipping

"Mrs. Nick Uelman [hand-dated Nov. 30, 1961]

Funeral services for Mrs. Nick Uelman, 76, West Bend, who died today at St. Joseph's hospital there, will be Monday at 9 a.m. at Millers Funeral home, Kewaskum, and at 9:30 a.m. at St. Michael's church at St. Michael.  The Rev. Matthew Urban will officiate.

Mrs. Uelman had been in ill health for six months.  She was born April 20, 1885, near St. Killian and lived there until 1921.  Between 1921 and 1958 she resided in the St. Michael area.  She moved to West Bend three and one-half years ago.

In 1908 she married Andrew Delling, who preceded her in death in 1915.  She married Nick Uelmen April 5, 1921, at St. Killian.

Surviving are her widower; one daughter, Mrs. Roman Boegel, Theresa; three step-children, Mrs. Herbert Donath, West Bend, Frank Uelman, West Bend, and Elroy Uelman, West Bend; 13 grandchildren; four great-grandchildren; and two sisters, Mrs. Al Herriges, Wayne Center, and Mrs. Ben Wondra, Theresa.

Friends may call at the funeral home after 2 p.m. Sunday until the time of services."

Very odd that they don't mention her maiden name or parents in the obituary, but I suppose they may not have known (or felt it important).

NOTE:  Surname is spelled Uelman and Uelmen in this article.  I have seen several variations in different articles and memorial cards.