Sunday's Obituary - Francis J. Baier

"Francis J. Baier (hand-dated, 25 Jan-1974)

Francis J. Baier, 39, of Route 3, Campbellsport, an employe of Dohr's Market in Grafton, died at 9 p.m. Friday at St. Joseph's Hospital, Milwaukee.

Baier was formerly employed by the Gehl Co. of West Bend.  He served in the U.S. Army for two years and was a member of the Holy Name Society at Holy Trinity Church, Kewaskum.

Born Oct. 2, 1934, in the Town of Addison, he was the son of John and Louisa Denz Baier.  He married Valeria Martin on Nov. 8, 1958, at St. Anthony's Church, St. Anthony.

Survivors include his widow; five children, Diane, Linda, Norbert, Beth and Steven, all at home; a sister, Mrs. Aloysius Beder of Route 5, West Bend; and a brother, Lawrence, also of Route 5, West Bend.

Mr. Baier was preceded in death by his parents and a brother, Paul.

Funeral services will be held at 10 a.m. Tuesday at Miller's Funeral Home, Kewaskum, and at 10:30 a.m. at Holy Trinity Church, Kewaskum.  The Rev. John T. Budde will officiate and burial will be in the new Holy Trinity Cemetery, Kewaskum.

Family and friends may call at the funeral home from 3 to 9 p.m. Monday."

NOTE: This obituary was transcribed as it was printed.  Any typographical errors in the original have not been corrected.

52 Weeks of Personal Genealogy and History - Yes, I'm a Giant Dork

What was your favorite radio or television show from your childhood? What was the program about and who was in it? - Without a doubt Doctor Who is my absolute favorite show...EVER...then and now!  I can talk about how absolutely wonderful the show is for hours, but I will do my very best not to here!

Doctor Who has been around since 1963 and new episodes are still being made today.  That's some staying power!  What's it about?  Well, The Doctor is a Timelord.  He ran away from his people stealing a time/space machine called a TARDIS. He loves to travel through time and space and help people along the way.  He hates being alone and is almost never without a companion or two.  Earth, of course, is his favorite planet and home away from home.  He's a pacifist of sorts.  He hates war and the people who start them.  This pacifist, however, cannot stand watching someone get bullied and he runs to their rescue (inadvertently causing all sorts of problems in the attempt!).  An extremely intelligent show that stresses using your brains to stop a problem instead of blowing everything up.  Having said that, the show still has lots of things blowing up...there are still baddies so there's lots of action!

The show was originally meant for children but it was such a hit and had adults hooked as well.  One of the best bits was that the writers tried their hardest when doing episodes to be as historically accurate as possible.  Even some of the science was accurate. Doctor Who kept me interested in reading and in school during some very awkward teenage years.  A very positive role model for all kiddos which is why I've got no worries having my kids watch!  The violence (if you can call it that) is much less than what you'd see on most television shows and blood is rarely shown.  When it is, it's mild and only as necessary as the scene dictates.  How many shows today can you say that about!

The Brits are absolutely crazy about Doctor Who over there!  I'm just one of their crazy American fans that can't get enough!  Children in the UK would hide behind the sofa and peek over the top during the scary scenes.  I look back at the early episodes and the special effects were hardly special, but no doubt high-tech during their time.  It's hard to believe that kids were scared of the show, but they were...and still are today.  My kids hide behind the sofa during some of the scarier scenes when we're watching Who!  I said that I'm a giant dork and that's no exaggeration when it comes to Doctor Who.  The show came back after being on hiatus for several years and I was soooo  ready!  My oldest son had watched the old VHS tapes of Doctor Who with me, so he was ready too.  My youngest son was only a few months old when the show came back, but he was ready too!  When he was only 10 months old he'd look at the TV when it would come on, point and yell "Dokka Oooo!"  it was as close as he could get to saying it!

He's almost 5 years old now and there are plenty of Doctor Who toys lying around the house and BBC America is a popular channel for the Cayemberg family.  Even my husband who despised the older version of the show (before the 2005 revival) calling it "campy" really gets into the new series.

It won't be around forever.  The Doctor can regenerate (change his appearance and thus heal when his body has been gravely injured) 12 times which gives him 13 different appearances.  Right now the BBC is filming with Doctor #11 and it's as brilliant as ever!  You can catch the new season on Netflix (or pretty much daily on BBC America), many of which are available for instant viewing.  Some of the older shows are on Netflix as well, but nothing close to all of them.

If you check it out, take the old shows for what they are...cute and creative.  The newer Who are so extremely well done they can make you cry!  If you'd like a good cry I can suggest several, but "Father's Day" in the new Season 1 is a good one for a cry.  You don't need to be a follower of the old series to catch the new one either!

Yes, I sound like an advertisement for Doctor Who.  I can't help it....I'm a giant dork!  I've posted 3 clips of the show.  Just remember when viewing to take it for what it is...science fiction and a fun ride! The first is an old black and white starring the 2nd Doctor, Patrick Troughton.  It's actually a pretty good preview, but the volume's a bit low on this clip...



The 2nd is the new series with the newest Doctor.  Doctor #11, Matt Smith (just giving a little then and now action!)...



And the last clip BBC America has listed as "The Best of David Tennant".  He's my favorite Doctor and Doctor #10 so he's very recent.

Funeral Card Friday - A Double Rosbeck Whammy!

This beautiful picture is the back to Martin F. Rosbeck's funeral card

I previously posted the obituary for Martin F. Rosbeck and Theresa Rosbeck nee Kiefer. I thought I'd complete the set by posting both of their funeral cards today in one shot.

The center picture is the back to Theresa Rosbeck nee Kiefer's funeral card.

Thankful Thursday - It's a Wonderful Life

I've been transcribing a number of obituaries over the past couple of days.  Endeavoring to find places for all these people in my family history, and where, applicable, my family tree.  I came across an obituary that broke my heart.

As I was typing, I found it rather odd to see that Edwin was survived by one daughter.  I suppose I take it for granted that someone, particularly at the age of 61, dying in the mid-twentieth century would have several children survive them because they usually had quite a few children.  It was when I continued typing that I realized this poor man (and his wife)  had one daughter and three sons precede him in death.

It makes me extremely thankful to live in the times we do.  Children are still taken from us, but not as frequently as they once were.  No matter how some people may complain, I've just got to say that it really is a wonderful life!

"Edwin Beck Funeral Rite Is Announced

Campbellsport Area Resident Is Dead At Age Of 61

Funeral services for Edwin Beck, 61, Campbellsport, will be at 9:30 a.m. Saturday at the Twohig Funeral home, Campbellsport, and 10 a.m. at St. Matthew's church, Campbellsport.  The Rev. Peter E. Schwamb will officiate.

Mr. Beck was found dead Wednesday in the barn of his farm one mile north of Campbellsport on County Trunk W.  He was born Aug. 10, 1900, in Town of Byron, the son of John and Barbara Kiefer Beck.  He married Magdalina Richart Oct. 27, 1925, at St. Killian.

The Becks lived in the Town of Ashford until 1948 when they moved to the Town of Auburn.

Surviving are his widow; one daughter, Mrs. Leo Hall, Campbellsport; five grandchildren; two brothers, Jacob, Campbellsport, and Alois, Town of Ashford; and two sisters, Mrs. Alex Lenk, Menomonee Falls, and Mrs. Lucille Koenig, Fond du Lac.  One daughter and three sons preceded him in death.

Mr. Beck was a member of the Holy Name society of st. Matthew's church.

Friends may call at the funeral home after 2 p.m. Friday until the hour of services.  Burial will be in the church cemetery."

52 Weeks of Personal Genealogy & History - Favorite Food - Spaghetti

My mom is a great cook.  I love it when I go home during the summer and get to eat her cooking.  I'm sure as a picky child I was a royal pain in the butt for her, but karma has already bitten me in the butt twice as I try to get my children to eat!  

Some of my favorite foods were homemade ravioli, spaghetti, halupkie, fashnachts, etc.  Probably the most incredible thing after listing those foods is that we're not Italian, Polish or German.  My hubby's German, but never had a fastnacht before I made one for him...I guess it was regional German!  Anyway, my mom is 100% Irish and never an Irish dish found it's way to my plate.  At least with my knowledge.  As an adult I can kind of see why.  I've attempted to eat and attempted to make, corned beef and cabbage.  It was not pretty nor pleasant in any way.  So I'll stick to scones and colcannon for now...

The recipe I'm going to share is my mother's for Spaghetti and Meatballs.  It's comfort food for me.  I omit the green peppers when I make it because they're one of the few things my husband doesn't eat.  I hated the sausage when I was younger (especially the hot sausage), but adore it now!  It adds flavor even if the kids won't touch it.

So here it is.  Alice Brown's Spaghetti and Meatballs!

The Sauce:

1 small onion, minced

3 cloves garlic, minced

1/2 green pepper, diced (optional)

1 tbsp dried sweet basil

2 tbsp dried oregano

4 (14.5 oz) cans diced tomatoes

1 (29 oz) can tomato sauce

1/2 c. grated Parmesan cheese

2 tbsp olive oil

1/3 c. red wine

1 lb. sweet Italian sausage, cut into pieces

1 lb hot Italian sausage, cut into pieces

Meatballs (recipe follows)

In a large soup pot over medium heat, warm the olive oil.  Saute the onion and garlic (and green pepper if using).  Add the basil and oregano and stir.  Pour in the tomatoes and tomato sauce and stir.  Add the cheese, wine, sausages and meatballs.  Lower the heat to medium-low and cook until meatballs and sausage are cooked through.

Meatballs

1 lb ground beef (chicken or turkey may be substituted)

3 cloves garlic, minced

1 tbsp dried sweet basil

2 tbsp dried oregano

2 eggs

1/2 c grated Parmesan cheese

Italian Bread Crumbs

Salt and Pepper

In a large bowl place the meat, garlic, basil, oregano, eggs, Parmesan cheese and a few dashes of salt and pepper.  Pour bread crumbs down the center of the meat in the bowl (I do not have a measurement for this, nor do I want to guess at it.  My mom gave me these instructions and they work.  Maybe someday I’ll measure.  If I had to guess I would say that it’s about ¾ cup.).  Mix with hands.  Form into balls and place in spaghetti sauce to cook.

Prepare pasta according to directions on box and serve with sauce, sausage and meatballs.

Tuesday's Tip - Transcriptions...More Than Mere Typing

I've done plenty of transcriptions on Sunday's Obituaries, Amanuensis Mondays, etc, but I'm about to be doing many more.  I need to figure out who all of the people are in the hundreds of clippings that have been passed on to me by my in-laws in Wisconsin.  Rarely is there any data on the clipping to show which newspaper it came from, but at least I know they are from Wisconsin papers and most likely close to the area mentioned in the clipping.  I also know that they were clipped by my husband's grandparents so the clippings reference someone that was important to them, either, family or friend.

Many times there is a handwritten date on the article, which is most like the date of the event rather than the date the article was published.  We as genealogists realize that the publication source and date are very important to write out, unfortunately when they articles were clipped the publication date was not at the front of the clipper's mind.

Anyway, I'm blessed to have these clippings (and plenty of them).  I've scanned the ones that were stored in a "magnetic" photo album (don't worry I saved them from that bit of preservation), but have not scanned the ones that have been glued into several old, large scrapbooks.  That's a bit of work still waiting for me.  I still need to figure out where all these people belong in my tree.  The easiest way I've figured I can do that and get the most out of it is to transcribe the clippings.

I'm a fairly fast typist and it's easy enough to minimize the screen with the image and the screen I'm transcribing to so that I can see both at once and get the job done faster than if I'm trying to switch between screens.  I won't lie and say that the transcribing itself helps me to figure out where each person belongs.  My brain doesn't work that way.  When I'm transcribing, I'm looking at words, usually out of context.  My fingers just fly across the keyboard and little actually registers.  I can transcribe an entire obituary and not really know what was in it, but it's the proof-reading afterward that does the trick.  I have to make sure I didn't make typos in the transcription, so I always check my work.  That's usually when I have those "ah-ha" moments and find where they may belong...or at least what surname I need to file them under so I can place them properly later, perhaps after another transcription.

Transcription isn't just about typing it into your program, blog, database, etc.  It really is a helpful tool for helping us figure out who belongs where in our family tree.  Now that I've come to terms with that it's time to get to work...

Amanuensis Monday - Rev. Robert Anthony

 "Rev. Robert Anthony (hand-dated Mar. 16-1956)

EDEN, Wis., March 16 - (Special) - The Rev. Robert Anthony, 45, who was to have been celebrant Saturday morning for the funeral mass of a second cousin, died early Friday of a heart attack in the rectory of St. Mary's Roman Catholic Church in this Fond du Lac County community.

Pastor of St. Mary's and nearby St. James Mission since January, 1950, Father Anthony was to have officiated at services in St. Columbkille's Church at Elba (Dodge County) for Nicholas Powers, 80, who helped found the Astico State Bank and the Elba Canning Co.

A native of Columbus, Wis., where he attended schools before graduation from St. Francis Minor and Major Seminary in Milwaukee. Father Anthony was ordained a priest May 22, 1937, in St. Ann's Church, Milwaukee.

Well known throughout the Milwaukee Archdiocese, Father Anthony was assistant pastor at St. Joseph's in Fond du Lac from 1937-40, at St. Monica's in Whitefish Bay the following year, at St. Sebastian's in Milwaukee from 1941-45 and at St. Gall's Church in Milwaukee from 1945 until he came here.

His accomplishments at St. Mary's included building a school, convent and shrine to the Blessed Virgin, and organizing the first Boy Scout troop here.  A member of the Knights of St. George, the Knights of Columbus and the Catholic Order of Foresters, Father Anthony was completing plans for remodeling of the church and rectory at the time of death.

His body will be at the Dugan Funeral home in Fond du Lac from 3 p.m. Saturday until 4 p.m. Sunday, when it will be moved to his church to lie in state until services on Tuesday.

Area clergy will chant the Office of the Dead at 10:30 a.m. Tuesday, preceding a solemn Requiem high mass at 11 a.m. at which Msgr, Henry G. Riordan, pastor of St. Joseph's Church in Fond du Lac, will be celebrant, Archbishop Albert G. Meyer of Milwaukee will attend the funeral.

Burial for Father Anthony, an only child whom cousins survive, will be in St. Jerome's Cemetery at Columbus."

This and most of the other Wisconsin clippings I have were passed on to me from my husband's family.  This was from my mother-in-law, Dolores Cayemberg nee Kuehl.  I don't think the Rev Anthony was a relative.  I rather think that he was an ancestor's pastor and undoubtedly a cherished member of their church-family.  All that he accomplished as a priest before his early death at the age of 45 is amazing.  He was obviously a very dedicated man. 

I am a bit disappointed at the lack of information on his family.  The newspaper mentions the 2nd cousin who Rev Anthony was to preside over the funeral of, but it doesn't mention who his parents were.  There are nuggets of information in here that people can follow if they wanted to track down information on his lineage, to not mention someone's parents in an obituary is to do a great disservice to the deceased.  Just this genealogist's humble opinion.