I have never seen these photographs. They are very precious to me. In the top picture is Grandma, grandpa and Olga, my Dad's sister. In the bottom picture is my Grandpa and Grandma. My Grandpa seems to be holding up a cat and a dog. Didn't remember him being lovers of pets. These pictures represent exactly the way I remember these three people. Olga did not get married at a young age. I'm not sure how old, but she lived at home for many years. I think Grandpa did everything he could to make sure that no suitors got very far when they dated Olga. Finally, Bud Klewier came along and swept her off her feet. They then had their only child Jolene. I suppose when Grandpa went to church, he dressed a little, but I do not remember him in anything but those overhauls. Grandpa was a minister in the Mennonite Church. I understand he could orate with the best of them especially when it came to hell and damnation. The problem was he preached in German. They became a problem for him as the church more and more began to use English and finally his German preaching was not of use anymore. So, he became a field worker. However, he acquired enough skills that he could work year-round enough to stay busy so he did not have to move to work.
I have never seen these photographs. They are very precious to me. In the top picture is Grandma, grandpa and Olga, my Dad's sister. In the bottom picture is my Grandpa and Grandma. My Grandpa seems to be holding up a cat and a dog. Didn't remember him being lovers of pets. These pictures represent exactly the way I remember these three people. Olga did not get married at a young age. I'm not sure how old, but she lived at home for many years. I think Grandpa did everything he could to make sure that no suitors got very far when they dated Olga. Finally, Bud Klewier came along and swept her off her feet. They then had their only child Jolene. I suppose when Grandpa went to church, he dressed a little, but I do not remember him in anything but those overhauls. Grandpa was a minister in the Mennonite Church. I understand he could orate with the best of them especially when it came to hell and damnation. The problem was he preached in German. They became a problem for him as the church more and more began to use English and finally his German preaching was not of use anymore. So, he became a field worker. However, he acquired enough skills that he could work year-round enough to stay busy so he did not have to move to work.
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Handsome family! Handsome! And oh I loved them so much. Dad described to me how they would go to either the state or county fail in Kansas. He said that as a kid walking around with his father, he was proud at how big and tough he was.
I think Grandpa once told me that he was not so religious as he became once he moved from Russia to Kansas, and I think he told me that at one time in Russia he smoked cigarettes - This shocked me.
I once had a book that described the migration of the German Mennonites to Russia. As I believe, Catherine the Great, whenever she lived, offered the Mennonites ownership of land if they would move to Russia from Germany. She did this as I understand, because the Mennonites were such great farmers and they would offer their skills to the benefit of Russia. They accepted because they were being harassed because of their religious ways in Germany. I think approximately one million Mennonites moved to Russia. (You should check me on all of this.)
I believe Grandpa was born in 1892 and I know he left Russia when he was 18 y.o. (Larry) Oh, one last thing, I always remember Grandpa wearing suspenders that held his pant up almost to his chest. This was because, I believe, he always had a problem with his stomach, ulcers or something, that wearing a belt would hurt. It is interesting that the clothes I remember him wearing the most was his Sunday suit. (Larry)
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