Gottlieb brought his family here for some very solid reasons. He wanted to be able to practice the Lutheran faith. He wanted to maintain the German language. He was a pacifist and did not want to participate in war or armed forces. The family needed the opportunity to find more land so that they could farm.
In the late 1980's Virginia found more than 900 of us. This included all the in laws.
Less than 50 of the family still live at Esk.
So now very few of us are members of the Lutheran church. Very few of us speak German. Many of his offspring have served in the armed forces. One of his grandsons was killed in the Second world war. My son was in the reserve forces. Very, very few of his family are famers. Two and a half of my brothers are farmers
So what would Gottlieb think of this situation? I think he was forward enough thinking to see that with all the changes it was a good decision for the family. If one looks back at what happened where they were living you can see that they had a much better opportunity in Canada. Things were very unsafe in central Europe for many years .
I have some errors that I have to correct. Some of you picked up the errors. My Dad was not in the nursing home for 18 years. He was in a nursing home for five years. He had very good quality of life until his mid eighties.
I've been most surprised at the reaction to this series of posts. I was surprised at how many were missing most of their family history. I was the nerdy little kid who sat around and listened to my Dad's stories and all the people who visited him. I've always been interested in Western Canadian history. I've always liked local history. My brothers went outside and played and had a good time which was a normal choice.
This is Dad's family in 1966...four sons.
Thanks for clearing up your dad's end of live timeline.That sounds much better.
ReplyDeleteI put in 1990 instead of 90.
DeleteI bet you are glad you stayed in and listened to all of your Dad's stories of the family history. You've done well remembering all of them. I used to listen to my older relatives talking about family history but I didn't remember all of the details. I wish I would have written more down but how many children think to do that!
ReplyDeleteI don't remember all the details either but I'd like to keep as much as possible.
DeleteHello,
ReplyDeleteIt is wonderful you know so much of your family's history. You have some great family photos too. I am missing both, I would love to have some photos, I have a few! My Dad was in a nursing home for less than a year before he passed. Take care, have a happy day!
Many of our family photos have been lost too. Mom was the keeper of the photos but when she died the photos fell into chaos.
DeleteI hope you are compiling it all into one printable document.
ReplyDeleteI know that that's what should be done, but I haven't been working on it.
DeleteInteresting! Love the family photos. Two and a half of your brothers are farmers? What does the other half of that brother do for a living? :)
ReplyDeleteWell, my youngest brother was a nurse and worked mostly in administration but farmed on the side until he retired and then farms full time.
DeleteI have always been interested in old stories and family history. There are a number of us around.
ReplyDeleteI imagine Gottlieb would be proud of everyone of his descendants. He gave them a chance and they took it.
I think he was a forward thinker.
DeleteI may have heard some of the old stories but I don't remember much of them. My sister and I discuss this a lot and sometimes her memories are different than mine.
ReplyDeleteShe has most of the old photos and is making a project of labeling and scanning them all to share with me and our 2 brothers. Will my children care about this history? I am not sure that they will.
You have done a great job of honoring your ancestors, Red!
I experience some of the same where what we remember is sometimes different. I find the differences more with my kids when we talk about things.
DeleteOne of the reasons I love reading blogs is that occasionally I get to read an unforgettable sentence like “Two and a half of my brothers are farmers.”
ReplyDeleteWell that just popped into my head. Of course , what I mean is that one brother farmed about half time.
DeleteFamily stories and old photos are priceless in today's world.
ReplyDeleteHowever in today's world where we have digital cameras in phones there should be many more photos in the future.
DeleteI too think that Gottlieb would say he made a good choice. What a great extended family! I know little to nothing of my family history, and now there is nobody to find out from.
ReplyDeleteSince people in our family wrote things down it's hard to think that there are people who don't know there family's history. I guess we lived together so things were passed down.
DeleteQuite a legacy.
ReplyDeleteThanks but each family has it's own story and legacy.
DeleteI was the one who listened and picked my grandmother's memory. I have the best history assembled, but so much more could be done. Alas, only I am interested, so it's all here on Blogger and up to someone else to find and carry on. Or not...
ReplyDeleteThe Kline family history is interesting. I am curious: Have you ever had a big family reunion getting together with some of those folks who still live in Esk?
ReplyDeleteIt seems that after parents die we think of all kinds of questions that we should have asked. By the time I got smart enough to ask my Dad questions he would say, "I don't remember."
ReplyDeleteI think you should gather these little snippets together and put them in a booklet for your children. Someone did that in my husband's family, and handed them out at a family reunion. They are quite treasured.
ReplyDeleteGreat family photos. With digital cameras these days people take loads of photos but since so few get printed out you wonder how many will last into the future. You can't keep .jpg files in a biscuit tin like my mum keeps her old photos.
ReplyDeleteI love how much you know of your family's history. It's a wonderful thing to explore. Love your family photos too.
ReplyDeleteIt's always fun to see old black & white photos and nice that you have these to supplement your family history.
ReplyDeleteYour family history is so very interesting, Red. I'm sure Gottlieb would be very proud of all his descendants. I think it's important to remember the sacrifices and bravery of those that came before us so we can learn from them and appreciate their struggles.
ReplyDeleteI like history also and have enjoyed your history!
ReplyDeletethis is a beautiful post ,i loved learning more about your family history dear Red and it is impressive and progressive which is great and satisfying indeed!
ReplyDeletei loved knowing about my parents and grandparents ,my grandfather (maternal) was educated man but not with high degree though great love for knowledge and books ,i would love to talk to him but all stories i have heard belong only to them
i wish i could have learn more about them as i read your stories