Lives In New Prague example essay topic

Clayton Schoenecker My Grandfather, Clayton Schoenecker, was born on December 14, 1924. His parents were Hildegard and Henry Schoenecker. He was born in Jordan, and his family later moved to New Prague. He attended grade school at St. Wenceslaus. He only spoke German when he was young. At school the majority of the children spoke Czech, and when he served in church he had to speak Latin.

Throw in English to the mix, and he was speaking a little of four languages. As a child, Clayton was a very active boy. He enjoyed playing in the streets with his friends after school and on Saturdays. They would usually play softball and hockey.

Clayton also liked to fish and hunt. He would go fishing and hunting with his father. Clayton graduated from New Prague High School in 1943. In his graduating class, there were 60 people. After graduating from high school, Clayton enlisted in the U.S. Army in June of 1943. Clayton fought in WWII and was overseas for about 2 1/2 years.

After returning home he spent four years working at a local bakery before joining the highway department in 1950. He worked his way up to supervisor in six years. He supervised the maintenance of New Prague, Shakopee, Savage, Prior Lake, and Belle Plaine. There were 150 miles of highway in his area. He and 17 other men were responsible for keeping it plowed, sanded, patched or whatever it took to be traveled upon. Clayton married Helen C ecka in 1948 in New Prague.

They have lived in New Prague all their lives and have six children. He retired about nineteen years ago. He still lives in New Prague and enjoys surfing the net, e-mailing his children and grandchildren, taking digital pictures, and playing golf. Hildegard Wermerskirchen Hildegard Wermerskirchen was born on October 23, 1902, near Jordan, Minnesota. Her parents were Casimir Wermerskirchen and Lena Dom ler Wermerskirchen. Her ancestors on the Wermerskirchen side are descendents from Germany and date back to the 1700's.

They were from the villages of Klein Vernich and Gross Vernich. Her maternal ancestors can only be traced as far as Olathe, Kansas. Hildegard started school at a one-room country schoolhouse about two miles from their home. Her teacher converted her from a left-handed writer to a right. After about two years, Hildegard transferred to St. John's Parochial School for the rest of her grades.

This school exists in Jordan today. Her family moved from the farm to Jordan. On November 6, 1923 Hildegard was married to Henry Schoenecker. The wedding was at St. John's Catholic Church in Jordan with a dinner following at her parents' house. It was a small wedding, and the cake was a fruitcake made by her mother Lena. After the dinner they drove to Chaska to have their pictures taken.

Finally, driving Henry's Model T- Ford, they drove to the Twin Cities to buy furniture for their house. They had 5 children, four girls and one boy. Hildegard spent the rest of her life in New Prague. She lived on Lynda le Avenue in the house that was built by her husband Henry. Hilde was a traditional housewife who dedicated her life to her husband, children, grandchildren, relatives, and neighbors.

This enthusiastic woman was able to live in her home until 90 years of age and then spent the last few years of her life at Mala Strand. At the ripe old age of 96 she passed away leaving many grandchildren and great-grandchildren. Grandma Hilde's spirit thrives in all of their lives. Even the great-grand children have fond memories of hours she spent reading to them.

Today my family is reminded of her almost everyday, because we have a dog that we named Hildegard in her honor. She was the anchor and the steady guide for the family throughout her lifetime.