We have lost another family member.

I don’t know what to say. Sometimes in one’s lifetime you meet people that have an impact on your life. You don’t realize it at the time, but years later you have that aha moment that says yah…..that person had an impact on my life. Chick was one of those persons for me. Whether it be not to slide the the word peace when singing the Christmas song Silent Night (and cringing every time you hear someone do it now) or thinking about her and days gone by every time you smell anise candy. She was a lovely lady with a lot to give. She will be missed greatly by all who loved her.

Alice Ethel Zell was born in Mishicot, Wis., on April 7, 1913, the oldest child of Pastor Edward Zell and Alice nee Jindra. She departed this life to be with the Lord Jesus, her Savior and friend, on April 7, her birthday, at the age of exactly 96 years.

As an infant she was received into God’s Kingdom of Grace through Holy Baptism, and thereby also became a member of St. Peter’s Ev. Lutheran Church of Mishicot. Although her place of residence changed several times during her professional career her membership with St. Peter’s congregation remained uninterrupted throughout her lifetime. That membership included service to her Lord and to the congregation as organist for 75 years, director of a ladies choir and mixed choir for 68 years, Sunday School teacher, and member of the congregation’s Ladies Bible Hour for 70 years

Better known to friends and family as “Chick,” Alice began her education in the Mishicot State Graded School and continued it through Mishicot High School. She graduated as valedictorian of her class in 1930. After a short period of employment at the Mishicot State Bank, she attended Manitowoc County Normal School, graduating in 1932. Her teaching career included a number of years in the one-room rural schools of Manitowoc Co., first at Jambo Creek, then at Gjerpen (rural Valders), and last at Pine Grove (Steiner’s Corner),

In 1939 she enrolled at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. She graduated from the university in 1942 with a Bachelor of Science degree in Physical Education and Health. Her first place of employment was at Williams Bay High School, Williams Bay, Wis. In 1943 she began her work with the Sheboygan Falls School District. Her duties included service on all grade levels as a teacher of health and physical education, coaching, and to the consternation of many but at the same time earning their respect, as unofficial and unpaid student disciplinarian. She retired from Sheboygan Falls High School in 1983 after influencing the lives of 3 generations of students over a period of 40 years.

Her service to the school and the community was recognized when in her honor the newly developed and expanded Sheboygan Falls High School athletic field and track was named “Zell Field.” It was a fitting tribute to a teacher whose diligence and faithfulness over so many years touched the lives of hundreds of pupils and students. Her reputation was that of one who practiced “tough love” before the term was even coined. Her hobby was other people’s children and her special love was teenagers.

She is survived by two sisters, Ruth Zarling, and Hazel Barthels (Oscar), and by one brother, Pastor William Zell (Marian), all of Mishicot, and by one sister-in-law, Jayne Zell of Westland, Mich. She will also be remembered and missed by many nieces, nephews, and cousins, and by their children and their grandchildren, as well as by numerous friends and acquaintances. In her lifetime as a sister and a maiden aunt she cut a wide swath. She will not be forgotten by those who knew her. She has not been forgotten by her Savior who by his perfect redemption reserved a place for her in his Father’s House.

Alice was preceded in death by one sister, Evelyn who died in infancy, by her parents, by one brother, Pastor Edward Zell, by one brother-in-law, Pastor Waldemar Zarling, and by many who over the years were very close to her. Memorials may be directed to St. Peter’s Lutheran Church, Mishicot, Wis., to Manitowoc Lutheran High School, Manitowoc, Wis., or according to the donor’s choice.

Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. Thursday, April 9, at St. Peter’s Ev. Lutheran Church in Mishicot, with the Reverend Robert Johannes officiating, with burial to follow in the Mishicot Public Cemetery. Relatives and friends may call after 9 a.m. at the church, until the time of service at 11 a.m. There will be no Wednesday Evening visitation. The Lambert-Eckert Funeral Home of Mishicot is assisting the Zell family with funeral arrangements.

Herald Times Reporter

April 8, 2009

Well….I finally found some time to do the long needed updates I have been accumulated.

As you can tell I updated the theme. The old theme did not work with the recent update.

We received some updates from Judy a few months back. I moved her comments so they are with her father and grandfather’s page.

The photo gallery is working now. If you have any more pictures you want to add, please let us know.

I updated Nora Meineke Menges’ page.

I started a category on my other blog that I named Genealogy This, That and Other Things. The reason behind the category is a place to put genealogy tips and tricks. Even if you aren’t actively doing genealogy yourself, some of the information I intend on sharing may help future genealogist in their quest for your family history.

My first post is on Family Photographs and Future Old Family Albums. Your photographs, news articles and stories are tomorrows genealogy tidbits. The article gives some ideas on how to best to organize and label family photographs, articles and stories for future generations.

The full article is here.

I have been pretty busy as of late with redecorating my son’s room, work and adding things to my Wisconsin websites (I maintain genealogy sites for Milwaukee and Waukesha Counties in Wisconsin) as well as contribute to the Manitowoc County site.  I haven’t had much time for breathing much less adding to this site.

Last evening I did a bit more research on Arnold Tuma, son of Wencel and Anna (Jindra) Tuma.  He along with his brothers moved from Wisconsin out to Montana and became mustard seed farmers.  Arnold and his wife had two children.  One of them, Gene, was a geology teacher.  Gene Tuma was instrumental in the Montana Strip Mining Reclamation Act back in the 60s.  The federal law passed in 1977 requiries that lands strip mined for coal have to be reclaimed.  In Montana, big coal companies continue to delay reclaiming the land that has been impacted by strip mining.  You can see more about the Arnold Tuma family here.

Mike sent me an article written by Bill Zell in 2000.  It is a great tribute to Mary Lenhardt Jindra.  I added it to the site in the Church and School section.  I think it makes a great introduction to that section.

I added an article written about the Maribel School in the town of Cooperstown. George Francis Jindra III taught at this school before he moved out to North Dakota.

I found out there was a school in Fischerville and I added the history of the school to the Church and School section.  Members of my family (John Bouda, Ed. Chaloupka) were members of the school board for years.

Our family mourns the loss of one of our members. The following is the obituary as written in the Manitowoc Herald Times.

Grandpa Dickie, as everyone knew him by, was a great person, loved by all he came in contact with. Dick served in the U.S. Air Force and met his late wife Sylvia when he was stationed in England. He moved back to his hometown of Two Rivers, and started a long career working in the Oil Industry, which took him and his family to many places, ending up in Stanwood, Mich. Dick was involved with all his grandchildren’s activities and liked nothing better than to have his family around him. He was also very active in his church. Dick was preceded in death by his wife: Sylvia; and grandchildren: Nicole Fewless and Zachary Parman. He leaves behind four daughters and their families: Susan Fewless and her children, Kristopher and Nathan; Jane (John) Parman and her children, Andrea and Jacob; Patsy (Dan) Gettings and her children, Kyle, Tyler, and Chelsea; Julie (Mark) Leasher and their children, Bailey, Jordan and Dylan; and his sister: Carol Andrews. A niece Carne Andrews, and many cousins, family and friends also survive.

Cremation has taken place. Visitation is 6 to 8 p.m. on Tuesday, Feb. 19, 2008, with a Memorial Service at 11 a.m. on Wednesday, Feb. 20, 2008. These both will take place at Redeemer Lutheran Church, 12775 Northland Drive, Big Rapids, Mich., 49307.

The family asks that in lieu of flowers donations be made to Redeemer Lutheran Church.

Herald Times Reporter Feb. 19, 2008

I added the history of St. Wenceslaus Catholic Church, Greenstreet, Cooperstown Township, Manitowoc County, Wisconsin.  This little settlement is near Kellnersville, WI and was the first Bohemian Catholic Church in the Manitowoc County.