From the Heart:

Each year of our life our perspective of the holiday season tends to change. When we are small, we look forward to what we are going to receive. As we grow older this begins to change as we consider others as well as ourselves. At some point we forget about ourselves and fully concentrate on others, generally our children and grandchildren. It is then we look to see the joy in the eyes of the recipients. Whether you are looking at the eyes of others, or they are looking at yours, may we all be thankful these unions exist. May the presence of these unions be ever so bountiful.

In God's love, Donald and Dianne.

Genealogy

Some may wonder why I spend all this time and effort to put out a newsletter. Well, I have two reasons for doing so. First, it helps the family to stay together as we are reminded of who we are and what is happening. Second, it is a convenient way for me to inform you about my research efforts and at times ask for assistance. And, it seems like I am asking for your assistance more and more.

To become history, events have to be recorded or at least remembered and passed down through the generations. This is what I am attempting to do, that is, record the history of our families. It is relatively easy to record the information but extremely difficult to identify it. Family history that is passed down from generation to generation is impossible for me to record unless it is somehow passed on to me. I see this as your challenge. Either you record the information and pass it on or pass it on to me and I will record it and pass it on. People and events need to be recorded or ultimately their existence will be forgotten.

To help you to better visualize what the contents of a family heritage books will look like, I have created several sample pages so you can see how they will be put together. To see these sample pages, go here. Only the first two pages are provided to those who received this newsletter via US Postal mail.

Please keep me in mind when you change your email providers as this will assist me in getting the newsletter announcement to you. Please check here for the 37 who presently have an invalid email address.

The Omnibus Web Site has found a new home. It is located here.

The site is hosted at www.schlteis.com and the "schulteis" domain name is owned by Donovan Schulteis. Thanks are in order for Donovan's hosting of the site. Donovan can be reached at Donovan James Schulteis.

Schulteis Family

Over this past year we have identified many early families in the years 1700-1850. While we have identified children of these families, we are not 100 percent sure all are identified. But it is a start. You can find these early families identified in the family descendant chart found here

Mary Louise (Schulteis) Jensen was elected Trustee in the April 2004 Election for Hustisford, Dodge County, Wisconsin.

Cody Everett Schulteis, son of Daniel and Mary (Helm) Schulteis, of Germantown, Wisconsin was selected as student ambassador in the People to People International program. Along with 43 middle and high school students, he visited England and France for two weeks in June/July.

Brandon Oliver Schulteis, son of Daniel and Mary (Helm) Schulteis, of Germantown Wisconsin, in nation competition in Florida in July became the National AAU youth Tea Kwon Do gold medalist in his age group. He also took Gold in State competition in March. Brandon presently has achieved the rank of brown belt.

Congratulations to all.

Additional pictures of the homestead property located at 2290 Hillside Road in Richfield, Wisconsin were taken in 1941 and shared with us by Aubery and Teresa (Eckery) Anderson of Forsyth, Missouri. Teresa tells me she drove the car from Missouri to Richfield in 1941.

Notice the pond in the background in the picture on the left. While missing for many years, a pond is there again today.

On the right is St. Mary Church in Richfield as it looked in 1941.

And, as the Schulteis homestead looked in 2003.

Schulteis Century Homestead

The Odenbrett family homestead was located in what had been Fussville, now Menomonee Falls, Wisconsin. The original buildings no longer exist as the property has been turned into a subdivision. If you wish to visit, it can be found on the south side of Good Hope Road about 3/4 mile west of the highway 175 intersection.

Births:

Samantha Marie Bayer, daughter of James Albert and Shunna Lee (Cira) Bayer, was born 6 January 2004 in Milwaukee.

Sofia Angela Medved, daughter of Peter Milan and Nicole Leslie "Nikki" (Schulteis) Medved, was born 2 April 2004 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.

Ethan James Mechenich, son of Dennis James and Kimberly Ann (Gutjahr) Mechenich, was born 13 April 2004.

Alexander Leland Wilcox, son of Kevin Lloyd and Angela Lynn (Schulteis) Wilcox, was born 14 May 2004 in Mequon, Wisconsin.

Kiera Marie MacFarlan, daughter of Scott Michael and Denise Marie (Mechenich) MacFarlan, was born 1 July 2004.

Kaden Michael Disterhaft, son of Derrick Joseph and Michelle Suzanne (Howard) Disterhaft, was born 8 July 2004.

Benjamin Scott Kasten, son of Nicholas Scott and Jamie Natalie (Gettelman) Kasten, was born 11 August 2004 in Menomonee Falls, Wisconsin.

Ashtyn Elizabeth Jones, daughter of Jeffrey Thomas and Jodie Marie (Karnes) Jones, was born 3 December 2004. Ashtyne arrived at 1:08 in the morning

Wyatt Andrew Jones, son of Jeffrey Thomas and Jodie Marie (Karnes) Jones, was born 3 December 2004. Wyatt arrived at 1:10 in the morning

Alexis Noell Jones, daughter Jeffrey Thomas and Jodie Marie (Karnes) Jones, was born 3 December 2004. Alexis arrived at 1:11 in the morning

Marriages:

Gwen Joyce Gettelman, daughter of Dennis John and Janice Isabelle (Schulteis) Gettelman, and Scott Edward Mehlos on 20 March 2004 in Belize, City of San Pedro, Central America.

Nicole Leslie Schulteis, daughter of Carol Ann Schulteis and Gregory Gnerlich, and Peter Milan Medved, son of Milan Michael Medved and Corinne Andrekopoulos on 1 April 2004 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.

Eric Allen Bayer, son of Gregory Russell and Laura Jayne (Schmitt) Bayer, and Jennifer Jane Keller on 19 June 2004 in Kewaskum, Wisconsin.

Teri Marie Schulteis, daughter Albert John and Kathleen Ann (Meyer) Schulteis, and Christopher John Huenink on 2 October 2004 in Cedar Grove, Wisconsin.

Kevin Alan Sundblad, son of Rodney Kevin Sundblad and Jeanne Marie Schulteis, and Tiff Forrest, daughter of James Forrest and Laura Meyers, on 24 October 2004 in Eagle River, Wisconsin.

Deaths:

Thomas Paul Mergener on 13 February 2004 in Menomonee Falls, Wisconsin. Tom was the son of the late Paul Arthur and Gertrude (Schmidt) Mergener, the husband of Eleanor Gertrude Schulteis, and the father of Michael (Patricia), Mark (Anita), Rodney (Tina Benjamin), Cynthia (Terry) Fassbender, Tom Jr. (Eva), Terry (Chery), Brian (Lori), Bruce (Rosanne), Constance (Kevin) Schuster, and Michele (Doug) Duquaine. He was 76 years.

Daisy M. Magenheimer on 22 February 2004 in Washington County, Oregon. Daisy was the daughter of the late Peter Matthew and Barbara (Cassel) Wick, the wife of John Magenheimer, and the mother of Arthur M. (Ann), Richard John (Joan), and Thomas Mathew. She was 95 years.

James Henry Horn on 11 March 2004. James was the son of the late Henry John and Gladys Mary (Chambers) Horn and the husband of Mary Magdalen Hennes. He was 74 years.

John Joseph Achenreiner on 14 May 2004 in Hartford, Wisconsin. John was the son of the late Joseph John and Sophia (Hagela) Achenreiner, the husband of Bernadine Magdaline Schulteis, and the father of Diane (Allen) Spaeth and Karen (Gene) Reiter. He was 87 years.

Marion Elizabeth Kruger on 20 December 2004 in Adrian, Minnesota. Marion was the daughter of the late Matthew John and Lenore Frances (Kunkel) Odenbrett, the wife of the late Warren "Bill" Kruger, and the mother of Dennis (Anne) and Michael (Jeri). She was 78 years.

Siegl Family

We are making inroads in filling early branches of the Siegl family. Cousin Dieter Weihermann of Kraichtal, Germany has been identified and we are in communication. Dieter is the son of Marianne whose parents were Johann and Wilhelmine (Baumann) Siegl. Johann was Grandfather's youngest brother.

Our cousin Anni Rausch, who is 90 years, was located to a sanatorium for the aged. Her mind is good but her mobility needs help. She would love to receive letters and cards (English is fine). Her address is:

Another Siegl cousin has contacted me. He is Alexander Siegl the great-grandson of Franz Siegl, the older brother to our grandfather, Joseph John. We are gathering information on this branch of the Siegl family.

Research in the Siegl family has also led us to the Kachelmeier family of Slinger, Wisconsin. Frank Joseph Kachelmeier was the son of Frank and Madgalena (Fellner) Kachelmaier (sic) of Haßelbach, Bohemia. Grandfather communicated with Frank in the 1920 and 1930s although a direct family link, up to now, was not established. Grandfather had two sisters, one Maria, who married Karl Kachelmeier and they lived in Haßelbach. A second sister Katharina married Anton Kachelmeier.

Records for the Siegl family go back to St. Antonius Catholic Church, Vollmau in 1780 when Joachim Bernhard was born. This coincides with the establishment of the parish as a distinct entity. Prior to this time Vollmau residents attended Maria Himmelfahrt Catholic Church in Furth Im Wald, Bavaria locate about 2 km to the west.

Great news, from the archives in Furth, from the church records of Maria Himmelfahrt, we have uncovered three earlier generations of the Siegl family and five additional siblings of Joachim Bernhard Siegl. Earlier generations of the family had the surname spelled Sigl. The Siegl family now can be followed back to the mid 1600s.

And yes, another Siegl cousin has identified himself. He is Jim Schneider the 2^nd great-grandson of Johann and Anna Maria (Siegl) Kachelmaier. Anna Maria was the daughter of Joachim and Juliana (Semmelbauer) Siegl/Sigl. Jim's grandmother Catherine Kachelmaier emigrated to Milwaukee about 1887. There she married William John Schneider and the family settled in Chilton, Wisconsin. Catherine's sister Barbara also emigrated to Milwaukee about 1883. She married Wenzel Meingast. Barbara and Wenzel are buried in Calvary Cemetery in Milwaukee.

Frank Kachelmeier, the baker in Slinger, is the brother to Barbara and Catherine. Barbara was born in Haselbach as was Frank. This family branch is really growing.

Deaths:

Joseph Anthony Siegl died 12 January 2004 in Oconomowoc, Wisconsin. Theresa, his wife of 72 years, preceded him October of 2003. Joseph is survived by his daughter Louise (Ray) Dalen, his son John Eugene, and daughter-in-law Jacquelyn (Beckman) Siegl. He was the son of the late Joseph John and Ann (Ott) Siegl. Uncle Joe was buried next to Aunt Theresa in the mausoleum at St. Joseph Cemetery, Waukesha. He was 95 years.

Ott Family

The eight children of Ulrich and Amalia (Hacker) Ott all emigrated to the United States from Godas, Bavaria during the years 1870 to 1903. Godas is located near Kemnath in northeast Bavaria. The first to arrive was Anna Barbara in 1870. She married Joseph Nuber in Milwaukee in September 1873 and they went on to live in Calumet County, Wisconsin, later settling in Marshfield. Next came Barbara Margaret in 1872, possibly 1871. She married Erhard Kick in Milwaukee in October 1872 and Joseph Tremmel in September 1889 in Bakerville, Wood County. She lived her life in Marsfield. Barbara Margaret was followed by Theresa, Maria Elizabeth, and Anna Elisabeth. Theresa, who emigrated in 1882, married Anton Henseler in May of 1887. They lived in Bakerville located near Marshfield. Maria Elizabeth married Michael Schinner in October 1883 in Milwaukee. The family lived in Milwaukee. Anna Elisabeth married Ferdinand Goessner in Milwaukee in July 1883 and they called Milwaukee home. Barbara Elisabeth and her husband John Baptist Kuchenreuther emigrated in 1876. They initially settled in Chilton, Wisconsin and after a few years moved to Milwaukee which became their home. Next came Vincent in May of 1883. Initially he stayed with his sisters in Marshfield. After a short time he moved to Milwaukee. Vincent went back to Kemnath to marry Theresa Philipp in 1887. After the marriage the couple came back and lived in Milwaukee. The last to arrived was George. He had married Maria Philipp, say 1881 in Kemnath, Bavaria. This family in total emigrated to Milwaukee in 1903.

I do not have any contacts in the Goessner, Kuchenreuther, Nuber, or Schinner families. If you should know anyone, would appreciate if you would pass me their name and address.

George and Maria (Philipp) Ott Family, circa 1918

George and Maria (Philipp) Ott Extended Family; circa 1932

Picture was taken at the 50th wedding anniversary celebration of George and Maria. Anyone know exactly when George and Maria were married? We are estimating 1881 or 1882. Are there similar pictures available for the families of George's brother Vincent or his sisters Anna Nuber, Margaret Kick, Barbara Kuchenreuther, Elisabeth Goessner, or Theresa Henseler?

Births:

Scott Robert Riegel, son of Christian Miles and Barbra Beth (Zoller) Riegel, was born on 23 February 2004 in Torrance, California.

Deaths:

Walter Stanley Wolta died 18 December 2002. He was the husband of Patricia Loretta Marie Kinlein and step-father to Carolyn (Kuchma) Libecki, James Kuchma, Karen (Kuchma) Mach, and Margaret (Kuchma) Ziebell. Walter is buried in Mt. Olivet Cemetery, Milwaukee. He was 88 years.

Jacob "Jack" Kuhl died 21 May 2003. He was the husband of Theresa Catherine Trunde. Jacob is buried in Holy Trinity Cemetery, Newburg. He was 94 years.

Patricia Loretta Marie (Kinlein) Kuchma-Wolta died 29 September 2003. She was the wife of John P. Kuchma and Walter Stanley Wolta and the mother of Carolyn (Kuchma) Libecki, James Kuchma, Karen (Kuchma) Mach, and Margaret (Kuchma) Ziebell. Patricia was 84 years.

John L. Hughes died 16 August 2004. He was the husband of Marquerite Kinlein and the father of Patricia (Patrick) Davidson and John (Barbara) Hughes. John was 83 years.

Gilbert Matthew Ott died on 28 October 2004 in Terre Haute, Indiana. Gilbert is survived by his wife Edwardine A. Baggeler and his daughter Marilym (Joseph) Cloutier. He was the son of th elate John Vincent and Marie Eva (Huppertz) Ott. Gilbert was buried in Holy Cross Catholic Cemetery in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. He was 87 years.

To all who responded to the 2004 Schulteis family branch review, I thank you. This was a five year interval review as the last time we did this was in 1999.

A side note, my 1954 grade school class held its 50^th reunion on June 6^th of this year. This was the exact date and day of the week we had graduated 50 years before. A great time was had by all, first Mass at St. Boniface, Germantown, Wisconsin followed by breakfast at the Sawmill Inn in Richfield with afternoon socializing at the home of Robert and Louise Burg in Campbellsport. You don't hear much about grade school reunions but I can tell you, if you have not attended yours, you are missing something special.

The literary work on the history of St. Boniface Parish in Germantown has now been distributed. It is of two volumes. Volume one St. Boniface Parish, A History and volume two St. Boniface Parish, A Time to Remember. Volume one contains the history of the parish from May 1844 to 1999. Volume two identifies all who are the parish, that is, those who chose the parish to cherish their earthly remains. Copies have been distributed to all libraries and historical societies in Washington County and a few other institutions.

Research Help:

Does anyone know how to get in contact with the children of Allen Matthew and Agnes Patricia Wolfe: Thomas and Andrea, Robert Phillips, John and Meredith Lopas or know if Agnes is still with us?

Also need addresses for:

I am very much in need of photos for some family members. Please check here to see a list of their names.

End of this the 2004 newsletter.