Sharing for Mothers Day 2009

Congratulations Moms!  These are some pictures I have.  A few were in Charles' 2000 family reunion photo CD.   Love to you all, Viktor Onkle.

1941 Elfriede with her mother Anna on the haywagon.  Grandfather Adam Fuchs is leading his beloved horses.  

Oma Anna was always followed by animals, her cat, dogs, lambs, cows - they just followed her through the town streets to the pastures.  Your Omi loved her kind, considerate, hard working mother.   After the 1945 bombings burned the house, she had everyone go out to the fields to fill in the bomb holes and start planting while they lived in the basement below the burned out house.

The barns were also bombed and all the animals (horses, cows, chickens, pigs) burned too.  Opa Adam's hair turned white overnight. 

In 1939 Elfriede's favorite german shepard was drafted into the Nazi army.  She just told me a couple years ago how heart broken she was as a young girl to loose her favorite dog.

Spring 1950 - with nephew Gerd Beck (I'm just a couple months away!).   One reason Opa married Omi was this - Omi was popular with all the children in town.  They would all follow her through town, singing and dancing... 

Baby Victor - Omi talked for years about the beautiful robe Opi got her for the hospital!

Sitting with new baby Victor & nephew Gerd.  When Omi's sister Helene was badly wounded in 1945, Omi helped raise Gerd in Fuerth.  Opi met Omi in Fuerth LDS meeting.  Helene's husband Georg was LDS, Helene converted when she married Georg.

German and American LDS families go for an outing 1951.

Helene on left, husband Georg, nephew Gerd, Omi, Victor baby, Opi.  All in an amercan car, I think Omi said it was a Lincoln.

And the whole well dressed group picks flowers.  Mind you this is only 6 years after the 

war ended.  And yes, Omi's sister Helene has her Sunday arm on (she lost her arm in the 1945 bombing)

Taking a Sunday walk - again, well dressed Germans & American.

Winter 1952 - check out the hat!  yes Omi told me these were fur coats.

1953 Summer in New Haven - nice summer outfits.

1954 Sunday dinner with Opi's mother Phyllis (Gilbert) Cannon.  This is a good picture of Mum, and yes she fed her collie Honey Girl at the table.  Honey Girl often sat on the porch with me, I would give her my cookies in trade for her dog biscuits.  Omi found us once, and was a bit upset.  But the dog loved to share.

Easter 1956 - well dressed egg hunters.

About 1963 - Opis Parents Mum & Pop got out of the New Haven cold and visited us in California.  Boy they loved it - I remember Mum laughing as she took her shoes off at the beach.

I think this was about 1962.  Opi's youngest brother Chick was in the navy - he frequently visited us in California.  It was fun, he'd take us all to his ship on visiting day.

This is about 1966, Centerville.  We're all here with Opi's brother Gilbert (on the left, his wife must have taken the photo), our cousin Loralee (next to Victor) and Opi's Aunt Chris (Mum's sister).  Aunt Chris was a warm, caring and close friend to Omi, she made Omi feel at home in the U.S. from the day she arrived.  Aunt Christine is named after Opi's Aunt Chris.

This is the early 70's. The three Red Head sisters were singing at the piano.  Rosie Croasdale was helping me play the piano.

2000 family reunion - I like this attempt to get everyone to pose!