Donald Paskowicz, 1947-1967

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Subject: Sophomore and Junior High School Pictures of Donald Paskowicz.
Date: Top two: 1964, bottom two: 1965.
Location: Greendale, Wisconsin.
Occasion: From Greendale High School Yearbooks.
Photographer: Unknown.
Relationship: Cousin from paternal side.

September 4 will be the anniversary of the birth of Donald Paskowicz, so this week in honor of Donald, I decided to post the only pictures I have of him.

I have the current principal of Greendale High School, Steve Lodes to thank for these pictures from  yearbooks during the years that Donald attended. Unfortunately, there was not a senior graduation photograph of Donald. Donald did graduate in 1966 with his class, but after the summer session.

From high school graduation, Donald was inducted in the US Army and served in Vietnam. Unfortunately, he was driving his jeep and hit a land mind and was killed in action on July 17, 1967 at age 19.

On the far lower left corner of the fourth picture, you will see Donald's homeroom teacher, Dean Russell. Mr. Russell was the librarian and also my mother, Norma Forrai's boss when she worked at Greendale High School during the late 1960's and 1970's. My mom worked the school calendar, so she could be off when my brother and I were off from school. Once we were old enough, she returned to the county and resumed work in the court system.

The above picture is of the Vietnam Memorial, and halfway through the panel on the far right, you can view Donald's name.

I do not have many memories of Donald, as I was a very young boy at the time of his death. I did receive his 3 speed bicycle and rode it for many years before completely wearing it out. I never forgot the original owner of the bicycle.

Thank you Donald for your service to our country. It is a shame that you perished so early in life. It is an honor to have been your cousin.

Maria Schmidt & Heinrich Lueth

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Subject: Left to Right: Maria Schmidt and Heinrich Lueth.
Date: 1800's.
Location: New Ulm, Minnesota.
Occasion: Portraits.
Photographer: Unknown.
Relationship: Second Great Paternal Grandmother and Grandfather.

Heinrich Lueth was born September 2, 1818 in Meckel, Rheinland-Pfalz, Germany. At age 27, he married Maria Schmidt in Staven, Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, Germany before immigrating to the United States. I do not have any information as to the exact date they arrived in the States, but Heinrich and Maria are recorded in the 1880 Census residing in New Ulm, Brown County, Minnesota. Heinrich was a farmer. He passed away by an accidental drowning, the exact date unknown but attributed by Elfrieda Schutt as September 11, 1896 at the age of 78 in New Ulm, Minnesota.

Maria Schmidt was born in 1821 in Meckel, Rheinland-Pfalz, Germany. She passed away on February 6, 1897 at age of 76 in New Ulm, Minnesota.

Heinrich and Maria had four surviving children, Augusta Rudolphi Lueth(1846-1903), Johana Lueth Waswo Giermann(1848-1935)(My Maternal Great Grandmother), Elise Lueth(1853-1878) and Frederick T. Lueth(1861-1945).

Johana kept in contact with her brother Frederick. Fredrick moved to Kansas City, Missouri, where he worked and is the place of  his death.

These photographs were in the possession of my maternal grandmother, Lucy Waswo. They were together in a frame. I carefully removed them and scanned the photographs to preserve them digitally.

Below is the death notice from the New Ulm newspaper provided by my Cousin Judith Jacob.

In the future, I will return and share more photographs and information about this portion of my family tree.

George Daniel Waswo Sr. & Lucy Helen Traulsen

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Subject: Left to Right: George Daniel Waswo Sr.(age 31), and Lucy Helen Traulsen(Waswo)(age 24).

Date: March 28, 1915.

Location: 5328 Leland Avenue, Chicago, IL.

Occasion: Engagement.

Photographer: Unknown.

Relationship: Maternal Grandmother and Grandfather.

In the next few weeks, I am going back in time so to speak, to post pictures that I have found in boxes. To date, I have pretty much followed the timeline from the photograph album that my mother, Norma created for me.

Since my maternal grandfather passed away years before I was born, I asked my mother when I was in my late 20's if I could have a picture of grandfather and grandmother. Mom found this photograph and gave it to me. I framed it and it hangs next to my desk where I am typing this. I find comfort having imagines of my ancestors close by while I work.

My grandparents were married on August 19, 1915. This photograph has always been attributed as an engagement picture. It was taken at the home of my great grandmother, George's mother, Johana Lueth Waswo Giermann. There are many posts and photographs of Great Grandmother Giermann, that you may explore.

If you look closely at George on his left lapel, you will see a shiny button and chain. During this era, this was how men wore their pocket watch. If I do say so myself, my grandfather was very handsome and grandmother so very pretty. The both look very fashionable for the era.

Forrai-Waswo Wedding, November 16, 1957

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These are the last two photographs of my parents wedding from their wedding album.

 Subject: Left to Right: The wedding cake with unknown guests.

Subject: Left to Right: Unknown guests, wedding cake, Joseph Frank Forrai(age 32), and Norma Elsbeth Waswo(Forrai)(age 35).
Date: November 16, 1957.
Location: Milwaukee, WI.
Occasion: Wedding Day.
Photographer: Albin C. Paskowicz.

I welcome comments from friends and family members who can identify people in the photographs.

Forrai-Waswo Wedding, November 16, 1957

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In the next few weeks I will be posting photographs of my parents wedding from their wedding album.

Subject: Left to Right: George Daniel Waswo Jr.(age 40), Middle top George Daniel Waswo III(age 9), Richard John Waswo(age 4) and Norma Elsbeth Waswo(age 35).

Subject: Left to Right: George Daniel Waswo III(age 9), Lucy Traulsen Waswo(age 66) and Richard John Waswo(age 4).

Date: November 16, 1957.

Location: Milwaukee, WI.

Occasion: Wedding Day.

Photographer: Albin C. Paskowicz.

I welcome comments from friends and family members who can identify people in the photographs.