I have been thinking of this day for awhile - and I have been struggling with my thoughts about Grandma. I really didn't know her all that well.
Like so many of us we only saw Grandma a couple of days a year - she didn't really care to go 'up north' or as she put it - "The Sticks" so I would only see her around her birthday or maybe that time between Christmas and New Year's and then for a week or so when us Eckert's 'invaded' the Pigeon home !!!
Amelia was born in 1888 in Bevent Wisconsin. Her father Vincent died the previous spring, so obviously she never knew him. Her Mom, Emelia held the farm together with the help of relatives.
Amelia met and married a young man named Frank Lorbiecki on October 28, 1905 at St Ladislaus Church in Bevent. Everyone reading this knows the results of that marriage.
If you don't know SOMEONE in this picture you clearly found the wrong blog.....lol Grandma, clearly did not have the word "headache" in her vocabulary. As the Lorbiecki's were farmers, I often wonder what would have happened if a few more boys were born amongst those early children. Farmers needed boys (sorry to you feminists) to work the farm - that said I am certain that the girl's did work this farm - they had to.
In the early 1930's Frank moved the family to Sugar Camp - to say the least Amelia was NOT happy...somehow Grandma was a 'city girl' - I have no clue where that came from, unless it was from stories her Mother must have told her about life in Germany. So, before Grandma would agree to go she was promised that this living "in the sticks" would only last 10 years. Grandpa, along with help from WWII kept his promise.
Grandpa and Grandma first moved to a farm they rented just off of Pine Lake Road (where the turn in the road heads straight south - just west of the land on Haven (Mud) Lake. They then moved to the farm above at the end of Rolling Acres Drive. Pauline and Clements bought this farm when Frank and Amelia moved to Milwaukee.
Social Security was 'invented' in 1935 and in order to collect benefits a person had to work a certain number of 'quarters' to be eligible for benefits upon retirement. So with that, and the need for workers to support the War Effort, Grandpa and Grandma moved to Milwaukee for work. I believe Grandma was very happy with this arrangement and Grandpa? I cannot imagine how much a fish out of water Grandpa was in the 'big city'
They moved back to Wausau - first living on the north side of Wausau and then to Ferge Street and finally Delonay Avenue.
The above is the house I remember as a kid - Uncle Joe and Aunt Emmy living in the house (not in this picture yet) just to the north - and then Uncle Carl and Aunt Esther living there after Emmy and Joe moved just to the east on Normandy Street. Yvonne and Norman living just to the south of them. Uncle Milton and Aunt Lucille living a short walk away on Neupert Avenue - it was the center of the Lorbetske Empire !!! Such fun.
But, what do I remember of Grandma as a person - truthfully not very much...I remember having to be well behaved, especially inside that house. I am sure that the Pigeon and Delonay kids have a clearer picture of what Grandma was like - and hopefully they will make comments. I always thought Grandma was stern - but then again I was probably naughty as all heck and needed to be 'reminded' often...lol
Pictures I have of her are mostly serious with few smiles - that was probably more a 'thing' - as most pictures I have of her generation across many families show a more serious side to everything. The pictures show me a very proud woman - who was quite comfortable in her skin.
I guess in retrospect, to me Grandma was an icon - she 'mothered' the Greatest Generation and for that she was and is to be revered.
Please - Please - Please add comments with your own thoughts below in the comment section - use the Anon button if you don't have a google account...but please sign so we know who you are....lol
3 comments:
My Mother and us kids spent a lot of time with Gramma and Grandpa.I lived with them or close by my whole childhood, until I went to College.But I would see them frequently after that--because of going home..... and they were always apart of that....
I received more hugs from Grandpa than Gramma. She really was't critical but I always felt I had to be on my best behavior at her house. I always wanted to impress her...
We visited her almost every day...she would treat us with cookies...I think everyone remembers Ginger Snaps...
She always remembered us on our birthdays ...gave us a little amount of money..dimes/a quarter etc.
Discussions were always about Family....those close...those in Milwaukee, Up North, Alabama etc. Her family meant everything to her. I remember Uncle Charley and Aunt Stella, Uncle Willie and Aunt Johanna visiting often. Sometimes I would go with Gramma and Grandpa when they went to visit them. And of coarse, when Uncle Frank came to visit...He was very Special to her.
I don't remember her coming to my school events...only those at Church-1st Communion,Confirmation etc.
What I remember Most was that she was always there... A part of my life.....Someone I loved...and I was so LUCKY to have had her so close....... Cathy
I remember going to visit grandma and grandpa. Of course we were more interested at the time to get to pigeons! I remember grandma playing button button who's got the button. She also would very quietly call us in her bedroom before we had to head back to the big city and slip us a nickel or dime and say don't tell grandpa, just our little secret. Becky
Greg, I think you have a pretty accurate picture of Grandma. I do remember her as being pretty stern. Grandpa was the fun one! I second what Cathy said. Although I don't know if I wanted to impress her. I just didn't want to get scolded. It's funny but I only remember her being in her house, not anywhere else. Maybe because we visited there so often. She taught me the importance of family. Amy
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