FAMILY STORIES

Anna Witte, and Henry. Anna, my grandmother, was born in Mead in 1886.

   After their marriage, Fred and Anna Witte, my grandparents, moved to their farm northwest of Yutan and lived there until 1940. Fred became suddenly ill and passed away after a few days illness. After her husband's death, Anna remained at the farm for a while, living with her son, Herman, and his wife, Margaret. She soon purchased a home in Yutan where she lived until her death in 1962.

   Fred and Anna had three sons. Louis married Pauline Fuchser. They had Willard, Frederick, and Kathryn (deceased). Willard married Valerie Vavak; they have a son, Craig. Frederick married Linda Kratky. Their children are Lisa, Troy and Tina.

   Fred and Anna's son, Herman, married Margaret Michel. Their children are Jean, Ronald and Joyce. Jean married Clarence Pensick; their children are Deborah and Pamela. Ronald married Carol Coles and they have children, Marc and Jeffery. Joyce married Robert Hoffman. They have John, Douglas, Michael and Marc.

   The third son married Laura Michel. Their children are Patricia, Nancy, and Beverly. Patricia married Jim Frahm with children Shelli, Jeffery and Cindy. Shelli is married to Richard Brabec and has a daughter, Kristina. Nancy married Larry Fallon. They have Michael and Kimberly. Beverly married Dennis Zimmerly.

   I never knew my grandfather. There are two special memories of my grandmother; going to her home after Wednesday nite choir practice and the "Witte Families Gift Exchange" on Christmas Eve at her home, after the Church Program. By Frederick J. Witte

   Louis lived with his parents, Fred and Anna Witte, and two brothers, Herman and Ferdinand, on a farm northwest of Yutan, which we still know as the "Witte Home Place." One of the highlights of his childhood was the building of their new home in 1918. It is a large frame, two-story home which had indoor plumbing and carbon lights with a walk-in basement. Today, our son, Willard, his wife, Valerie (Vavak), and son, Craig, call it home, the third generation of Wittes. As a young boy Louis attended the rural school District #35. Farming has always been special to my husband. As a young man he helped his father farm, later rented farm land or worked for families in the Yutan vicinity. The wage paid to husk corn by hand (furnishing a team and wagon) was 2¢ a bushel. In the thirties he went to Iowa to husk corn. Several seasons Leonard Parish and he drove to Scotts Bluff to help with the sugar beet harvest.

Louis and Pauline Witte 25th Wedding Anniversary

   His grandparents were Frederick P. and Wilhelmine Witte, and Peter and Meta Lorenz, who were all born in Germany.

   I lived with any parents, William and Sophia Fuchser, and brother, Willard, also northwest of Yutan. My brother and I attended the Yutan school, District #9. In 1929 my brother died in a hunting accident. After the death of my brother, like so many farm girls, I then became an extra hand in the fields, helping my father. I graduated from Yutan High School in 1935. My father died in 1937.

   My grandparents were Christian and Lizzie Fuchser from Switzerland, and John and Elizabeth Dimmel from Germany.

   Louis and I were married in December, 1937. Our home was the farm northwest of Yutan, which had been my childhood home. We purchased our first tractor in 1939. Electricity came to our neighborhood in 1947, allowing us to dispose of our windcharger light system. Our children Willard, Frederick, and Kathryn were born while we lived on this farm. The boys attended school at Yutan. Kathryn Dimmel, my cousin, age 5, spent the summers with us from 1940 to 1945.

   In 1950, we purchased the Witte Home Place from Herman and Margaret Witte, moving there in the fall of that year. Our children then attended Rural District #35 where Louis served as a member of the board of education.

   Our sons graduated from the Mead High School District #72. In 1956, Louis started to work for Robinson Seed Company in Waterloo, due to drought and extensive medical bills because of the illness of Kathryn, who died in 1959. A foster child, Helen Costello, lived with us from 1961 thru 1963. Our sons served active duty with the National Guard from 1961 to 1962.

   Willard graduated from the University of Nebraska. Today he farms in the Yutan vicinity.

   Frederick graduated from the Universal Trade School in Omaha. He began working for the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission in 1966. In 1972 he was appointed Superintendent of the Two Rivers State Recreation Area near Venice, Nebraska. He and his wife, Linda (Kratky), have three children; Lisa, Troy and Tina.

   In 1971, we moved to our new hone in Yutan. Louis retired in December, 1975. He passed away suddenly in February, 1980.

   Both Louis and I have been active members of the United Church of Christ and various community and county organizations. Submitted by Pauline J. Witte

   Merlin was born April 20, 1916, in the family farm home 2 miles west and three and three-quarters south of Cedar Bluffs, Nebr. to Henry G. and Emma (Schlichting) Wittmersehouse.

Farm Home of Merlin C. Wittmersehouse Cedar Bluffs, NE 1962

   He and his sister, Wilma, grew up in this same home attending District #61 and Cedar Bluffs High School.

   Merlin's grandfather, Charlie Wittmersehouse, was born in Germany and came to the United States as a boy. He was adopted by a family in Illinois and became a U.S. citizen. As a young man he came to Saunders County where he worked on the railroad and raised his large family (four sons and ten daughters).

   Merlin's other grandfather, William Schlichting, was also born in Germany and came to the United States as a stowaway. He made a friend of a crewman who helped him hide and kept him safe until they reached the United States. As a young man he settled in Saunders County on a farm southwest of Cedar Bluffs. Part of this land was passed on to his daughter, Emma, Merlin's mother. Merlin married Bernice G. Wittmersehouse Oct. 1, 1939. Bernice was a teacher in a nearby school, Dist #13.

   They lived with his parents the first two years while he helped his father with the farming and also worked at the Mead Ordnance Plant. Bernice taught in School Dist. #60.

   In 1943 they moved to the Freida Bartels farm north of Colon. Bernice continued teaching Dist. #60 until 1945.

   On April 6, 1946, their daughter, Rita Jean, was born.

   When Merlin's parents retired in March, 1947, and moved into Cedar Bluffs, Merlin and his family moved to the home place where he had been born. They purchased an additional 80 acres from the Gus Schlichting family.

   Merlin's father passed away in 1948 and his mother in 1962.

   Rita attended School Dist. #61 and Cedar Bluffs High School. She also graduated from the Lincoln School of Commerce. She married Ronald V. Freeman of North Bend May 11, 1968. When Ron came home from Viet Nam they moved to Omaha. They gave Merlin and Bernice three grandchildren, Amy Ann, Thomas Richard, and Laura Anne. Thomas was born with a health problem and passed away at age 2½.

   Merlin had a farm sale Oct. 1, 1978, and decided to retire. He sold the farm buildings and acreage to Ron and Paula Bendig.

   Merlin and Bernice purchased a new home in Fremont and moved into it Oct. 25, 1968. Bernice worked for the J.C. Penney Co. in Fremont for 13 years and retired July 1, 1982.

   Merlin and Bernice are members of the Presbyterian Church. Submitted by Bernice G. Wittmersehouse

   Donald and his wife, Carolyn, purchased the 160 acre farm east of Valparaiso where they live from Leo and Gertrude Hladik at a farm auction in January of 1963 and moved from Dodge County a couple of days before March 1, 1963 with two small sons, Bruce and Bryan. Diane was born the following June and Denise 2½ years later, both at the Saunders County Hospital. We are engaged in general farming and raise both hogs and cattle.

Donald W. Woita Family 1980 Diane, age 19, Bryan, 20, Carol, Don, Bruce, 22, Denise, 16

   We have been Nebraska residents all our lives. Don was born in Saunders County at Prague, Nebraska but moved to Butler County with his parents in 1942 as a young boy. His parents, William J. Woita and Ella Focher Woita, and his grandparents, Joseph J. Woita and Anna Egr Woita, lived in the Plasi area before moving to Butler County. His great-great-grandparents, Jacob Woita and Catherine Vculek Woita, also lived in the Plasi area.

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   I was born in Butler County at Brainard, Nebraska. My parents are Otto P. Holesovsky and Lillian Brochtrup Holesovsky. I had never lived on a farm previous to my marriage so many new experiences were awaiting me those first few years. I had visited and stayed on farms and my father and brother had farmed, as well as many uncles and my grandparents. So, although I had always lived in town, farm life was not completely foreign to me. Nevertheless, I had never milked a cow or raised livestock or chickens or done such things as drive a tractor, irrigated, etc. until my marriage to a farmer and moving to a farm. It was also quite a challenge to buy everything we needed once a week instead of walking a block or two to the store whenever we needed something.

   Don has lived on a farm all his life and farming has always been a way of life with him. He did work at an implement place for a while but still lived at home and helped farm. He also has worked on construction jobs at various times and at the present time is an Archer Oil dealer and a Vigortone Ag Products dealer as well as a farmer.

   All of our children attended a rural school, District 118, through the 8th grade. Bruce, Bryan and Diane graduated from Raymond Central High School and Denise is a junior there at the present time. All of them except Diane, who lives in Lincoln, still reside at home. Bruce is farming and Bryan works for Shanahan Mechanical and Electrical of Valparaiso. Diane works at Lincoln General Hospital and is taking some classes at the University of Nebraska Lincoln.

   We attend SS. Mary and Joseph Catholic Church where both Don and I are choir members. I am a 4-H leader, a member of the Farmerettes Extension Club, and enjoy reading, sewing and gardening, both vegetable and flower, as well as various other activities. Some of Don's activities are NFO, ASCS Committeeman, Knights of Columbus, and District 118 treasurer. As you can see we keep quite busy and enjoy an active, full life. Submitted by Carol Woita

   Mr. and Mrs. Andrew Woita, grandparents of my father, Frank E. Woita, came to Saunders County in 1872, homesteading near Weston. Dad's father, John Woita, farmed, but later went into partnership in a General Merchandise store of Kacirek-Woita. In later years, the store building was purchased by my father who operated a grocery and general merchandise store until his death in 1971. Dad was a popular businessman and his slogan "Trade with Frank," became a well-known trademark. Dad's sincerity and honesty won him the respect and admiration of everyone who knew him.

   Mother, the former Rose E. Becak of Bruno, and Dad, were leaders in the community and active in all community and church activities. Mother was a go-getter, with great initiative ability.

   Mother organized the St. Rita's Guild of St. John's Catholic Church in 1924. She was elected the first president, and was instrumental in promoting its many activities throughout the years.

   In 1947, Dad, a Veteran of World War I organized the Weston American Legion Post 308. The post received its charter with 36 members. In 1972, the post had over 150 members!

   After helping Dad with the organization of the Legion Post, Mother organized the Weston American Legion Auxiliary Unit 308 in 1948, with 26 on the Charter Membership Roll, and served as the first American Legion Auxiliary Unit President. She always took pride in Legion and Auxiliary accomplishments, and was an energetic promoter of all related duties and activities. In her own words -- "Any community is a better community for having in it an American Legion Post and Auxiliary. Therefore, my husband Frank and I are ever grateful to have been able to bring both to Weston."

   Our family was always very close, and we all looked forward to weekends and holidays together after my sister Maxine and I were married. We had a happy home life with wonderful parents!

Frank E. Woita Woita Grocery and General Merchandise Store "Trade with Frank" (Until 1971)

   Maxine, my older sister, married Robert Grimm of Elkhorn. They farmed in Elkhorn before buying a farm in Weston, where they lived before moving to Sergeant Bluff, Iowa, where Bob owns and operates the bowling alley -- Sergeant Bluff Lanes. They have 3 children -- Robert Jr., Joan (Mrs. Randy Rush) and Duane. Maxine passed away in 1972, preceding Mother's death in 1975.

   I taught school in Valley where I met my husband, Jerry Neu. We lived in Omaha before moving to Sioux City, Iowa, where Jerry is Secretary-Treasurer and co-owner of Sioux City Lincoln Mercury. I have also taught in Weston High School and now continue my activities in music as Jr. High and High School Vocal Music Director of Sergeant Bluff-Luton Community Schools in Sergeant Bluff, Iowa, commuting from Sioux City.

   We have two children -- Diane (Mrs. Craig Dawson) who teaches elementary education in the Sioux City School system, and David, who resides in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, and works in retail sales. Submitted by -- Lorraine (Woita) Neu

   Larry and I came to Saunders County in February of 1963 as newlyweds. Before this we both lived in Butler County. Larry lived with his parents, Adolph and Sally Woita, on a farm near Bruno. And I lived with my parents, Paul and Christine Dvorak, on a farm near Brainard.

   We now live on a farm northwest of Valparaiso. This farm was formerly owned by my aunt and uncle, Ben and Frances Berniklau. Both are now deceased. We raise grain, hay, cattle, and hogs.

   We have four daughters, Angela, 18, Valerie, 17, Tracey, 12, and Jessie, 6. All attend East Butler School in Brainard. Angela graduated in May of 1982 and is at UNL this year.

   My grandparents are Peter and Frances Dvorak and Joe and Jessie Mach. Larry's grandparents are Frank and Agnes Woita and Alois and Aloisia Tomek. My grandmother, Frances Dvorak, and Larry's grandmother, Aloisia Tomek, are still with us. Grandma Frances tells that she was born during the blizzard of 1888. Grandma Tomek will be 98 in December. Submitted by Rose Woita

   Nick bought our house at 1657 N. Oak, Wahoo in December 1975. It became our home in February, 1976 after our February 21st wedding at St. Vincent's Catholic Church, Osceola, Nebraska (worst ice storm of 1976).

   I was born, Margaret Grace Heindryckx, on February 7, 1949 in Spalding, Nebraska to Marion Louise Bryan and Robert Peter Heindryckx. The oldest of 7 children, my sister, Mary Ellen, died on my First Communion Day May 13, 1956. Robert Jr., Gregory, Amy, Jean and John are my remaining siblings. I attended kindergarten through 12th grade at Spalding Academy and graduated May 21, 1967. After graduation I entered the Dominican order of St. Catharine, Ky. for 2 years but felt God had other plans for me. In August, 1969 I enrolled at Kearney State College as the first part of my training at St. Francis School of Nursing, Grand Island. I graduated in June, 1972 and started working as a R.N. at Lincoln General Hospital that same month. I continued to work there until June 21, 1976 when I became Nursing Director at Saunders County Community Hospital, a position I still hold.

   Nick was born December 23, 1949 at David City to Celestine Tekla Tomek and Adolph Frank Woita. They lived on a farm 2 miles east and 4 miles south of Bruno. He attended kindergarten at a country school. Grades 1 through 8 were attended at Holy Trinity in Brainard. He graduated from East Butler in 1968. Nick was a charter officer in FFA at East Butler and went to State 2 years in wrestling. He attended Milford Tech and received a degree in auto mechanics in January, 1970. He worked at the Ford garage in Wahoo, under 3 different owners, until November, 1978 when he started at Diers Ford in Fremont. He has been working as a parts man since 1973. His family moved to their present farm in Saunders County in February, 1968. Nick has 3 brothers, Larry, Carl and Jim.

   Our son, Matthew Joseph, was born September 2, 1978. After we had named him, Nick's Grandma Tomek told us that her father's name had been Joseph Matthew Jambor. Nick's mom hadn't even known his middle name was Matthew. What a coincidence! Matthew is an energetic 4-year old who enjoys attending pre-school 2 mornings a week.

   We are members of St. Wenceslaus Catholic Church where Nick is an usher. Nick also belongs to the Knights of Columbus and I belong to the Hints and Helpers Extension Club.

   In October of 1978, Nick won a trip to Rome, Italy for us through the Ford Motor Company. It was a dream come true, especially since all of our expenses were paid. We were in Rome the day Pope John Paul II was chosen, which was very special for us. It was a trip we will never forget! Submitted by Peg Woita

   Emil E. Wolf Sr. was the son of Josephine Nemec and Frank Wolf and was born on a farm near Clarkson, Nebraska April 20, 1888. He lived at home until the age of 17 when he attended Fremont Normal College and then worked at banks in Nickerson and Beemer before joining the Bank of Morse Bluff in 1910.

   Mr. Wolf was not one of original 23 men who, with only $7,500 in capital stock, incorporated the

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