Newsletter
Dedicated to Austrian-Hungarian Burgenland Family History

THE BURGENLAND BUNCH NEWS - No. 185
March 31, 2009, (c) 2009 by The Burgenland Bunch
All rights reserved. Permission to copy excerpts granted if credit is provided.

Our 13th Year, Editor: Johannes Graf and Copy Editor Maureen Tighe-Brown

The Burgenland Bunch Newsletter, founded by Gerry Berghold, (who retired in Summer, 2008, and died in August, 2008),  is issued monthly as email and is available online at http://www.the-burgenland-bunch.org.

Current Status Of The BB:
* Members: 1700 * Surname Entries: 5517 * Query Board Entries: 4070
* Newsletters Archived: 184 * Number of Staff Members: 14


This first section of our 2-section newsletter concerns:

1. MEMORIES OF PERNAU (by Steve Geosits)
2. BURGENLAND LDS FILMS
3. A CREATIVE WEEK
4. THE HISTORY OF THE CASTLE OF GÜSSING (by Ladislaus E. Batthyány)
5. NESTROY'S "DER TALISMAN" IN GÜSSING (by Heinz Koller)
6. THE TURKS IN GÜSSING (translated by Bob Strauch)


1. MEMORIES OF PERNAU (by Steve Geosits)

Book by Pernau-native BB-member Emmerich Koller
Good Dogs Do Stray: Memoir of An Immigrant from Hungary

John Eberhardt, one of our BB members, contacted me sometime ago for genealogical help concerning his Pernau ancestors. Based on information that John Eberhardt already had from his own research, we were able to "map out" the village house numbers of his ancestors and correlate them to 1857 Austrian house and census maps. By way of thanks, John Eberhardt generously sent me a copy of the book "Good Dogs Do Stray: Memoir of An Immigrant from Hungary", which was autographed by Emmerich Koller himself. A truly wonderful gift.

The book consists of Emmerich Koller's memoirs, and a realistic portrayal of the way things were during those years. Our older generation of readers will translate those events happening in Pernau to events that happened at the same time in their own village. And, for future generations Koller seems to have captured the essence of a time gone by.

By way of example, the first chapter is titled "The Gathering Storm" which gives a first hand account of what it was like living in the village during those turbulent and terrible years of World War II. But, all is not sadness here. Another chapter is titled "The Best Memories" which provides a look a the lighter side of village life. The author has also included about 40 photo images which are truly gems.

Here is an excerpt from p.41 to give you a sense of Koller's style:

"To the right of the entrance was the heart and center of the house, the living room, or "die Stube". The entire family lived, worked, ate, and slept in this room. It wasn't very big at all and had only two small windows facing the street. Talk about crowded and claustrophobic conditions. Before my arrival in 1942, seven people had to coexist in this room. How my father and his apprentice also made and repaired shoes is this same room is beyond my understanding. To put it simply, this room was shop, living room, dining room, nursery, bedroom, and recreation room all in one."

And another excerpt from p.163:

"In Pernau security measures along the Iron Curtain became more relaxed. In fact, now as a thirteen year old, I was allowed to take our cow Shaekl grazing on Hungary's front lawn. Of course, I had to be vigilant lest she strayed into the minefield."

Overall, I enjoyed the book very much. But more importantly, my mother took to it right away. She would call almost every day to tell me what part she had just read, and then she would tell me exactly what was happening in our own village of Petrovo Selo (Szentpeterfa) during the same time period. In short, these stories by Koller contain shared experiences, and have a universal quality which I believe most of our readership will appreciate.

Emmerich Koller holds degrees in Philosophy, German and Education. He retired after 36 years in the classroom and resides in Winnetka, Illinois with his wife and son.

Web site offers further information:
http://www.emmerichkoller.com/

2. BURGENLAND LDS FILMS

At the first of March I received the following email:
---
Hi Hannes,
My brother Frank and I put together info on the Burgenland LDS Films.
I gathered his hand-written work and put it in MS Word.
We are now sending you the list (Attachments) of the work done.
Can you add this to the BB website for us?
Eddie Tantsits
----
Yes, we can!!!

And after I come back from southern Burgenland, I'll do it.

I added an "eighth" district, named Borderland with all LDS films I found for the villages beside the border in Hungary. All villages with Hungarian and German names. http://www.the-burgenland-bunch.org/LDS/LDS.htm

It is a great work by Ed and Frank Tantsits.


3. A CREATIVE WEEK

The first week of March was a very creative one in southern Burgenland. Many photos were shot and some interesting meetings held.

One day I was in Rosenberg and found, with a little help by BB-member Heinz Koller, the (grand)parents' house of Gerry Berghold. Gerry visited it when he was in Austria in 2001.

The next day, I had a meeting at the "Sculpture Park South" with founder Paul Mühlbauer about creating a Gerry Berghold sculpture. The first, preparatory work is done. Now the project is on its way.

One afternoon I spent at the church of St. Emmerich, to photograph the cemetery behind the church. I tried to take pictures of all gravestones but many are hidden behind thorn bushes. This costs me my pants and some bloody spots on my legs and knees. Some gravestones are unreadable, so I take away the moss, but some I could not decrypt. I will go there next time with better tools.

The last day I spent in the southern-most area of Burgenland at the village of Neuhaus am Klausenbach, which has two castles. The first and older one is the castle ruins of Dobra at the top of a cold volcanic cone. It is a good point for a wide overview.

The second is the castle of Tabor, which was built with some stones of Dobra. You can see one castle from the other. I plan to do some articles about their history and background in the near future.

Beside this, when I had some time, I worked a little for the railway from Oberwart to Oberschützen.
 

MAIN THEME: GÜSSING

4. THE HISTORY OF THE CASTLE OF GÜSSING (courtesy of BB-member and currently the Castle curator, Ladislaus E. Batthyány)

In 1157, Güssing is already being mentioned and documented. After three versatile centuries under different dynasties, Güssing, Német-Ujvár, - on 30th of June 1524 - is being obtained by the Batthyánys, who nearly half a millennium later until this day, are connected and associated with the castle of Güssing and also carry Német-Ujvár as part of their family name.

Hungarian King Géza II in 1157 called Count Wolfer, probably as he came from Hainburg on the Danube to Güssing, and presented him with Mount Kyscen and the surrounding area.

The first wooden castle and monastery is said to have been built by Count Wolfer; it is thought though that the first building owners of the castle and monastery were the Benedictines. Already at that time, the name of the pilgrimage church of Our Holy Mary of Snow is being mentioned, which is today's Castle chapel.

King Béla III finally had built a strong castle of stone. Since then Güssing has been called Novum Castrum, (Ujvár = New Castle, from which Német Ujvár in Hungarian is taken) documented in 1198. In 1246, King Béla IV for a brief period of time entrusted the castle to the Order of Saint John (1246) and later to his treasurer Mauricius (1263).

In 1272, Heinrich II from the dynasty of the Counts of Güssing and a descendant of the first owner Wolfer has been documented as the new owner of Güssing. The family, though, especially the so-called 'Ivan the Terrible', had been involved in several wars against the royal dynasties. They conducted wild raids and were the cause of widespread unrest in the area. Finally, in 1289/90 Duke Albrecht deprived the counts of Güssing of their power with the permission of Ladislaus IV.

Under King Sigismund in 1391 the castle went to the dynasty of Cheh de Sáró and Léva. Their descendants, however, were involved in such heavy debts that all their assets had to be mortgaged and therefore, Nikolaus Ujlaki in 1458 came into possession of the castle and rule of Güssing. In 1459, those Magnates who were not satisfied with the election of Matthias Corvinus had crowned Emperor Friedrich III as King of Hungary at the castle of Güssing. This, however, remained without success and in the end Ujlaki had to pay homage to King Matthias Corvinus.

His son, Lorenz Ujlaki, as loyal follower of King Matthew, forcefully and publicly appeared against his successor the Bohemian King Wladislav II. This made the King enraged and in 1495, the castle Güssing was heavily damaged through the King's forces. This forced Ujlaki to reconcile with the King. Four years later Ujlaki died childless.

On June the 30th, 1524 finally, Francis I, Batthyány (1497 to 1566) received Castle Güssing, consisting of dominion and control of at that time already 60 villages, from his friend of his youth, King Ludwig II. This was a reward for Francis' heroic defense of the fortress of Jaicza against the Turks.

From that time on, Güssing became the main residence and ancestral castle of the Batthyánys and from then on, Güssing was enlarged to a proper fortress against the Turkish enemy with a consistent building activity. Since then the name Batthyány is inseparable with the past, present, and future of castle Güssing.

When the Turks passed on their way to Vienna for war, they also devastated Güssing. In order to escape total elimination and spare the fortress, Franz I had to arrange to side with the enemy, by which to the relief of the inhabitants of Güssing he succeeded.

From then on, the fortress was enforced for 75,000 florins and under Balthasar III, Franz II and Adam I the fortress of Güssing was further enlarged considerably. Between the years of 1540 to 1580 the round tower and bastion with fortifications were built. Because of the permanent and eminent danger of the Turks, the Batthyánys had to hold by themselves their own garrisons on each of their castles for military reasons. This cost a considerate amount of money. Between the 16th and 17th century, not often, up to 3000 people found shelter at the castle.

Buildings at the castle of Güssing like Francis' gate, Adam's gate or several other towers and bastions (widow's tower, canon hall, turret and long bastion) still today give evidence of the architectural activity of the Batthyánys. In 1750, low built prisons among others are mentioned and until 1800, a torture chamber existed on the grounds of the castle. Under Francis II the Turks (part of the Bocsay upraising) again invaded Güssing and devastated the country; however, fortress Güssing managed to defend itself.

Adam I in 1638 finally brought the Franciscans to Güssing and founded the monastery with the family's burial place and tomb which, since then are inseparable with castle of Güssing. Adam I also further promoted Güssing to a renowned place of education for young aristocrats from all over Europe.

In 1683, under Christoph II, once more the castle provided shelter for Güssing's inhabitants to flee the approaching Turks, who were on their flight after their occupation of Vienna. Christoph and his son Adam II still pursued the Turks and engaged in their running fight. In 1700, the castle still served as an Arsenal for the imperial troops.

Times changed and due to the modernization of warfare, the castle and fortress of Güssing slowly lost its strategic importance. In 1777, all guns were removed. Due to the high cost of maintenance and the introduced roof tax by Empress Maria Theresia, the partial demolition of the castle's fortifications had begun.

Since the division into Christoph's line (older/princely line) and Paul's line (younger line) after Adam's I death in 1659, but at the latest since Prince Louie Batthyány-Strattmann in 1787 made Körmend his main residence and centre of administration, Güssing had lost its character as the centre of power for the Batthyánys.

Well knowing the importance of castle, family burial site and monastery in Güssing not only for the family but for the whole region, Prince Philipp Batthyány-Strattmann in 1870 established a foundation for the preservation of the castle and monastery.

Due to the fact that the foundation had lost most of its capital during the years of inflation after World War I, ways and means had to be found in order to assure the preservation of castle and monastery also for the generations to come.

Guided by these motives, in the 1980s, the Batthyánys offered the public authorities/Land Burgenland the chance to participate in the management of the Prince Batthyány foundation. That way, important works of renovation and preservation could take place at the castle and monastery.

The castle continues to be managed by the Prince Philipp Batthyány-Strattmann foundation. Its trustee is the respective chef de famille currently the 9th Prince, Ladislaus Pascal Batthyány-Strattmann who, together with an administrator of the government of Burgenland, currently Dr. Janics, manage the foundation.

Today on the grounds of the castle, theatre performances, concerts and readings take place during the summer months. Some rooms can also be rented for private functions. It is also possible to celebrate one's civil wedding ceremony and church wedding in the chapel since last year.

The family museum gives only a brief insight into the 700 years' history of the Batthyánys until today. Additionally one will find several other interesting exhibitions.

In 2008 the prince handed over the function of the curator to his eldest son, Ladislaus E. Batthyány.

http://www.batthyany.at/

Opening times

Easter Monday - 31 October
daily except Monday, from 10-17 o'clock

http://www.burgguessing.info/

5. NESTROY'S "DER TALISMAN" IN GÜSSING (by Heinz Koller)

The 'Burgverein Güssing' and their artistic director Laszlo Maleczky continue their very successful line of Viennese classical popular theatre-plays started in the year 2006: After the magical tales 'Der Verschwender' and 'Der Bauer als Millionär' by Ferdinand Raimund, last year's offering was Johann Nepomuk Nestroy's 'Lumpazivagabundus'.

The 2009 production will be Nestroy's socially critical masterpiece 'der Talisman'. And the project would not have Laszlo Maleczky's mark if it did not include a mini-version of the play, or rather a 'mini-musical' played by children. After the great success of 'Das Mädchen aus der Feenwelt' and 'Lumpazivagabundus' he's decided to put on 'Didus Feuerkopf' - which is a mini-version, based on this year's play, but completely re-written by the artistic director himself, and accompanied by lots of music and energy arranged by his partner Herbert Kopitar. The stage-scenery will be painted for the first time by the art-painter and graphic designer Heinz Gurdet.

Laszlo Maleczky comes from a Hungarian dynasty of opera-singers. He continues to be a very successful international opera-tenor: The classic-pop-group Adoro (accompanied by the Budapest Orchestra) shot within only a few weeks to the number one place in the German charts and has since gone gold and platinum. Laszlo is touring with Adoro going from one live gig to another and from one TV-studio to another. New songs are already being recorded and of course his time-table for the Güssing Burgspiele has to be very well organized. In Güssing this year he will be assisted by the actress and artistic director Mara Kömives, who has many Nestroy productions under her belt.

The Burgspiele Güssing theatre-group is very ambitious and experienced and the young actors of the group are very promising (as we know after the surprising successes of the last two years!). The plays will be performed on the new stage on the 'Festgelände' at the foot of the castle - with the Franciscan monastery and the oldest Burgenland medieval castle as a magnificent stage setting. The place is located near the centre of town, right next to the cultural-centre and the Aktiv-Park hotel, and there are parking-facilities nearby. A trip up to the Güssing Castle as well as to the area's tourist attractions can easily be fitted in to a day-trip before the evening shows.

Performances

"Der Talisman" Premiere Thursday, July 29, 2009, 7:30 p.m.; also on July 31, and August 1, 7, 14, 15, 21, 22, 28, 29, 2009

"Didus Feuerkopf" Premiere Saturday, July 18, 2009, 6:30 p.m.; also on Sunday July 26, and Sundays August 2, 9, 16, 23, 2009

Information and tickets

Burgverein-Kartenbüro,
7540 Güssing, Hauptplatz 7
Austria
Tel. +43 3322 42102, and/or +43 676 6129776
Purchase order form on the homepage
www.burgspiele.eu         (info(a)burgspiele.eu)

The play:

To be outsiders in a society of intolerance and superficiality is the fate of the redheaded Titus Feuerfuchs in Johann Nestroys sharply-tongued satire 'The Talisman'. But 'Destiny' comes to help him - and offers him a present in the shape of a black wig. (This seems to be a 'tribute' to Raimund's magical fairy-world - who greatly influenced Nestroy in his early days). The witty Titus grabs the opportunity and tries to rise up in the glittery world of 'high society' with all its traps and false promises which bring him back in the end - to his 'own world', where he's joined by Salome the red-headed goose-minding servant. But both of them decide not to let themselves governed by their destiny . on the contrary .


6. THE TURKS IN GÜSSING (translated by Bob Strauch)

The siege of the castle in Güssing by the Turks seemed to go on forever. The enemy had stormed the castle on the steep rocks in vain. All attempts to overtake the castle were thwarted by the bravery of its defenders. When the Turks finally realized that the castle was not to be conquered using weapons, they attempted to starve the garrison into surrendering.

The siege had already lasted a long time, and despite all restrictions, the castle's food supply was gradually running out. It became clear to the courageous defenders that they could not hold out for much longer. In desperation, the lord of the castle came up with a clever ruse to get the besiegers to give up and retreat.

He asked for was left of their flour supply, an amount which hardly even filled a small basket. During the night a large flour barrel was placed upside down on the outer castle wall. The remaining flour was poured on top of it, giving the appearance that the barrel was overflowing and there was still plenty of flour in the castle. At daybreak the lord of the castle ordered the last ox to be driven around behind the castle wall and beaten with clubs to make the animal roar incessantly, thus giving the besiegers the impression that there was still a whole herd of cattle alive in the castle.

When the Turks heard the continuous bellowing of the ox and saw the overflowing barrel of flour on the castle wall, they really believed that the castle still had an abundance of supplies and it would be useless to wait for a famine. They gave up their siege and left Güssing a half hour before noon the same day.

In memory of this cunning victory over the Turks, the bells of the old parish church in Güssing toll everyday at 11:30 in the morning.


Newsletter continues as number 185A.

THE BURGENLAND BUNCH NEWS - No. 185A
DEDICATED TO AUSTRIAN-HUNGARIAN BURGENLAND FAMILY HISTORY
March 31, 2009
(c) 2009 - The Burgenland Bunch - all rights reserved

The second section of this 2-section newsletter includes:

1. GÜSSING DISTRICT LDS FILMS (by Ed & Frank Tantsits)
2. RESPONSE TO SURFACE MAIL QUESTION RE GÜSSING RESEARCH
3. A CHUCKLE AND A THANK YOU
4. CANADIAN IMMIGRATION (by Andrea Neumann)
5. ALL CHICAGO BURGENLAND DECEASED Part 1 (by Tom Glatz)
6. BURGENLAND EMIGRANT OBITUARIES (courtesy of Bob Strauch)


1. GÜSSING DISTRICT LDS FILMS (by Ed & Frank Tantsits)

HISTORICAL BB NEWSLETTER ARTICLES

Editor: This is part of our monthly series designed to recycle interesting articles from the BB Newsletters of 10 years ago. Our current newsletter features the village and castle of Güssing; thus we recycle a March 1999 Newsletter article explaining some of the information obtainable or starting from church and civil records in Güssing. Then for kicks, we throw in a bit of silliness from the same edition. Enjoy!

THE BURGENLAND BUNCH NEWS No.54B
MARCH 31, 1999

RESPONSE TO SURFACE MAIL QUESTION RE GÜSSING RESEARCH

(Ed. [Gerry] Note: I hope all of our BB members will consider similar answers to any questions they may receive from non-members. Spreading the BB gospel this way helps all of us.)

Fritz Königshofer writes to William Staar:

William,
Your letter and copies arrived on Wednesday. Sorry it took me till today to react. There is no question that your great-grandparents lived in Güssing, Burgenland (Hungarian name Német-Ujvár). The Aloys versus Alois spellings are of no relevance... these are simply variations of the same thing.

The first document is a transcript of the Roman Catholic baptismal entry of your grandfather. It states that he was born in Güssing, house no. 38 (probably where the family lived), to parents Albert Josef Staar, Roman Catholic, master blacksmith, born in Moschendorf, and Anna nee Gotthard, Roman Catholic, born in Deutsch Schützen. The baptism happened four days after the birth (birth on March 16, 1909, baptism on March 20). The godparents were Josef Nikischer and Johanna Semler.

Your grandfather received the baptismal rites from the famous Father Gratian Leser who headed the Franciscan Convent in Güssing and is unforgotten to this day due to the "village series" he wrote about the history of Burgenland villages and other historical articles about the country.

The second paper is a transcript of the birth entry from the civil records. It puts the birth of Albert Josef Staar also on March 16, 1909; it was recorded on March 21. It lists father Alois Staar as a blacksmith ("Schmied"... as you can see, this is his profession, not his origin), and the parent couple as living (and possibly belonging to) Güssing. This entry provides the age of the parents, namely 47 years each. I believe that the rightmost column simply states that the birth was reported by the father (Alois Staar) and entered in the records by Emil Hollo, likely the town's notary.

William, you stand an excellent chance to unravel data on your ancestors via the microfilms that can be ordered via the Family History Centers of LDS. Check the so-called Salt Lake City Library index (on fiche) for Austria, Burgenland, and Güssing. Go for the civil birth records, starting with 1909 (your grandfather's birth) and working your way backwards. The civil recordings before 1907 were much more detailed, i.e., provided possibly more data on the origin and age of the parents. Assuming the couple had lived in Güssing over a longer period.

I believe you should also check births after 1909 to see if any older siblings of your grandfather were already married themselves and had children. You may also scan the death records for siblings who died young or other members of the household like grandparents who may have lived with the family, also the marriage records for marriages in Güssing of any siblings. Especially the girls would most likely have married in the town of their parents, i.e., Güssing.

The civil records span Oct. 1895 through the end of 1920. They are in Hungarian. If you run into any problem of interpretation, please let me know. The records of Güssing are quite voluminous and you face a challenge in scanning through them. However, I find this kind of hunting emotionally very rewarding.

For the time before October 1895, you may order the Roman Catholic church records, especially if you have not accounted for all 9 or so siblings yet when you reach the start of the civil records. Then you should study the Roman Catholic records of Moschendorf (Nagy-Sároslak) in about 1862 for the birth of Alois (Alajos) Staar, and the Roman Catholic records of Deutsch Schützen (Német Lövö) of the same period for the birth of Anna nee Gotthard. The marriage of the couple might have been held and recorded in Deutsch Schützen, or Güssing, Moschendorf, or yet another place. Try first to come close to the prospective marriage date by finding the earliest possible child births to the couple.

Let me also mention that there is a group in the Internet who share a common interest in the Burgenland. The group is the Burgenland Bunch, and was founded by Gerry Berghold (originally from Allentown, PA, now Winchester, VA) who edits a biweekly newsletter. If you have not done so, you may want to take a look at our web site at [old address deleted; new is www.the-burgenland-bunch.org ] and the other material there. This is an entirely non-commercial joint venture and I feel very much at home with the co-members of the BB. In any case, please keep me updated how it goes.

Best regards, Fritz


3. A CHUCKLE AND A THANK YOU

Two recent notes which I thought would be of interest:

(1) In a message dated 99-03-18, Ron Bunch writes:

Is anyone in the Burgenland Bunch researching the Bunch surname?

Answer: No, but I can see why you thought we might be. The Burgenland Bunch (Bunch here being synonymous with group) are 300 people involved with family history in the Province of Burgenland in Austria (Hungary pre 1921). Our European correspondents also have occasional problems with our choice of a name which doesn't translate well in German. G. Berghold

(2) In a message from Alex Tschaar:
To all of you, WOW!!! You can double that WOW!! The trunk full of information that I received is beyond my highest hopes, believe me. For the past couple of months I have been trying to break down the brick wall I had come up against, lo and behold, it took the BURGENLAND BUNCH to do it, it was like seeing the Berlin Wall coming down all over again. Thank all of you so very, very much. YOU ALL ARE THE GREATEST!!! Sincerely, Alex Tschaar

(Ed.-this is the gentleman, a new member, who said he'd like to know something about his ancestors before he joins them!)


4. CANADIAN IMMIGRATION (by Andrea Neumann)

I'm a member of the Burgenland Bunch. I also am on the Board of Directors at the University of Minnesota for the Immigration History Research Center representing the Croatian Community in the Twin Cities. I found the recent question of the Lutheran Immigration Board interesting and although, there isn't information about it at the IHRC, there may be other resources there for people who are doing historical research. In the meantime, I had sent the original question and transcript over to the IHRC to see if they could help with any information too.

Here is a link to the web site that will describe in more detail what is available: http://www.ihrc.umn.edu/research/sources.php

The other thing to note is that there are unadvertised fellowships and scholarships for students wanting to study immigration further. See this link here: http://www.ihrc.umn.edu/educators/fellowships.php

My family is in the process of creating a Croatian Studies fellowship at the University of Minnesota and I am sure that anyone from the Burgenland area interested in studying further immigration issues would be a good applicant as well. I noticed that it has been removed from the list so am not sure of what the status is. I will need to check into that further too.

additional forwarded email

From: Daniel Necas necas001(at)umn.edu

Hi Andrea,
I have finally had the time to read those inquiries more closely. I see that the emails forwarded by you do not contain the email addresses for either Mike Huber or Fritz Königshofer, so I was unable to respond directly to them.
I have not been able to locate anything in our holdings on the Canadian Lutheran Immigration Board. From what I can see on the web, it sounds like the Canadian Lutheran Immigration Board was established in1923, originally to assist German Lutherans emigrating from Russia. After making it gradually more and more difficult for these people to leave the country, the Soviet government finally stopped that emigration completely in 1930. I could not find out exactly when, how and why the LIB began to assist Lutherans from Austria in their resettlement in Canada.
I will keep this inquiry on file and let you know as soon as I have any
leads.
Daniel


5. ALL CHICAGO BURGENLAND DECEASED Part 1 (by Tom Glatz)

Chicago Tribune (IL) - July 20, 2007
Deceased Name: HOEFLER, DOROTHY M.

Dorothy M. Hoefler, born in Burgenland, Austria, to the late Joseph and Theresa, nee Wolfl; loving sister of Louis (Marie), Theresa (John) Hoenig, Joseph, Marie (Anthony) Schranz, John, Robert (Helen), and Sr. M. Bernadette, S.S.N.D.; beloved Aunt Dee to many. Visitation in church Saturday, 9:15 until 10 a.m. Mass, at St. Gregory the Great Church, 5545 N Paulina, Chicago. Interment St. Joseph Cemetery, River Grove. In lieu of flowers, donations to St. Gregory Church or School Sisters of Notre Dame. For additional information, call Barr Funeral Home 773-743-4034 or sign the guest book at BarrFuneralHome.com

Chicago Tribune (IL) - 1982-05-04
Deceased Name: BINDER

Samuel Binder, born in Burgenland, Austria, beloved husband of the late Anna, nee Heisenberger; loving father of Ann (Jack) Metke and Ellen (the late John) Fleck; fond grandfather of Bob (Mary) Fleck and Marilyn Fleck. Visitation at Szykowny Funeral Home, 4901 S. Archer Av., Tuesday 2 to 9 p.m. Lying in state at Good Shepherd Lutheran Church, 4200 W. 62d St., Wednesday from 10 a.m. to time of services 11 a.m. Interment Evergreen. 735-7521.

I am sure I know the descendents of Samuel Fleck. He could even be the ancestor of present BB members researching this name.

Chicago Tribune (IL) - September 26, 2006
Deceased Name: KLOPSCHEK, ANNA

Anna "Oma" Klopschek, nee Schendl, age 94, born in Burgenland, Austria. Beloved wife of the late Frank; loving mother of Anne (the late Patrick) Cleary; dear grandmother of Patrick (Hilary) Cleary, Margaret (Edward) Pocius, Kathleen (Jack) Ferraro, Frank and Anne Marie Cleary; great-grandmother of Anthony and Megan Ferraro, Nicole and Rachel Cleary, Alexandra and Matthew Pocius; fond sister, preceded in death by Theresa, Josef, Mary, Frank and Stephanie; also survived by many nieces and nephews; caregiver and friend, Anna Pakos. Funeral Thursday, 9 a.m. from BlakeLamb Funeral Home, 5800 W. 63rd St. to St. Symphorosa Church. Mass 9:30 a.m. Interment St. Mary Cemetery. Visitation Tuesday, 3 to 9 p.m. and Wednesday, 5 to 9 p.m. For info. 773-284-7201.

This is a relative of John Radostits. She could have been from Neuberg or Guettenbach.

Chicago Tribune (IL) - April 11, 2007
Deceased Name: CLEARY, ANNE S.

Anne S. "Nonnie" Cleary, nee Klopschek, age 73, born in Burgenland, Austria, beloved wife of the late Patrick J.; devoted mother of Patrick (Hilary), Margaret (Edward) Pocius, Kathleen (Jack) Ferraro, Frank and Anne Marie; proud "Nonnie" of Anthony and Megan Ferraro, Nicole and Rachel Cleary, and Alexandra and Matthew Pocius; loving daughter of the late Frank and Anna Klopschek; dearest sister in law of Bridget (Martin) Lenihan, Mary (late Bill) Meskill, William (Nancy), Catherine (John) Woods, John Joe of Ireland and the late James (Marge Prior) and the late Tom, Annie and John; also survived by many loving nieces, nephews, cousins and friends. Funeral Thursday, 8:45 a.m. from Blake-Lamb Funeral Home,5800 W. 63rd St., to St. Symphorosa Church. Mass 9:30 a.m. Rev. William Corcoran officiating. Interment St. Mary Cemetery. Visitation Tuesday, 5 to 9 p.m. and Wednesday, 3 to 9 p.m. In lieu of flowers, memorials to the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation would be appreciated. To celebrate Anne's life, visit www.mem.com. Info, 773-284-7201

The same for this one. I think we saw some of these before. I can forward to Frank Radostits,

Chicago Tribune (IL) - 1974-05-27
Deceased Name: GAGER

Anna Gager, nee Arthofer, beloved wife of the late Martin; fond mother of Martin, Louis (Betty), Ann (John) Vallee (changed from the common Lockenhaus name of Wally-Hungarian I think) and the late Frank Gager; grandmother of 11; great-grandmother of 15; sister of Karl of Burgenland, Austria and the late Fred. Funeral Tuesday, 9:15 a.m., from McPhee Funeral Home, 7133 S. Western to St. Adrian Church, Mass of the Resurrection 9:45 a.m. Interment St. Mary's Visitation after noon Sunday. 776-0777.

I have this obit. She is a relative of BB member Susan Gager Dunn & was born in Lockenhaus. I will bet my grandparents knew her since she lived less than 2 blocks away. My grandparents were waked at McPhee & my grandfather's 2nd wife also went to St. Adrian, the Irish church rather than Nativity the neighborhood's much larger Lithuanian church.

Chicago Tribune (IL) - 1971-12-12
Deceased Name: PRATSCHER

John Pratscher, beloved husband of Johanna; fond father of Louise [John] Chaney, Lillian [Michael] Gabriel and Mildred Kulovitz; grandfather of Alan Kulovitz, Carol Howlett, Janet and Jeftery Gabriel and Jeffery Chaney; three sisters in possibly Holzschlag Burgenland, Austria. Services Monday, 1 p.m., at O'Donnell-Bartz Funeral Home, 1811 W. 103d St. Interment Evergreen. In lieu of flowers, memorials to Peace Memorial Church Building Fund appreciated. BE 3-0551.

I am familiar with Kulovitz/Kulovits & Gabriel families. Too bad they have 0 interest in genealogy. I see used to Olga K at some of the dances. I know that Gabriel's were from the Holzschlag area, but Kulovitz who married into the family were Croatians from Neuberg. This was definitely a Fuller Park mix/arrangement.

Chicago Tribune (IL) - January 8, 1985
Deceased Name: ROBERT UNGER

ROBERT UNGER, 87, a longtime leader in Chicago's Austrian community, operated a grocery and meat market in the Fuller Park area, on the South Side, for 32 years and was president of the businessmen's sector of the West Kenwood Improvement Association. In the late 1930s, he helped fend off an attempted Nazi and German-American Bund infiltration of the Austrian lodges in Chicago Mass for Mr. Unger, a resident of Downers Grove, will be said at 10 a.m. Thursday in St. Jane de Chantal Catholic Church, 53d Street and South McVicker Avenue. He died Monday in Good Samaritan Hospital, Downers Grove, after a long illness.

Mr. Unger, whose father was a tailor and grocer, was born Jan. 12, 1897, in the Burgenland town of Kohfidisch. He was in the Austro-Hungarian army in World War I, on the Russian and Italian fronts.

AFTER THE WAR, he moved to Vienna, where he worked as a clerk in a delicatessen. While there, he became a leader in the movement to transfer Burgenland (then known as German West Hungary) from Hungary to Austria. His father, Johann, working in the province for this cause, was twice jailed when the Hungarian authorities attempted to crush the movement. Mr. Unger saw the movement attain its goal in 1921 as a result of the Treaty of St. Germain. He then emigrated to United States, arriving and settling in the Fuller Park community of Chicago in April, 1922. In 1980, in a privately published memoir, he wrote about his first night in Chicago: ''It was 'Neuland,' a new ground for me, one to which I had transplanted myself and one in which I had to root myself, so as not to be swept away by the winds of life into a vast emptiness, such as has been the fate of thousands and thousands of frustrated persons in the course of time.'' He held a number of jobs, primarily in road construction, in the 1920s and 1930s until he and his wife, Mary, saved enough in 1932 to buy a meat market and grocery at 4425 S. Princeton Ave. In 1939, they moved the store across the alley to 4424 S. Wells St.

IN THE LATE 1920s, he had become president of the Burgenländer Lodge, a mutual health and life insurance program as well as social group. He helped establish it on a sound financial basis, investing lodge dues and income from dances and picnics in home mortgages. Later, when Nazi and German-American Bund groups attempted to infiltrate the city's Austrian lodges to obtain support for the Nazi government, Mr. Unger led the attack against them. His theme was, ''We are Americans.'' After World War II, he was a leader in the Austrian Aid Society in sending food, clothing and medicine to Austria. The Ungers retained the store until 1964. After the death of his wife in 1967, Mr. Unger moved to Arlington Heights, where he lived until 1970.

HE MOVED to the Woodlawn section of the Bronx in New York, where he married Gisela Noemyer, a widow, who had been his childhood sweetheart in Burgenland and whom he had not seen in over 50 years. She died in 1975 and he returned to the Chicago area the next year, moving to Downers Grove. Survivors include 2 sons, Dr. Robert, a dentist, and Rudolph, a writer-reporter for The Tribune; a daughter, Hilda Joy; 10 grandchildren; 2 great-grandchildren; and 4 sisters, Hedwig Andress, Anna Wailand, Resi Baumann and Mitzi Temel
Copyright (c) 1985, Chicago Tribune Company. All rights reserved.

We need not comment on this one again! I should go to the cemetery & snap a shot of his grave marker. I wish I would have met Unger. He had a tremendous reputation in the community & was very down to earth.

(to be continued)

Ernest J. Luisser

Ernest J. Luisser, devoted husband, father and grandfather, of Allentown, passed away on March 9 at the age of 88.

He was born in Kohfidisch, Burgenland, Austria to the late Mary (Stangl) Luisser.

He was married to Stella C. (Garger) Luisser for 62 years in November.

During World War II, he served as a corporal with the 522 Air Service Group with the Army in North Africa and Italy.

Ernest was a driver and dispatcher for 19 years with C&E Trucking and then he worked for Servomation in the warehouse for 14 years until retiring in 1982.

He was a member of Immaculate Conception Catholic Church, Allentown.

He was a member of V.F.W. Post 4714, Northampton, 6th ward Civic Association and the 6th ward Crime Watch.

Ernest was an avid golfer and bowler, usually with the Mountainville Mixed Bowling League.

Survivors: Wife, Stella C. of Allentown; son, James and his wife, Kathleen Luisser, of Allentown; daughter, Kathleen and her husband, Robert Lindenmoyer, of Northampton; grandchildren, Eric and his wife, Michelle Politi, Lisa Politi and Katelyn Politi; niece, Elfriede Bleicher. He was predeceased by his sisters, Gertrude Schaeffer and Hermine Bleicher.

Anna Santa

Anna Santa, geb. Györi aus Oberradling, starb am 18. Februar 2009 im 84. Lebensjahr in Kornwestheim, Germany. Sie war mit dem aus Jakobshof stammenden Karl Santa verheiratet.

END OF NEWSLETTER

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