Three Generations of the Dumelle Family

Here is a Picture of my immediate family.

This is my Mom and Dad with their 5 children and all of their spouses and grandchildren. This was taken in November 1998 when they came to Illinois for Thanksgiving. It took a very large Turkey to feed this group. There are 3 generations of Dumelle boys in the picture. (My Dad Frank, my brother Don and his son David (3 years old))

Contributor: Doreen Dumelle-Kneller BDKnel@aol.com

Illustration of St. John Nepomunk Church in Glogwatz with writing on the reverse side.

(Loving Aunt Anna we send you this as a rememberance of the home church)

Contributor: Doreen Dumelle-Kneller BDKnel@aol.com

Two New Church Bells.

Taken on or about 3 March 1923.

This picture is of the special mass they had for the Dedication of the Church Bells.  It is a little fuzzy.  But, it is very OLD.

Contributor: Doreen Dumelle-Kneller BDKnel@aol.com

Another Wedding March

From the Church through the streets of Glogowatz.

The bride is Anna Kessel and she married George Thum in 1957.
(Anna is the daughter of Anton Kessel and Anna Jerger)  Anna Jerger is my
Great-Grandmother's Niece.

The thing that is really neat, is how the Actual church is exactly like the Artists painting above.

Contributor: Doreen Dumelle-Kneller BDKnel@aol.com

The Kirchweih Fest

Top Row Left-Right: Martin Kaiser, Mike Gertner, Mike Schmalz, Frank Dumelle, Anton Gerhart

Middle Row Lf-Rt: Mary Kaiser, Helen Gertner, Regina Dumelle, Anne Straub, Katherine Gerhart

Bottom Row Lf-Rt: Sam Wolf, Teresa Wolf, Teresa Hack, Anton Hack

This photo taken 1923 or 1924 is from the Verein Vergnügen Glogowatzer (or, Glogowatzer Pleasure Club) in Chicago, during a Kirchweih Fest (or, Kirweih - Church Festival) which was traditionally held on May 16th in Glogowatz to celebrate the patron saint. During the festival they had a big dinner and dance and the picture of the couples you see were like attendants and they dressed in their finest clothing and decorated them with the flowers and ribbons that you see on the picture.  Grandma, I believe, was about 15 years old at the time this picture was taken. They held the celebration every year and it was an honor for the couples that were chosen to be the attendants. 

Deborah Kristmann added that her grandmother knew everyone in this picture and said every Banat town had an annual Kirweih Fest though, each celebrated a different saint and held festivals at different time. Men wore suits and hats trimmed with artificial flowers and women wore long gowns. A lamb was usually bathed and decorated with a wreath of artifical flowers. Her granparents John and Eva Dumelle were members of the club and St. Michaels Church in Chicago.

Contributor: Doreen Dumelle-Kneller BDKnel@aol.com