__
_Johannes GOPFRICH __|__
_Franz Anton GOEPFRICH _|
| | __
| |_Maria Martha GOMBE _|__
_Joseph GOEPFRICH ____|
| | __
| | _Leopold PLOCHEL ____|__
| |_Anna Marie PLECHEL ____|
| | __
| |_Anna TRAUERIN ______|__
_Josef GOEPFRICH _|
| | __
| | _____________________|__
| | _Anton GRUBER __________|
| | | | __
| | | |_____________________|__
| |_Maria GRUBER ________|
| | __
| | _____________________|__
| |_Susan LENTSCH _________|
| | __
| |_____________________|__
|
|--George GOEPFRICH
|
| __
| _____________________|__
| _Johann KREMERMAIER ____|
| | | __
| | |_____________________|__
| _Michael KREMERMAIER _|
| | | __
| | | _____________________|__
| | |_Magdalena WOLF ________|
| | | __
| | |_____________________|__
|_Rosalia KREMER __|
| __
| _____________________|__
| _Johann PITZL __________|
| | | __
| | |_____________________|__
|_Katharina PITZL _____|
| __
| _____________________|__
|_Ursula GALLER _________|
| __
|_____________________|__
Following is a letter written on 10 July 1983 by Rose Goepfrich Schneider, George's grandaughter:
. "ANNA AND GEORGE GOEPFRICH LEGACY
. Praise God and glory be for precious Anna Muth and handsome George Goepfrich.
. Without their blessed love you and I and this reunion would be impossible. In the beautiful Austrian village of Pomhagen in 18__ they were wed; then with infant son, Frank, in 18__ their fortunes to seek, to far off America they fled.
. They settled in South Bend and before long a small comnunity of Pomhageners were around. Here George practiced his trade as a Master Cabinet Maker at the Singer Sewing Machine Plant. Their family grew in leaps and bounds but each one was welcomed with open arms; when George, Joseph, Mary, and mother's namesake were born.
. Leo and Julia also came along but as infants, soon became Angels of the Lord; then Rudolph, Anthony, Rose, and finally Madelon joined the now over crowded house.
. In spite of their large family, Aunt Anna and Uncle George to all, always made room for newly arrived villagers; and many of them were sponsored by them and eventually held wedding receptions in our ancestors home.
. Granddad built a larger hone at 1634 Sibley with many happy memories for us all - The Christmas Eve parties with nut and poppyseed strudels plus other treats and that valuable new one dollar bill for each grandchild. Initialed handkerchiefs or scarves for daughters and in-laws with cigars for the men, even through the depression. And all those weekly Sunday visits from the children and families, Father Wenninger and nephew Tony Strantz, pushing that overflowing reed buggy.
. My memories are still clear about that house since we lived only three doors away and visits were almost daily. Uncle Frank first lived at 1626 Sibley and moved to the farm on Pine Road when my folks took possession and all five of us children were born and raised there;
. . . Grandparents bedroom and the formal living room with piano and best furniture, off limits most of the time, was across the front. The sitting room where crippled Grandmother always sat in her favorite chair with the well-worn German prayer book and rosary ever handy.
. Granddad's beautiful hand-carved table near the side entrance and he in a big leather chair beside the dome-topped radio and an array of pipes and tobacco nearby. The small sewing room off bath with its beautiful curved, hand-carved design couch, covered with red velvet. The large dining room with rounded glass china cabinet and buffet used as an altar for Mass on those rare privileges given Father Wenninger by the Pope for Grandmother's birthday and feast day. The kitchen with combination gas and wood stove where delicious soups, knudels, goulash, sorsens, blunsens, and cabbage noodles were cooked.
. The summer kitchen where washing was boiled in big copper boilers by Mrs. Kolendorfer, the laundress. The back porch where you always found Grandmother still in her favorite chair duning the summer months; while Grandfather was found under that unforgettable grape arbor in his chair with those pipes so near. All kinds and varieties of delicious grapes were there and, when ripe, shared with us all.
. The two huge catalpa trees in front with sweet spring blossoms to suck and long cigar-pod seeds in the fall to whip. The garden on both sides of the walk back to the woodshed, garage, and smokehouse, once a part of the old St. Mary's steeple, where each winter Granddad smoked his and our hams, bacon, and home-made sausage with hickory chips and corn cobs. The huge Rose-of-Sharon and rose trellis with thousands of blossoms enjoyed over the years.
..........[a large portion of the letter has here been deleted and, instead,
included with the notes on each of Rose's uncles and aunts about whom
she writes.]
.....Another member of the family, not to be forgotten, was a nephew; Grandmother's sister Lena's son, Father Francis Wenninger. He died in 1940. A scholar of renoun and Dean of the College of Science for many years at Notre Dame. The new biology building is co-named after him and a colleague. He was a weekly Sunday visitor, coming by streetcar and gave his Aunt and Uncle much pleasure. Especially when he was given special privilege by the Pope to say Mass in their home on Grandmother's feast day and a few other occasions each year. This was long before Vatican II and a very rare privilege. Only our grandparents were able to receive Holy Communion.
. This is a summary of the legacy of Anna and George Goepfrich my grandparents, that I can remember. Not wealth, only some beautiful family heirlooms and traditions; and, best of all, we their descendants are their legacy. May their souls rest in peace and the Lord bless them for the beautiful example of family love they left us.
. f there is any Goepfrich blood flowing in your veins or by adoption or second marriages, please bring us up to date with fourth, fifth or whatever generation, so the family tree can go on forever.
. God Bless You All because I love each and every one of you!
. Rose Goepfrich Schneider.
. Joseph's daughter
Thanks to Jim Weinzatl, 115 Schaller St., Tomah, WI 54660, email: winebottle@tomah.com for this information from Chruch records microfilmed by the LDS church.:
George Goepfrich and Anna Muth were married in Pamhagen on 11 July 1888. Anna's parents were Thomas Muth b. 1829 and Rosalina Koppi b. 1835. They were married in Pamhagen on 10 Feb 1855.
The 1920 census for district 234, South Bend, St. Joseph Co., Indiana (Ancestry.com image 17 of 33), at 1634 Sibley Avenue, lists George Goepfrich, homeowner with no mortgage, age 56, immigrated in 1888, naturalized in 1891, he & parents born in Austria-Hungary, foreman, Singer Sewing.
. Anna, wife, age 58, immigrated in 1888, naturalized in 1891, she & parents born in Austria-Hungary.
. Mary, dau., age 25, single, born in indiana, seamstress, dressmaking est.
. Anna, dau., age 20, single, born in indiana, operator, shirt factory
. Rudolph, son, age 18, single, born in Indiana, office clerk, Studebaker
. Anthony, son, age 16, single, born in Indiana, student, Notre Dame U.
[the census taker reversed the occupations for Rudolph & Anthhony.]
. Rose, dau., age 14, single, born in Indiana, student
. Magdalina, dau., single, born in Indiana, student
Following is George's obituary from the 22 Jun 1942 edition of the "South Bend Tribune":
. George Goepfrich, aged 77, of 1634 Sibley avenue, died at 1:45 a.m. today in his residence, after three weeks' illness. He was born in Austria Oct. 29, 1864, and came here 54 years ago from that country. He was married there to Anna Muth, who preceeded him in death. He was for many years a foreman for the Singer Manufacturing company, and was retired. Surviving are five sons, Frank, George, jr., Joseph, Rudolph and Anthony Goepfrich, all of South Bend; four daughters, Mrs. William Stelzer, of Detroit, Mich., and Mrs. George Resnick, Mrs. Elton Crepeau, and Miss Rose Goepfrich, all of South Bend; 18 grandchildren and six great-grandchildren; and a sister in Austria. Friends may call after 4 p.m. todayy in the residence.