Mary (Weimer) Haffner (1911)

Born 23 Apr 1911 in Paul, ID

Died [date unknown] in Michigan

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Written by Irene Steinke, daughter of David Weimer, son of Louis Weimer:

Louis had married Catherine (C or K?) Bauer in 1903 and they moved to Kansas where Kate was born in 1905, Alex in 1907, David in 1909. They then moved to Paul, ID. Lydia was born in 1910, Mary in 1911, Anna in 1912, Louis in 1914, John in 1916, Molly in 1918, George in 1919, Pauline in 1921 and Jonas in 1926.

About 1932-33, the family moved to Sheboygan, WI. David and Lydia (Schneider) were married 9/3/32 out west and moved with the family.

Mom (Lydia) told me (Irene) that she and Dad (David) were still living with the Weimer family when they bought the Drought Farm near Waukesha, WI. Then the family moved to the Greendale, WI farm. Mom & Dad rented an upstairs apartment in North Milwaukee. Doris (Irene's sister) and I were both born there. The family attended the German Congregational Church off Villard Ave.

Sunday morning worship, the aunties and uncles all had their instruments and led the worship. They would often form trios, quartets and duets for special music offerings. Although we were there at worship most Sunday and Wednesday evening for prayer meetings, I never tired of it. Mom always provided paper and crayons for diversion and we always felt loved and accepted there. All the services were in German except the 5:00 meeting was in English and catered to the young people.

Sunday evening the family often gathered in the back room in Greendale with instruments and had a song fest; mostly gospel hymns of the church but sometimes some country westerns and camp type songs. Money was always scarce but Grandma saw to it that there was a piano in the living room and each person had an instrument to play. The aunties played guitars and mandolins, Uncle George played accordian, Louis played banjo, my dad, Dave, played violin. Tom Homsteadt was in the Army so when we sang patriotic songs, the aunties always cried.

Grandma & Grandpa left the farm in Greendale around 1942 and bought a house in North Milwaukee on 47th Street. Uncle Tom Holstead and Anna married and lived in the apartment upstairs. My brother Ray was born then.

In 1947, Grandpa Weimer was out in the car driving somewhere when a motorcycle scared him and he had a heart attack. He died at home. The day of his funeral, Grandma was sick and could not leave her bed. She died the day of Grandpa's funeral. I remember how hard that was on the family.