Hoelscher-Buxkemper Family Newsletter

Hubert & Nita Lange, Editors
Carolyn Hoelscher, Publisher
November 2000
 

NEW BOOK!!!

A new, bigger and better Hoelscher-Buxkemper Family Book with many photos (all of the old photos plus new fourth generation photos), fourth generation biographies and a larger overall size will be ready in 2004.

The new book Project Manager, Shannette Hoelscher, and the rest of the book committee have established that as their goal.  The committee members are enthusiastic about it and have held three planning meetings, but achieving this goal will require the help of everyone.

At the same time, the committee has worked very hard to make it as easy as possible for each of you to do your part by providing two ways in which you may submit your completed information form.  You may simply fill in the form included with this newsletter and mail it to the appropriate family branch chairman.  Or submit your data via the Website by accessing www.hostville.com/hoelscher and following the instructions there.

The following dates have been set to ensure that a comprehensive and updated Hoelscher-Buxkemper Family Book will be completed by the 2004 reunion.

1. November 10, 2000:  New forms included in this newsletter.
2. March 15, 2001:  All forms due.
3. January 4, 2002:  All new, updated information, photos, and biographies will be ready to format.
4. June 22, 2002:  At this reunion in San Angelo, a rough draft will be ready for review and corrections.  Book orders will be taken at that time.  Estimated cost is $75 to $100.
5. July 1, 2003:  All final changes, corrections and additions are due.
6. June 2004:  Completed books will be ready for distribution at the reunion.

For more information, please see the open letter from the Book Project Manager on Page 4 of this newsletter and the form on page 5.

Mark your Calendars
Next Family Reunion
June 22- 23, 2002
San Angelo, Texas

REUNION 2000 HIGHLIGHTS
The year 2000 reunion, the 24th bi-ennial, was held at Villita Assembly Hall, San Antonio, Texas on June 10 and 11, 2000, commemorating the 150th anniversary of the arrival of Elizabeth and Theodore Buxkemper and their three eldest children from Germany.

After registration, family members spent the afternoon visiting and reminiscing while the Board of Directors and the Book Committee held their respective meetings to chart the future course for family events.

Music and various drinks and snacks were enjoyed throughout Saturday afternoon in the decorated hall.  The display room was open for visiting with photos, albums and other memorabilia on display.  Souvenirs of the year 2000 Reunion were also available.

The Texas Division of the United Daughters of the Confederacy and Sons of Confederate Veterans were there to explain the process of applying for membership which Hoelscher-Buxkemper descendants are eligible to do.  Charles Dodds, web master, had the Web page, www.hostville.com/hoelscher, up and running for those interested in viewing it.

A barbecue dinner and a dance in the evening concluded the first day’s events.  Heavy rains in the San Antonio area didn’t dampen the enthusiasm of the 960 attendees, although it probably altered dinner plans for many.

Sunday events started with a Mass at 9:30 AM followed by  a Goldbeck Company panoramic photograph taken of all reunion attendees.  A turkey and dressing lunch was then served.

MEETING HIGHLIGHTS
At 2:oo PM, President Dottie Frerich called the family meeting to order.  The meeting was opened with a prayer followed by the Pledge of Allegiance.

Reunion 2000 Committee
President Frerich thanked the Reunion 2000 Chairman, Theresa Gold and her committee for hosting an outstanding reunion.

Book Committee
Board member, Curtis Lutringer, reported that Shannette Hoelscher of Corpus Christi had accepted the position of Project Manager for the new book.  The book committee, which met Saturday afternoon, agreed that an aggressive schedule would be established and followed so that a rough draft of the new book would be available for review at the reunion to be held in San Angelo in 2002.

Awards Presentation
Oldest Man: Daniel Hoelscher of Temple, TX age 92
Oldest Woman:  Mary Hechler of San Antonio, age 92
Youngest Boy:  Joseph Hanson son of Guy & Kay Hanson of San Antonio, TX 12 days
Youngest Girl:  Avery Wessels daughter of George & Nancy Wessels of Pflugerville, TX  6 weeks
Longest Married Couple:  Willie and Mildred Hartman of San Antonio, TX 60 years
Newly-Wed Couple:  Russell & Anita Hoelscher of Caldwell, TX 13 months
Largest Family Attending:  Seven adult Children of the late Emma Hoelscher & Frank Karnowski
Greatest Distance Traveled:  James & Agnes Heidland and son, Douglas, from Washington State

ATTENDANCE REPORT
Total attendance was 960 consisting of 736 adults and 224 under age 16.
By Family
Joe                   307 adults, 97 under age 16
Elizabeth         206 adults, 67 under age 16
Anton              90 adults, 28 under 16
Ben                  80 adutls, 26 under age 16
William            53 adults, 6 under age 16

Nathelene Hoelscher was recognized for attending all 24 of the Hoelscher-Buxkemper family reunions held thus far.  San Angelo offered to host the 2002 family reunion.
The meeting was adjourned at 3:02 PM.

Vocations
The Hoelscher-Buxkemper family is very proud to announce that it now has two seminarians:
            Michael Matthiesen of Doole, Texas, son of Norbert and Billie Jean Matthiesen of the San Angelo Diocese is attending Holy Trinity Seminary in Dallas, Texas.
            Theodore (Ted) Book of Atlanta, Georgia, son of Wayne and Judith Book, is attending North American College in Rome.

We wish these two seminarians well in their studies!

Memories
As a young fifth generation descendant of Anton and mary Katherine Hoelscher, Sr., I remember my mother talking about one family member being buried in Frelsburg under a huge oak tree and another family member being buried on private property.  As a youngeter this didn’t mean much to me because it din’t affect me then.  A few years ago, I had the opportunity to visit the Sts. Peter and Paul’s Parish Cemetery in Frelsburg.  There was the huge oak tree I’d heard about from my mother and underneath the tree was the grave of Mary Katherine Hoelscher, wife of Anton Hoelscher, Sr.  At the foot of her grave was a small, white, marble marker with an inscription, in German, saying that Anton Sr. had been buried on private property.  As a result of that visit, I have made it a point to know where all my ancestors are buried.

The deaths and burials of Mary Katherine and Anton Hoelscher, Sr are described on page 9 of the 1978 Hoelscher Family Book, but you won’t find mention of the big oak tree.  To me, that’s special.                                                          Hubert Lange

Donations to the Memorial Project
The Memorial Project was established to provide funds to defray some of the costs involved in preparation of the new book.  This will be an expensive endeavor and your generosity is greatly appreciated.  Donor categories are as follows:  Gold, $1000 and above; Silver, $500 to $999; Bronze, $100 to $499; and donors $99 and below.
Contributors to date include the following:

Donors                                                                        In Memory of
Gold               
Doris B. Neuendorff & Edgar Bauer             Family of Fritz & Emma Baurer

Silver
Matthiesen Family Heritage Association        Family of Bernhard Matthiessen

Bronze
Dr. H. Warren & Mrs. Shirley Burk                G. W. & Elenora Hoelscher
Lucy Wilde                                                     Louis & Annie Hoelscher Wilde

Donor
Mr. & Mrs. Christopher Brooks                      John G. & Minnie Hoelscher Sumbera
Mr. & Mrs. Kenneth Campbell                       John G. & Minnie Hoelscher Sumbera
Sister Paschal Hoelscher                                 G. W. & Elenora Hoelscher
Carolyn Meiners                                              John G. & Minnie Hoelscher Sumbera
Mr. & Mrs. Charles Pazderny                         John G. & Minnie Hoelscher Sumbera

Additional donations received from
William L. & Anita J. Beach                           Norbert D. & Barbara Hoelscher
Betty Tims Broome                                         Catherine Laughlin
W.J. & June Buxkamper                                 Pamela & Callie Matlock
Lee Ray & Louise Chollett                             Joseph & Linda May
Joe Gold                                                          Kim & Mary McDowell
Carolyn Gottschalk                                         Mary Mechler
Sister Irene Hartman                                       Thomas & Lisa Null
Al & Pat Henneke                                           Walter F. & Joyce L. Raabe
Leroy Hoelscher                                              Alfred & Lucille Snapka
Floy Lee Hoelscher                                         Larry & Carolyn Snapka
Rosa Lee Hoelscher

TIDBITS
--- A big thank you to Carol Zoller for the design on the 2000 reunion T-shirts.  If you are curious about the inscription on the shirt, information about it can be found in the 1978 Family Book on pages 13 and 17.
--- Ten years ago, just like the past reunion, Goldbeck took a panoramic photograph of the group.  Some have mentioned an interest in getting a copy of the 1990 photo.  Goldbeck cited a cost of $50 with the possibility of a reduced price if a large number of copies were ordered.  Here is an opportunity to get a copy of the 1990 Goldbeck panoramic family photo.  IF you are interested, call Nita Lange at (210) 684-3950 or contact her by e-mail at hw17@juno.com.

Potential News Items
Dear Cousins:
This is your newsletter and we want it to be interesting for all the family to read and enjoy.  If you have any items you think would be of interest to the entire family,  send them to us.  We reserve the right to decide what items are to be published on a space available basis.  This newsletter is published every two years in the Fall of the year preceding the next reunion.  This particular issue is an out of cycle newsletter because it was necessary to get information to you about the progress of the new book.
Thank you.  We would love to hear from you.                                               The Editors

USS COLE
The apparent terrorist attack on the USS Cole claimed the life of a member of the Hoelscher-Buxkemper family.  Gary Swenchonis, Jr age 26, from Rockport, Texas, serving, as a Navy firefighter on the Cole was one of seventeen victims of the attack.  Gary was the son of Gary and Deborah Swenchonis of Rockport, Texas, descendants of Elizabeth.  Gary was laid to rest in Fort Sam Houston National Cemetery with full military honors.
 

Open Letter about the New Book

Dear Hoelscher - Buxkemper Family Member,

The new Hoelscher – Buxkemper book project is in full swing, but we need your help!  Please take the time to fill out the new form on the opposite page to the right.  We are sending one form to each family member on our mailing list, but you may make additional copies for others in your family who did not receive one or if you have had more than one marriage.  We also need forms completed for all relatives who have passed away since 1977.  Please complete it to the best of your ability and return it to your family branch chairman (see below).

I realize that many of you have already completed a form, either on the internet or on paper and mailed it in, but the new form asks for some additional information we would like to keep for our family records.  If you do not know an answer, please put “unknown” in the space.  If there is any question you do not with to answer for book publication, please put “omit” in the space.

We are looking for biographical information and photos for the fourth generation ancestors.  Your branch chairmen have the guidelines for suggested content for these 500-word stories.  If you have a photo of your fourth generation ancestors, such as a wedding picture or family picture with parents and children, please make a copy, label it and send to your family branch chairman.

Look at your label on the outside of this newsletter.  Above your name is a number that is your page number in the 1978 book.  From this number you can tell which branch of the family is yours.  Below are the chairmen for each of the five branches of the family, corresponding to certain page numbers.  Please return your form to your family branch chairman.  Or access our Web Page  at www.hostville.com/hoelscher and follow the instructions there.

Talk to all of your immediate family members, make sure they have a new form and that their information gets returned to one of the above chairmen.  Remember, this book will only be as complete as the information we receive from you.  Please take the time to do it now while you’re thinking about it.  The quicker you respond, the better it is for our book committee volunteers.

All forms are due to your branch chairmen before March 15, 2001 so that we can have a comlete proof of the new book for you to review at the next reunion in San Angelo, Texas on June 22 and 23, 2002.  Distribution of the book is scheduled for the 2004 reunion.

Thank you for your reply!  If you would like to get more involved, you may contact your family branch chairman.

Sincerely,
SHANNETTE HOELSCHER

530 Naples Street; Corpus Christi, TX 78404
(361) 884-2307; e-mail: Hoelscher@prodigy.net
and the New Book Project Committee