LOSS OF OUR KINSMAN VINCENT MURRAY

Helen's great-grandson, Vincent Murray, was killed yesterday in an accident
at Cheney, Washington. He was riding in his grandfather's lap on a skid
loader, moving gravel, and he apparently leaned forward and was killed
instantly when the arm of the loader came down.
I imagine he's with our parents now, in good hands.

peace and love Dan Sullivan

Steven was the great, great grandson of Florence (Fecht) and Dan Sullivan. He was the g-g-g-great grandson of Margaret (Bost) and Jacob Fecht.
We will provide more information when it comes to us. Jerry Fecht

JAMES FECHT on IWO JIMA

(click on images to enlarge)



Currency from WWII - Gift from James L. Fecht to The Museum of the San Fernando Valley 2007 (click on image to enlarge)
Two (likely) Japanese bills given to his Museum by James Fecht just before his death. Jim acquired these bills on Iwo Jima at the same time he got the Philippine note.

JAMES FECHT on IWO JIMA

Philippine 10 centavo note: Gift to The Museum of the San Fernando Valley by James L. Fecht in 2007
James Fecht, a young American Marine in World War II brought back several interesting artifacts, one of which is this small 10 centavo note from pre-World War II Philippines. The bill was found on a Japanese soldier captured during the invasion of the Island of Iwo Jima. Japanese prisoners, and there were very few on Iwo Jima, were stripped and made to lay under barbed wire. Artifacts in their clothing not deemed of military significance were divided among the young Americans guarding the prisoners.
Archives of The Museum of the San Fernando Valley (click to enlarge)

After WWII, James Fecht married and settled in the San Fernando Valley. It was years before he talked about his experiences in the war, among which was the guarding of prisoners on Iwo Jima. He talked about how much he hated the prisoners, and how he feared them. Jim had seen the results of the Japanese army's atrocities on other islands and the deaths of his friends and fellow Marines. His indoctrination about the "sub-human" status of the Japanese made him more fearful, dangerous and determined.

ALTHEA FECHT - THE LAST OF HER GENERATION

In the middle of the Great Depression, Francis (Frank) Fecht encountered a beautiful farm girl in rural Missouri. According to her sister in law Mildred Fecht, "It was love at first sight!" The young woman, Althea Luella Erdel, married Frank on the 14th of May, 1915 in the Roman Catholic Church rectory in Westphalia, Missouri.
Althea Erdel attended Prairie Lea School, with several of her family members and Candy Reeder. The school was located five miles northeast of Mexico, Missouri in Audrain County.
Francis and Althea had two children. They are: Larry Wayne Fecht and Jo Ann Fecht Nordlund.

The following is her obituary from the Mexico (Missouri) Ledger:
Althea L. Fecht
Althea L. Fecht, 93 of Mexico, died Thursday, Sept. 11, 2008 at Audrain Medical Center.
 Funeral services will be held at 10 a.m. Monday at Arnold Funeral Home. Burial will follow at St. Brendan Cemetery (on the outskirts of Mexico, Missouri) Visitation will be Monday from 9 until time of service at the funeral home.
 (Jerry Fecht's note: Saint Brendan Cemetery is the burial site of Margaret (Bost) Fecht, our ancestor grandmother who began our family in America. Many other Fecht family members, including Althea's husband, Frank Fecht are buried at this site.)
She was born on May 14, 1915 in Audrain County, the daughter of Harry and Annie (Doerge) Erdel. On Oct. 10, 1934 she married Frank C. Fecht in Westphalia. He preceded her in death on Jan. 24, 1974.

Althea had worked at St. Brendan School cafeteria for a number of years and also volunteered at Audrain Medical Center.
(Her) survivors include her son, Larry Fecht, and wife, Joan, of Mexico; a daughter, Jo Ann Nordlund and husband, Stan, of Palmyra, Virginia.; five grandchildren, Vicki Wilson of Virginia, Carrie Sheldon of Pennsylvania, Steve Nordlund of Oregon, Andy Fecht of Mexico and Lisa Fecht of Mexico. She is also survived by seven great-grandchildren; a sister, Vallie Ann Coil and husband, Bernard, of Mexico; and a sister-in-law, Julia Erdel, of Mexico. 
In addition to her husband, she was preceded in death by seven brothers and sisters, Emil Erdel, Dorothy Ruse, Mary Schutte, Eddie Erdel, Wesley Erdel, Leo Erdel and Harold Erdel.

Memorials may be made to St. Brendan Church or Audrain Medical Center.

Condolences at www.arnoldfh.com

A message from Genevieve Rebbe, Althea's niece - Washington State
"I am glad we visited her while she was still in her home where she and Uncle Frank lived for so many years. She stayed so spry into her old years. She told me it was because she walked every day. I asked her about the grape harbor in the back yard that I remembered as a child when she and my mom made grape jelly. I will miss getting her Christmas cards in reply to mine and will cherish the time we had with her
Love from her niece Genevieve

A message from Jo Ann, Althea's daughter:
"Mom passed away last night 9/11 at l0:00 p.m.. Her funeral will be Monday in Mexico with Arnold Funeral home. She had been admitted to the hospital in the morning. After watching her favorite St. Louis Cardinals with Larry she passed in her sleep."

A note from Jerry Fecht, Althea's nephew - California
Aunt Althea was the last of the children and in-law children of William Thomas Fecht and Elizabeth Ann Walsh Fecht. She was a most impressive, self educated woman. Generally quiet, when I knew her in the late 1940s, she was the youngest of my aunts in a family of opinionated older Irish and German womenfolk. I loved her.
Althea kept many of her farm ways, despite living most of her adult life in the town of Mexico, Missouri. Her garden was a marvel, with always some delicious morsel for her nephew. She worked hard, and walked every day to keep up the energy she needed to care for her family and those in the community who needed her help.
When I was five years old, I sassed her while she was watching over me near the Audrain Country Courthouse. She gave me an impressive swat and said, "Now, this won't have to happen again!" It didn't."

A note from Dan Sullivan - Nebraska
"I'm sorry to hear of Althea's passing. That's the end of a generation, I believe. I'll always consider them the greatest.
I remember Aunt Althea as a sweet, caring individual who could talk about
life with a child in ways that were understanding."

PHOTOS FROM MILDRED FECHT'S COLLECTION

William Thomas Fecht and Mildred Fecht
Photo taken in Everett, Washington c. 1947 by Mildren's sister Mary Richards (click on image to enlarge)

(click on image to enlarge)
Susan and Earl Wojcieszak - Wedding - May 29, 1965

These photos were among the collection of Mildred Fecht

GERALD FECHT - about 21

Gerald Richard Fecht - Propaganda photograph taken at the U.S. Naval Air Station in Los Alamitos, California. About 1960 or 1961.
Jerry is the great grandson of Margaret (Bost) and Jacob Fecht

A CANDLE FOR SAINT ANTHONY

Photo by Brendan Fecht - 2008 (click on image to enlarge)

Brendan Patrick Fecht's grandmother Katherine Shreves was among the first students to graduate from the Julliard School of Music in New York City. Students would often use Saint Patrick's Cathedral in Manhattan as a place to meet, especially in the winter when they could be warm inside.
Brendan spent last week in New York City. He took time out to visit Saint Patrick's and naturally because he is the great grandson of Elizabeth Ann Walsh Fecht, he lighted a candle at the shrine of Saint Anthony of Padua.

Jimmy Fecht (Brendan's uncle) was a Marine in WWII. He brought his little sister Genevieve a little locket, inlayed with mother of pearl. It was her pride and joy. One day. while cutting through a field of newly cut corn stocks, Genevieve lost her lock. Overwhelmed, Gen and his little brother Jerry knelt at the edge of field and asked Saint Anthony, patron saint of lost things, to help them find the locket. When Genevieve stood up, there on a fence wire was the locket. She'll be pleased to know that the center candle in Brendan's photograph got lighted for us all.

SEAN ARYON WOJCIESZAK JOINS OUR FAMILY

WELCOME TO OUR FAMILY!

SEAN ARYON WOJCIESZAK
Our new kinsman was born on the 5th of August in Sutter Hospital, Lakeport, California. He is the son of Samantha and Michael Wayne Wojcieszak.
Little Sean is the great, great, great, great grandson of Margaret (Bost) and Jacob Fecht.

DARREN WOJCIESZAK PROMOTED POLICE CAPTAIN

Congratulations to our kinsman, Darren Wojcieszak on his promotion to Police Captain for the City of Ukiah, California. Darren is the grandson of Joye (Barnes) and James L. Fecht. Darren is the great, great, great grandson of Margaret (Bost) and Jacob Fecht.
To learn more about the life and times of Darren, Google Wojcieszak and Ukiah. He's a busy man.

A VISIT WITH DOROTHY FETTERHOFF

Dorothy Fetterhoff, Carol Fetterhoff and Dan Sullivan.
Dorothy and Dan are first cousins. Carol is the wife of William Glen Fetterhoff. (click on images to enlarge)

Sarah Voss and Dorothy Fetterhoff. Sarah is the wife of Dan Sullivan. Taken during Dan's visit to Jackson, Missouri.

Cousins Dorothy Fetterhoff and Dan Sullivan.

(clockwise from the left) Dorothy Fetterhoff, Dan Sullivan, William G. Fetterhoff, Scott Fetterhoff (Bill and Carol's son) and William "Biill" Fahrenkrog (Bill is Anita's husband)