LAWRENCE JOSEPH FECHT

The sixth child of Elizabeth Ann (Walsh) and William Charles Fecht was Lawrence Joseph Fecht (f-91), who lived his entire life in Mexico, Missouri. Called "Buck" by his brothers or "Uncle Bucky" by his nieces and nephews, Lawrence attended the same Maple Grove School that housed the education of his brothers and sisters. It is possible that Lawrence may have been named for an uncle Lorenz Feger, since the Abstract of a deed instrument recorded by J. Livingston of the Audrain County Abstract Company states: “I know that they left surviving them, their children: William T. Fecht, John D. Fecht, Frank C. Fecht, Lawrence J. Fecht, who is the same person as Lorenz J. Fecht, named as the son of William Fecht in his wish and who was one of the executioners thereof....” Lorenz Feger played a very important part in helping father William get the Fechts on their feet in Mexico, Missouri. (Deed abstract 21 June, 1947 - courtesy of Virginia O’Hanlon and Dorothy Fecht Fetterhoff)
Lawrence took his first Holy Communion in the Catholic Church on the 18th of June 1911. The priest who officiated was the Rev. John J. Dillon, Pastor of St. Brendan Church in Mexico, Missouri. He was confirmed into the Catholic Church on the 13th of May 1913. (church records, courtesy of Tom & Carl Fetterhoff 2002)
As a young man, Lawrence worked, as did his brothers, on the farmers' thrashing crews. Later in his life, he worked in a gasoline station and sold heating oil.
Note: This photograph appears to be a reversed image. Note the Diamond DX logo on his hat. When I learn enough about Photoshop, I'll correct this. Jerry

JANIS DEIMEKE SEEKS WEDDING PHOTO OF LAWRENCE & LENA FECHT

Thanks for the website. I am Margie's daughter and I am planning on scrapbooking a heritage album soon, and these pictures will help alot.
There of some of my mom on this website that I don't have. I will keep checking the website. By chance, so you have a wedding picture of my great grandparens William C and Elizabeth Fecht or my grandparents Lawrence & Lena Fecht. Mom and my aunt don't have any of those pictures.
Thanks,
Janis Deimeke

HAPPY SAINT PATRICK'S DAY

For some reason this snapshot of my Dad's brothers and sister made me very lonesome. I guess, it is the informality of the image and how very much they were, as they are in my memory. It probably didn't help that the public television station in the background was playing sentimental Irish music.
L to R:
Francis (Frank), Lawrence (Uncle Buckie), William (Bill) and Julia (Fecht) Hogan.
Being "Irish" was an important part of being members of the family of Elizabeth Ann (Walsh) and William Charles Fecht. Although these folks were half Alsatian and half Irish, it was the Irish part that seemed to matter. This was no doubt reinforced by the Catholic priests at Saint Brendan Church in Mexico, Missouri, who were Irish. When I was a little boy, I thought God spoke Latin with an Irish accent.
On March 17th, there was a huge corned beef and cabbage dinner at the Saint Brendan church hall. Boiled potatoes, greasy corned beef, over-boiled cabbage (actually my mother Mildred over-boiled nearly everything.) Uncle Lawrence (Buckie) always prepared an elaborate practical joke. My dad smuggled in Irish whisky (not Bushmills, but real Irish whisky Jamesons.) Aunt Effie would bring parsnips and horseradish. Aunt Lena baked Irish soda bread. AND, most important! We got the day off from school, and the Lent abstinence from meat was suspended. Two days later, on the feast of Saint Joseph we had another school holiday. On the day between, the nuns took us to a nearby part to run around. They were smart enough to know that they wouldn't accomplish anything on March 18th.
My dad, Bill Fecht and my sister Genevieve would do Irish jigs after dinner. Aunt Meg (Margaret Fecht) and Uncle Gene Sullivan would dance the shoddish on Patty's night.
My wife Janne and I had big St. Patrick's Day parties for a long time, but since it comes right in the middle of tax season (Janne is a CPA) we look for a saint's day in late April to celebrate.

PHIL SHIRE'S INSIDE JOKE

L to R: Francis (FranK) Fecht, Lawrence Fecht, William T. (Bill) Fecht, William Charles Fecht, Jimmie (boy), John D. (Jack) Fecht, John C. Fecht, Hugh Hogan (Julia Fecht Hogan's husband), and Phil Shire (Ann Fecht Shire's husband).

Phil Shire had a wry and much loved sense of humor. Here Phil mocks Uncle John C. Fecht's stance.

THE MEN OF THE FAMILY

This photograph was taken in 1941 in a town called Chillicothe, Missouri. The village is about half way between Corning, Iowa and Mexico, Missouri, and the site of a family gathering.
Left to Right
John D. (Jack) Fecht, William T. (Bill) Fecht, Bernard Sullivan, James L. (Jimmie) Fecht, Hugh Hogan, Lawrence (Buck) Fecht and Dan Sullivan.
I believe this event took place while Jimmie was still in high school or had just graduated from St. Brendan High School, and prior to the outbreak of World War II. Both Jim and his cousin Bernard Sullivan would serve in the armer forces.