MILRDED FECHT c. 1961

 

Mildred Fecht, grand daughter of Josiah Crites - right

Photograph courtesy of Mary Genevieve Rebbe

Mildred Fecht was the wife of William Thomas Fecht. She worked for much of her adult life as a "practical" or vocational nurse. She worked in Washington, California and Nebrasaka. 

THE LOSS OF LARRY WAYNE FECHT

It is with profound sadness that I share this information with our family.

Larry Fecht, the son of Althea and Frank Fecht has died near his home in Mexico, Missouri.  According to his sister, our kinswoman Jo Ann, Larry had suffered a stroke resulting from a blood clot and was in the Audrain Hospital.

Larry passed away on the 20^th of October 2011.  Burial arrangements are being made at the Arnold Funeral home in Mexico. 

WEDDING OF DAMON AND REBECCA FECHT

These are candid photographs taken of the wedding of Damon and Rebecca Fecht on July 3, 2011 at Orcutt Ranch in Chatsworth, California. Our lifelong friend Linda Moore captured these images.

 Rebecca and Damon share their wedding kiss, while Jake closes his eyes over such mushy stuff. Behind Jake is best man Ryan Bates.

 The newest Fecht family is introduced to guests under a great English oak tree.

 Rebecca and Damon share their wedding dance on the patio of historic Orcutt Ranch.

 The new Fecht family leaves the wedding ceremony.

Janne Fecht enjoys getting her son Damon to smile on his wedding day. Behind them Dave Tulk dances with his daughter Rebecca.

JAMES FECHT PURSUES THE AMERICAN DREAM - 1949

Most veterans, returning home at the conclusion of WWII, were determined to make the American dream a reality. Thousands of homes were built in the San Fernando Valley, and many young vets, like Joe Hosler and Jim Fecht started their own businesses. Jim and Joe bought a pickup truck, acquired electrical contractors' licenses, and opened up shop. These images were among the effects donated to The Museum by James Fecht just before his death. (click on images to enlarge)

 Photo 2722 - Pickup truck belonging to James Fecht and Joseph Hosler - 1949

 Photo 2721 - left Joe Hosler, right James Fecht with their new truck.  1949 - North Hollywood, gift to The Museum of the San Fernando Valley from Jim Fecht 2009.

Photo 2723 - James Fecht in North Hollywood, California in 1949. The location was on Elmer Avenue, an area removed for the construction of the 101 freeway. Jim was a World War II Marine.

JODY FECHT c. 1944

Jody Fecht, Mexico R-Co’s coon dog fancier, poses with four of his pets. The matched pair of “reds” ... are the money, having picked up an impressive array of ribbons at shows. The frisky pup who chose to turn his back on the camera is a new acquisition. His intensive hunting training is just beginning. 

Note: Mexico R-Co is likely a brick factory called the Mexico Refractory Company.
This article was among James L. Fecht's files. 

THOMAS WAYNE FECHT DURING WWII

Fecht and Donaldson Visit Friends at Plant (very likely the Mexico Refractory Company  in Mexico, Missouri).


Thomas Fecht                   Frank Donaldson
(click on image to enlarge) 

"Looking things over at the plant where they formerly worked, Tom Fecht S 1-C (Seaman First Class) and Frank Donaldson, AMM 2-C took time off from their visiting long enought to be snapped by the Staff Photographer.
  Tom, who formerly was a wheeler on the Dock, recently returned from the Pacific Theater, where he participated in the invasion of Mindanao. He is a gunner on a VP - invasion craft. He wears ribbons for the American Theater , Asiatic- Pacific Theater, and Philipines Liberation with one star.
 Frank, who has been in the Navy for 18 months, is stationed in Nevada. His duties call for engine changes on airplanes. Frank's two brothers, Elmer and Walter, also former Mexico Refractory Company employees are in the service.

Our kinsman Thomas Wayne Fecht was born on the 3rd of January 1926 in Mexico, Audrain County, Missouri. He was the son of Leonora Pearl (Hall) and Lawrence Matthew Fecht.
This newsletter was found in the effects of James L. Fecht in Tarzana, California 2009.

SAINT BRENDAN BASEBALL TEAM

Saint Brendan High School Baseball Team. Upper left corner is Robert Fecht. I am awaiting his identification of the other team members. Year unknown.

THE LOSS OF DOROTHY FECHT FETTERHOFF

Dorothy Fetterhoff
Tuesday, September 7, 2010
Dorothy Eileen Fetterhoff, 89, of Jackson and formerly a well-known business owner of Fetterhoff True Value Hardware in Marble Hill, Mo., died Sunday, Sept. 5, 2010, at Jackson Manor Nursing Home.

She was born Aug. 4, 1921, in Mexico, Mo., the daughter of William Thomas and Mildred Irene Crites Fecht.

She attended 12 years of school at St. Brendan's School in Mexico, graduating as class valedictorian in 1939. She worked as the society editor and reporter for the Mexico newspapers.

She and Elmer Clyde Fetterhoff were married June 30, 1940, at St. Brendan Church in Mexico. After 60 years of marriage, Elmer preceded Dorothy in death July 6, 2000.

Dorothy and Elmer and their family came to Lutesville, Mo., in 1950 where they owned and operated Fetterhoff's Western Auto Store, later changing to Fetterhoff's Furniture and True Value Hardware. After 27 years they retired and sold the business to their oldest son, Bill, and his wife, Carol.

Dorothy was active in civic, business and school affairs. She was instrumental in organizing the Marble Hill-Lutesville Business Club and served a number of times as president. She was a member of St. John Catholic Church at Leopold, where for 25 years she co-chaired the Olde Gifte Shop at the annual church picnic. She was a past president of the Junior Woman's Club, and received the Woman of the Year Award, along with a club recognition of the Shell Award for their successful effort to establish a medical doctor in the community. She attended Immaculate Conception Church in Jackson following her move to Jackson.

She is survived by four children, William G. (Carol) Fetterhoff and Anita E. (Bill) Fahrenkrog, both of Jackson, Thomas W. Fetterhoff of Enterprise, Fla., and Carl E. Fetterhoff of Springfield, Mo.; eight grandchildren, K. Scott Fetterhoff, Tamara Davault, both of Marble Hill, Cynthia Hayes of Lincoln, Neb., Mary Catherine Hoffman of Perryville, Mo., Elizabeth Anne Fetterhoff of Deland, Fla., Cheryl Hubbard of Enterprise, Monica Warner of Bristol, Fla., and Michael Fetterhoff of Seffer, Fla.; 11 great-grandchildren; a sister, Mary Genevieve Rebbe of Everett, Wa.; and two brothers, Dr. Gerald Fecht of Tarzana, Calif., and Robert W. Fecht of Clermont, Fla.

Visitation will be held from 4 to 8 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 3, 2010, at Hutchings Funeral Chapel in Marble Hill.

Parish prayers will be at 7 p.m. at the funeral home.

A funeral Mass will be at St. John Catholic Church at Leopold at 10 a.m. Thursday, Sept 9, with Father John Harth officiating.

Burial will follow in the church cemetery.

A CRUCIFIX IN ALGONA, IOWA

A few weeks ago, my wife Janne, son Brendan, Janne's cousins and I participated in the RAGBRAI (the trans Iowa bicycle ride - 7 days all across northern Iowa.) On the third day were parked our r.v. in the back of Rita and Cliff Long's home in Algona, Iowa. The Longs invited us into their home for ice cream and home made cake. On their walls were many religious images that brought back strong memories from my childhood.
Do any of you remember a cross like this in Bill and Mildred Fecht's home. No one but Rita and me knew that the crucifix has a private compartment that holds a tiny bottle of holy water and two little bees' wax candles for emergency spiritual need.

Shifting Gears Ride

This is the "sign in" table for the May Shifting Gears Bike Ride to Santa Barbara and return. Jerry and Janne at 5:30am. Yawn!
The two days turned out filled with brisk air and tons of sunshine.

SHIFTING GEARS SATURDAY

Chris Eisenberg an ALC Rider - The Fechts are her fans.
Brendan and Janne at the Shifting Gears Santa Barbara Ride kickoff. Brendan drove a "sweep car" to help distressed riders and ferry food and supplies. Janne and Jerry were check-in people. The coffee was terrific.
Our friend and opera lover Shawnet Sweets and Brendan at the Shifting Gears Ride kickoff. Our family loves Shawnet and will never forget her victory of the nasty hill in the middle of California called "quad buster." She's our hero.

What do you do on a Saturday morning in LA, get up at 4am and head out for Santa Monica to check riders in for their 200 mile round trip bicycle ride to Santa Barbara and back. The ride, sponsored by the terrific bicycle club called Shifting Gears, helps riders get into the shape and spirit they will need to make this summer's AIDS Lifecycle Ride from San Francisco to Los Angeles.
Since Brendan, Janne and I will be working as crew "roadies" for the SF-LA ride, we thought we'd get some practice getting up before dawn.

WHERE IS THIS ISLAND PARADISE?

Ok, where was this photograph taken? Dominica? Costa Rica?
Nope, from Janne and Jerry Fecht's patio in Tarzana, California.
El Nino has arrived and so did this surprise waterfall.

KACIE DAVIS DEIMEKE -WELCOME TO OUR FAMILY

Kacie Davis Deimeke (click on image to enlarge)

A joyous welcome to our family to Kacie Davis Deimeke, the new wife of our kinsman Bryan Deimeke. What a beautiful bride!

SCOTT DEIMEKE AND HIS BROTHERS

With a connection from Facebook from Scott Deimeke, we are now in touch with all three of the Deimeke Brothers. By using the labels below and the blog's index, you can access earlier entries on Bryan and Keith. I've added two new pictures of these folks in this posting, plus a great picture of all three brothers.

Scott Deimeke (click on image to enlarge)
Scott's birthday is the 15th of September. He lives in Springfield, Missouri and attended Ozarks Technical University.
Scott and his brothers are our kinsmen through this lineage:
Jacob Fecht, Wm. C. Fecht, Lawrence Fecht, Marjorie Fecht Weiberg and Janis Ann Deimeke
Patrick and Ann (Finn) Walsh, William Charles and Elizabeth Ann (Walsh) Fecht, Lawrence and Lena (Thomas) Fecht, Marjorie Fecht Weiberg and Janis Ann Deimeke
Keith Deimeke (click on image to enlarge)

Bryan Deimeke and Kacie Davis Deimeke (click on image to enlarge)

The Deimeke Brothers. Left to right: Keith, Bryan and Scott.



:

JAMES FECHT AND MICHAEL FETTERHOFF

Jim Fecht was very proud of his grand-nephew Thomas Fetterhoff, who visited him during his time in California as a United States Marine. Jimmy was interested in all things Marine, and was fascinated with how his beloved Corps had changed since his service during the Second World War.

Jacob Fecht, Wm. C. Fecht, Wm. T. Fecht, James L. Fecht
Patrick and Ann (Finn) Walsh, Elizabeth Ann (Walsh) and William Charles Fecht, William Thomas and Mildred Fecht, James L. Fecht

Jacob Fecht, Wm. C. Fecht, Wm. T. Fecht, Dorothy Fetterhoff, Thomas Fetterhoff, Michael Fetterhoff
Patrick and Ann (Finn) Walsh, Elizabeth Ann (Walsh) and William Charles Fecht, William Thomas and Mildred Fecht, Dorothy Fetterhoff, Thomas Fetterhoff, and Michael Fetterhoff.

WEDDING OF SHILO AND CALVIN DONER

Wedding of Shilo and Calvin Doner.
Shilo is our kinswoman through this lineage:
Jacob Fecht, Wm. C. Fecht, Wm. T. Fecht, Robert W. Fecht, Ronald Owen Fecht, Shilo Doner
Patrick and Ann (Finn) Walsh, Elizabeth Ann (Walsh) and William Charles Fecht, William Thomas and Mildred Fecht, Robert W. Fecht, Ronald O. Fecht, Shilo Doner

RONALD O. FECHT AND FAMILY

This photo was taken from Facebook on the Internet. Left top is Zachary Fecht, below him is Jaime Fecht and the family dog Ryder. In the center is Ronald Owen Fecht and below him his wife Kimberly. Top right is Calvin Doner and below him is Shilo Doner.

Jacob Fecht, Wm. C. Fecht, Wm. T. Fecht, Robert W. Fecht, Ronald Owen Fecht

Postcards From Mexico, Missouri

Arthur Simmons Horse Barn

The population of Mexico, Missouri changed little from the 1940s to 1970. It stayed just about eleven and a half thousand people. The town did have several distinct features including the breeding of "walking horses", a military academy for boys, the Audrain County Courthouse, the A.P. Green Firebrick Company, a shoe manufacturing plant, modest farms and lots of Fecht and Sullivan family cousins. Our family was related to half of the kids who attended Saint Brendan School.
My family (William T. and Mildred Fecht) lived during the Second World War on West Boulevard Street, near Eugene Field Elementary School and the King's Daughters Home for elderly women. (Our dear Aunt Cashie Ryan Fecht volunteered at the home for years and spent her own final days there.)
Beyond our home was the County Fair Grounds and beyond that was a Civilian Construction Camp (the CCCs of Franklin Roosevelt's era.) (When the war came along, the CCC boys disappeared into the military.) Walking from our home to Saint Brendan School was about a mile. On Boulevard Street there was the Simmons horse auction and training facility.
The contraption behind the horse in this postcard was called either a buggy, chariot or sulky. When I was very little there were chariot races at the fair grounds.
It is said that the blue grass around Mexico, Missouri originated from seed brought to the area by Daniel Boone. I think he is buried west of Mexico in Boone County near the college town of Columbia.
Lots of our family worked in the brick factory, owned by A.P. Green. Firebrick was in high demand during World War II and the era of steam engines, so A.P. grew very rich and powerful. Elmer Fetterhoff, who married into our family, worked as a foreman in the factory during the war.

SOME OF OUR FAMILY IN WASHINGTON STATE

Top – Left to Right
Kent Nicholas and below, his wife Kari Leigh Jensen.
William Staffenhagen holding his grandson Nicholas Jensen (age 2)
Kristine Staffenhagen (in blue dress),
Thomas Staffenhagen (tall man) holding his son Travis
Bottom row – Left to Right (center)
Owen Lee Rebbe holding his great grand daughter Hana Jensen (6 months)
Mary Genevieve Rebbe holding great grand daughter Leigha Staffenhagen (age 5)
Woman at right Melissa Staffenhagen holding her son Anthony (age 3 ½)

This photograph was among the possessions of James L. Fecht. It was taken at the wedding of Jocelyn and Jeff Williams.

Jacob Fecht, Wm. C. Fecht, Wm. T. Fecht, Genevieve Rebbe, Kristine Staffenhagen, and Kari Jensen.

Jacob Fecht, Wm. C. Fecht, Wm. T. Fecht, Genevieve Rebbe, Kristine Staffenhagen, & Tom Staffemjhagem

Patrick and Ann (Finn) Walsh, Elizabeth Ann (Walsh) and William Charles Fecht, William and Mildred Fecht, Genevieve and Owen Rebbe, Kristine Staffenhagen

BRADLEY RANKIN

Bradley Rankin is a descendent of Jacob and Margaret (Bost) Fecht, William Charles and Elizabeth Ann (Walsh) Fecht, Florence and Dan Sullivan, Patricia Wermelskirschen. and Deborah Rankin.
He is also a descendent of Patrick and Anne (Finn) Walsh, Elizabeth Ann (Walsh) Fecht, Florence and Dan Sullivan, Patricia Wermelskirschen, and Deborah Rankin.
Bradley's birth is June 26th. He is a recent graduate in 2009 of Maryville High School in Maryville, Missouri. He is working for Pagliai's Pizza.