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Otto came to the United States from Germany* with his father and stepmother on May 20, 1881. They settled and built their first home, which is the log home on Heythaler Highway where Lorene Vekarysz currently lives. Otto's father died 14 August 1884. Otto's biological mother was born 12 February 1825 and died 14 February 1881, in Germany. <>*In the 1882 Germans to America volumes: Arriving at Baltimore from Bremen, on the ship, Strassburg, on 26 May 1882: Otto Wenzel, age 15 and Reinhard Wenzel, age 18. Then further down the list is - Ferdinand Wenzel, 45 Auguste Wenzel, wife, age 35 Anna Wenzel, age 10 Gustav Wenzel, age 7 Max Wenzel, age 5 Albert Wenzel, age 3and Carl Wenzel, age 6 monthsFrom the census it looks like Ferdinand's children were: Otto, Reinhard, Anna, Gustav, Max, Albert and Carl Wenzel. Ferdinand married for his 2nd wife, Auguste Wenzel. Ferdinand and Auguste probably had children born to them after they arrived in the United States. Otto Wenzel and Minnie Radka met while working in a lumber camp. Minnie Radka came to the United States as a very young baby with her parents. They were married 31 July 1886 by Edward Erskine in Case Township. Their witnesses were Frank and Emma Radka. Otto and Minnie bought the property where the current farm is located in 1898. Otto became a citizen of the United States on June 8, 1896. They had to clear and build their own road to get to their farm. They originally built a small home just for shelter as they then lived in Rogers City and had to walk back and forth. They then built a second larger home and then a third home, which is still the present home. Otto and Minnie had 12 children, 7 boys and 5 girls, all of whom were raised on this farm. On 17 October 1912, Otto and Minnie signed an agreement with the Board of Superintendents of the poor of Presque Isle County to house and care for the elderly, sick and homeless, with operation to begin July 1, 1913. This agreement was for a period of (3) three years. They were to receive $2.25 per week per client and $1.50 per week for (10) ten persons laundry and 15 cents for each additional client's laundry. Otto and Minnie built 2 separate houses, one for the females and the other for males. The main house was used for family and personal to cook and serve the food and do the laundry. Most of the client's had no immediate families or relatives to take care of them. Most of them had been hard workers in their younger years, but had no pensions. If the men and women were able they helped with the household and farm chores. Otto and Minnie were self-sufficient in their business as they had horses (tractors in later years) to help plant and harvest their crops. On the farm there were cattle, pigs, sheep, turkeys, ducks, geese and chickens which provided milk, wool, meat, eggs, and feathers (used for pillows and feather-ticks). Fire- wood was cut for heat, while oil and gas lamps provided lighting before they had their own generating plant. Electricity was hooked up in 1937-1938. The first television was bought in 1957. During the winter, ice was made and stored in ice boxes that were built on the farm. Meats and sausages were smoked and canned to provide food for the family and residents. Oats, hay, barley and corn were raised to feed the animals. Milk was separated to make milk and cream, while sour milk was used to make cottage cheese. In addition to doing all the chores necessary to keep the farm running smoothly, there was time for fun. Men played cards, accordions, violins, and mouth organs to create entertainment. The women would crochet lace and make rugs. Many school children from the city and county area came to entertain, sing and bring treats on special holidays. Pastors from local churches provided services. <>In the first years of operation, it was named "County Poor Farm". A few years later, it was named "County Infirmary" In the 1940s Marlin and Anita assumed ownership, and it was named "Wenzel's Boarding Home". Now it is named "Wenzel Adult Foster Care Home" and is still operated by Anita Wenzel and her daughter, Sylvia.Otto and Minnie Wenzel's 12 children were: 1. Bertha Wenzel born 13 March 1886 and died 13 June 1905 m. George Kent born about 1883. 2. Edward Wenzel born 24 March 1888 and died 1 March 1968. Married Helena Schultz 28 April 1910 in Metz. Helena born Sept 1887 daughter of William Schultz and Freidericki Gruczhefski. Edward died 1 March 1968 in Rogers City. 3. Laura Wenzel born 3 February 1890 and died 28 September 1969. Married Charles Wirgau 22 Oct 1907 in Rogers City. Charles born 24 Sept 1881, Belknap Twp., son of Charles Wirgau Sr., and Johanna Fuhrman. Charles died Nov 1962, buried Rogers City Cemetery. Laura died 28 Sept 1969. 4. Arthur Wenzel born 31 July 1892 and died 18 July 1972. Married Julia Glentz born in Feb 1898, dau. of August J. Glentz and Polina______? Arthur died 18 July 1972, Rogers City, MI. 5. Dora Wenzel born 28 March 1894 and died 30 July 1914, Rogers City, Michigan. Dora was baptized 8 April 1894 by the Rev. Joel David Druckenmiller in the St. John Evangelical Lutheran Church of Rogers City, Michigan. Her sponsors were Martha Radke, Reinhard Wenzel, and Natalia Voigt. 6. Mina Louise Wenzel born 7 November 1896 and died 5 April 1902 and died 5 April 1902 7.
Elmer Wenzel
born 2 February 1899 and died 9 May 1978. Married Amanda Berg 15
June
1922 in Rogers City, Michigan. She was born 30 Oct 1902, daughter
of
Martin W.L. Berg and Anna Schalk. Amanda died in March of 1980 and
Elmer died 9
May 1978. Martin
Berg Family Amanda and Neal Wenzel Kenny
Wenzel 8. Otto Wenzel born 18 November 1902 and died 23 January 1980. Married Elsie Berg, 2 Dec 1926 in Belknap Twp. Elsie born about 1909, dau. of Martin W.L. Berg and Anna Schalk. Otto died 23 Jan 1980, Rogers City. 9. Alfred Wenzel born 31 December 1904 and died 21 January 1974. Married Mae Atkinson 27 Aug 1925. Mae was born 7 July 1906 and died in January 1974. Alfred died in October 1985. 10. Elna Wenzel born 28 June 1908 and died 15 October 1981. Married Herbert Wirgau 28 June 1908. Herbert born 9 Sept 1901, son of Theodore Wirgau and Ottilia Auguste Nagel. Herbert died March 1974 and Elna died 15 Oct 1981. 11. Marlin Wenzel born 18 November 1909 and died 5 November 1969. 12. Stillborn 26 Jan 1912. 13. Earl Wenzel born 18 March 1915 and died 21 January 2001 in Clio, Michigan. Earl married Ida Lucille Brabazon July 1, 1960 in Millington, Michigan. He was employed with Universal Engineering for 32 years retiring in 1972. Survivors according to his obituary in the 23 January 2001, Flint Journal, he left his wife Ida Lucille, step-children; William A. Stiles and fiancee Sally Quinn of Saginaw, Norman E. and wife Luella Stiles of Alaska, Dale R. Stiles of Tennessee; 9 grandchildren; 10 greatgrandchildren, many nieces and nephews. He is buried in the Thetford Township cemetery, Mt. Morris, Michigan. Obituary WENZEL,
Ida Lucille - Of Saginaw, formerly of Clio, age 91, died Wednesday,
March 10,
2004 at Covenant Healthcare-Cooper. Funeral services will be held 11AM
Monday,
March 15, 2004 at the Thetford Center United Methodist Church, Rev.
Bruce
Nowacek officiating with burial in Thetford Township Cemetery. Friends
may call
at the O'Guinn Family Funeral Home in Clio on Sunday from 2-7PM and at
the
church on Monday from 10AM until time of service. Memorial
contributions may be
made to the Thetford Center United Methodist Church or the Visiting
Nurses
Hospice of Saginaw. Lucille was born February 25, 1913 in Clio,
Michigan,
the daughter of the late Edward and Jennie (Johnson) Brabazon. She had
resided
in the Clio area all of her life. Lucille married Earl Wenzel.
He preceded her in death in January 2001. She was employed with
Universal
Engineering for over 20 years before retiring. She was lifetime member
of the
Thetford Center United Methodist Church. She enjoyed sewing and
cooking.
Surviving are: children, William (Sally) Stiles of Saginaw,
Norman (Lou)
Stiles of Alaska, Dale (Norita) Stiles of TN; 9 grand-children; 11
great-grandchildren; brother-in-law, Ike Stange; several nieces and
nephews.
Lucille was also preceded in death by her sister, Wilma Stange.
Henry and Karolena Wenzel photos
Elmer, Shirley, and Phyllis Wenzel Obituary - Alpena News [13 April 2008] Obituary, Rogers City Advance 
Presque Isle County, Michigan Families |