Remembering

My Father, Bernard Joseph Deatsch was born in March of 1909. In 1908, his Mother, Josephine, had survived a long and difficult labor and birth. Sadly the child, a little girl, Christina Catherine did not survive. Josephine's Father, Martin Birrer arranged the burial at St. Stanislaus Cemetery, near Hills, IA (Where the Birrers are buried). Her grave was never marked and early records are incomplete. Over the years the location of her grave was lost in obscurity, as the Grandparents died and her parents were busy caring for their large family. In the late 1940, George and Josephine tried unsuccessfully to discover the grave site, so a stone could be set. In later years,, several of the next generation initiated further searches, sadly also unsucessful. At the family reunions, this problem was discussed. At the July 2009 reunion, the group decided to accept donations from the "cousins (neices & nephews)" and purchase a headstone for Christina and place it near her parents, who are buried at St. Vincent's Cemetery, west of Riverside, IA. When Josephine died in the mid 1950s, her sons made arrangements for 3 spaces at St. Vincent's, near the graves of George's parents and Grandparents. Melo was not married at this time, so a space was obtained for him, as well. Later he would marry Aunt Garna and is buried with her at Washington, IA. The next summer, Bernard(my Dad) went to Riverside and obtained 6 additional spaces, 3 for his use and 3 for his brother, Sim. And now they all rest in peace, side by side in a row, Grandma & Grandpa, Dad and Mom, and Aunt Alice and Uncle Sim. Each family unit has one unused space, so there is room for Christina Catherine's headstone, near her parents. We have been told that the Board, which oversees St. Vincent's has been doing some landscaping and making improvements, so we will look forward to seeing what they have accomplished. The cemetery is well maintained and beautiful. We hope that future generations appreciate our efforts to erect a monument in her memory and are not confused that it is placed in a different cemetery. By placing it near her parents, and two siblings, it was hoped it would make it easier to "see" the connection to the family.

MY PARENTS

My parents' stone at St. Vincent's Cemetery, west of Riverside, IA.

Memorial Day

This tall weathered stone stands at St. Vincent's Cemetery, west of Riverside, IA. It marks the graves of Sebastian John Deatsch and his wife Mary. My Great,great,great Grandparents. The first Deatschs to come to America. Nearby are the graves of their son, John Deatsch & his wife Catherine Rummelhart. Further to the west, are the graves of their grandson, George and his wife Josephine Birrer, my Grandparents. And immediately to the north of George's grave are those of two of their sons and the sons' wives. Sim & Alice and Bernard and Mary. The wives were sisters (Thompsons). Bernard and Mary are my parents. St. Vincent's is a lovely cemetery, well cared for, and peaceful. It lies amidst the cornfields and has several large trees. Rest in Peace.

Legacy

Many Deatschs have been gardeners. And in gardens all over Iowa and around the US grows a yellow bean called "Mollie beans". The seeds are dried and saved from year to year and handed down to other family members. Amelia and her parents were gardeners. They sold their excess produce. And from their garden came the beans we continue to raise to this day. Aunt Connie and Catherine Simon both shared Mollie beans with me. And my husband has planted them in his gardens and flower beds. When I attended the Mellecker reunions with my Father, there were dishes of cooked Mollie beans on the dinner table and there were sacks of them available for anyone to take home for later meals or to dry and use as seeds. Wouldn't the Brockmans be pleased to know that so many years after thir deaths this legacy would remain. Great Aunt Mollie is buried at St. Stanislaus Cemetery, (near Hills, IA) with her parents. Her sister Christina, was Josephine Birrer Deatsch's Mother.

Attic Files

From the ATTIC FILES
THE RIVERSIDE LEADER
Thursday, January 5, 1939

Bob and Connie Deatsch, Riverside's cowboy singers, will go to Des Moines on Saturday to make one of their appearances in the WHO Barn Dance Frolic broadcast.

1965

In the Fall of 1965, our family gathered at Riverside, IA for the funeral of George Deatsch (3rd generation). In the years that followed, 2 reunions were held. Circumstances did not allow me to attend.

In July 2000, a full day of activities was planned. George and Josephine had married in 1900 and their descendants met for Mass at St. Mary's in Riverside. We moved to the a/c basement to visit, view pictures, and eat lunch. A visit to the graves at St. Vincent's was made. And in the late afternoon, many of the group moved on to Iowa City and the home of Donna Deatsch, Elmer's widow, to continue eating and visiting. Bernard, Connie & her husband, and Uncle White's widow represented the 4th generation. Many cousins and their children and grandchildren were in attendance from all across the country(California, Ohio, Florida, Wyoming). I flew from Wyoming and attended with my Father, Bernard.

In July 2005, the cousins hosted a gathering at Lone Tree, IA. This day, only Bernard and Connie (4th) remained to join us. A meal and an afernoon of visitng was enjoyed by all. And once again, Dad and I were in attendance.

There is a meal planned for July 5, 2009 in Amana, IA. And we, the cousins (5th generation) have become the older generation. We number 30 (14 men and 16 women). And life goes on...

Milestone

10 March 1909

My Father, Bernard Joseph Deatsch was born this day. The 4th generation in the United States. He died September 2005. Two of his Grandfathers had lived to be over 100 years old, and we had hoped he would remain in good mind, body and spirit and pass that milestones, but it was not to be. The third son of George & Josephine (Birrer) Deatsch, he grew up on small farms near Riverside (Washington County), Iowa. He attended Catholic schools, the first in his family to complete High School. He was an honest, good, hard working man. He loved the land, farming, tending a garden, trimming a hedge, mowing the lawn. He was married for 41 years, dying 28 years after his wife- on the same day in late September. He raised two daughters. He loved to read and work crossword puzzles. R.I.P.