Oma is my mother. She was not always Oma. ‘Oma’ is what some German children call their Grandmother (and ‘Opa’ is for ‘Grandfather’). Oma became ‘Oma’ when she became a grandmother after her son (my brother) moved to Germany. His children called their grandparents ‘Oma’ and ‘Opa’, so, naturally, our children also wanted to call their grandparents (on this side of the Big Pond) Oma and Opa.

Oma’s family lived in Indiana going back many generations. There were teachers, lawyers, carpenters, farmers, brickmasons, doctors, pioneers, and yes, there were some that came over on the boat. When they moved here, the area was rich with walnut trees, so much of the furniture that those good carpenters built was solid walnut. The house that my great grandparents lived in was built of solid walnut timbers.

As I have researched the family and tried to organize the many photos and family memorabilia that I have discovered in Oma’s treasures, I have found a wealth of family information that I will be posting from time to time. I hope you enjoy getting to know the family members and their quirks and foibles. Perhaps you are a far-removed cousin and can even add some stories, yourself.