The Pohlkamp family

It looks like a lovely evening out there--nice low evening sun setting beyond the living room windows, and a perky breeze thru the birch trees.  A clear sky, too, for the first time in a week or so.
When I opened the front door a few minutes ago, there were two bunnies sitting on the lawn.  They looked my way, but it was too hot to run.  As tho they thought, "Hell, the human will never come out here anyway--we're sloggy but we're safe".
They were right.  It feels like 114 out there, like the bathroom feels after you took a long HOT shower, and the air is just that thick, too. Eww! So ...how 'bout if I stay in the A/C and write about the Pohlkamps--in particular the bunch I remember from when I lived there.

I heard this week from Julie Pohlkamp, who grew up in Wisconsin but spent some vacations in Buckman with her grandparents, William and  Mary (Mischke) Pohlkamp, and with her Aunt Marie and Uncle Lambert's family, on the farm kitty-corner from Roman and Emily Dehler.


According to Family Search and Find a Grave, Bill's parents were Theodore and Josephine (Wilkomeier) Pohlkamp.  She died in 1943, and he died in 1949. They're buried in Pierz.

 March, 1982

William Theodore Pohlkamp      
Pierz - Services for William T. Pohlkamp, 87, Pierz, formerly of Buckman, who died March 22 at Kamnic Apartments in Pierz, will be at 10:30 a.m. Thursday in St. Michael's Catholic Church in Buckman, with the Rev. Richard Heid officiating. Francis and Leo Pohlkamp will serve as lectors. Burial will be in the parish cemetery.
Casket bearers will be Kevin, Mark, Daniel, Meinrad, Terry and Nick Pohlkamp.
William Pohlkamp was born Jan. 1, 1895 in Iowa, son of the late Theodore and Josephine Pohlkamp. He married Mary Mischke May 20, 1919 in Buckman. His wife preceded him in death April 10, 1969. He farmed until 1948 in the Buckman area. He also managed the bowling alleys in Buckman; drove the Buckman school bus for many years, and was employed by Tri-City Construction for four years.
Survivors include his sons, Francis of Middleton, Wis., Leroy of Elk River, and Maurice of Janesville, Wis.; and sister, Mrs. Cecelia Heurung of Little Falls.
Two sons, Clair and Lambert, preceded him in death.

Mary and Bill Pohlkamp c 1968

Julie's grandma Mary was Frank Mischke's sister.   Frank owned the Hardware Store in Buckman, and happened to be on the 1925 baseball team photo front row with his brother-in-law Bill Pohlkamp, remember?  

Bill and Mary had five sons, mentioned above.  The only one I knew in the early 70s was Lambert and his wife Marie (Stangl) Pohlkamp. 

July, 1978

Lambert Pohlkamp

Mr. Lambert Pohlkamp, 55, of Route 2 Pierz, died Wednesday at St. Gabriel's Hospital.

Funeral services will be held at 10:30 a.m. Saturday at St. Michael's Church in Buckman with Rev. Alfred Stangl and Rev. Richard Heid officiating. Burial will be in the parish cemetery.

Mr. Pohlkamp was born Nov. 17, 1922 in Buckman, the son of William and the late Mary Pohlkamp. He married Marie Stangl Sept. 1, 1948 in Pierz and they farmed all their lives in Buckman Township. Mr. Pohlkamp was a member of St. Michael's Society.

Survivors include his father, William Pohlkamp; his wife, Marie; six sons, Meinrad, Leo, Nicholas, William and Joseph, at home; Terence, of St. Paul; nine daughters, Mrs. Emmanuel Bridget Marquez of Hawaii; Jean, Margery, Lillian, Colette, Carol, Cheryl, Michelle and Paula, at home; three brothers, Francis of Middleton, Wisc.; Leroy of Elk River; Maurice of Jamesville, Wisc.; and one grandchild.

Mr. Pohlkamp was preceded in death by one brother, Clair, in 1957.

Pallbearers will be: Meinrad, Terence, Leo, Nicholas, William and Joseph Pohlkamp. Honorary bearers will be Ray Herold Sr., Tony Sitzman, Joe Lanners, Ray Kahl, Roman Dehler and Ted Funk.
 

Julie sent other photos, but I'd like to get names for the people shown before I post them.  If you're interested, check back here, ok?

YAY, JULIE!!

Two days later--Sue emailed to say that her grandpa Joe's sister Catherine Suess married Frank Pohlkamp.  They had seven kids (4 boys and 3 girls) and farmed in Buckman township, tho she's not sure where.  According to FamilySearch, Frank was Bill's brother.

Oh, and speaking of Bill the Buckman ball player in that 1925 photo--he had a chance to play for the St Louis Browns, but was needed more on the farm.  Just as well--they weren't the winningest team ever...

Now for some of the pics Julie sent:

(I think EVERY farm house had that same framed copy of the Last Supper on the dining room wall, right?)

Nope, I don't know any names here--but I think they're all Pohlkamp cousins.  If you recognize any faces, let me know, ok?

Same here, but I expect the older couple is Bill and Mary.  Anybody know for sure?