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Archiver > MNHENNEP > 2006-12 > 1165203711


From: "Jackie Ginn" <>
Subject: Re: [MNHennep] Desperately seeking help on locating information onmy grandmother (with focus on death record).
Date: Sun, 3 Dec 2006 19:41:51 -0800
References: <45734139.1030902@xtra.co.nz>


There is a WWI Registration card for William A Kohler at Ancestry. It is
dated 15 Jun 1917 and shows him as single, born May 26, 1895 in St. Paul,
MN. Registration was in Minneapolis. If you would like a copy, contact me
privately so that it won't go to the whole mailing list.

There is also one for Joseph Frank Snitzka born 25 Mar 1892, born in Chaska,
MN. Registration also is in Minneapolis. This man is married with
children, but no names given. However he lists 2 sons (unnamed) under 12 who
are dependent on him. Lived at 2132 Wash No., a mattress worker for
Bergstene Bros. Again, contact me privately if you want a copy of this.

How certain are you that the 1918 death certificate is not for your
grandmother? Perhaps the cause of death? Could it be that your grandmother
was burned badly, but did not die of the burns but died of something
else..perhaps infection or the flu epidemic? There is also a Grace Gertrude
Koehler listed on the Minnesota Death Index, died 5 Jan 1927 in Hennepin
Co.. I know your father and uncle would not have been small children at
that time, but teenagers. But that might be worth following up on.

Here is the death record for Joseph Snitzka in case you don't already have
it.

Minnesota Death Index, 1908-2002
about Joseph Frank Snitzke
Name: Joseph Frank Snitzke
Death Date: 19 Aug 1948
Death County: Stearns
State file number: 015825
Certificate Number: 015825
Certificate Year: 1948
Record Number: 1074232




----- Original Message -----
From: "Melinda Kohler, Kerri and Paula Kohler-Saunders"
<>
To: <>
Sent: Sunday, December 03, 2006 1:27 PM
Subject: [MNHennep] Desperately seeking help on locating information on my
grandmother (with focus on death record).


>I have for quite a few years being trying to find information on my
> grandmother. I would like to find a record of her death and possible
> remarriage. I need help for this as I have tried every resource that I
> can. I have picked up some information about her and I will relay it
> here so that possibly it will provide someone with a clue to where any
> record of her may be found.
>
> Before I go on I would like to state that I am writing from New Zealand.
>
> My grandmother was born *Gertrude H Odonnell* in *Illinois, 1897*. Her
> parents were William Odonnald and Gertrude Zeppenfield.
>
> In the *1900* census Gertrude Odonnell is found with her parents and
> brothers living in Cook County, *Illinois*.
>
> In the *1910* census Gertrude Odonnell is found with her mother and
> brothers (no father) living in *District 63, Ward 3**, Hennepin,
> Minneapolis*,
>
> In *1913* at 16 years old she is found on my father's birth
> certificate. He was born August 20, 1913 in Hennepin. He was born
> Joseph Louise Snitka. (/Snitka is a variation of the family name which
> I have just discovered after many years of research. This was
> Keschnitzke. Other variations about are Schnitzka, Snitska etc../.)
>
> In *1916* in the Minneapolis City Directory (Hennepin) a Joseph
> Kohler, Wm. Nary & Co. r. 1926 15th Ave So. Also, a William A. Kohler
> at the same address. (/I do not have a copy of this but have been given
> this information./) My father went by the name Joseph louis Kohler, his
> brother was William James Kohler (/born Snitzke in 1915/). I am unsure
> of why the name change to Kohler. The obvious reason is remarriage. I
> need to know if this 1916 entry relates to my father and his brother.
> If so at the time my father would have been 2 to 3 years old and his
> brother 1 year.
>
> In *1917* my grandparents are divorced. Custody of the children are
> given to the father (Joseph Frank Snitska). He relinquishes this
> custody in 1920.
>
> *This* *1917 record is the last record I can find of my grandmother.*
>
> In *1920* and *1930* my father and his brother are found living with
> there grandmother.
>
> I do not know if she remarried a Kohler and was using the name prior her
> divorce. I do know that at an early age my father and his brother
> watched her burn to death from a coal range fire. So even though their
> father was granted custody of the children they must have been staying
> with her. I do not know when she died. I can only presume it was prior
> 1920 as they are with their grandmother then. However that is not
> certain. I have sent away for the death record of a gertrude koehler
> who died in 1918. This was not my grandmother.
>
> *I imagine any information on her would be in the Hennepin records. I
> think that I need to be able to search marriage records to have an idea
> if she remarried after her 1917 divorce. And need divine intervention
> to find her death record.
>
>
> *Can anyone help me.
>
> Thank You Melinda Kohler
>
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