Another Stoop Picture

Written in cursive on back (I may be misreading some of it) : Paul H. Scherf, Bruce, Susan, Carol, Paul Richard, Randy Harms and sister.

I Call This One, "Parents Have Lost Their Heads"

Susan Johnson (nee Scherf), Carol McCormick (nee Scherf), Paul Richard Scherf. Headless people are probably Virginia Scherf (nee Sturtz), Paul H. Scherf, and Bruce Scherf.

"Bruce Holding Herb"

Rose Sturtz, Holding Dennis Kania

Martin Durlait, holding David Kania

Baby Dennis Kania

Written on Back: "Jean Kehn"

This is Jean Kehn (Sturtz holding baby Jim standing in front of a rented Navy apartment in Orange Texas, 1952.

There are MANY More Pictures...and I'll Post Them Soon!

I wanted to thank you for your interest in this site; the number of post-views is far beyond what I originally had suspected the reaction to be! I'm currently taking advantage of the weather and finishing up yard projects before winter confines us indoors for months. Due to fading, creases, and sometimes torn corners, the pictures I've been sharing are almost always edited. It's a labor of love, but it is very time consuming, hence the delays between posts. Please hang in there, because once the cold months are upon us, I plan on spending my free time on this project!

Thank you,

Holly

Aunt Lena's Yard. Written on back: "Aunt Lena, Thomas Curran"

Carol McCormick says,

"It is Aunt Lena's house, 619 Delaware Ave, Toledo. Why do I remember that? Her house was very old, dark, and uncomfortable furniture. If we had to use the bathroom, we would go upstairs and immediately back down. There was a large ceramic cat at the top of the steps, kind of nice."

Google Street image:

Is This Jean and Ray Kehn's Wedding?

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I think this is Ray and Jean Kehn (nee Sturtz). My Mother, Carol McCormick (nee Scherf) says:

"That is Jean and Ray on the left. That looks like Evelyn Sturtz between them and Aunt Lena on the very right side of photo. I do not know the other people in the picture. They were probably people from Ray's side of the family."

I do not know the woman on the far left. Next to her is Caroline (Lena) Curran (nee Thielen). The couple on the right are Agnes and Martin Durliat.

Okay, for you youngsters who are looking at these people, wondering how they are related to you, here's my attempt at clearing it up. Rose Sturtz (the matriarch of this blog) was the daughter of Louis and Mary Capelle. Mary Capelle's maiden name was Thielen. This picture features Mary's sister, Caroline Curran (nee Thielen). Caroline actually went by Lena. So, when you hear a story referencing "Aunt Lena," she was Rose Sturtz's Aunt. Agnes Durliat (nee Capelle) was Rose's second sister, therefore, Lena was also aunt to the woman sitting next to her, Agnes.

Richard (Uncle Dick) Sturtz and Paul H. Scherf

Uncle Dick was Rose and Louis Sturtz's son. Paul H. Scherf was married to Dick's sister, Virginia.

Ethel Sturtz in the Foreground. Outdoor Party in the Background

Ethel Sturtz is in the foreground; she was wife to Donald Sturtz, son to Rose and Louis Sturtz. Rosanne Tussing (nee Kania) was very helpful and provided some information on this photo. Rosanne says,

"The house is John and Rosemary Kania's, long driveway lots of peony bushes lining front yard...Dick and Dad built the attached garage...looks like Aunt Jean playing badminton. This House is where me and four brothers were raised, it is on State Rt. 281 two miles west of Custar, Ohio. It is currently for sale on Trulia for $139.900, there are pictures of the inside of the house..might be Uncle Dick in white shirt by bike rider."

Rosanne thinks the boy holding the bottle is Paul Richard Scherf, and the lady behind Ethel is Aunt Evelyn Sturtz; her husband, Herb Sturtz, might be the man wearing the striped shirt, standing near Jean Kehn (nee Sturtz). Rosanne might be the child on the bike by garage, and she thinks Dave or Denny Kania might also be a bike riding child in the photo.

Rose Sturtz's Backyard

Am I the only one who remembers this yard being much bigger?

Smiling Rose Sturtz

I've heard that Rose's, often absent, smile is related to chronic pain. Which is why I really like this happy photograph of her!

All this says on the back is "Aunt Caroline Thielen." Rose Sturtz (nee Capelle) was the daughter of Louis Capelle and Mary Emaline Thielen. So, I'm guessing one of these women was sister to Rose's mother. I also think Caroline's married name was Curran, making her Lena Curran. As always, I welcome more information as well as corrections!

Tennis Anyone?

On the back, this says: "Rosemary Kania, Ginny Scherf" I'm assuming that Rosemary is on the left, and Virginia is on the right. I do not know where this is, nor do I know the year.

Why? Because He Could, That's Why.

Paul Richard Scherf, eldest son of Paul H. and Virginia Scherf (nee Sturtz).

In this picture: Rose is Mother to Virginia, Richard and Donald (Ethel is Donald's wife).

Virginia is mother to Carol, Ginny, Bruce, Herb and Paul (Janice was Paul's girlfriend at the time that this photo was taken; later, they married).

Adult Children of Louis Sturtz and Rose Sturtz (nee Capelle)

Paul H. Scherf and Virginia Scherf (nee Sturtz) kids

The Sturtz Stoop--Popular Photo Spot!

Rosanne Tussing (nee Kania), Mary, Jim and Phil Kehn. I'm starting to notice a trend with many of these photos taken on this back stoop! I'm guessing the steps made it easier to get everyone in the photo, and natural sunlight helps, too; it makes sense that this was the family studio!

GET YOUR OWN SHIRT!

I'm guessing this is at Rose Sturtz's house on Cadillac Court in Toledo, Ohio...but I welcome corrections. I think that baby doll in the lower left corner was still around when I was a child, looking a little more worn from many tea parties...and face tattoos, via magic markers.

Carol McCormick says, "That middle girl was Barbie, next door and Aunt Jean Sturtz was probably sitting with the children. That was about 1950. They lived upstairs and Barbie's dad was the one who yelled at my grandfather to get his own shirt. Houses were very close to each other and in the summer all windows were open to yell back and forth to each other."

I think the story goes like this: Louis would shout out for someone (Rose?) to get his shirt (I'm guessing his work shirt was always clean, but not necessarily always waiting for him in his closet--a normal situation in my household). Because of the houses being in such close proximity, and the lack of air conditioning, it was easy to hear a raised voice through the window of your neighbor. One day, likely after reaching his limit of hearing Louis call for his shirt, the neighbor (Barbie's father?) shouted back, "GET YOUR OWN SHIRT!"

David, Paul and Carol

From L to R: David Kania (his mom was Virginia's sister Rosemary, who died in an El Camino accident in 1969.) Paul R. Scherf, and his older sister, Carol McCormick (nee Scherf). I believe this is on the back stoop of Rose and Louis Sturtz's house on Cadillac Court in Toledo Ohio. This house has been torn down. Corrections always welcome!

Rose and Ethel

Rose Sturtz (nee Capelle) with her daughter-in-law, Ethel Sturtz, wife to Donald Sturtz.

Paul H. and Virginia Scherf (nee Sturtz) kids

Susan said that they dressed Herb up in a cowboy outfit, but Herb was not having it! Just before Virginia took the photo, Herb ripped off his red kerchief!

In the second picture from the top, I haven't identified the woman and man on the left. I suspect that she is Evelyn Sturtz, wife to Herb Sturtz, but I do not know who the man is. If you think you might know, I'd appreciate your help.

Patience Please!

This is a work in progress. It started because of the surprisingly large amount of people who showed interest in the family photos I posted on Facebook. In time, I may discover that this is not the best way to execute my plan (sharing and encouraging communication between our families). If you are distantly related, please do not assume that you do not belong here. Louis and Rose Sturtz (nee Capelle) had many children, and those children had many children, and so on. Basically, we want to interact and share with anyone who can contribute to our story.

If you or a family member wishes to visit or contribute, please contact me. I'll add your email, and then you'll be a part of this. I truly welcome suggestions and corrections and most of all, images and documents!

Thank you for your patience, Holly

Four Generations

This is a picture of me, Holly Butkovich (nee McCormick), as a child, sitting with my mother, Carol McCormick (nee Scherf), my grandmother, Virginia Scherf (nee Sturtz), and my great grandmother, Rose Sturtz (nee Capelle).