Michael and Kate (Bollmeier) Juenger UPDATED

Son of George Juenger, Senior.  Born July 19, 1886.  Michael was the youngest child of George Juenger, Senior and Maria Stehl Juenger and went with his mother when she left George.

This is a story about his parents which was written by Michael Juenger:

The story of Mike Juenger as told by his son Michael

"Son of George Juenger and Mary Stehl Juenger, Michael was born 19 July 1886, one of nine children.  (Those known, but not in sequence of birth are:  George, Henry-Dick, Connie, Louis, Nettie and Mike plus 2 other brothers and a sister unknown EDITORS NOTE:  UNKNOWN SISTER I BELIEVE IS CHARLOTTE--SEE PICTURE AT BOTTOM OF POST).  He was not the first son and in the German tradition was not scheduled to inherit.  He joined the military.  His Dad and mother were divorced and both remarried—why or to who is unknown.  We do not know the particulars of this period.  (The stigma of divorce kept Dad from discussing this with his family.)  We do know that he served at least 2 hitches in the army---one on the Border Patrol along the Rio Grande during part of the Poncho Villa era and in the Philippines during the Philippine Insurrection.  He joined again during WWI, but saw no action.

Michael (Mike) married Anna Katherine (Kate) Bollmeier on the 24^th of December 1918 and became a farmer again.  Charlotte was born on the 18 September 1919.  Mike entered Great Lakes Veterans Hospital in 1921 because of a back injury suffered in the Philippines.  Kate was pregnant again and in 1922 moved to Chicago to be near Mike when she delivered.

Mike was a strict disciplinarian probably due to his German and military background.  He was not a demonstrative person and did not show or openly express love for his family.  But Mike was fun to be around and always had a humorous story or anecdote that enlivened any group discussion.  He loved to play Pinochle and Euchre.  He was not a drinking man, but he made his own home brew.  I never saw him drunk or turn down a drink.

Mike was a farmer at heart, but after leaving it in 1928-29 he never had the wherewithal to get back into it. He abhorred debts and either paid cash or did with out.  For a few years he was a hired farmhand during planting and harvesting periods, but he was also a barber, carpenter, woodworker and butcher.  All of our farm neighbors invited the family at butchering and Mike was always the supervisor, ham and bacon trimmer, salting specialist and smoke house advisor.  We had our own smokehouse and Kate was the sausage maker.  No wonder they were so popular.  (For some reason the sentences above are in caps --not by Michael, but by the writer of this post.  Please disregard.)

Mike developed gangrene in his big toe, left foot and lost his leg three years before he died on 15 October 1962.  His memoirs will note that his six kids married well and none of them or their spouses has ever run afoul of the law for more than a traffic violation.

Kate was a great homemaker, Mother and supportive wife.  Anytime Kate disagreed with Mike, the kids were never aware of it.  All confidential discussions were either held at night in their bedroom or in German which we children didn’t understand.  The most common mild argument concerned correct German language.  Kate had been confirmed in the German Lutheran Church and could read, write and speak German so she always prevailed.  Mike spoke low German flavored with Mexican and Philippine Spanish.

Kate survived Mike by 17 years.  She was a hardworking cook and dietitian at the local grade school beloved by everyone.  She retired at age 79 and died at age 84.

Michael Fred Juenger was born 31 Jan 1922 at 2201 Prairie Ave in Chicago.  In April of that year, Mike, Kate and Family moved to a farm near South Springfield, IL.  A year later they moved to a farm north of Springfield near Sherman, IL.  Here they farmed successfully and Virginia Louise was born 12 November 1925.  In 1928 Mike suffered a recurrence of his back problem and was in and out of government hospitals until his back was fused in 1928.  The bank foreclosed in 1929 and Kate and family moved to Sherman where we lived in 5 different houses during the next 10 years.  Mike would come home occasionally, but would have to return to another Veterans’ Hospital.  In trying for a disability pension, he found that that all the records of his accident in the Philippines had been destroyed by fire and he was never approved for a pension. 

His disability did not extend to his home life and Mary Matilda was born 10 April 1929, Olga Marlene was born 8 June 1934 and Betty Lou Yvonne was born 29 September 1940. 

After his back was fused, Make was again able to work and was a better man at 55 than he was at 40.

 

Children of Michael Juenger: Art , Virginia (m. W.W. Manning)born

12 November 1925, Henry and Gert (Bollmeier) Kuethe, Mary Juenger (m. T.
Johnson) born 10 April 1929,unidentifed, and Betty Juenger (Fey) born 29
September 1940. Henry Kuethe married Gert Bollmeier, daughter of Happy
Florence Briggs Bollmeier. Gert was born 18 March 1918.

Charlotte (Juenger) Johnson and her husband Turner Johnson. Charlotte is

the daughter of Michael and Kate (Bollmeier) Juenger.She lives in Sherman
near Springfield, IL