Reunion

Family traditions, memories, milestones, recipes and songs shared across generations.

Traditions

Bread baking and making the communion hosts

When the first reunion was being planned for 1996, the mass was an integral part of the weekend, so the white shirts decided the hosts for communion should be prepared by them. The parish office in Pierz was consulted and gave the go ahead. Once finished, the hosts were blessed at the church in Pierz and then used at the onsite mass. The aunties settled on a recipe and worked out how to make the hosts the right size and shape.

The white shirt aunties: Millie Terhaar (#4), Doreen Kapsner (#12), Bea Adams (#13), Mary Austin (#11), Verna Gruber (#1), Alice Kahlhamer (#14), Margaret Loidolt (#2) and MaryJane Merkling (#9).

For those who lived close, the real kickoff was bread baking on the Thursday before the reunion. It started at Alice and Roman's house in Pierz; the other kitchen blessed with the event was Auntie Doreen's. The tradition has ended, but the pictures of the white shirts — and Uncle Eddie — are ones to treasure.

Diane (Kahlhamer) Lingwall, red shirt #61

The Opening Ceremony

Opening Ceremonies have been part of the Girtz Family Reunion since 1996. It has always mattered to honor and remember those who have completed their life here on earth. The flame at the center of the ceremony comes from St. Joseph's Church in Pierz, as it has since 1996. Roman was entrusted with obtaining the flame from church, and carrying that on is an honor.

The red shirts are now the keepers of the family's history and traditions. The white shirts went to great lengths to preserve both, and the blue, silver and eventually gold shirts should come to appreciate the gift being handed down.

Traditions change. Auntie LyAnn once made hundreds of phone calls gathering family information; now it happens over social media. Registration packets were handed out from the back of Uncle Danny and Auntie Jan's van, and now there is a tent for registration and swag bags. As Uncle Virgil said after the 1996 reunion: “Don't be sad that it's over, be glad that it happened.”

Diane (Kahlhamer) Lingwall, red shirt #61

Music, and everything else

There are a LOT of Girtz traditions: hunting, fishing, big Catholic families, dancing, singing, playing cards, telling stories, working hard, talking smart — partying. But music has played a key role in bringing harmony to family gatherings. The 13 aunties harmonized while milking cows and doing chores.

Alongside the music come the golf tournament, the motorcycle and side-by-side ride, the fun run, climbing hay bales, and kissing your cousins.

The annual fishing weekend

The 2024 Girtz Annual Fishing Weekend drew cousins from several states. Standing: Leo Girtz Jr. (red #31), Parry Bruggink (blue #20), Josh Bruggink (silver #103), Anthony Scapanski (silver #48), Dave Britz (red #80+), Mick Gruber (blue #83), Lewis Gruber (silver #54), Noah Girtz (blue #259), Tom Gruber (red #15), Jim Keyes (red #18), Dave Gruber (red #9), Pat Gruber (blue #49), Steve Vogl (red #60+) and Mathew Gruber (blue #62).

Front row: Shorty Girtz (red #35), Craig Lingwall (red #61+), Steve Scapanski (blue #4), Jeff Gruber (red #24) and Dale Girtz (red #94). Not pictured but attending: Jason Gruber (blue #14), Simon Gruber (silver #34) and Donny Girtz (red #25). Ben Gruber (silver #74) and Pat Gruber (blue #49) traveled from Colorado. There was more than enough walleye for the fish fry.

Memorials

We remember and honor all of those who have passed from this earth. They are forever in our hearts. Relatives who have passed since the last reunion are honored during the Opening Ceremony.

Rose Girtz 1899–1966
Jacob Girtz 1895–1990
James Girtz 1936–1936white shirt
Mary Kaski 1957–1957red shirt
Cheryl Loidolt 1962–1965red shirt
Gary Merkling 1947–1967red shirt
Brett Hamnick 1969–1969blue shirt
Gerard Merkling 1919–1970white shirt
Jennifer Keyes 1970–1970red shirt
Matthew Adams 1972–1972red shirt
Gina Conger 1978–1979blue shirt
Angela Rose Seymour 1983–1983blue shirt
Leo Girtz Sr. 1923–1984white shirt
Jerry Franklin 1920–1989white shirt
Luke Terhaar 1960–1992red shirt
Joan Franklin 1946–1993red shirt
Lee Keyes 1920–1995white shirt
Jim Austin 1925–1996white shirt
Hildegarde Merkling 1924–1996white shirt
Linda Schneider 1955–1998red shirt
John Adams 1933–1999white shirt
Michael Merkling 1956–2000red shirt
Travis John Kaski 1978–2002blue shirt
Gordy Austin 1956–2002red shirt
Art Kapsner 1931–2003white shirt
Artie Gruber 1916–2003white shirt
Roman Kahlhamer 1933–2004white shirt
Doug Gruber 1953–2004red shirt
Lawrence R. Gruber 2004–2004silver shirt
Douglas S. Gruber 2004–2004silver shirt
Severin Terhaar 1917–2004white shirt
LaVerne (Jutz) Girtz 1928–2006white shirt
Margaret Loidolt 1920–2006white shirt
Eddie Merkling 1924–2006white shirt
Blondie Franklin 1921–2006white shirt
Hubert Loidolt 1915–2007white shirt
MaryJane Merkling 1928–2007white shirt
David Buck 1953–2008red shirt
Dick Kaski 1917–2009white shirt
Jim Loidolt 1942–2009red shirt
Jo Kaski 1927–2010white shirt
Giovanni Cusamono 2011–2011silver shirt
Verna Gruber 1919–2012white shirt
Micheal Knese 1966–2012blue shirt
Fred Dudink 1917–2012white shirt
LyAnn Girtz 1939–2012white shirt
Millie Terhaar 1922–2013white shirt
Rosie Girtz 1928–2014white shirt
Larry Selinger 1937–2014white shirt
Barbara Ann Hamnick 1945–2015red shirt
Virgil Girtz 1937–2015white shirt
Harold Peachey 1948–2015red shirt
Jim Balcomb 1947–2016red shirt
Mary Austin 1931–2018white shirt
Dennis Kahlhamer 1957–2018red shirt
Kayden (Austin) Spiczka 2013–2018gold shirt
Ervin Girtz 1926–2019white shirt
Erika Kahlhamer 1982–2020blue shirt
Gerald “Jerry” Carter 1931–2020red shirt
Joyce Loidolt 1947–2021red shirt
Doreen J. Kapsner 1932–2022white shirt
Bea Adams 1933–2022white shirt

Beatrice M. Adams 1933–2022

White shirt #13 · wife of John Adams

Beatrice Mary Girtz Adams, 88, of Seneca, South Carolina, passed away peacefully in her sleep after a long battle with dementia on October 28, 2022. Bea was born on November 10, 1933 to Rose and Jacob Girtz, the 13th of 19 children, and grew up on the family farm in Pierz, Minnesota.

She married the love of her life, John Alexander Adams, on November 30, 1957. Over more than forty years of marriage the couple lived in Illinois, Ohio, Missouri and South Carolina, making lasting friendships in each. Bea found great joy in entertaining, and her hobbies included cards, golfing, gambling, singing and traveling. Her greatest pleasure was being in the kitchen cooking for everyone.

A devout Catholic and member of St. Paul the Apostle's church in Seneca, she sang in the parish choir and in the community choir in Parkville, Missouri. She belonged to the Missouri Association of Realtors, earning Million Dollar Club Life Member, and as a certified cosmetologist she was still cutting family members' hair at 80.

The great-grandchildren remember her plainly: Jaxson said “Gigi was always so caring,” Ethan said “She was a kind person,” and Maddison said “Whenever I saw Gigi she always made me happy.” The grandsons golfed with her, and she always said, “I won't take you on the big course until you can make it through the par three.”

Everyone remembers countless hours of the card game Greenlake, and when the last coin was paid she would sing the famous “On the County” song. For being white shirt #13, she was very lucky at cards.

Military service

Craig Vogl — blue shirt #76

Lineage: Mary Austin → Bernie Vogl → Craig Vogl

Minnesota Army National Guard, July 1998 – May 2024. Served in the 34th Infantry Division “Red Bull” Band for almost 26 years, including one tour to Basrah, Iraq in 2009–2010. Retired as Sergeant First Class.

Special moments

Alexis Catherine Adams — blue shirt #217

Married Nicholas Allen Thorne on October 7, 2023.
Daughter of Samuel Adams (red shirt #93).
Granddaughter of Bea and John Adams (white shirt #13).

Max Kahlhamer — blue shirt #134

Married Jennifer (Jenn) Thompson on August 12, 2023.
Together Max and Jenn are raising six children: Autumn, Grace, Anders, Henry (silver #119), Liesel (silver #146) and Greta (silver #233).

Beckham Robert Gruber — silver shirt #333

Born January 15, 2023.
Father: Eric Robert Gruber, blue shirt #132.

Kelley Katzenstein — silver shirt #311

Born October 14, 2021 in Redwood City, California.
Mother: Mariah Terhaar (blue #139); father: Warren Katzenstein.
Grandchild of Allen Terhaar (red #23) and Jean Rawson; great-grandchild of Millie and Severin Terhaar (white #4).

Henry “Hank” Katzenstein — silver shirt #341

Born October 8, 2023 in Castro Valley, California.
Mother: Mariah Terhaar (blue #139); father: Warren Katzenstein.

Aiden Starr — silver shirt #343

Born February 25, 2024, 7 lbs 11 oz.
Parents: Justin and Cassandra Starr (blue #154).
Grandchild of Nelda and Kevin Starr (red #92); great-grandchild of Mary and James Austin (white #11).

New gold shirts born since the 2022 reunion

Kaylani Rose Eischens

Gold shirt #11 · Born May 15, 2024

Mother: RaeAnn Eischens (Haack), silver shirt #8.
Granddaughter of Julie and David Haack (blue #16).
Great-granddaughter of James and Joyce Loidolt (red #2).

Ellianna Grace Eischens

Gold shirt #9 · Born October 12, 2022

Mother: RaeAnn Eischens (Haack), silver shirt #8.
Granddaughter of Julie and David Haack (blue #16).
Great-granddaughter of James and Joyce Loidolt (red #2).

Kora Rae Spiczka

Gold shirt #10 · Born October 24, 2022

Parents: Brianna and Ryan Spiczka, silver shirt #4.
Granddaughter of Carrie Austin (blue #19).
Great-granddaughter of Franklin and Elaine Austin (red #28), great-great-granddaughter of Mary and James Austin (white #11).

White shirt family contacts

#1Verna Ann Girtz GruberRachel Young
#2Margaret Ann Girtz LoidoltLisa Palmer
#3Genevieve Marie Girtz FranklinGail Zelenko
#4Mildred Olive Girtz TerhaarCate Knoll
#5Leo William Girtz, Sr.Mary Philipsek
#6Hildegarde Ann Girtz MerklingDanielle Merkling Torkelson
#7Ervin Michael GirtzJessica Seppelt & Darlene Bednar
#8Josephine Katherine Girtz KaskiGreg Kaski
#9Johanna Marie “Mary Jane” Girtz MerklingLarry Merkling
#10Delrose Frances Girtz KeyesJessica Keyes, Jennifer Keyes Bruggink
#11Mary Ann Girtz AustinBernie Austin Vogl & Kelly Vogl Olson
#12Doreen Josephine Girtz KapsnerPaul Kapsner
#13Beatrice Mary Girtz AdamsTiffany LeCroy
#14Alice Mae Girtz KahlhamerDiane Kahlhamer Lingwall
#16Virgil Theodore GirtzPat Girtz
#17Daniel Matthew GirtzTammy Virnig
#18Gilbert Albert GirtzMark Girtz
#19Sharlet Jean Girtz SelingerPeter Seling

Family heritage

The family's history, shirt generation lists, and memories were gathered by the white and red shirt generations.

The logo on both covers was drawn from a photograph of Jacob and Rose's hands at their 40th wedding anniversary in May 1958. Rose asked for the 40th because she feared she would not see the 50th; she died the year of their 48th. The German word on the cover, Verwandtschaft, means kinship.

This family history includes the Blue and Silver shirt numbers, White Shirt Wedding Bells, and the Johanna Kobilka Medek line, Rose's mother's family.

Family facts

Verna Girtz Gruber, married to Artie Gruber, gave birth to Rose and Jacob's first grandchild, Robert, on 11 June 1941. On 25 October 1963 she gave birth to her twelfth child, Carmen, the 87th grandchild.
1951 brought the most grandchildren: Gregory Kaski, Jane Loidolt, Jean Loidolt, Allen Terhaar, Jeffery Gruber, Donald Girtz, TheresAnn Merkling and RoseAnn Keyes.
The one-hundredth grandchild is Jill Selinger, daughter of Sharlet Girtz Selinger and Larry Selinger.
Rose and Jacob had 61 granddaughters and 55 grandsons; the grandchildren's birth years run 1941 to 1972.
Eleven of the 55 grandsons carry the Girtz surname: Charles, Leo Jr., Donald, Gerald “Shorty,” Leander, Dale, Bernard, John, Patrick, Russell and Mark.
None of the nineteen children were born in January, Rose's birth month, or May, Jacob's.
Three great-grandsons carry the first name Jacob: Jacob Matthew Girtz (Leo Jr.'s son, Mesquite, Texas), Jacob Edward Girtz (Bernard's son, Royalton) and Jacob Virgil Girtz (John's son, St. Cloud).
Jacob's birthplace, and the home of the nineteen children, was a 240-acre farm in Pierz Township, Morrison County: E1/2 of NW1/4 Sect 23, S1/2 of NE1/4 Sect 23, E1/2 of SW1/4 Sect 14.
Rose's birthplace was a 200-acre farm in the same township — NE1/4 of Sect 28 and NW1/4 of SE1/4 Sect 28 — later bought by Rose and Jacob and known in the family as “The Other Farm,” bringing them to 440 acres.
Anna Hoheisel Girtz, Jacob's mother, spent about a year with Rose and Jacob before her death on 18 June 1952 at age 85; a broken hip kept her in a bed set up in their living room.
Virgil records his father's description of the honeymoon: a wagon ride behind a team of horses from the other farm, with Rose's belongings in the wagon.
Jacob was hospitalized in Little Falls for black-outs and was told not to live alone. He refused to move in with any of his children and lived at St. Mary's Villa in Pierz from 1979 to 1990.
By 1996 the children and grandchildren were living in 24 states, Minnesota among them.

Things you did not have while growing up

“Video games and four wheelers.”
Bernie Girtz

“Roller blades, CD players, computers, cellular phones.”
Jane Loidolt Hoffman

“We had everything we needed.”
Cynthia “Sam” Loidolt Eveslage

“Money.”
Leander Girtz

“Things we didn't have — nothing we couldn't live without.”
Patricia “Patsy” Girtz Mueller

“Never had bikes or much of any toys. Never had cars til in the 20's.”
Ervin Girtz

“Money.”
Hildegarde Girtz Dudink

“Money. We didn't have nice clothes. We wore hand-me-downs whether we liked them or not. We went working at a young age, house work. I would have liked to go into high school, but work was important. We gave some of our money home that we earned to help out. Times were tough. I wouldn't call everything the Good Old Days. Some things were good.”
Verna Girtz Gruber

“What didn't we have when we were growing up. Think I've managed to suppress some of that. I do recall really hating hand-me-down clothing.”
Robert “Bob” Gruber

“TV, running water, indoor plumbing.”
Janelle Gruber Hartmann

“Bathroom. We did have lots of love, clothes on our backs and plenty of food on the table. We played a lot of crazy games like tin can off, moonlight starlight, hide and seek at night, fox and goose in the winter.”
Doug Gruber

“Vacations, four-wheelers, snowmobiles. Our vacations were a Sunday afternoon drive or an occasional ballgame. We did do some tobogganing behind the tractor.”
Carol Gruber Athmann

“Bike, skates, car.”
Margaret Girtz Loidolt

“A lot of free time.”
Susan Loidolt Knese

“We didn't have roller skates, car and lots of things. But we always had food on the table and clothes to wear.”
Genevieve “Blondie” Girtz Franklin

“Microwave ovens, cable TV, CD's, computers.”
Robert “Bob” Franklin

“No electricity, no running water, no bathroom. We had outside toilet facilities and a night chamber pail.”
Millie Girtz Terhaar

“Store bought bread, fun clothes, only 1 or 2 things to wear to school. Not much peace and quiet.”
Sharon Terhaar Balcom

“Even though I came from a large family, I was at the end, so I didn't really want for anything.”
Carmen Gruber Watland

Recipes · old and new

Maul Taschen (Mouth Pockets)

Verna Girtz Gruber

5 cups flour
1 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon baking powder
Sliced apples, sugar and cinnamon
Milk and cream

Add boiling water to the dry ingredients to make a nice dough. Take small portions the size of a small apple and pat or roll them out, then pat with cream.

Mix sliced apples with sugar and cinnamon, spread on the dough and roll up. Oil the bottom of a bread pan or casserole and lay the rolls inside.

Pour milk over the top and bake at 350 degrees for one to one and a half hours, until golden brown. “If you don't understand, come over and watch me make this. One easy lesson.” Verna liked to make this during Lent.

Easy Chicken Pot Pie

Girtz family recipe

1 can (10 3/4 oz) cream of chicken soup
1/2 cup sour cream, 1/2 cup milk
1/2 tsp salt, 1/8 tsp pepper
2 cups cut-up cooked chicken (leftover turkey works)
10 oz frozen broccoli, peas or mixed vegetables
Potato biscuit crust: 2/3 cup instant mashed potatoes, 2/3 cup hot water, 1/3 cup shortening, 1 1/2 cup flour, 4 tsp baking powder, 1/4 tsp salt, 4-5 tsp milk

Heat oven to 375 degrees and prepare the crust. Stir soup, sour cream, milk, salt and pepper smooth in a 3-quart saucepan, then stir in the chicken and vegetables and heat just to boiling.

Pour into an ungreased 8-inch square baking dish, lay the crust on the hot mixture and cut slits in the center for steam. Bake 30 to 35 minutes until the crust is golden. Serves 4 to 6.

The German songs the family sings

Schoen ist die Jugend

Schoen ist die Jugend bei frohen Zeiten, schoen ist die Jugend, sie kommt nicht mehr.

Bald wirst du muede durchs Leben schreiten, um dich wird's einsam, im Herzen leer.

Chorus: Drum sag ich's noch einmal: schoen ist die Jugendzeit, schoen ist die Jugend, sie kommt nicht mehr.

'S ist mir alles eins

'S ist mir alles eins, 's ist mir alles eins, ob ich Geld hab oder keins.

Wer Geld hat, kann a Wieberl haben, und wer keins hat kann von Glueck bloss sagn.

Tief drin im Boehmerwald

Tief drin im Boehmerwald, da liegt mein Heimatort; es ist gar lang schon her, dass ich von dort bin fort.

Chorus: Es war im Boehmerwald, wo meine Wiege stand, im schoenen, gruenen Boehmerwald.

Bier her

The last line runs “Bier her! Bier her! Oder ich fall um!” — which to the grandchildren always sounded like “BIER HER! BIER HER! O DEE O DEE UM PUM PUMP,” and that is how they still sing it.