From Sole to Somm -The Osterholtz Family Tree

In the last chapter, we explored the Normart family history – my dad’s side of the family. We uncovered tales of resilience, survival, and new beginnings. But now, it’s time to switch gears and delve into my mom’s side – the Osterholtz Family.

So, grab a seat, pour yourself a glass of your favorite German Reisling, and let’s embark on this journey together. We’re about to uncover a tale of immigration, hard work, and yes, a lot of moving around. After all, understanding where we come from is often the key to figuring out where we’re going. And in my case, it explains why I’m the tall, pale face among my Armenian relatives. Diversity at its finest, folks!

Peter Osterholtz

Peter Hinrich Osterholz was born in Germany. He had one son, Johann,  with Anna Catharina Basendorf in 1850. He was my 3^rd great grandfather.

Johann Frederick Osterholtz

Johann Frederick Osterholtz was born on April 20, 1850, in Neuhaus, Bavaria, Germany, the son of Anna and Peter. He was my 2^nd great grandfather. He married Anna Margretha Rebecca Luhrs on November 7, 1876, in Germany. They had six children in 18 years. He died on March 5, 1936, at the age of 85.

Katherine Marie 1874 – 1879

Marie 1880 – 1880

Arrival to USA 1881

Otto  1884 – 1972

William F 1887 – 1954

Alma Josephine 1890 – 1913

Citizenship 10/13/1890

John Henry 1893 – 1978

Anna Margretha Rebecca Luhrs was born on June 19, 1851, the daughter of Anna and John. She married Johann Frederick Osterholtz and they had six children together. She also had one son from another relationship. She died on July 28, 1943, at the age of 92

William Frederick Osterholtz

When William Frederick Osterholtz was born on April 24, 1887, in St Louis, Missouri, his father, Johann, was 37 and his mother, Anna, was 35. He was my great grandfather. He had two sons and one daughter with Johanna Marie Junge between 1908 and 1927. He was a veterinarian by trade and both of his son’s followed his footsteps. His daughter Norma decided to be a registered nurse. My mom commented on what a kind man her grandfather was. He was tall in stature, which is where I get my height from. He died on July 14, 1954, in his hometown at the age of 67.

Johanna Marie Junge was born on May 25, 1885, in Cuxhaven, Lower Saxony, Germany, the daughter of Julianna and John. She died on August 16, 1971, at the age of 86.

Henry John 1908-2005

Wilbert E 1914 – 2010

Norma 1928 –

My Grandfather Bill Osterholtz

Interviewed my grandfather for this piece about his life, I wish I did this with my grandmother Doris before she passed in 1999.My Grandfather, William “Doc” Osterholtz was born February 2, 1914 in St Louis Missouri. His father, William, was 26 and his mother, Johanna, was 28. He married Doris L Hamm in May 1933. They had two children during their marriage. It was always easy to remember his birthday since it was on “groundhog day”. He was a tall man standing 6’4″. He had a brother Henry who was also tall and a sister Norma, my mom said she was tall too.

He always told stories of how affectionate his dad was, and he would imitate how his father walked.  He had fond memories of helping his father out as a vet. He learned to drive from his father in a Model T. He was in the army from 1931 to 1935 only in the USA, where he started veterinary school. He met my grandmother Doris Hamm in college at a 10-cent dance, My grandmother smoked, which he did not like, so he made it clear he wouldn’t marry a girl who smoked. She quit and they married 2 months later in the army base in Kansas.

My grandmother was a wonderful cook but at first she didn’t know how, so she learned from grandpa’s mother. She made the best pies I have ever tasted even to this day. He got tired of the army, so he kept in veterinary school. His father was a vet as well as his brother. He graduated from Kansas State University with a degree in Veterinary Medicine. His first job was with the Texas Dept. of Agriculture where he tested cattle for TB.

One funny story was my grandmother was with him while he tested the cattle, and someone told my grandmother to stay away from the bull. She stepped into the cows anyways and the bull started to chase her to the point she had to jump over the fence to get away.

 To show appreciation for putting him through college he bought his father a 37 Chrysler which he kept until he died. He bought his mother a leather handbag too which she also kept until she died. Two years later he transferred to Michigan. Another two years passed, and they moved to Vermont. My grandmother got pregnant in Vermont right before they were to move again to New York. 

Their first child, my mother, was born in Utica, New York April 12, 1937. They decided to name her Wilma. 2 more years passed, and he moved to St. Luis as a meat inspector which he did not like. They moved to Oklahoma City where he started working for the Federal Govt. in 1939 he bought one of the first TV’s and commented in the early years the “tubes” kept blowing out.

My grandparents stayed in Oklahoma for 5 years and then moved to Las Vegas in 1945.  He met Dean Martin in Las Vegas and told stories of when “Bugsy Siegel” got shot. He didn’t really want the kids to grow up in Las Vegas, so they moved to Fresno, Calif. where my mom graduated from high school.

My Uncle Gary was born in 1942. He joined the Air Force in 1961 which my grandfather was very proud of. His first assignment was at Lackland air Force Base, Texas. He made the Air force his career. He was also tall, about 6’4”. He married Brenda Sue Bood on June 20, 1964, in McLennan, Texas. Their daughter Shauna was born on May 6, 1977, in Bexar, Texas. Shauna married Brannon Suggs June 24,  1995 in McLennan, Texas. My grandparents visited him while being stationed in Japan many years later. He loved fast cars and his ranch in Crawford Texas. I always enjoyed it when he would come out to visit during the holidays. Just like my grandfather he had “nicknames” for everyone, mine was “Tiger”. He died on June 16, 2009, in Crawford, Texas, at the age of 67, and was buried in Waco, Texas. His wife Brenda died two years later in 2011.

 Growing up as a kid, I remember how special the holidays were especially Christmas. Grandpa would dress in a red vest and each of his grandsons also had the same vest. I remember inn1987, I found a store that sold red adult vests, so I bought one.  I surprised him and grandma as an adult showing up in an adult version of the red vest and of course he was wearing his still. When I arrived though, I was dressed as Santa and asked for my grandmother. It was a great surprise for them.

Grandpa loved telling stories every time we came over. He loved smoking a good cigar and working on cars. I remember my first “fast” car, a 1973 Grand Torino he helped me fix up. We had the best time together in his garage and had some great talks about life and the future. We really bonded during those years.

He liked to “nickname” people, my grandmothers name was “skip”, my uncle Gary’s nickname was “Bud” and my mom’s nickname was “Sis”. I remember when my kids came over one time, he called my son James “Jimmy” and My daughter Jennifer “Jenny”. They were young at the time and they both blurted out “that’s not my name”.

My brother Doug was getting into trouble as a teenager while my parents were going through a divorce, so he took my brother away to Texas for a year to straighten him out. I don’t think he liked the music my brother listened to because he commented “how many times can you listen to a song that just says “let the good times roll” over and over.

My grandfather was a very warm and loving man, we would go to the store, and he would be very friendly with all the clerks. And if they were young and cute he would flirt with them in a harmless way. Always laughed and had a good time.

 My grandfather retired from the Federal Government and began to work for the State of California. He retired again for good in 1976. He traveled to Europe and Asia with my grandmother.

We lost my grandmother in 1999 which broke his heart, they were married for 66 years. See more about my Grandmother under the Peterson side. Ten Years later my uncle would pass away, June 2009. He was always so proud of my uncle and loved visiting him at his ranch in Crawford Texas. He had four grandchildren Myself, Doug and Dave Normart and Shawna Suggs and her husband Brandon, six great-grandchildren James, Jennifer, Kaitlin, Tony, Dave Jr. and Melissa Normart, two great -great grandchildren Charles and Bradon; three nieces and one nephew. Grandpa passed away this last Jan 26, 2010. I miss him very much…He died at the age of 95.

Peterson Side

Peter Peterson was born on April 7, 1812, in Färila, Gävleborg, Sweden. He had one child with Emma HANSON and two other children. He died on July 8, 1891, in Republic, Kansas, having lived a long life of 79 years.

Emma Hanson was born on June 20, 1826, in Färila, Gävleborg, Sweden. She had one son with Peter PETERSON in 1863. She died on March 9, 1900, in Republic, Kansas, at the age of 73.

Andrew Peterson

When Andrew Peterson was born on October 10, 1863, in Färila, Gävleborg, Sweden, his father, Peter, was 51 and his mother, Emma, was 37. He married Elma J Wilkins on January 1, 1884. They had three children during their marriage. He died on December 12, 1923, in Courtland, Kansas, at the age of 60, and was buried there.

When Elma J Wilkins was born on November 12, 1866, in Bay City, Michigan, her father, James, was 33, and her mother, Susan, was 31. She married Andrew Peterson on January 1, 1884. They had three children during their marriage, Grace, Bernice & Lyle. She died on May 6, 1939, in Courtland, Kansas, at the age of 72, and was buried there.

Children:

Grace Elma Peterson 1885-1980

Bernice Peterson 1888-1973

Lyle Peterson 1891-1960

When Grace Elma PETERSON was born on April 14, 1885, in Scandia, Kansas, her father, Andrew, was 21, and her mother, Elma, was 18. She married Sterling Price Hamm on February 23, 1911, in Jefferson, Nebraska. They had one child during their marriage. They had a farm in the country and had pigs, chickens and a goat. My mother Wilma and her brother Gary would spend time there when her parents travelled. She told me stories of how her brother and her would tend to the farm animals and try to stay away from the goat because he liked to chase my mom and butt her with his head to play. Grace followed her daughter to Fresno when they moved there in 1952. She led a solitary life in a house on Weldon St. I remember riding my bike as a kid to visit her, it was several miles away and took me about an hour each way. We always had great visits. My mom also took care of her as she grew older. She loved the holidays too and came to every one of the get togethers. She died on June 15, 1980, at the age of 95

Sterling Price Hamm was born on October 2, 1883, in New Point, Missouri, the son of Katherine and John. He married Grace Elma PETERSON on February 23, 1911, in Jefferson, Nebraska. They had one child during their marriage, Doris who was born November 21, 1912. He worked for the Railroad and was a conductor. He was short in stature especially compared to my grandpa Osterholtz’s side of the family. He died on April 22, 1950, in Belleville, Kansas, at the age of 66.

Doris L 1912 – 1999

My Grandmother Doris Osterholtz

When Doris L Hamm was born on November 21, 1912, in Mahaska, Kansas, her father, Sterling, was 29, and her mother, Grace, was 27. My grandparents got married May 1933, She was 19 years old. She had one son and one daughter with Wilbert E Osterholtz between 1937 and 1942. She was a Registered nurse for her career. I found some awesome pictures of her from the 30’s & 50’s in her nurse uniform. I also found, in an old box, the hat in the picture here, that she wore too as a nurse.

 Grandpa worked for the federal government as a veterinarian and got transferred a lot, here are some of the places they lived:

Nebraska 1930

Kansas 1935

Vermont 1936

Utica NY 1937 where my Mom Wilma was born

Oklahoma city, Oklahoma 1940 where my uncle Gary was born

Las Vegas NV 1950 moved after two years when “Bugsy Siegel” got shot

Fresno CA 1952

They loved to travel and went to Hawaii several times as well as Europe and Japan. When they came back from their travels grandpa would break out the slide projector and we would see everywhere they went. My uncle was stationed in Japan for some time, so they made a point to go see him over there a few times.

Holidays

Grandma loved the holidays especially Christmas. She made the best pies I’ve ever had, even to this day. She made a lot of different types of pies, but it was the crust that knocked it out of the park. I tried to use her recipe a few times, but it just wasn’t the same. She made pecan pies, pumpkin, apricot, butterscotch, lemon meringue, chocolate, all the different berries, apple and peach. One time she even made a grape pie out of green grapes. It was sweet! She also made a great New York style Cheesecake. She usually did turkey for thanksgiving and ham for Christmas. Her place was always decorated to the nines, and it was always a great time.

Date afternoon

My grandmother would take me on a “date afternoon” since grandpa didn’t like going to the theater. We would go to a nice place to eat like the Velvet Turtle then go to a movie at the Country Squire theater like The Poseidon Adventure, Jaws or True Grit. There were many more but those stuck out to me the most.

Cat Lady

She loved her cats. Princess and sweetie Pie were two I remembered. After a trip one time we watched the cats while they were gone and when they came back, the cats ran to her and gave her love, she was so struck by it she started crying and said they “kissed me”

I talk about grandma a little more in the next chapter about my “Formidable years”.

I moved away in 1980 and one day I got a call from her and she was upset with me. “You haven’t called us in over a month and worse than that you haven’t called your mother. I made some lame excuse and asked her why no one has called me? She quickly informed it was “my” responsibility to call everyone. Well now that I knew the rules, I never made that mistake again lol. She came out to the Bay Area when both James and Jennifer were born and enjoyed seeing them as babies. We always had a close relationship until the day she passed. She died on September 2, 1999, in Fresno, California, at the age of 86.

Children

Wilma Lee 1937 –

Gary Allen 1942 – 2009