No. 44, February 2008
Journal
Hilda Wangelin
By Delores Miller
My Mother Alma Zillmer and Hilda Wangelin were first cousins; their fathers were brothers, Fred and Bill Lembke. Fred and Bill and their sister and parents brought the boat over from Germany in 1883, on an emigrant ticket sent by a cousin, John Lembke. Settled into dairy farming in central Wisconsin, where generations down kept the farm in the family name.
Alma and Hilda lived near one another, talked daily on the telephone. I lived 40 some miles away, and often went 'up north' to check on my parents, especially after my Father had a severe stroke in 1981. Hilda's house was on the way and usually stopped to check on her.
Hilda had a rough, tough life. Her Mother Johanna, and three of her siblings died before the age of 40, leaving nine small children semi orphans. Hilda lost two babies at birth. Prolific letter writer, many epistles survived, which I made into book form for the generations now interested in family legend and lore.
Her youngest son Lester contacted infantile paralysis at the age of nine, spent the rest of his life in braces and crutches. The local school teacher brought his lessons to their house, left them on the doorstep, because the family was quarantined. Lester went on to orthopedic school, and later graduated from the local high school. Drove a handicapped automobile, giving Hilda rides out and about.
Hilda, herself suffered heart problems and had one of the first pacemakers installed in 1973.
Hilda taught me the love of flowers, especially gladiolus. She had a patch of them, along with her large garden, in the years she was able to hoe and weed and harvest. She knew my love of family history and genealogy and told me all she knew.
Lester was able to be in management at the local land fill dump site, and often brought relics home. My children loved to stop at their house and see what new things they could bring back.
My Father passed away in July 1981, Hilda died several weeks later, her pacemaker didn't do the job anymore. Before she died, she got her affairs in order, putting tombstones on her parents and grandparents graves.
Hilda was an influence in my life, I'm a better person for having known her.
copyright 2008, Russell and Delores Miller