Next up is Lucille Edna Mulder Zuidweg, my maternal grandmother. If you do a search for her under her maiden name (Mulder as Zuidweg is her married surname), you will find many blog posts about her, especially about her school years. I figured I had most everything available about Grandma, or Edna as she was known, but when I worked on Grandpa’s documents last week I discovered I did not have their marriage application or license. I was able to order it from St. Joseph County, Indiana, and it arrived in time for this post.
Here are their applications:
When it asks for Grandpa’s father’s name what does it say? I can’t make it out. UPDATE: with a little help from readers I now believe it says deceased. I do know grandpa‘s father‘s name was Adrian Zuidweg and Grandpa was a junior.
My mother says the reason her parents got married in Indiana is that it was much quicker and easier to get a license there than in Michigan. Also, Grandpa’s mother was dying, and Grandma needed to help take care of her. Them being married made that easier, and it certainly wasn’t a time for a wedding celebration.
This is the license:
I also found that I did not have Grandma’s birth certificate. I ordered it from Kent County, Michigan, and when it arrived, I realized that Wayne Loney, the Kalamazoo genealogist had been right about these old birth records. County just typed up the info they had, put a seal on it, and charged me. It doesn’t even have the location of her birth.
And guess what? I didn’t have Grandma’s obituary either! So here it is, thanks to the Kalamazoo Public Library:
I love how the obituary mentions how she used to say, “Let’s go!” Hah, so true. She also loved to sing along to Ethel Merman, but I doubt too many family members know that. She used to babysit me every day after kindergarten (and the year before that, too), so I’m sure her bashful personality felt more comfortable singing with a five-year-old than adults. She also used to sing folk songs to me, and every once in a while do a few dance steps to make me giggle.
I have treasures that belonged to Grandma and photos of her. I have the 1920, 30, and 40 census records. I have a photo of the headstone she shares with Grandpa at Mount Ever-Rest Cemetery. And I sponsored a page for her at Find-a-Grave, just as I did for Grandpa.
My grandparents–at least as the older and then elderly people I knew–had exceptionally cute personalities. I think everybody who knew them would agree with that!
The Family Kalamazoo 
I love this project of yours! For your grandfather’s father’s name on their marriage certificate, could it be Deunil?
Thank you, Kay! Actually I should have said I know Grandpa’s father’s name. With help from others, I believe it says deceased.
Aha!
I love the 1930s photo of your grandparents on the lawn! On their marriage license, I believe it reads ‘deceased’ in the blank for your grandfather’s father’s name.
I love that photo too. Lovebirds! Deceased!!! Oh you must be right. Thank you so much.
I think the name says Deunel on your grandfather’s application. Not sure whether that was his first name or last name, but presumably first name.
That obituary is a genealogist’s dream! Not only because of the detailed biography, but it has the names of all of her close relatives—parents, siblings, children, and grandchildren! Did you write it?
And those photographs—their faces remained the same over the years. I bet their love for each other did as well.
Excellent information and blog post; glad the records got to you in time even if they did not have all the info you want. I too believe it says “deceased” on the marriage cert.
Thanks, Jose. I agree about deceased. Thank you!!!
I just love this project you’re doing ~ going back through your family and looking for what you’ve missed. Great photos both then and then 🙂 Interesting on the fathers name …I can see both deceased and Deunel. I am wondering if you can track down this first name using documents from any other family members that might have it listed.
I was stupid not to say I know Grandpa’s dad’s name. Definitely deceased although very unclear. I updated the post! It’s shocking how many gaps I had, isn’t it?!
I think the word is deceased( why it was used I don’t know)
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Thank you! I agree and updated the post!
I like this project by which you research, discover and present past events in this layout. I wish you all success in your endeavours for further research.
Thank you so much! So far this approach is really paying off!
Your grandma sounds like a really lovely woman. This is a great project you’re undertaking Luanne 😀
She was very lovely and a WONDERFUL grandmother :). Thanks, Su! It’s working well to approach it from this angle.
You’ve inspired me to take the same approach; my research has become totally shambolic and I feel I have nothing to blog about any more 🤨
Oh, I can’t WAIT to see! But don’t drop the gorgeous photos, please.
Thank you. I feel as though my camera’s an extension of my arm these days.
LOL!
You definitely got a lot out of being systematic in your approach to revisiting your family history 🙂
Yes, I love the all-over-the-place method (true to my nature haha), but this as you say systematic approach is working very well to fill in the blanks!
Luanne, your project is an inspiration! Love that photo from the 30s. When I finish scanning all the stuff in my paper files and making sure I’ve downloaded relevant documents from Ancestry, then I will also need to fill in the blanks. You’ve demonstrated just how worthwhile it is.
Oh, that is so nice to hear :). (Yes to the photo!) You might not have as many “blanks” as I do, but this sure does help to make sure. I first got the idea when I decided to search for all the death certificates of my greats and great-greats. But then I went back to my usual approach. I figured January was a good time to start this new method!
More intriguing material, Luanne. A published obituary is rather special, and I liked the sepia photograph of the couple
Yes, that photo is special because you can see how in love they are. These obits are wonderful. I wonder if my uncle wrote them–grandma’s and grandpa’s both. They have such detail!
A fabulous post, Luanne – and I, too, loved your grandmother’s “Let’s go!” attitude. Pictures awesome, obit very special.
I know for a fact you would have adored Grandma! That obit is so detailed, isn’t it?! That is what really sets this and Grandpa’s obits apart from the run of the mill!!!
What great photographs. They must have been a great couple.
You hit the nail on the head. They were a very loving couple their whole lives together. In fact, when Grandpa passed away my family tried to explain to Grandma’s doctor that she wouldn’t live long without him. She passed away a few short months later.
I particularly enjoyed reading your grandmother’s obituary. Do you know who wrote it? (I think you mentioned that your uncle might have?) Every time time read an obituary of some length, I always wonder who wrote it.
That is what I am thinking. I can’t imagine who else wrote it. Maybe my aunt and mom helped, but I suspect it would have been him. So many obituaries are really not very good, for one reason or another. What I love about this one and my grandfather’s is that they really capture who they were.
I know what you mean about the range of obituaries.