This past week I organized my files and folders and Ancestry account for my 2x great-grandparents, Richard and Alice (Paak) DeKorn. I have written so much about them. He was a building contractor and mason in Kalamazoo who built many important buildings in town. She was the hero who ran into a burning home to help the family next door and sustained serious burns. Read about it here. She is the face of my chapbook Kin Types.
For Richard I noticed that I once again had not yet received the transfer of management on Findagrave to me. And because Alice died in her fifties, Richard married a second time–and I do not have the documents relating to that marriage. I contacted my buddy Grady who is related to Richard’s second wife, Jennie Jansen Sootsman. He gave me a transcription of the marriage record. When things start moving again, I will ask Wayne Loney if he can get a copy
For Alice I cannot find the 1870 census, which would have been just after she and her father and siblings arrived in the United States. I also do not have her obituary, although there were a lot of newspaper articles relating to her injuries in the fire.
Amberly is working on immigration and naturalization for both of these ancestors.
In this photograph, Alice is seated in the front center with her hands clasped together. Richard is seated directly behind her. On the left side of the photograph is their daughter Jennie (Janna) and son-in-law Lou Leeuwenhoek. I believe the other man is Richard Remine and his children are seated with Alice Leeuwenhoek, the daughter of Jennie and Lou. Richard was married to Alice’s sister Mary, so the children were actually first cousins of Jennie, not of Alice.
It would be nice to have a little relationship calculator on hand.
I actually have a good many more photos of Richard than of Jennie because she died in 1908 before most of the family picture-taking began in earnest.
Stay safe, everyone. I have been working really hard on business matters pertaining to the Thing going on (not fun being self-employed in this chaos), so I’m not going to write more here now. My focus regarding genealogy right now is to get as many gaps filled and everything organized and to give my daughter a copy of what I get done as I get it done.
The Family Kalamazoo 
Your good wishes reciprocated, Luanne
I love how Richard’s hands parallel Alice’s hands. Some unspoken connection there.
Have as sweet and meaningful a Passover as you can under the circumstances, and stay safe and healthy!
I agree with you about the hands! They had been married for a long time. I hope your Passover is as special as it can be, given the circumstances. xo
Thanks, Luanne. The zoom seder was a success!
I wish you luck with your search and research, Luanne. I gave up my ancestry membership recently as it was becoming too expensive for me (and I wasn’t really using it).
How are you? I’m just popping back briefly with a new post (that you might like). Be well. x
Great to hear from you, Val. I’ve been thinking about you and wondering how you were faring with all this chaos going on. Are you keeping safe? You are right–Ancestry is super expensive, especially to have the worldwide version. I use it every week at least once or twice, so for now it is valuable to me. AFter that, I need to find a place for my tree! OK, I will go check out your post!
Yeah, I’m okay, thanks. Pretty tired and of course stressed out by the current situation in the world. x
I am sorry for your difficulties – being self employed in any business environment has never been easy. But this P Word is the worst.
Stay safe, sane and remember the courage of your ancestors.
Their blood flows through your veins.
You are right. We are tough cookies :). Same with your and yours!!! If Alice could rush into the fire, I can wait out this pandemic. Easy peasy.
Tell it, sister girl.
Hi Luanne- keep your focus, your doing an awesome job filling in the gaps. Thank you for spurring on my focus 🙂 My thoughts with you navigating being self employed through this pandemic…hugs
Thanks, Sharon. I have been a little obsessed with getting this project to a decent “end” before I can relax. Hugs back atcha!!!
Do I detect an impish smile on Alice’s face in that last photograph?
She had such a sunny and fun smile. I know I would have adored her.