This blog covers our experiences and discoveries researching the Walczyk and Pionke branches of our genealogy. Welcome and thanks for visiting!
Our journey begins with our paternal grandparents, John Walle and Helen Pionke. Both were born in Chicago in the 1910's. They were married at St. Josaphat's Church and had two sons before John died at only 31 years of age. A few years later, Helen married second husband Ralph Brandt and with him had one more son.
Below is a very brief introduction to our Walczyk and Pionke families.
John Walle's parents, Grzegorz Walczyk and Zofia Wacławik, were Polish immigrants from what was then Galicia, Austria. Their families lived in small villages in southern Poland between Tarnów and Jasło, including Czermna, Janowice, and Zagórzany.
They arrived in Chicago in 1912, both joining family members who had immigrated before them. Grzegorz and Zofia were married in St. John Cantius church, a parish founded by fellow Galician immigrants. They had one son and four daughters, one of whom was a nun.
Helen Pionke's parents, Leon Pionke and Anna Kunkel, were born in Chicago. They were both the first of their respective families to be born in the U.S. Their parents emigrated in the 1880's from what was then West Prussia, and what is now north-central Poland, near Gdańsk (Danzig). They lived in Donimierz, Kętrzyno, Puck, and nearby villages. Their background was a mix of Kashubian and German.
Leon and Anna were married in 1907 in St. Josaphat parish, which was founded by Kashubian immigrants. They were lifelong members of this parish, together with numerous Pionke and Kunkel siblings and cousins. They had two daughters and five sons, three of whom died as children.
Over the past ten years researching our family's history, we have searched online, sent away for vital records, pored over microfilm, photographed cemeteries, and tested DNA. Our family tree continues to grow and we have debated the best way to share it with our extended family.
A blog is our choice because it allows us to share what we have learned in a narrative and interactive form. It is the best format for keeping everyone updated on new discoveries as they occur. Furthermore, it functions as an information hub, linking you to our Ancestry.com family tree, our Flickr photo albums, pedigree charts, maps, and more.
We hope you will enjoy reading it and we welcome your comments and suggestions.
Our journey begins with our paternal grandparents, John Walle and Helen Pionke. Both were born in Chicago in the 1910's. They were married at St. Josaphat's Church and had two sons before John died at only 31 years of age. A few years later, Helen married second husband Ralph Brandt and with him had one more son.
Below is a very brief introduction to our Walczyk and Pionke families.
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| John F. Walle and Helen S. Pionke |
Introducing the Walczyk family
John Walle's parents, Grzegorz Walczyk and Zofia Wacławik, were Polish immigrants from what was then Galicia, Austria. Their families lived in small villages in southern Poland between Tarnów and Jasło, including Czermna, Janowice, and Zagórzany.
They arrived in Chicago in 1912, both joining family members who had immigrated before them. Grzegorz and Zofia were married in St. John Cantius church, a parish founded by fellow Galician immigrants. They had one son and four daughters, one of whom was a nun.
Introducing the Pionke family
Helen Pionke's parents, Leon Pionke and Anna Kunkel, were born in Chicago. They were both the first of their respective families to be born in the U.S. Their parents emigrated in the 1880's from what was then West Prussia, and what is now north-central Poland, near Gdańsk (Danzig). They lived in Donimierz, Kętrzyno, Puck, and nearby villages. Their background was a mix of Kashubian and German.
Leon and Anna were married in 1907 in St. Josaphat parish, which was founded by Kashubian immigrants. They were lifelong members of this parish, together with numerous Pionke and Kunkel siblings and cousins. They had two daughters and five sons, three of whom died as children.
Why a blog?
Over the past ten years researching our family's history, we have searched online, sent away for vital records, pored over microfilm, photographed cemeteries, and tested DNA. Our family tree continues to grow and we have debated the best way to share it with our extended family.
A blog is our choice because it allows us to share what we have learned in a narrative and interactive form. It is the best format for keeping everyone updated on new discoveries as they occur. Furthermore, it functions as an information hub, linking you to our Ancestry.com family tree, our Flickr photo albums, pedigree charts, maps, and more.
We hope you will enjoy reading it and we welcome your comments and suggestions.
If you're not a close relative and are wondering who we are, you can read about us here. To be brief, we are two sisters having fun working on our family's genealogy together.
© TreeQuest: An Unexpected Journey 2014.
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