Two Noras: January 4, 1915 and January 4, 2023

Nora Bauer: Monday, January 4, 1915

Leo went away today at 1:15. Worked on my lace tonight. Herman went skating. 

Nora Spitznogle: Wednesday, January 4, 2023

Worked at Second Helpings today, organizing and decluttering at home this evening. 

Leo would be Nora's 20-year-old cousin, Uncle John Bauer's oldest child. 
Leo's middle name was Vincent - I wonder if that's where Dad's middle name came from? 

undated photograph of Leo

I'm not sure where Leo was headed to, but he married Helen Frueh in Minnesota on St. Valentine's Day 1917 and their oldest child, Marie was born there. By 1919 they were living in Eau Claire, Wisconsin and lived there for the rest of their lives. 

Leo and Helen's wedding, they are joined by Helen's brother and sister) 

Leo (1893-1982) and Helen (1987-1992) had seven children: 

Marie 1917-2016

Lorena (twin) 1919-2004

Loretta (twin) 1919-1943

Albert 1921-1922

Hilda 1923-2010

Delores 1927-1928

Leonard 1929-2021

With the exception of Albert, who died at 11 months old, Delores, who died at 23 months old (on Christmas Eve) and Loretta, who was hit by a car when she was 24, there was great longevity in that family! I'm so sad that I didn't get to meet any of them. 

                     Leo Bauer home 1930ish 

Leo Bauer farmhouse 1923 - I wonder if those are kiddos on the porch? 

Leo Bauer farm 1955ish

Leo, Paul, and Loretta harvesting hay 1935

Leo and Helen 50th Anniversary, 1967

Leo and Helen 60th Anniversary, 1977

I'm grateful to whatever relative of Leo (and mine too, I guess) that shared all of these great photographs on the Ancestry.com site. 

Mom gave me a round bookcase that I'm trying to make space in my small house for. I only have two small closets in my house. The dining room closet is a makeshift office, there are two bookshelves in there filled with scrapbooks, papers, office supplies, and my printer. 

I started the daunting task of organizing and letting things go. Going through Dad's things and helping Mom, I am realizing that no one know what most of the things I've saved are about or even care. I find it emotionally draining also - lots of wondering if I should have done things differently....

I did find this delightful photograph from December 2003 taken at a Gremelspacher (maternal side of the family) holiday party. My niece Molly is on my lap, Kate and Bailey are on my right and Olivia on my left.