Freda: “Anyway, in 1927 (I was 22), Dad decided to build on that 49-acre field he worked. This is the house and farm that all you boys would remember. First he built a barn. Then he built a house out of cement blocks, which became the chicken coop. We lived in that coop for a whole year.”

Lucy, Freda, Frances, Charles, Anton,, Louie Freda washing her hair

Chicken coop c. 1985 Marv Welna on coop c. 1932

Freda: That farm also has that sway-back tree branch that we and you kids used to climb.”

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Sway-back tree c. 1985 Back entrance, Freda at last farm c. 1985

Barn c 1985 Louie and Freda, front entrance c.1985

Marv Welna, Billy Philipsek Lucy, Freda, Frances Frances, Anna, Freda, Lucy, Hilary Welna c 1940 Marv and Hilary c 1940 and Jane c 1940

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Charles and Frances Philipsek,, Anton Philipsek, Lucy Katzmarek, Louis Philipsek, and Freda Welna

Freda: “Dad had a rope attached from the house to the barn. When there was a blizzard, he would hold the line to guide him. There were so many stories of farmers who got lost during a storm, who became disorientated, and were found frozen to death.”

On the farm about 1943/1944?

Hilary Welna, Melissa Katzmarek Melissa Katzmarek holding Louis D.Welna Marv Welna, Lita Katzmarek, Louis D. Welna Louis and Freda Welna, Leo and Lucy Katzmarek, Frances and Charles Philipsek

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Lucy Katzmarek Louis Philipsek, Frances and Charles Philipsek, Anton Philipsek, Freda Welna

Note from LDW: In the early 1990s we took Freda and Louie to Holdingford to take a look at the last farm house owned by Charles and Frances before they retired. We traveled west and took the third turn to the north. All we found was that huge pile of rocks that Charles took out of his corn patch. The farmhouse was not there. It had fallen to disrepair and was burned to the ground that spring. The tree was gone, too.

Note from LDW: In August 2007, I went back to the farm to photograph the rock pile, but I couldn’t find it. I talked to a Mr. Jung who remembered Tony. He told me that the rocks were loaded up and taken somewhere. The rest were buried. Where all the building stood are now acres and acres of corn.

Louis Philipsek, Freda Welna, Frances and Charles Philipsek, Lucy Katzmarek, Tony Philipsek

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50th Wedding Anniversary 1947 Louis & Freda Welna, Lucy Katzmarek, Anton Philipsek, Charles & Frances Philipsek, Anna and Louis Philipsek

Charles Philipsek 1948 Anton, Frances and Charles Philipsek 1948 Note: Billy Philipsek said that the telephone signal for the Philipsek house was “4 shorts”

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The Philipseks

Anton , Jane, Betty, Anna, Charles, Louis, Frances, Lucy

Freda: “In 1949, Mom and Dad retired and moved to Holdingford Town."

On January 29, 1949, Harry and Elizabeth Litchy sold to Anton Philipsek: Lot numbered One (1) and the South Half (S1/2) of Lot numbered two (2) in Block numbered Six (6) in the Soo addition to Holdingford according to the plat and survey thereof on file” for $3650. (Book 267, Page 116)

Front of house in Holdingford which Tony William Philipsek, Louie Philipsek, and Tony Philipsek called “Woodpecker Hill” making music on a Sunday afternoon

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Louis, Anton, Frances, Charles, Anna Philipsek Frances (Pyka) and Charles Philipsek John and Mary (Deja) Welna c 1951 before 1959

Fifty-Fifth Wedding Anniversary October 12, 1952

Frances & Charles Philipsek

Frank & Caroline Charles & Frances Louis & Anna Philipsek Pyka Philipsek Freda Welna

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November 1954

Lucy Katzmarek, Anton Philipsek, Charles and Frances Philipsek, Louis Philipsek, Freda Welna

Charles Philipsek’s 80th Birthday Party 1956 60th Wedding Anniversary 1957

Louis Philipsek. Freda Welna, Tony Philipsek, Lucy Kasmarek Frances and Charles Phjilipsek Frances and Charles Philipsek

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‘Golden Agers’ Take Part InHoldingford Communion Sunday

HOLDINGFORD - For the fifth annual Communion Sunday nine couples of St. Mary's parish here were present for the event that has become traditional in this parish. The couples are all "Golden-Agers" - that is, married for fifty years or more.

There are eleven such couples who have this distinction in the parish. Two of the couples, Mr. and Mrs. Joseph Zeis (married 62 years) and Mr. and Mr. Louis Douvier (married 53 years) were unable to be present because of sickness.

The other Golden-Agers who were present for the Mass and received Holy Communion in a group were: Mr. and Mrs. Joseph Lichy (mar-ried 58 years); Mr. and Mrs. John Hadrich (married 58 years); Mr. and Mrs. Frank Meier (married 59 years); Mr. and Mrs. Charles Philipsek (married 62 years); Mr. and Mrs. Gerhard Kuepel's (married 58 years); Mr and Mrs, J. J: Botz (married 56 years); Mr. and Mrs. George Paggen (married 51

years); Mr. and Mrs. George Dullinger (married 53 years); Mr. and Mrs., Michael Salitros (married $4 years). All told, these eleven couples represent 624 years of married life.

The Golden-Agers received Holy Communion at the 7:30 o'clock Solemn High Mass on Sunday, July 5. Celebrant of the Mass was Father Benedict, T.O,E., with Father J. B. Grenier and Father Bernard Karels, the pastor, as deacon and subdeacon respectively" Father Benedict also delivered the sermon during the Mass.

The remainder of the day was spent in family reunions at the respective homes of the Golden-Agers. Children and grandchildren came from many miles to visit with the Golden Agers.

"This is," says Father Karels the pastor, "a great day for the senior members of the parish. They look forward to the occasion each year with great interest."

Shown in the photo below are,

front row left to right, Mr. and Mrs. Josph Lichy and Mr. and Mrs. John Haddell; second row, Mr. and Mrs. Frank Meier and Mrs. and Mr. Charles Philipsek; third row, Mr. and Mrs: Gerhard Kuepers and Mrs. and Mr. J. J. Botz; fourth row, Mr. and Mrs. George Paggen and Mr. and Mrs. George Dullinger; fifth row, Father Bernard Karels, the pastor, and Mrs. and Mr. Michael Salitros. (Photo by Bob Molitor.)

Second Row on Right: Frances and Charles Philipsek

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Louis Philipsek in middle, at the Pool Hall in Holdingford

Charles Philipsek c. 1896 about 20 years old