A Smörgåsbord of Stories
Marilynn Louise Norenberg passed away peacefully on May 16, 2023. She was born January 5, 1933 to Frank and Gert Gentzkow in LaMoure, ND. After graduating from high school, Marilynn completed a one-year teaching certificate at Valley City State Teacher’s College (VCSTC). The next year … read more
Mother’s Day, May 14, 2023. I’m sitting next to my mother’s bed; she is dying. I love you, mom. Hospice and mom’s care team are guiding my family through mom’s final journey on this earth. It is a time to reflect on her strengths, remember … read more
When we say that something is written in stone, we mean that it cannot be changed, it is permanent and is absolute. Does this phrase possibly come from our knowledge of the Biblical Commandments or maybe the Babylonian Code of Hammurabi? Today, family historians consider … read more
Today, let’s remember and celebrate Kathryn “Kathy” Gentzkow Studer (1931-2021), daughter of Gert Rector and Frank Gentzkow. Happy birthday in heaven, dear Auntie! Kathy Studer, May 2008, Rector cousin meet-up in Minnesota During her lifetime she sent many, many birthday cards to family and … read more
This blog post is the third and final week examining the births, baptisms and beginnings of the three American Gentzkow brothers. Their parents, Julius August Emil “George Edward” von Gentzkow (1826-1904) and Sophia Schultz (1830-1897) settled in Minneiska, Minnesota in the mid 1860s. When we have … read more
In American Gentzkow family history, I consider myself part of the “Julius Group.” I am descended from the second son of Julius August Emil “George Edward” von Gentzkow (1826-1904) and his wife Sophia Schultz (1830-1897). The three Gentzkow Groups are: The George Group: descendants of … read more
In American Gentzkow family history, we divide ourselves into three clusters: The George Group: descendants of George Gentzkow (1854-1939) and his wife Christina Kohler (1856-1918) The Julius Group: descendants of J.C. Gentzkow (1856-1932) and his wife Matilda Dittrich (186x-1908) The William Group: descendants of Bill … read more
Magdalena Sophia Christina Schultz was my great, great, great grandmother. Why am I drawn to her story? What is it about this woman that makes we want to know more? Rostock, 2017 In June of 2017, Patrick and I vacationed across Germany as guests … read more
For 35 years, I sought to discover Gentzkow family history. Because it is a very unusual name, it is simple to lookup. I used to say that every Gentzkow in any phone book was one of my cousins. With Internet searching, cousins were found in … read more
All Gentzkow cousins in America trace their lineage to a couple that lived in Minneiska, Minnesota from 1865 until the end of their lives. That couple was George Edward Gentzkow (182?-1904) and his wife Magdalena Sophia Schultz (1830-1897). The 1826 baptism of Julius August Emil, … read more