One family and the month of October

Things are finally settling down with work and life that I finally have had time to get back to genealogy and my forgotten blog.  While looking at my family and trying to figure out what to write about something slapped me upside the head when I looked at my grandfather's family.  October was not such a great month for this family!

Vern John Plymesser 

and 

Frances Hazel Brackett Plymesser

My great grandfather was Vern John Plymesser.  Vern was born 6 December 1893 in Glidden, Carroll County, Iowa.  His parents were John Willis Plymesser and Mary Anna Dickey.  Vern married Frances Hazel Brackett on 30 April 1913.  Frances was born 23 March 1893 in Jefferson, Greene County, Iowa.  Her parents were  Benjamin Franklin Brackett and Martha Anne Truesdale.  

This is a scan of the Certificate of Marriage that was found in pieces in a box that my grandmother Margaret Hanson Plymesser had when she passed away.  Some pieces were not located but enough were found so that I could put it together and then scan with a Flip-Pal.  I then stitched it together so we will always have a copy!

Vern and Frances had 6 children.  

John Vern born 3 January 1914 in Churdan, Greene County, Iowa. 

Mildred Martha (Mick) born 2 June 1915 in Cedar Township, Greene County, Iowa.  

Lillian Maxine (Mac) born 10 June 1917 in Emmetsburg, Palo Alto County, Iowa.  

Dale Franklin born 30 December in Estherville, Emmet County, Iowa.  

Doris Arline (Arline) born 24 March 1922 in Estherville, Emmet County, Iowa.  

Donald Albert born 4 March 1924 in Center Grove, Dickinson County, Iowa. 

The weird part now comes in to play with October.  My grandfather John was the first to pass away on 5 October 1958 in Summit, Waukesha County, Wisconsin.  He left 7 children ranging in ages from 20 to a one year old.   Vern was next in this family to pass away.  He passed away on 12 October 1966 in Oconomowoc, Waukesha County, Wisconsin.  .  Frances did not live long after and passed away on 29 October 1967 also in Oconomowoc, Waukesha County, Wisconsin.  So right now three people of the same family have all passed away in October.  This might be a bit scary for those that are superstitious.  

The family had a respite though for a bit until 5 January 1973 when Donald passed away in Oconomowoc, Waukesha County, Wisconsin.  So maybe the "curse" was over and it was just a coincidence.  

Alas that was not to be on 5 October 1975 Dale passes away  in Tripoli, Oneida County, Wisconsin.  So now not only October but the fifth of October seems to be a day for holding your breath!  

The family once again gets a bit of a reprieve until Arline passes away in 1994.  However she passes away on 5 October 1994 in Fort Atkinson, Jefferson County, Wisconsin.  I can remember my Aunt Mac talking about dreading October and especially the fifth of October years before Arline passed away but especially after.  

The family once again does not have long before another family member passes. On 13 March 1995 Mic passes away in Okeechobee, Okeechobee County, Florida.  It is truly a sad day for me as I was close to Mic and Mac.  Mic always came to see us when she came up to Florida.  Her and husband Luverne would come up and stay in the local motel in Oconomowoc.  They had the clothes hung in the back seat on the bar that would go from one back door to the other.  They would drive up to see the family in Wisconsin and then family in Iowa.  It was always a great time and they would always bring their dog with them.  However with Mic's passing this now left only Mac.  

Mac would be with us until 10 March 2006 when she passed away in  Milford, Dickinson County, Iowa. While I was sad to learn of Mic's passing the world seemed to drop out from underneath me when we heard about Mac.  We would drive to Iowa and get Mac and then drive her back to our house so she could stay with us. I always had to wash her hair for her as she could not do it.  She was a wonderful great aunt but we never called her that she was just Aunt Mac. She told great stories about growing up that would include her family but also my grandmother.  Mac was my grandmother Marge's friend.  My grandmother Margaret Hanson married John Vern Plymesser.  So Mac's stories were a double treat!  We would go see her in Iowa and of course have to go to the Gingham Inn for dinner.  There was always at least one stop at the Dairy Queen for a peanut buster parfait (even though she was not supposed to have them).  A trip to Okoboji to the park for fudge.  

So October was not the best month for this family but it does make those of us still here think about the awesome people that made us who we are.  It also provides us with so many ways to remember the family!