MOM’S MEMOIRS – IRENE LOUISE (NEE KUCKKAN) MUELLER
(Continued)

Mom’s Autobiography – Chapter 64 – In Book, Page 153

Pastor Paul Kuckhahn Installed at Trinity Ev. Lutheran Church in Watertown, Wisconsin, Kuckkan Family Tree Researched, 25th Anniversary of Christ Ev. Lutheran Church in Merrill, Wisconsin, Opening Worship Service at Wisconsin Lutheran Seminary in Mequon, Wisconsin (Jimmy’s First Day), Christina Weiland in Homecoming Court at Northland Lutheran High School in Mosinee, Wisconsin, Tim and Matt Participate in Worship Service at St. Mark’s Ev. Lutheran Church in Watertown, Wisconsin, Luther Prep Homecoming and Family Get-Together, Picnic at Deb and Glen’s home in Colgate, Wisconsin, Mom Mueller’s Hickory Nut Cake and Frosting Recipe
 

AUGUST 13, 2006 – PASTOR PAUL KUCKHAHN INSTALLED AT TRINITY EVANGELICAL LUTHERAN CHURCH, WATERTOWN, WISCONSIN

You ask, “Is he a relative?” Yes, both of us think we are related, even though he spells his name differently. But, my father and at least two of his brothers (and their sons) spell it “Kuckkan”. My father and mother are both buried near his father’s, mother’s, and sister’s graves. My brother, Hennie, (Henry, Jr.), is also buried there. “Kuckhahn” is engraved on their huge headstone. Somewhere along the line my father and his brothers decided to leave the h’s out of their surname.

Paul’s ancestors come from Trinity Evangelical Lutheran Church, Town of Berlin, Wisconsin; in fact, when Dick preached there when there was a vacancy, a very old lady by the name of “Selta Grawien Kuckhahn” – (PLEASE REFER TO “THE KUCKHAHN FAMILY TREE” ) came up to us and talked to us. She knew what my maiden name is, and showed me a stained glass window which she and her husband, Martin, had donated to the church. She walked us over to the cemetery next to the church to show us where her husband’s grave is. She and her husband had been dairy farmers, and had owned the land on which the church stands. They had a son named Richard, the oldest of four children. Richard and his wife, Marley, had six children, Paul being the youngest. Selta has also gone to heaven to live with Jesus since we met her. My father had told us that his father had always said that someone in their family had moved north many years ago, but because of poor communication at that time, they lost contact with one another.

There is also a “Kuckhahn” connection in Eagle River, Wisconsin, where our grandson, Christopher Mueller, is Principal/Teacher. The Principal before him is Duane Polack. When we met him and his wonderful wife at Chris’s installation, he told us that his ancestors were also Kuckhahns, can you imagine? His name is listed in “THE DALLMANN FAMILY TREE”. He is married to Brigitte (Kolm). There are a lot of Kuckhahns in that book too.

We have done a lot of research – going to the library, looking at microfilms, cemeteries where we even found the graves of my great grandfather and great grandmother and other Kuckhahn graves at Oak Hill cemetery, written information from the Dodge County courthouse in Juneau, Wisconsin, about Kuckhahn graves which were and still may be in a cemetery next to what was known as Kripplein Christi Lutheran church (long gone. The land is part of Windwood Country Club and Golf Course, Watertown, Wisconsin). It is all so interesting!

AUGUST 27, 2006 – CHRIST EVANGELICAL LUTHERAL CHURCH, MERRILL, WISCONSIN CELEBRATES ITS 25TH ANNIVERSARY

The church was begun as a mission congregation of the Wisconsin Evangelical Synod in 1981, and originally held worship services in trailer classroom units. They built their current worship facility in 1985. Focusing on the theme, “25 Years in Christ”, the anniversary celebration began with the re-commissioning of the bell which was gifted to Christ Lutheran by St. Paul’s Ev. Lutheran church (Joe Snow Road). The church closed its doors in 2004. The bell again calls people to worship every Sunday.

Pastor Adam Horneber and Pastor Joel Lillo (former pastors), and our son-in-law, James Weiland, participated in the worship service. Jim delivered the very inspiring sermon based on Psalm 48:9-14, with the theme, “The Three R’s of an Anniversary Celebration: Reflect, Rejoice, Respond”. What a joyful, blessed occasion!

AUGUST 28, 2006 – OPENING SERVICE AT THE LUTHERAN SEMINARY, MEQUON, WI.

“Jimmy” Weiland decided to attend the Seminary to study to become a Pastor of the Wisconsin Lutheran Synod. His parents and his whole family were there. It was as very joyful and blessed day for all of us.

SEPTEMBER, 2006 – CHRISTINA WEILAND PART OF NORTHLAND HOMECOMING COURT

The article and picture of the Northland Homecoming court appeared in the Merrill newspaper on November 10, 2006. Under the picture it says: “Merrill teen part of Northland Homecoming Court -Northland Lutheran High School celebrated their 2006 in September. Included in the homecoming court this year was representative for her Junior class Christina L. Weiland, daughter of Rev. Jim and Sue Weiland, Merrill. Christina is pictured in the center front row.” It is a beautiful picture of Christina.

SEPTEMBER 6, 9, 10, 2006 – PASTOR TIMOTHY MUELLER AND SON, MATTHEW, PARTICIPATE TOGETHER IN WORSHIP SERVICES AT ST. MARK’S EV. LUTHERAN CHURCH, WATERTOWN, WISCONSIN

Tim preached an inspiring sermon based on Genesis 2:8-10; 3:1-7, and the Sermon Theme was “Overcome by a Tree”. Matthew, as the Lector, read the Gospel Lesson clearly and emphatically so that everyone could hear him. He is a “chip off the old blocks” (his great-grandfather and grandfather, even though I don’t consider Dick old). Of course, he is a “chip off the young block” too, his father. What a blessing it would have been if Tim’s grandfather and Matt’s great-grandfather could have been there when they participated in the worship service! But, we know that he has more blessings in heaven than we can ever imagine.

SEPTEMBER 23, 2006 – LUTHER PREP HOMECOMING AND FAMILY GET-TOGETHER

Wow!!!! Two of our grandsons were Tertia Football Players, Matthew Mueller, Number 61, and Mitchell Heitsch, Number 43! The Luther Preparatory School Phoenix played against Lakeside Lutheran Warriors and won the game 26-14. How exciting it was to watch Sue, Tim, Steph, and Jeff walk out on the football field with their sons with the other football players and their parents! And it was more exciting for me because behind them in the background is the red brick building which was St. Mary’s Hospital where I was born in 1930. It became Welbourne Hall after that, and currently is Swifthaven.

After the game all of us went to St.Mark’s Evangelical Lutheran Church for the 6:00 P.M. service and we also partook of holy communion. We give all glory to God! Then we were invited to Sue and Tim’s home where, as usual, we had delicious food and a happy and blessed time together. My little brother, Henry, who was carried by the angels to heaven when he was six years old would have been 71 years old on September 23, 2006.

SEPTEMBER 24, 2006 – PICNIC AT DEBBIE AND GLEN’S HOME IN COLGATE, WI.

Debbie and Glen invited all of us to come for a family picnic. We were happy that Glen’s Mom, Elaine Wilson, was able to be with us too (she now uses a walker). Also we were happy that Nicki and Dave, (Cassie and Caleb) were there, working hard, as usual, helping Debbie and Glen on making a wonderful delicious meal. My cousin, Alice (Ebert) Fuchs, who I grew up with in Watertown, had sent hickory nuts which they collect themselves from trees on their property near Melrose, Wisconsin, where they live now. I always loved the hickory nut cake which her Mom had made for Kuckkan family get-togethers years ago, so “Ali” sent the recipe to me and I made a big one to take to the picnic. It is delicious! Here is the recipe:

MOM MUELLER’S HICKORY NUT CAKE AND FROSTING
From her Aunt Esther Hoefs’ (nee Kuckkan – Pa’s sister’s recipe)
 

Mom made a double cake recipe (single cake 9”x 13” pan, double cake 10”x 14” pan) and a single frosting recipe for our family get-together, September 24, 2006

2 cups sugar
½ cup butter
1 cup sweet milk (regular)
   pinch of salt
1 cup chopped hickory nuts
1 ½ cups four (approximately)
2 tsps. Baking powder —– mix with flour
4 egg whites (beaten)
(Fold in at last)

Bake at 375 degrees

FROSTING

1 lb. powdered sugar (3 ½ cups)
pinch of salt
1 tsp. vanilla
2 egg whites
½ cup shortening or butter or oil

Beat all together with electric beater until creamy

Hickory nuts are soooo good, if you can get them. It is a lot of work to shell them, and my cousin, Ali, gives them to us! At the Farmer’s Market at Riverside Park they are very expensive.