Jan "John" Stencil

http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=143309118

John and Anna (Igowski) Stenzel, both born in West Prussia, migrated to the United States presumably between 1878 and 1880. They purchased an 80-acre tract of land in the NW-Section 27 in the Town of Rietbrock. They experienced all the hardships with all the other pioneers that had arrived here. Children born to this couple included: Joseph, husband of Martha Klawin- ski; Rose, wife of Joseph Klawinski; Frank, husband of Maria Dawbroski and second wife, Rosalia Jozik; John; husband of Anna Nowacki; August, husband of Rosalia Wichlacz; Albert, husband of Hedwig Jacu- bowski; Bernard, husband of Maria Bloczynski; Anna, wife of Stanley Witucki; and Martha, wife of John Gajewski. In a few years on November 21, 1887, Joseph married Martha Klawinski in Poniatowski. He re- sumed the responsibilities of farming, with the passing of his parents. They were blessed with five children, namely: Rose, married to Paul Prodzinski, who died six years later and she then married Joseph Sturgel; John, husband of Veronica Omelian; Frances, wife of Stanley Kulas; Lucas, husband of Clara Socha; and Julia, wife of John Socha. In 1901, Joseph died leaving his interests to his wife Martha. She remarried, in 1902, to Alex Cichon, a widower with three children namely: Frank, Anna and Leo. They then had three of their own children, Emma, Alex and Helen. As the years went by, the land was passed down to Joseph's son Lucas and wife Clara. They have a family of four sons, namely: Clarence (dec.), Lawrence, killed in the Korean conflict, Lucas, Jr., and Edward. The land is now in the fourth generation. It was purchased by their son Edward and his wife Sharon (McKee), in 1963, and is being operated by them and their four children, Bonnie, Laurie, Edward Jr., and Dawn. He is the happy man whose life even now Shows somewhat of the happier life to come; Who, doomed to an obscure but tranquil state, Is pleased with it, and, were he free to choose, Would make his fate his choice; whom peace, the fruit. Of virtue, and whom virtue, fruit of faith, Prepare for happiness; bespeak him one Content indeed to sojourn while he must Below the skies, but having there his home.