Kathy Lynn Rucki

This little card was found in the baby book of my mother, Kathy Lynn Rucki. She was born 5 May 1950 in Battle Creek, Calhoun County, Michigan.

This little card is interesting as she hadn't been named yet. Also tells me she was born at 11:30PM; her weigh at birth of 5 lbs 11 1/2 ounces and weight at discharge from the hospital of 5 lbs 4 1/4 ounces. And finally she was delivered by Dr. Campbell.

Millard Clark Gatchell

Millard Clark Gatchell my grandfather as pictured in his youth.

My grandmother, Catherine Louise Ryan who married Millard told me stories of grandpa having very curly hair. You can see some of those curls in this photo.

Stanley Anthony Rucki

Here's a picture of my grandfather, Stanley Anthony Rucki. Stanley was born on 3 Aug 1915 in Toledo, Lucas County, Ohio and passed away on 4 Jun 1958 in Batttle Creek, Calhoun County, Michigan. He is the son of Anthony Rucki & Adela Anna Kielb.

Stanley was previously married Betty Komives and they had three boys who were my mother's half brothers. Some stories have come down to me that my mother & aunt spent sometime with the Rucki family in the summers of their youth.

Stanley died before I was born so all I know about him has been told to me by my family. The story goes that he had a heart attack while he was working on the roof of his home, fell off the roof and was impaled on a fence. With his death my grandmother remarried and contact with the Rucki side of the family has been very limited over the years. In the past two years I've been in contact with my mother's cousin which has been real exciting to learn more about my Rucki side of the family.

Millard Clark Gatchell in Navy

Here's another great photo of my grandfather, Millard Clark Gatchell in his Navy uniform. I didn't realize until I began writing this blog that there were so many pictures of my grandfather--and alot of them in his Navy uniform.

I need to do some research to see if I can see what ships he served on and what campaigns he participated in during World War II. Not many stories have been passed down to me about his military experience.

My father recently shared a story with me about when my grandfather worked for the railroad he would at times bring home cases of Kelloggs cereal when a box car would bust open. I'd never thought of this happening but it makes sense. As a kid we'd always stop when we found something in the road.

One of the found items I can recall from my childhood is finding a large racoon hit on the road. My Dad picked it up and skinned it, took it to town and got $20 for the skin.

Mary Amilea (Rudolph) Keefe

This is a photo of Mary Amilea (Rudolph) Keefe. Mary is the Great-Grandmother of my wife, Marlene Violetta Keefe. Mary was born 12 Sep 1883 in Providence, Providence County, Rhode Island. She passed away 12 Jan 1986 in North Providence, Providence County, Rhode Island.

Mary was the daughter of Ludwig F. Rudolph & Amelia May Balmert.

Ellen T. (Gatchell) Masters Obituary

Here's the obituary of Ellen T. (Gatchell) Masters. Ellen is my 2nd Great-Grand Aunt. She was born on 25 Jul 1871 in Mifflin Township, Wyandot County, Ohio. She died on 15 Dec 1969 in Upper Sandusky, Wyandot County, Ohio.

Ellen is the daughter of Amos Pugh Gatchell & Mary A. Ream.

Phillip Foss & Eve Rucki

Here's a photo of the personal marriage book of Phillip H. Foss & Eve R. Rucki. They are my grandparents.

Eve and Phillip were married on 21 May 1959 in Battle Creek, Calhoun County, Michigan.

Phillip more commonly known as Phil.

Grandpa & Grandma Foss spent most of their time later days in a house on Bristol Lake in Michigan outside of Battle Creek, Michigan.

Adela A (Kielb) Rucki / Galus

My Great-grand mother was Adela A. (Kielb) Rucki/Galus who worked at the Toledo Stamping & Manufacturing Company in Toledo, Ohio at the time her first husband Anthony Rucki committed suicide in 1929. I know this from the application she made for Social Security of which I have a copy. Adela later married Joseph Galus.

Adela was born on 15 Aug 1897 in Galicia, Poland. She passed away on 7 Sep 1993 in Sylvania, Lucas County, Ohio. Adela was interred in Calvary Cemetery also in Lucas County.

Anna Maie (Clark) Gatchell

Here's a very nice photo of my Great-grandmother Anna Maie Clark. She was born in 1896 so this photo had to be taken about 1900-1905.

What a pretty young lady she is in this picture!

John F Keefe Grave Marker

Here's a photo I took today at Fort Sam Houston National Cemetery, Fort Sam Houston, San Antonio, Bexar County, Texas of my father-in-law's grave marker.

John Francis Keefe was born 10 May 1941 in Providence, Providence County, Rhode Island. He passed away on 29 May 2003 in San Antonio, Bexar County, Texas.

John is the son of John F. Keefe & Violetta Faustina Ciacccia.