Martha A. Findahl (1899-1980)

Remembering Grandma on her birthday, November 8, 1899

We're pretty sure this is Martha's confirmation class at Salems Lutheran Church (ca. 1914). 
Martha (our Grandma) is sitting in the front row to the far right.  Next to her is Adelaide Wendler.

This is great for me because I already have a personal connection to Grandma's history via this photo besides the obvious.  Adelaide would one day marry Alfred Boike, who's daughter Dorothy "Sis" recently passed away.  There was also a son, Donald.  I remember Adelaide and of course I remember Dorothy.  She worked in our family Dr. Freiberg's office.  Dr. Freiberg delivered my brother & sister.  Dr. Katz delivered me (referred by Freiberg).

I grew up with the family Dr. Solar (who worked originally under Freiberg) and my earliest memories of Dorothy are of her working in that office.  Through the years she would on occasion visit Mom at her home and we always got a Christmas card from her.

Here is Martha at the left and Adelaide Wendler (Boike) on the right. A picture with just the both of them is rare and it sounds like Martha spent more time with Adelaide's sister Edna in these early days.

I do, however, remember Adelaide and Grandma remained in the same neighborhood until Grandma moved away from there in the mid 1970s. I'm certain they remained in touch until Martha's death.

My mother remembers Adelaide's daughter Dorothy coming to our house to tell of Adelaide's passing. Mom asked where she would be and Dorothy replied there wouldn't be an open funeral for Adelaide because 'there was no one left' alive that knew her to attend.

(Note: Adelaide died August 15, 1989 @ age 89 outliving Martha by nine years. Her obituary says there will be private services.)

Martha is at the far left. Mom knew she was active in the Y.W.C.A. I don't know if these next three photographs are from her Y.W.C.A. days but I've always loved them.
As you can tell this is from a badly damaged photo.

From a little known time in my Grandma's life.

Martha is again at the far left. We don't recognize anyone else at this time.

(?), (?), (?), Edna Wendler (Kroeger), Martha

Martha & unknown child (possibly Louis or Jim Berg?)

I love this shot.

Martha possibly at her mothers? This was from a very worn photo, but there is a companion image from the same day that you can find here (http://tinyurl.com/2fbcuy6) in much better shape. (Early 1920s)

These are all very tiny photographs. Upon blowing this one up I could see these women are in a cemetery with the graves clearly shown behind them. This is very interesting because this may be where Great-Grandpa Nichols & or Great-Grandpa Kulick worked and relatives are buried there. Both men knew each other and worked together. (Forrest Lawn Cemetery?) Mom recalls Grandma Martha saying they would on occasion pack a lunch and have a picnic in the cemetery.

Martha, (?), Helen, (?) in a cemetery

Putting their best foot forward at work!

A wonderful artifact from a Galesburg, IL newspaper announcing Grandma & Grandpa's wedding. December 1922

Mom recalls this as taken after Martha and Gordon were married in 1922. Here they are in Galesburg, IL at the home of Gordon's parents.

I remember being told Grandma Martha was on a Basketball team, but time faded that recollection until we found this picture.


Looks like Grandma's Basketball Team and we think we see sister friends Adelaide & Edna but not exactly certain which one is holding the ball. We think it's Adelaide.


Grandma Martha is standing at the far right.

Grandma's Basketball Team this time with Grandma holding the ball.

Looks like another shot of the Basketball Team, minus the basketball this time.
(?), (?), (?), Edna & Adeliade Wendler, Martha Findahl, (?), (?), (?), (?)

BACK: (?), (?), friend Edna Wendler, (?), (?),
FRONT: Gordon & Martha Findahl

(?), Martha, Gordon, Anna Heidel, Charles Heidel, Edna Wendler (Kroeger), (?)

(I really enjoy Edna's smile!)

(?), (?), Anna Heidel, Martha, Charles Heidel, Edna Wendler (Kroeger), (?)

BACK:  (?)   
CENTER:  (?), Martha, (?), (?), (?)    
FRONT:   Mom thinks this is friend Edna Wendler

We're not a lot of help here.
BACK: (?), (?), Martha, Sister Helen
FRONT: (?), (?), (?)

A companion photo to the previous. I really enjoy seeing the moving automobiles behind the ladies in both shots.

BACK: (?), Martha, (?), younger sister Helen
FRONT: (?), (?), (?)

Martha, (?), Ruth (who would marry Cecil Little)

This looks like at the workplace

BACK: Gordon Findahl (Grandpa), Martha, (?), (?), Anna & Charles Heidel
(NOTE- Mom's pretty sure they had a daughter Dorothy and their son, Charles M. Heidel became President and Chief Operating Officer of Detroit Edison, where my Dad used to work from about 1947-->1990.)

FRONT: Adeliade Wendler Boike's sister Edna Wendler. Edna would marry a fellow by the name of Paul Kroeger. Mom remembers Grandma Martha saying Edna was always fun to be with, (?), (?), (?)

Martha, Gordon, (?) and I don't know who the child is.

I wish I knew who the lady is with them because she's an obvious close friend as she shows up in a lot of pictures with them.

Also, this is another photo that looks almost three-dimensional when blown up.

BACK: (?), looks like Edna Wendler (Kroeger), Charles Heidel and wife;
FRONT: Martha & Gordon Findahl

A ghostly photo saved from complete deterioration. We only recognize Martha & Gordon in the foreground.

Sometimes I look at it and imagine them all saying 'hello' to us from another world.

Martha

BACK: (?), Martha, Anna Heidel
FRONT: (?), Gordon, Charles Heidel

(?), Gordon & Martha

Gordon & Martha Findahl

The Michigan License Plate gives the date away as the year 1925

(?), (?), (?), Charles Heidel
Seated: Martha

(?), Martha, Charles Heidel, Edna Wendler
Seated: Anna Heidel

Gordon & Martha Findahl (at Belle Isle?)

Martha, (?), friend Edna Wendler

Martha

Martha & Gordon

Martha & Gordon

Martha (definitely looking like she's at Belle Isle)

Martha

Gordon & Martha

Martha

Martha

Gordon & Martha

This one is pretty tough to identify the people and location. Not too certain who everyone is:

(?), (?), Martha, sister Hattie?, sister Mamie?

(?), Martha, Edna, (?), (?), Anna Heidel, Charles Heidel, (?)




Added November 8, 2011

Grandma at her home with my Aunt Betty (mid-late 1920s)

Gordon & Martha Findahl taken in Moline, IL at Mom's Aunt Florence and Uncle Bert Findahl's home. (early to mid 1930s)

Gordon & Martha through the years.

Martha and Phoebe Nystrom. Phoebe is the wife of husband Gordon's friend Al Nystrom visiting Martha & Gordon in Detroit, MI from Galesburg, IL. (1938)

Phoebe Nystrom & Martha (1938)

I think this is so neat seeing how close Grandma and Grandpa would remain throughout their lives. (Mid 1940s)

Gordon & Martha at home.

At the Boike wedding (late 1940s)

Neighbors all getting together for a little trip to Canada.  The first lady is the owner of the home they are visiting, Martha Findahl, Mrs. Shilbe (who lived across the street), Mrs. Neal and unidentified neighbor (from 1956)

This was taken by my dad while we were visiting Galesburg in 1969. My mother is cut off at the extreme left followed by Grandma Martha Findahl, Mabel Findahl and her son Harry Dale Findahl.



Updated February 8, 2015:

Martha Findahl with granddaughter Shirley Peters & husband Carl [August 16, 1975]

Updated February 8, 2015:

Martha Findahl visiting with daughter Margie [Taken from 8mm home movies - 1976] 

The Happy Ending. Grandma Martha and Grandpa Gordon Findahl. One fact I know is they were both devoted to each other.

We have one other pose from this photo session but believe this was the preferred take because it is in a frame and the other is in a folder.