Notizen |
- Familysearch.org:
ID: KW8L-Q7Y
Born: 14 Dez 1918
Rootsweb.com:
Note:
1. Robert was born Robert Clarence Sippel. Due to many family disputes throughout his early adult life he decided to change his name in 1958 to Robert Charles Wilderness. He took his grandfather's first name and told me he had always liked the name of Wilderness since he had seen it in the Mark Trail comic strip. He said there was a man named Mr. Wilderness in it (the comic strip).
2. A brief autobiography by Robert Charles Wilderness found in his papers 5 years after his passing on 1 May 1991...In the area of 4th and Vliet Street in the city of Milwaukee during the great flu epidemic of 1918, I Robert Wilderness (Sippel) came into the world.
The place where I was born was a two story flatt converted to hospital use because the expectant mothers were not to have contact with the patients in the regular hospital that had the virus. It might be interesting to note that I came into the world in a place that was located in the Jewish district of our city. Everyone in the house wore masks over their mouths and noses according to my mother; most of the doctors were intoxicated under the supposition that alcohol would stay off the flu. I weighed nine and one half pounds and had a lot of dark hair. After the usual confinement I was ushered home by my grandmother, Louise Kunze, and in a brand new wicker wash basket. One of the first persons to view me was my grand Uncle, George Zimpelman, and my mother was self conscience of my supposedly large
feet. This fact was to lead to a better understanding, according to legend. All this occured on December 14, 1918 at six A. M. on a mild day. The shock of birth, the deprival of warmth and a muted quietness, soft light must have had a profound effect on me at the time. I am told I
started to complain orally and I have been doing it ever since. My early recollections from birth to about eight years old are vague shadows of long ago. I was told I had a pet rooster when I was about three or four years old, this I do not recall. I recall playing with a little girl named Katie, who was an attractive Hungarian girl.
My grandfather Emil Kunze, I remember being in my resence but there are no concience incidences of contact.
My memory recalls that I lived with my grandmother Augusta Sippel (Zimpelman) at 2233 North 25th Street in Milwaukee. At that time about four and one half years I would mimic my grandmother. Grandma had a garden and would take parslley and carrots over to her friend, a Mrs. Jeske, for soup flavoring. Not to soon after I promptly did the same thing, only I used the leaves of the Irisis in her flower garden.
My Grangfather built me a barn for my pet elephant which was named Heimie, which stood under the kitchen sink. This toy was greatly treasurered by me for many years as it had a sentimental value. It had been given to me with much love by my great aunt Louise Zimpelman, my grandmother's sister, who expired at a early age.
The elephants excited me to the extant that I wanted large ears like an elephant and many times, in order to get me to go to sleep my mother had to promise me that by morning I would have a beautiful set of elephant ears. My grandfather Charles Sippel was a very patient and the kindest person I have yet to meet. Although sometimes these qualities are not appreciated until one grows older and mellows with time and the person is gone.
He would set me on his lap and read all about the various animals. I was deeply impressed by the Llions to the extent that I called my grandfather and grand mother grandpa Lion and grandma Lion. This continued for many years, even after I was married.
My association with my grandparents on my fathers' side was a very warm and loving experience.
I actually spent more time talking and discussing things with my grandpa than my father.
I lived with my grandparents for a while and had playma
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