Reflecting on 2023

It was a rough year for my Stumpf family.

My uncle passed away this year.  He was 72, but should have had a few more years.  I shared my genealogy findings with him as I went, and I think he was interested, but he never really gave any feedback.  Still, I looked forward to sharing with him the origins of the Stumpf family and what I found.  I don't know if he was well enough to read the blog post when I shared the news in January of the Stumpfs immigrating from Dörlesberg; if he did, he didn't leave a comment or reply to my email.  I hadn't seen him in a while and miss him and I'm sad knowing he's not there and there's not a visit in the future.

My dad's and uncle's cousin, whom I tracked down in Buenos Aires and had happily spoke with a few times with my husband acting as our Spanish/English translator, also passed away this year.  He was in his mid-60s.  I'm sorry we won't have any more awkward conversations, trying to compensate for the language differences.  I succeeded in making contact with him through his Facebook account a few years ago after years of wondering and searching for him.  He had been looking for my aunt and wanted to connect with his U.S. cousins.  I think he felt completely cut off from family after his mother passed away.  I think he has an estranged brother and no kids.  I hope he found some joy in connecting with us.

This year I also learned that my grandfather's half-brother was still alive.  I never found an obit for him, but couldn't have known that was because he was still alive in Canada.  His granddaughter shared a photo with a cousin, who shared it with me.  I didn't have a chance to speak with him or meet him.  I only got information through the granddaughter.  I'm sure he didn't know he had a half-brother who went to California, or a half-sister who went to Argentina.  He passed away this fall at the age of 92.  His passing just made me sad for our families.

A few other deaths of family and friends made this a rough year.  I hope 2024 doesn't follow this trend.

I made some wonderful discoveries this year, which I shared in my 10 blog posts, building on the 5 that I wrote in 2022.  From the start I said I'd post until I ran out of things to say.  I guess I still have things to say.  With the new online availability of digitized church books, I'll have more to say in 2024.  I've made my way through the villages of St. Georgen and Klek and will work on Kathreinfeld next. 

Please reach out or comment if this has been interesting or helpful to you.  If you have Stumpf ancestors from this area, let's compare info.  Thank you for taking the time to read this blog.

Best wishes for a happy, healthy and prosperous 2024.  Take care of your health, visit your doctor, get your check-ups and screenings, don't smoke, especially around little kids, and be good to your families.