EARLY FAMILY MEMORIES

Marty's dad came to America on board this vessel, the German ship SS Hanover
from Bremen, Germany to Galveston, TX

While assembling the photos for these web pages, one of the most gratifying aspects was to revisit many family memories. Many of them had been sleeping for years, only to be reawakened by these photos of times past!

We spent many happy hours with Marty's brother, A. L., and his wife in their Austin home!
I don't remember what was so funny at this time but their upstairs bar was the scene of many happy hours

Same home but before the upstairs bar was built. A (much younger) A. L. with "Bowser"

Back to the bar!
A. L. with Kathy Ann, Johnnie, Bubba, Kathy, and Sharon

Bubba and his wife, Kathy Ann - Johnnie and Kathy

With A. L. and Kathryn under the oak trees behind their Austin home

Marty's dad and brother in Austin in 1975

Jerry's Uncle "El" Shirley and his young family. Aunt Artye and Merle are standing.
Berle is being held by his dad.

Merle was real "flapper" as a teenager. She taught Kenneth and Jerry how to roll cigarettes, much to the dismay of their mom!

Berle was lost at sea when their B-17 was shot up over Germany during WW II. They made it back to the English Channel but went down before they could make landfall

Jerry's Aunt Artye with her faithful pet.
Jerry's mom is on the right.

Jerry's Dad in a photo probably taken in California in the early 1900's

A group of young Czech girls in traditional dress. Marty was not in this photo but Georgie is seated in the center

Jerry's mom's oldest sister Norma Grace is seated with her three children and huband, Scott Miller, in the foreground. Standing in the background are brothers El, Bud, Will and sister Letha Fay. In the center are Jerry's mom and younger brother, Raymond

Marty's mom was always busy! Here she is sewing in the dining room of our Tustin home.	Marty in front of the Dullnig Court Home
Georgie and Marty celebrate Marty's fourth birthday holding new umbrellas!	Another photo of the birthday girl!
Jerry's dad enjoyed showing off the oil well on the Bransford home place!	Unfortunately, the gas pressure soon weakened and the well was put on "pump"
Marty's Grandfather Leopold Dressler	Georgie (left) and Marty (right) pose in their Sokol uniforms with an official of the Sokol that was visiting with them.

Marty's Uncle Frank was the oldest of that Dressler generation
Here, we have dinner at Lorraine's home in El Campo
with, from left, Ted, Marty, Jerry, Jake, Lorraine, and Ed
Jake's wife, Vicki, is in the foreground

Like most of the Dressler family, Ed served his country well in WW II!

And younger brother, Ted, served in the U. S. Air Force

Jake (or Jerry or J. C.) was also in the Air Force

Jake even got a little extra publicity!

Ed, Jake, Marty, Ted, and Lorraine at Lorraine's home in El Campo

Two of Jake and Vicki's grandchildren, young Jake and Emily

One of Marty's Valicek uncles, "Uncle Charlie" and his wife, Aunt Janie. They farmed south of San Antonio for many years but, in later years, moved to a new home just a block away from Marty's mom and dad

Jerry's brother, Kenneth, and his new bride, Margaret Harmon.
Jerry was best man and is standing to the right of Kenneth

Ken and Mog in a later photo

Jerry's twin cousins, May (standing) and Fay (seated) Farrington
Now did I get that right? They were identical twins
The daughters of Jerry's mom's older sister, Letha Ann Shirley Farrington

Floyd Phelps, the grandson of Marty's favorite Dressler aunt, Aunt Anna, is seated holding two of his own grandsons, Michael Gibson on his left knee and Jonathan Gibson on his right knee. Standing are his two sons, Floyd Jr. and Christopher

Aunt Anna's other grandson, Jason Phelps, is here with his wife, Yolanda, and his two sons, Christopher on the right and Timothy on the left.

A. L. and Kathryn visit us in Tustin
Gayla is at the left then Kathryn, A. L., and Jerry
Seated are Marty's mom and dad and Don

We are visiting Marty's cousin in Holesov, Moravia. Marty's grandfather Leopold was born in Holesov. Marty is looking over family photos and Jerry is seated on the couch next to Joska. Joska and Anna (not in this photo) are the granddaughters of the brother of Marty's grandfather.

We also visited the home of Joska's daughter
in a village near Holesov.

CHRISTMAS IN AUSTIN

Marty's mom opens her Christmas Gifts in Austin - 1977

Pat helps his granny select food at Kathryn's Christmas Dinner!

The bar was always popular!

But, even at Christmas, the climate in Austin is great for being out of doors!
From left: A. L., Pat, Timmy (Pat's stepson) and Marty's mom and dad

Pat visits with his granny while Mr. Dressler nods off

We took in New Orleans with A. L. and Kathryn
(It looks like New Orleans did us in - Marty and A. L. are in "rest and recovery")

Marty visits the "Skanzen" in Roznov pod Radhostem, Moravia. Lorraine is at left, Barbara Kunetka, a docent from the museum, Vicki (Jake's wife), and Marty

The Houston cousins arrive at the Vlcina Hotel in Frenstat to join up with us.
From Left: Jake, Marty, Vicki, Edmond Kana, Lorraine, and Barbara Kunetka

We have a meeting with some friends in the Vlcina Dining Room in Frenstat
Clockwise from left: young Dr. Dresler, his father and mother. Both Drs. Dresler are dentists in Frenstat but are not related to our Dresslers. Next, Jerry is mostly hidden by Mrs. Dresler, then Marty, Vicki, Jake, Drahomir Strnadel, the mayor of Trojanovice, partially hidden by Edmond Kana (Lorraine's husband) and Lorraine.

Links to the Family Pages

Bransford Family History
Dressler Family History
Shirley Family History
Valicek Family History
Bransford Family Photos
Dressler Family Photos
Shirley Family Photos
Valicek Family Photos
From Our Family to Yours
Early Family Memories
Europe 2000!
Marty's Home Page plus links

Email: jerrybransford@comcast.net