Fern Kosak Schenk

KOSAK SCHENK

Posted By: Connie Swearingen (email)
Date: 10/15/2010 at 23:47:54

History of Woodbury County, Iowa 1984

Fern Kosak Schenk
By Dorothy L Schenk

My mother-in-law, Fern, was a calm and loving woman. Her sense of humor and creativeness endeared her to the family.

She was born in Sioux City, Iowa, October 21, 1902, the daughter of Constantine Paul and Laura V Kosak. Constantine Paul ‘Paul’, was born of German parentage in Brooklyn, New York, on January 17, 1873. Laura V Garman was born December 5, 1873, in Cedarville, Illinois. They were married April 28, 1896, in Sioux City. They resided in a small rented house on the west side, near Perry Creek, until 1931. Their two daughters were Daisy Marie, born in 1896 and Laura Fern, born in 1902. Fern attended Central High School and was employed by The Sioux City Journal and the Standard Oil Company. She married William Carl Schenk, March 8, 1921. She was a member of the First Presbyterian Church; Morningside Chapter, Order of the Eastern Star; the Daughters of the Nile; and the Sioux City Boat Club.

Daisy married C Harmon Craswell, April 22, 1919, in Sioux City. They had three daughters: Mary Jane, born 1920; Daisy Margaret, born 1921, and Laura Ann, born 1927. In 1927, the Craswell family moved to Kent, Washington, wehre Daisy and Harmon celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary. They are now deceased.

Fern and Bill had three sons: William Carl, Jr, born 1921; Robert Paul, born 1925; and James Ray, born 1927. William Carl ‘Bill, junior’, married Viola Mae Sabo, born 1923, on June 13, 1942. Their children were Brian William, born 1948; Cheryl Laura, born 1953, died in infancy in 1954; Shirley Janet, born 1956; Paul Ray, born 1959; and Suzanne Laura; born 1964. Paul married Kari Reimer in 1982.

My husband, Robert Paul ‘Bob’ well remembers his childhood in Sioux City. Together the Kosaks and Schenks built a house at 2718 Center Street, in 1931, and the families lived together until Bob left for college and later enlisted in the Navy, 1943. His beloved grandpa, Paul, worked for the Sioux City Gas and Electric Company, at the substation near the end of the viaduct. At the end of the day, Bob and the family dog would meet Paul as he returned home on the street car. His grandmother, Laura, also used the street car to go downtown to pay the family bills, in person, using cash. She died in 1963; Paul had died in 1953.

Bob and I ‘Dorothy Ann Logan’ were married in Moville, Iowa, on September 13, 1947. (For the names of our children, please see listing under Charles W Logan.

James Ray ‘Jim’ married Marjorie Parker, born 1928, on June 22, 1951. Their children are: Timothy Ray, born 1952; Regan Paul, born 1953; and Mary Ellen, born 1956. Tim married Sharon Lee Johnson, born 1952, September 1, 1973. They have three children: Alyssa Ayne, born November 2, 1977; Patrick James, born March 17, 1980; and Emily Elizabeth, born January 10, 1983.

Regan Paul ‘Reggie’ married Barbara Ann Hailey, born 1953, on October 6, 1973. They have four children: Tara Marie, born September 18, 1974; Kevin Michael, born May 24, 1977; Kelli Jo, born June 7, 1978; and Brianna Leigh, August 17, 1982.

Mary Ellen married Craig Ward Rempp, born 1954, on September 17, 1977. They have one daughter, Sarah Elizabeth, born November 29, 1978.