1976. Martin married Hattie Ira 30 Aug 1937. Their children are: Charles, Judith, Constance, Barbara and Noel. Martin was born 11 Nov 1915. Hattie was born 17 Oct 1917. Adeline married Clarence Berst 5 Nov 1941. Their children are: Rose Ann, Roberta and Joseph. Adeline was born 3 Aug 1919 and died 3 Sep 1962. Pauline married Francis Bouska 2 Jun 1941. Their children are Kathleen, Francis, George, James, Quentin, Anita, Pauline, Joseph Jerry, LaDeane and John. . Frank was born 8 Jul 1917.

Frana, Martin and Hattie (Ira)

(Charles Frana)

Martin Frana, born 11 Nov 1915, the son of Joseph and Anna (Humpal) Frana, married Hattie Ira. Hattie was born 17 Oct 1917, the daughter of Frank and Anna (Kovar) Ira. Martin and Hattie farmed until their retirement to Conover and then moved to Spillville, IA. They had 5 children: Charles, Judith, Constance, Barbara and Noel.

Charles graduated from Calmar High School and then served 4 years in the US Air Force. Charles is employed at the Iowa State Bank in Calmar. He married Doris Best. They have one son, Kenneth, and live in Calmar, IA. Judith graduated from Calmar High School and St. Teresa’s College of Winona, MN. She teaches English at South Hamilton of Jewel and lives in Ames, IA. Constance graduated from South Winneshiek High School and St. Teresa’s College of Winona. She is married to Mikeal Jones. After several years of teaching she opened a restaurant in Roseburg, OR where they presently live. Barbara graduated from South Winnshiek High School and Iowa State University in Ames. She is in a partnership that owns and operates the House of Flowers in Denver, CO. Barbara married Donald Hunt, Jr. They live in Aurora, CO. Noel graduated from South Winneshiek High School and Northeast Iowa Technical Institute in Calmar. He is an agronomist with LeRoy-Ostrander Ag. Center in Ostrander, MN and a farmer. Noel married Linda Rausch. They have 3 sons: Brian who is attending Waldorf College, Marty and Aaron who are still in school.

Frana, Wenzel and Marie (Pillipensky)

(Rebecca Neuzil and Charles Frana)

Wenzel (Vaclav) Frana was born in Obora, Austria, 6 Aug 1835. He came to America with his parents, Jacob and Barbara (Mizera) Frana, and 2 brothers and 3 sisters in May 1858. They settled on a farm near Milwaukee, Wl. In 1862, after the Civil war broke out, Wenzel went to Chicago, IL and enlisted in the Union Army (Companies D and G, 10th Regiment, Illinois Cavalry). After receiving his honorable discharge at San Antonio, TX 22 Nov 1865 he returned to Milwaukee.

On 20 May 1866 he married Marie Pillipensky at St. Peter’s Church in Milwaukee Co., Wl. Marie was born in Czechoslovakia about 1848, the daughter of Charles and Julia (Fahalek) Pillepensky. Wenzel and Marie moved with their family to IA in 1877. They settled on a farm two miles northeast of Conover. They were the parents of 11 children and were members of the St. Wenceslaus Parish.

Anton (20 Jan 1867-1 Nov 1950) married Anna M. Shindelar. Mary J. (15 Aug 1868-26 Nov 1954) married Albert Shindelar. Sophia (4 Apr 1870-10 Dec 1907) married Frank Neuzil. Albina (12 Feb 1872-4 May 1952) married John Wittak. Joseph (20 May 1874-16 Jan 1934) married Anna Humpal. Frank (1875 or 1876) fell from a horse at the age of 13 and died 16 Jan 1934. Albert (25 Feb 1879-14 Jun 1956) married Mary K. Humpal. John (6 Jun 1883-20 Jan 1927) married Christina Novak. Barbara and Julia (twins) were born 4 Mar 1885 and died. Information available for only 10 children.

Marie died 30 May 1885, less than 3 months after the birth of their twins. She was a member of St. Wenceslaus Church and is buried in the St. Wenceslaus Cemetery.

In 1891, Wenzel married Josephine Matousek at the St. Wenceslaus Catholic Church. Josephine, who came to America at an early age, was born in Czechoslovakia 18 Mar 1868. Eleven children were also born to this marriage. Stephan A. 24 Dec 1891-10 Mar 1974) married Frances Hovel and Agnes Shindelar. William (19 Feb 1893-9 Feb 1977) married Mary Hovel. Louis was born in 1894 and died the same year. Anna (16 Jun 1895-14 Sep 1975) married Earl Scheidel. Christina (23 Jan 1898-6 Mar 1966) married John Pecinovsky. James R. (14 Jun 1899-29 Jul 1971) married Adella Shindelar. Henry (10 Jul 1901-18 Jan 1980) married Alma Woldan. Frank C. (8 Feb 1903-20 Nov 1979) married Regina Shindelar. Elizabeth (3 Nov 1904-15 Jun 1976) married William Cisler. Celia (29 Oct 1906) married William M. Doubek and William Mihm. Lvdia (2 Sep 1908) married Walter Hruska.

Josephine Frana died 6 May 1943 at the age of 75. She was a member of St. Wenceslaus Parish and is buried in the St. Wenceslaus Cemetery.

Wenzel, who was perhaps the oldest of the few surviving veterans of the Civil War in Winneshiek Co., died 4 Nov 1921 at the age of 86. He was sick only about a week and was not confined to his bed until the last day when he suffered a fatal stroke of paralysis. At the time of his death Wenzel had 49 grandchildren and 12 greatgrandchildren. He was a member of the Decorah Post of the Grand Army of the Republic and St. Wenceslaus Parish. His funeral was held 7 Nov 1921 with Reverend Broz officiating. He is buried in the St. Wenceslaus Church cemetery in Spillville, IA.

Fretheim, Henry and Annie (Severson)

(Sonja Farley, Ruth C. Fretheim and Olive Sims)

Henry H. Fretheim was born 2 Feb 1864 in Allamakee Co. He was the son of John and Carrie (Anderson) Fretheim. Both John and Carrie were born in Norway. John came to America as a young man and settled in Allamakee Co. When Henry was about 4 years old the family moved to Madison Twp., Winneshiek Co. where his father purchased a 150 acre farm. Henry was reared and educated in Madison Twp. When he was 15 he moved back to Allamakee Co. where he operated a farm his father owned. When he was 21 Henry returned to Madison