Alan, my youngest first cousin and only son of this union,
could only contribute a few facts about his mother as a child. That time
in her life may be too hurtful for her. I do know that she was born March
16, 1936. She could only tell him that she
grew up very poor in Savanna, MO a small town north of St. Joseph, MO. He
dad was 40 years older than her mother. She was around 14 and he was about
70 years old when he died. I know she had a sister
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(Aunt Gladys, Helen-my Mother and her sister) and at least one
brother.
This is my Aunt Gladys when I met her. She and Uncle Herman were living in
Topeka, KS where his parents and two sisters lived. She provided us with a
new cousin, Tina who was about 4 or 5 years old then whom Uncle Herman had adopted as
his own. She was also pregnant. Aunt Gladys was loved right off the bat.
She seemed to fit right like a glove with all of us loud, laughing Kerber clan.
I think I liked her most because she was so nice to my cousins, Les, Bob and
Kathy just as Aunt Cecelia was always so nice to Alan and Tina.
Tina Marie Russell Kerber was born October 23, 1961 in
St. Joseph, MO
I don't have a baby picture of Tina but here she is shown with Alan a
toddler.
This is the last picture that I have of Tina taken in August of 2010 to the
left of Denice, daughter of Judy, wife of Bob Kerber.
Alan Eugene Kerber was born November 19, 1965 in
Topeka, Shawnee CO, Kansas.
This picture taken November 2010 in Ft Worth, Texas not long after he and
Lisa moved there
from Ill.
I believe they lived in Wichita, Kansas. After Uncle
Herman experiences a brain aneurism they moved back to St. Joseph, MO
(Helen, Herman, Gladys, Tina with Chrissy-my daughter in front and Alan)
and bought a old Victorian duplex on 24th Street
where Tina and Alan grew up and Uncle Herman lived until his death.
Aunt Gladys was a wonderful cook.
I believe she worked in a restaurant before marriage. My favorite was her
wild rice dressing! She was young and fun and took care of me before and
after the delivery of my first baby.
After the kids were grown my Aunt and Uncle went
their separate ways and remarried. But Aunt Gladys and Aunt Cecelia
remained friends with Uncle Herman and the families all got together for get to-gethers
and holidays. The last time we were all together was at Uncle Herman's
80th birthday.
I was able to hug both my much loved Aunts for the last time. Alan
surprised all of us by driving in to join us at the celebration. (Lisa-Alan's
wife, Aunt Gladys, Alan and daughter, Tiffani)
Uncle Herman left this world January 31, 2007. I miss his booming
voice, his bawdy humor and his laughter, his determination that his families
live in harmony, his love and care of his parents and sisters, his love and
service of country. We all miss him.