Wednesday, November 12, 2008

Memorial to my grandma, Edith Balsly

Edith was the matriarch of our family... the glue that held our families together and she will forever be an inspiration to us all.

My grandma played a large part of NOT ONLY my childhood, but my entire life. She has always been there... at Thanksgiving, Christmas, Easter, birthdays and every other significant event. I am grateful for the time that we have had with her. I'm grateful for the time my children have had with her. I *think* they will remember her when they grow up.

Her sense of humor, and love of travel have carried her far. She was a humanitarian, a role model, the unsung hero in many of our lives, and a gift to us all. While I can't speak for but a fraction of this rich, woman's life, I can say this:

She was Extraordinarily loving: never missing a beat when it came to acknowledging an accomplishment or special event for someone else or having the foresight to know that we had to save so that we can properly take care of our families.

She was Genuinely forgiving: when we messed up, sometimes violating the very principles that she stood for, forgiveness still followed.

She was Uncommonly strong: the discovery of a box of Ralph's old letters to her during the war surely kept her going during his almost 6-year absence. That, along with a diligent exercise regimen for so many years... and even up until this October.

Anyone remotely connected with our family knows of her adventure to California, much of which is documented on video.

Her love of God inspired many years of service in her church from Deacon to Women's Society President and Circle leader for years. We also found notes from circle meetings in 1979 & 1980.

She practically raised her grand children and has influenced everyone she met for the better.

And during the last years of her daughter Pat's career, she shopped and cooked meals for 4 people, 3 nights a week, followed by many Bridge games. She was an avid card player and has requested a deck of cards be in her coffin!

We've all enjoyed numerous photo albums and are grateful for the technology enabling us to share some of them with you today. (in the other room, you'll find almost 400 pictures from birth until death)

Many celebrations were held in her Kreis Ln. home of 64 years. She has been blessed with good health for 95 years and was thankful to enjoy that final birthday celebration in October before her illness was diagnosed. She had a full life and confidentally told everyone "I'm going home to die". She even called her friends to tell them goodbye. All she hoped for, was to go quick and pain free.

Most don't have the opportunity to have "Death and dying parties" and she reveled in them! She told us final words of wisdom... like to count our blessings, and be thankful in all things, and bury any sorrows in doing good deeds to others. Then, we too, can have a legacy like hers. Maybe not as long as the 34,718 days she was on this earth, but hopefully close.

Before she knew she had cancer, she whispered to me at our birthday party that she lost much of her appetite and was concerned about losing 10 pounds. She said, "thatâ€™s not good for a person my age." ...knowing I donâ€™t talk to many other 95 year olds. Only days later, we got the diagnosis.

At one of these "death and dying parties," I told her it would be nice to have her around for the upcoming holidays, and her response was "...oooohhh no, Iâ€™m ready to go and in fact, I hope to be with Ralph in time for our anniversary" (This Sat. Nov. 22nd) She expects Ralph to be anxiously awaiting her at the gate and greet her with, "Edie, What took you so long?"

Well, we all know that reunion happened Tues. morning. So, my tears are tears of happinessâ€¦ and it should be for everyone here. For sheâ€™s been preparing for this occasion with great fervor and dedication, other traits for which sheâ€™ll always be remembered.

View a photo gallery

Labels: family, genealogy

Monday, September 18, 2006

Researching the following surnames

I am researching the following surnames:

Armitage, Atkinson, Balsly, Boeres, Boone, Capal, Ciner, Dornette, Dovey, Fesler / Fessler, Greiser/ Grieser, Hathaway, Heberger, Helfrich, Heninger, Holzhause, Jarman, Kenderdine, Klapkova, Kopstain, Kopstein, Lambert, Lichtfusz / Lichtfuss, Lienweber, Litzenberg, Lucas, Morgan, Nisonger, Ohlhauser, Oberwitte, Schmaltz, Schmidt, Schneider, Siebert / Seibert, Wright

If you would like to share any information, please contact me via the link below. I am interested in any information you would like to share, family notes, any photos, family recipes, and old records. Susan

Labels: genealogy, susan

Sunday, August 20, 2006

Pictures for August 2006

An album of pics through August has been put up. August was a hard month. June Morgan (Jason's aunt) died on August 10th. A big surprise. She was diagnosed with Lymphoma cancer and died 17 days later. She was a very accomplished woman, wife of Bob Morgan and Morgan's Canoe Liveries, and touched the lives of many. We have placed a memorium on the home page of the site that will link you to her large obituary in the Cincinnati Enquire, as well as a number of photo albums that included June. She will be missed.

Other news in August is that we find outselves rather happy, healthy and fortunate. We hope you can say the same and we look forward to seeing friends and family soon.

View Pics for August 2006.

Labels: family, genealogy, summer

Thursday, August 17, 2006

Farewell to a Morgan

Photo Albums of June Morgan
View June's Obituary

June Morgan passed on August 10, 2006, but she remains in our hearts. She was an incredible person who meant a lot to us all. She was a devoted, loving mother and wife and we will truly miss, but never forget, her. May she rest in peace and watch over us from above. God Bless you, June. We love you. -Jason Morgan and Family

June Morgan, age 72, resident of Warren County, Ohio died Thursday, August 10, 2006. Born in Muncie, Indiana, June was the daughter of Virgil and Mildred (Artrip) Dugger. June graduated from Western Hills High School in 1952. She married her high school sweetheart, Robert W. Morgan, on September 11, 1954, when they were both students at Miami University in Oxford, Ohio. They are the proud parents of 5 sons.

Bob taught at Sycamore High School and to supplement his income, he and June began "Canoe Trails" in the late 50's, a program which took hundreds of boys from the Greater Cincinnati area on 2-3 week long camping and canoe trips in Canada, Kentucky, Ohio, West Virginia and Tennessee. The boys knew June as "Blooming Flower", since she often would find wildflowers and wear them in her hair. On these trips, she was famous for her cooking- especially the yeast doughnuts she would make and let rise on the side of a hot canoe.

Bob and June established their first canoe livery, Morgan's Canoe and Outdoor Center, on the Little Miami River in Ft. Ancient in 1964, where they have resided since the early 1960's.

Throughout June's life, she was always involved with children and nature. She was a 4H Leader and taught children about conservation and nature. She also was instrumental in getting the Little Miami River designated as a National Wild and Scenic River, where she served on the advisory board of the Little Miami Incorporated. She served as president of the Middle Council of the Little Miami Incorporated for a time in the 60's. In 1969, she was the first woman to descend down the Gauley River in West Virginia on a whitewater raft with Bob. In 1970, she was chosen by Family Circle Magazine as Homemaker of the Year, where she was featured with her 5 boys and their pets, along with some of her famous recipes. As the grandchildren started to arrive, she instilled in them this same love of nature and animals. Her 16 grandchildren know and love her as "Jumie".

In the late 1990's, cable station HGTV featured June, Bob and their family on the program, "TheGood Life", which was broadcast nationally. By this time, 4 of their 5 sons had taken over the family canoe and outdoor businesses located in Ft. Ancient, Ohio and Brookville, Indiana. This allowed June and Bob to travel extensively in the Fla. Everglades and Louisiana where Bob would fish, and June would often paint scenes from nature.

Bob and June continued their love of sharing nature with others, by opening a small bed and breakfast eco-lodge called Morgan's Jungle Lodge in the late 1990's on the remote and pristine Osa Peninsula in Costa Rica . National Geographic lists this area as one the most "biologically diverse places on the planet". Here, she acquired yet another name, "Jungle June". June enjoyed the daily visits from the white-faced monkeys, the howler monkeys, macaws and other various rainforest animals. Many area families traveled to the lodge and recognized this as a very special place run by a very special lady.

June was preceded in death by her parents, and sister, Nancy (Dugger) Theobold. She is survived by her husband, Bob, and five children, Greg (Tracy) Morgan, Gary (Moira) Morgan, Dirk (Lori) Morgan, Rob (Michelle) Morgan and Randy (Joni) Morgan. She is also survived by 15 grandchildren, Jon and Drew Morgan; Chas and Mary Cate Morgan; Hunter Morgan, Teisha (Morgan) Widmer, Jessica, Jordan, Joni and Jadey Riewoldt; Ashley, Anne and William Morgan; and Amanda and Randall Morgan.

The visitation was held at the Bolton Lunsford Funeral Home, 3042 Harrison Ave, from 5-8PM on Wednesday August 16th.

A memorial service was held at Westwood United Methodist Church (the church they were married at,) 3460 Epworth Ave, Cincinnati, OH on Thursday, August 17, 2006 at 11 a.m.

Those wishing to give memorials are asked to consider The June Morgan River Sanctuary Fund, c/o Lebanon Citizen's National Bank, 2 North Broadway,

Lebanon Ohio, 45036. This has been set up in June's honor and will provide a place of rest and reflection for paddlers on the Little Miami River.

Photo Albums of June Morgan
View June's Obituary

Labels: family, genealogy

Monday, June 26, 2006

Searching for the Kopstein family from Bohemia

I have searched and searched and haven't been able to trace back the Kopstein family past Frank James Kopstein, born Feb 1843 in Bohemia Czechoslovakia, and Catherine Mary Klapkova, born about 1853 in Bohemia Czechoslovakia.

My great grandfather was James Steven Capal (Kopstein). He was the son of Frank and Mary Kopstein. He is a very interesting person to research. Just when I think I am finished researching him, I discover something new from his past. He was first married to Emily Valenta in Cook County, Chicago and had two boys, James and Steven. He then moved to Cincinnati, then to Campbell County Kentucky where he married my great grandmother Anna Schmidt. James and Anna had 6 boys, Frank, Raymond, Robert, Daniel, Melvin, and James. I have to say I have enjoyed learning about him and getting to know my aunt Evelyn in the process. My grandma Capal started out helping me, and she passed way in 2003. Evelyn filled in her spot.

If you want to know more information about my search, respond below.

Susan

Labels: genealogy

Tuesday, February 21, 2006

New Photo Gallery Added!

I just added a new gallery of photos. Some of the photos were submitted by Evelyn Capal. A very special thanks goes out to her. The rest of the photos came out of my Grandma Capal's old photo albums. Enjoy!

Click here to view the gallery.

Labels: family, genealogy, susan

Sunday, January 08, 2006

'Found! James Capal's draft card!

I found James Capal's draft card on Ancestry.com. It was filled out in Newport, KY in Sept. of 1918. His sister's name is listed and her address. A great find! Susan.

Labels: genealogy, susan

Click here to view a history of Morgan's and the legacies they left behind.