Brief History of Erna Schulz & her family by John Colonell

Brief History of Erna Schulz & her family by John Colonell

"My sister Gerry, and her daughters Marie and Pearl all worked as waitresses at the Morrison Hotel, as did a girl named Erna Schulz. Marie and Pearl invited Erna to a small party, celebrating their uncle’s (my) birthday. They didn’t tell her it was my 22nd, so Erna declined, assuming this uncle was as old as her uncles. But the next time she was invited to accompany us to a dance, her then boyfriend had stood her up for some reason so she accepted. And that was the beginning of along lasting relationship. Three months after we met, we were married by a Justice of the Peace, in Crown Point, Indiana. This union was blessed with two great children, Jack and Jean..

Erna’s parents, Carl and Emily Schulz, were less than enthused about their daughter’s choice, her dad said it wouldn’t last six months. Her brothers Ed and Herb did not object and seemed to accept me.

Ed was married once, his parents took a dim view of his choice and it didn’t last. Ed always seemed to be the outsider, but he and I got along well.

Herb married Frances, I don’t recall her maiden name. They had two children, Jimmy and Judy. Jimmy was married at least twice and had several kids, whose names I can’t provide . Jimmy died a few years ago of leukemia. Judy married Jerry Burns, and they have two children. One of them is Corby, but I don’t have the name of the other. There may be more information available in the Colonell Family Album, which has numerous pictures of our families, with some commentary.

A few more facts about our immediate family may be in order. Erna’s dad, Carl Schulz, was born in Essen, Germany and left home when he was about 14. He worked as a cabin boy aboard passenger liners, giving him the experience required in dealing with the public and serving food. After an unknown number of years in this type of work, which took him around the world several times, he finally settled in the U.S. and became a U.S.citizen. He was very proud of his citizenship and always carried his naturalization papers with him. He worked as a Waiter, Waiter Captain and Head Waiter, at different hotels in Baltimore, Atlantic City, Chicago and Coronado. Carl had a brother, who also emigrated to the U.S., and a sister who remained in Germany. No info is available on either of them.

Erna’s mother was born Emily Katherine Maasch, in Baltimore, Maryland.. I am not certain, but believe she had two brothers, Ed and George, and a sister, Elizabeth. There were families named Schludelberg and Schabdach involved, but I am fuzzy on who fits where. I do know that George married Sophia Violet Schludelberg, later referred to as Uncle George and Aunt Vi, aka Uncle Fud and Aunt Flap I believe Elizabeth married a Schabdach, as Erna’s favorite cousin’s maiden name was Lois Schabdach. In their growing up years at any family gathering, they were referred to as Sister Schulz and Sister Schabdach. ( Sounds like an old time revival!). Practically all of Erna’s relatives called her Sis or Sister, that includes her parents and brothers. I often wondered if they remembered her name.

Carl and Emily met in Baltimore and were married there. They had five children, Edith who died in infancy, Carl who died at the age of 12, of a defective heart, Edward, Herbert and Erna. They lived in Baltimore until Erna was about five years old, then moved to Chicago, where they stayed until about 1942, when they moved to San Diego (to be near their daughter and grandchildren). Emily was always the mother, homemaker, child raiser,etc. and never worked at a job.

Ed, Herb and Erna finished their schooling in Chicago. Erna attended elementary school at a Lutheran school, where they also taught German. She said they learned to sing songs in German, but she had no idea what she was singing about. She attended Flower Tech High School, and graduated with excellent grades.. Ed dropped out of school before graduation. There was so much doubt about Herb, that his picture was left out of the yearbook . Erna attended Flower Tech High School, and graduated with excellent grades."

written by John Colonell