OH WHERE, OH WHERE, HAVE LIFE'S DIRECTIONS TAKEN ME by Rudy Jobba Family Photos It is to a place far away from where I was born and first saw the light of day. Born in the land of my ancestors, the Donau Banat Schwabians, I at six years of age wandered off with m parents to a far away place known to many at that time as the new world Canada.

I was born in the year 1923 in the town of Comlosul in the county of Timis-Torontal where my parents resided at the time.  They were actually both permanent town folk of Knees. My father was a native Kneeser.  My mother was born in Detta, subsequently lived in Gataia, until the family took up residence in Knees when she was in her early teenage years.  At the time of my birth and that of my sister, Julia, in 1922, my father was the proprietor of a local Comlosul butchery (Fleischbank).  Early on after our birth the opportunity arose for father to acquire a similar store in Knees. He readily seized the occasion, sold the butchery in Comlosul and purchased a similar one in Knees. This homecoming was an exceptional event for the extended family.

I now recount a short tale to convey why, to this day, I consider myself to be a Donau Kneeser since I do not, for obvious reasons, have any remembrances of my days in Comlosul.  However, I do have some limited recall of my short life span in Knees prior to immigrating to Canada with mother and sister, father having gone ahead the previous year.

What stands out in my mind to this day is a much-treasured memory of a singular event when I was in the company of my paternal Grandfather “ Nikolaus Jobba “ a true 'Schwob'. It was an occurrence of which I can rightly say I took part in a Donau – Schwabian custom and Kneeser way of life.

The occasion was one of his many trips by horse and wagon to his much beloved vineyard (Weingarten) in his fields outside of town. He took great pride and satisfaction in maintaining the vineyard by the process of trimming and spraying the vines.  The most exhilarating moment for me during this outing came about when he as a considerate Grandfather instinctively recalled what he also enjoyed as a youngster.

I assume, as is the case with most young boys, being given the chance to perform a task generally done by adults is a Hallmark event to a young lad.  In my case it was the fact that he permitted me to hold the harness reins for a little while when he lit up his pipe and had a short smoke, all the while still holding on to the reins, but at the rear portion.  Having been given this token chore filled me with great pride and gladness.  On observing Otta, he also appeared to enjoy seeing my delight.

In now thinking back to this time, it saddens me greatly to realize of the many such Schwabian ways of life it was it was not ordained for me to further be a part of.
 Now it is with a tinge of pride and sadness that I wish to portray the antecedent history of both my Paternal and Maternal Families. Sadness, because in almost all instances, I have little or no awareness of their personalities and characteristics. The only persons of which I can recall having a semblance of their personal likeness is my Nikolaus Otta and my maternal Great Grandmother Anna Eck, and Grandmother Eva Habich.  Although as a young child I did have some exposure and daily passing contact with other family members at large, I cannot now form a mental image of those that were related and in nearby surroundings to me.

With the advent of our family coming to Canada and the intervention of the Second World War our family, to the best of my knowledge, had minimal contact with family members back in the old country. It is only within the past two years, as the result of having by chance established contact with my Kneeser Landsmann Alex Leeb by way of the Internet – Linking on to the DVHH – Donauschwabian Villages Helping Hands Site that I have gained most of the pertinent historical background information relating to both of my Paternal and Maternal families.

THE JOBBA FAMILY

My Jobba lineage stems from Niedervolz Luxembourg, District of Wiltz Lux., and originally settled in Gertianosch / Banat – Year 1770. From there they re-settled into different parts of Banat.  The first Jobba to settle there was actually one Johann JOPA.  Here we see how over time, venues, and different dialects, all had a marked effect on changes in names.

My paternal Grandmother’s maiden name was Eva Schadeck. Her family lineage also stems from Luxembourg. The first Schadeck of record was Johann Nikolaus born in the year 1730 in SYREN Luxembourg and came to Jahrmark Banat in 1770 and then to Gottlob in 1774.  I do not have any knowledge of the date and place where she met and then married my “OTTA” Nikolaus. From passing information relayed to me early on by my father, she gave birth to five (5) children, two daughters and three (3) sons, father being one of the sons.  

It is with sorrow that the only knowledge I have of her is that she died when my father was only seven (7) years of age, which would have been around 1903, in the town of Knees.  She is buried in the Knees cemetery. The cause of death was the Cholera epidemic that was prevalent at the time.    

Of my fathers, sisters, and brothers I have not any distinct awareness as to their personalities.  From what information was given to me by my father I recall him telling me that his sisters were the two oldest of the children in the family. The sisters and brothers names in order of age were:

Katharina - Kati Tant
Magdalena - Leni Tant
Nikolaus - Niklos Onkel
Johann - Hans, my Father
Philip - Philip Onkel

The only sparse words I received about them from time to time from either my father or mother were primarily as to the names of the towns where they resided.  I do now recall being told that my Kati Tant married into the town of either Klein Jetscha or Gross Jetscha. I never heard tell of her husbands Christian or family name.  They had one son, and his name was Nikolaus.

My Leni Tant lived in the same town, Knees, as did our family. She was married to a certain Nikolaus Frick. They had two children, a daughter, Catharina, and a son, Nikolaus. They were significantly older than my sister or I by intervals of from fourteen to sixteen years. From my Baptismal document left to me by my by my parents, I can see Catharina in effect my cousin was my Godmother at my Baptism.

The Church Proclamation reads:  “Das HL. Sakrament Der Taufe Emfing Rudolf Franz Jobba in Der Rom. Katholisch. Kirche Zu Comlos am 7 Okt. 1923 in Gegenwart Der Paten Catharina Frick Und Franz Brunner. Michael Buchecker Pfarrer”

Franz Brunner was my mother's younger brother.  Of Catharina’s brother, Nikolaus, I do not have one bit of information.  Obviously they being much older I do not remember having any close contact with them. From information provided to me, again by Landsmann Alex Leeb, since he has access to abundant historical data, he furnished me with a record of Nikolaus Frick (Son) my cousin. He was born Oct. 15,1910 in Knees and died there on FEB.1, 1944.  In his time he was married to Christiana Schuch of Billed, daughter of K. Schuch and K.Speicher on NOV 14, 1935.

Here I take the opportunity to insert what to me has been a somewhat fond anecdote, which my mother related to me on a number of occasions.  Although it is from long ago, it still brings back to me a fond memory of times during my childhood. Seems my Leni Tant had a black dog and as I had completely blond hair as a small boy, Leni Tant named us the Der Weise Rudi und Der Schwarze Rudi.

I now return to recount that which concerns the rest of my father’s siblings.  Of my father’s older brother Niklos, I did not know him or ever having seen him as a youngster.  He was evidently already married and lived in a Banat town called Sarafol with his wife, Susanna, who was native to this town.  I eventually did get to meet him and his wife by coincidence through our immigration to Montreal, Canada.  He and wife had earlier come to Montreal in the late twenties prior to my father’s arrival.  Although they lived in rather close proximity to our family, my recollection is only having very limited contact with them. They did not have any children.  I was told they had no intention of remaining in Canada on a permanent basis, and surely enough, after a few years stay, they returned to their home town in Romania in 1935-36 prior to World War II.

Father’s younger brother “ Philip “ was completely unknown to me.  How could he have been known to me, since he left home as a very young man long before I was born to relocate himself to Szeged, Hungary to further his Academic Studies.  He graduated   from the University with a Degree in Law.

Regarding Onkel Philip, my father told me that he never returned home to Knees, and did not thereafter have any form of communication with any of his family members save only with his father and then on only rare occasions.

THE BRUNNER FAMILY

Based on valuable data given to me by now friend, Alex, I can trace back history relating to my Brunner ancestors.  My Great, Great Grandfather Johann Brunner was born in the Austrian Tirol, circa 1743, and died in Detta on August 26, 1782.  He was married to Anna Maria Schmidt who was born on September 8, 1745. They were married in Detta on November 5, 1771, and were the Great Grandparents to my Grandfather Rudolf Brunner.  As to his grandparents and parents, I have no information about them.

Of what I was told by my Mother, my Grandfather was an active soldier in the Hungarian Army during World War I, and that he died before my birth in 1923.  Via some vague information, given to me by mother, he was supposedly born circa 1871.  I do not know if he had any sisters or brothers. From what I commented on earlier in my story narrative re: my mother being born in Detta, I draw the conclusion that mother’s older and younger siblings like herself were all born in Detta.

Upon a move from Detta, the family moved to Gataia and then ultimately to permanent residence in Knees. Of my Grandfather’s life in Knees, I know that prior to his time as an officer in the Hungarian Army and for some time following the war, having been schooled in commerce, he owned the Flour Mill in Knees.

During the war and after his death his wife, my Gross Mutter, Eva Habich, according to my mother, conducted the business operation of the Mill, until according to friend Alex; it was sold to a certain Herr Ballmann in 1928.

Again through the courtesy of Alex, I was most fortunate in obtaining what is to me a most prized historical photographic reproduction depicting among others my Rudolf Brunner Grandfather and his son, my Onkel Jani.  It is a picture of WWI Kneeser war veterans, some who were still among the living and those who died by the end of this most infamous of wars. The momentous inscription reflected thereon is a deep expression of a towns pride and sorrowful emotions for all whom by their bravery made sacrifices to uphold their way of life. The inscription reads:

“ZUR  EHRE DER TOTEN UND LEBENDEN KRIEGER VON KNEZ"

This photographic depiction of my Grandfather and his Son is the only tangible keepsake I will ever have of their likeness.

It is now fitting to say thank you to a kind “Kneeser Gross mutter” that now still resides in Knees. Her name is EVA MINNICH.  It is she who retains the original portrait by proudly exhibiting it as a wall hanging in her modest Parade Zimmer.  Is it not wonderful how fate can bring gladness in the most unexpected of situations?  In this instance it is when ever so remotely Evi Minnich came into my life as the Instrument of my Good Fortune.

THE BRUNNER FAMILY - MY GRANDMOTHER EVA HABICH

Once more due to the absence of any information on my part, Alex by now my good friend obtained the background history of my Grandmothers HABICH Family.  His e-mail message to me with this information was highlighted with the Salutation, “Hello RUDY, I have great News for you. Mein Leiber Landsmann, I have found your Grandmother EVA HABICH.”  You can well grasp the extreme exhilaration that overcame my being the moment this was made known to me.  Not to excessively dramatize the occurrence, I am sure you will understand that when one has sought word about a long lost loved one, it is an auspicious time in a person’s life.

The earliest known identified Habich family was Martin Habich and his wife Katharina Genzinger. They were my Great, Great Grandparents.  Their son Johann Habich, my Great Grandfather, was born in Warjasch on July 30, 1848.  He was married to Anna Eck my Great Grandmother, born on January 1, 1853 in Komlosch, daughter of Mathias Eck and Barbara Schanen. The date of their wedding was May 7, 1871.  The witnesses were Mathias Gillich and Karl Schnur.   They had seven children of which four died within days of birth. 

Of the other three that survived was my Grandmother Eva Habich born on June 17, 1875.  She passed away sometime between 1953 and 1957.  I was never able to get information as to the exact date.  She is buried in the cemetery in Knees.  From words describing her, my mother portrayed her as a very disciplined, resourceful and determined person. She most likely had to be when taking into consideration the responsibilities she was entrusted with managing my Grandfather’s Flour Mill during his absence while serving in the army during WWI. 

In thinking back to the time in Knees, I do remember her being very forthcoming to me.  I was in a way her only male grandchild at the age when Grandparents can verbally indulge themselves in being gratuitous to their grandchildren.  Indeed, she had one other grandson in Knees, that of my mother’s youngest sister, however he was less than a year old at that time.  As in the case of my “ Jobba” Otta, I sadly must say I do not have a picture of her to heighten my senses of her being.  The only real life account that I have of her since departing Knees in 1929 came to me from Alex in an e-mail message he sent to me on May 26, 2005.  He wrote, “RE: your Grandmother Eva Habich, I would see her when walking by her house sitting on her street bench, and in a polite manner I would greet her with a “Gruss Gott, Ves Eva”.  She would kindly respond by nodding her head in grateful reply.”

This to me is a notable occurrence, and took place while Alex as a young boy was still living back home in Knees.  This considerate act merits an expression of gratitude on my part.

Gross Mutter Eva gave birth to five children, all of who survived and grew up to adulthood.  Their names and in the order of their age are:

Johann - Jani Onkel
Julianna - Juliska Tant
Elizabeth - My Mother
Katharina - Katiza Tant
Franz - Feri Onkel

Here before I move on to give a brief outline of my uncles and aunts, I wish to pause and take the opportunity to express my grateful thanks again to Alex for the tremendous help and contribution that he gave me on the many elements of uncovering my Kneeser family background.  As I once said in one of my e-mail messages to the DVHH- Quote “Alex to me is a Godsend, my direct link to my long lost Paternal and Maternal Families in the Schwabian Homeland of my birth for which until now I had only a modicum of recollection of the members of the Jobba and Brunner Families.”

Of my mothers and brothers the one I have some limited information is of her older brother, Jani.  I know he was married to a woman by the name of Elizabetha (Lisl) Kuhn. They did not have any children.  According to Alex, my uncle was his music teacher (violin) for three years, and says also he was a good teacher who thought highly of him to the point where Uncle Jani said he would have loved to have him play in his Orchestra, but as Alex tells it  “It was not to be”.  He goes on to say that my uncle was an officer in the Hungarian Army during WWI. Following the war he was most active as a composer and director of music, and he continued to give music lessons.  Alex further says he was still one of his students until two weeks prior to my Uncle’s untimely death in 1949/50, at the rather early age of 54 or 55 years, which was a shock to many in the community.  As fate would have it, Alex says he was one of the altar boys (Mass Servers) at the funeral service.

As to my Mother’s sister, Juliska, I do not ever remember seeing her or hearing from her except that I was told by my mother she was married into the town of Moritzfeld at a young age to a gentleman by the name of “Kern”. They supposedly had two children, both boys, who both met their untimely death during military service in WWII.  I did not ever get to know their Christian names.

In connection with Mother’s younger sister, Katiza, I vaguely recall she lived in our town but in a location not close by to our own home.  She was married to a Herr Andras “Bandi” Jenes, a man of Hungarian origin.  He purportedly was a practicing notary.  As far as I can remember they had one daughter whose name was Annuska.

Of my Feri Onkel, I know from my baptismal certificate that he was my Godfather.  Apart from that, it was not my good fortune to know him at my young age.  According to my Mother, he was most often away from home for extended periods starting when he first began his school years. First he went to primary and secondary classes in Temesvar and progressively moved on to educational institution in Arad before going to the University in Szeged from which he graduated with a degree in engineering. 

As Alex has also told me, rarely did my Feri Onkel make visits back to Knees.  On occasions when he did visit his mother, he often also came to visit one of Alex’s uncles and they would play games of Chess. They renewed and enjoyed each other’s company, always speaking in the Hungarian language. I’m further told that he never was married.  As to his lifelong engagements and activities, these are unknown to me as is also his time and place of death.

My PARENTS  - JOHANN JOBBA AND ELIZABETHA BRUNNER

I now turn to describe the life experiences of my Parents.

My parents were both born in and during the Austrian – Hungarian Monarchy. My Father was born in Knees in 1896.  My Mother was born in Detta in 1900  Father like most young men of his time started their schooling in Knees, and did some secondary grades in Temesvar.  After this he was by his father assigned to a master butcher as an apprentice to learn the trade from the ground up as was the custom in the old country.   At the time, it meant that they had to cope with starting to butcher the live animals for final disbursement to gross merchandisers and to individual clients as finished products ready for consumption.

Subsequent to having received his certification, he took upon himself the objective of also obtaining a like certificate in the trade of specialized sausage making.  Here too he achieved his aim and shortly thereafter commenced to work in his trade as an employee in Temesvar.

With the coming of World War I in 1914, all normal lifestyle quickly came to a halt.   Most young men were drafted into the Hungarian Army, my father no less among them.  He was then 18 years of age.  I do not know how long he was actually in the war zone because he always tried to avoid making any reference to it.  However, at one time he told us that he was captured as a prisoner of war in Russia and was freed to return home at the end of hostilities in 1918 at 22 years old.  I am not aware as to his activities on his return, but it is likely he went back to employment for a period of time prior to his marriage to my Mother.

My parents were wed on October 13, 1921 in Knees, and soon thereafter my sister Juliska was born on July 11, 1922.  At the time of my birth in 1923, my father was the owner of a local butcher shop in Comlos.  At this juncture you will already have read in the earlier part of my narrative “ The opportunity that came about for him to buy another butcher shop in his home town of Knees.”   Father retained ownership of the Kneeser butchery right to the time he made his decision to immigrate to Canada and locate the family in Montreal.

He arrived in March 1928, and mother and children the year following in 1929.

On his arrival he immediately set out to locate premises suitable for the opening up of a new butcher shop. To his good fortune, he shortly thereafter found the location of his choice both as to the suitability of purpose and in the area that he considered best to gain the maximum potential number of clients.  He operated and maintained the shop from start up when it was a two-man operation and four years later the staff had grown to four.  During the following years up to the year 1942, when he ceased ownership, the number of the staff had grown to seven.

There were two main factors as to the reasons for relinquishing the business.  The first reason was due to his physical condition.  He had been afflicted with an arthritic condition for sometime, starting a couple of years after arriving in Canada.  It progressively worsened to the point where he could no longer perform the work effort called for in his chosen trade.  The other cause was attributable to the effect the depression had on general economic conditions making it far less profitable to stay the course.

My mother like most girls of her time was engaged in the kind of activities, which were customary to their age and place prevailing at various times during their childhood and teenage years. Her attendance at schools started in kindergarten and at the age of six began regular school classes.  From what mother spoke of regarding her school days, we were told that she and her sisters received all their education in schools administered by Religious Sisters in Hungarian Educational Institutions.

Upon completion of school attendance, mother as most young ladies spent much of their time absorbing from their mothers and grandmothers the ways and means of looking after a family household up to their time of marriage, which for the many was a foregone conclusion.

As a concluding note regarding my parents, I here reflect on the dates of their respective passing: Mother died on January 7, 1969.  Father passed away on March 17, 1985. They are both buried in the Notre- Dame Des Neiges Cemetery in Montreal, Quebec, Canada.

MY JOURNEY TO CANADA, 1929

At this stage in my narrative on the life and times of the Jobba family, I ask for your indulgence by permitting me at this point to relate my story of July 1/05 to the DVHH-L of my trip by Ocean liner from Knees, Romania to Montreal in1929, following I will then continue to tell the story of my direct family as it relates to their individual activities and achievements.

Subject: FOOD ON SHIPS
Date: Fri, 1 Jul 2005 15:56:14 -0400

Subject:
Geschichte über die Einwanderung der Donauschschwaben nach Kanada - America.

Most of our discourse on the Donauschwaben-Villages-L list to date has primarily been centered on the sordid conditions of the Steerage accommodations & the less than adequate food quality served to them during their journeys by Ocean Liners to the new world. We should no less however also concentrate on the broader circumstances pertaining to their planned Immigration to a world largely unknown far from their " HEIMAT". The tremendous stress, anguish, & dislocation, which they had to bear, was no doubt a harrowing experience, especially in those cases where a mother was traveling alone with her young children.

At this point, because I have been encouraged by fellow Listers, Nancy, Susan, Alex, & Others to tell my story, I will now relate for you the remembrances of a young six year old boy who immigrated from KNEES Romania to Montreal, Quebec, Canada in the year 1929. Truth be told my mother during my youth did at times relate certain occurrences me, but all in all what I now tell are my own recollections.

The most vivid occurrence, which I can recall, took place on the very day we were to depart from home by train from Knees to Temesvar. In recalling the event now, it is of profound meaning& touches me deeply. No doubt many of our Landsleute experienced much the same emotional situations. During a parting conversation between my mother, her mother, and mother’s grandmother at which I was present, my Uhrgrossmutter at one point said to me " Ya Ya Rudi wenn du jest fort farst in die weite weite velt dan sehen wir dich nimmer mehr " I responded to her lament saying; "Uhrgrossmutter du wirst mich weiter sehen, wir werden Dir bilder schicken" With tears in her eyes she said " Ya mein kind aber weiter hin kennen wir dich nichtmehr so lieblich umarmen."

One other situation I remember more so than others pertained to food. I overheard the elders speaking of being much concerned about our food cache, which to some extent was to be sufficient to last for the for the period of our trip. I recall they prepared a "Brotsak" as was the traditional custom. Although it contained some dried meats, fruits of diverse kinds which grew in abundance in the Banat homeland, by far the largest portion of the contents was that of the proverbial Hard Dried SALAMI, of which we had as I recall at least two Stangl -? Whole long sausage. with that we also had my favourite Salzkipfel and Semel brotchen.

So off we went accompanied by my "Frick Onkel" the husband of my father’s sister "Leni Tant" and herself. Naturally, Onkel drove us mother, sister and I to the town’s railway station by horse and wagon for the trip to Temesvar. Beyond Temesvar to our arrival in Hamburg Germany I do not have any recall of events during this interval. What I do remember is our stay in the Ubersee Heim in Hamburg where we were billeted for what seemed a long time, prior to our departure by steamboat across the English Channel for the port of Liverpool. The interval there was of short duration prior to boarding the ocean liner ARABIC for the overseas trip to Halifax Nova Scotia Canada.

The steamboat ride across the channel was to me a life-threatening episode. I’m sure anyone who has had this experience can confirm-that when the waters in the channel are in an uproar there is little that is more terrifying. To add to mother’s many concerns, my sister took seriously ill with seasickness, the duration of which lasted well beyond the passage across the channel as many "Listers" have already cited in some detail, we too experienced the same adverse conditions during our voyage across the Atlantic. The accommodation, food, & all round attention given to Immigrant passengers seemed to be of minimal concern to those in command. The most discomforting condition, which contributed to our ill feeling, was the very obnoxious odor coming from the engine room locations. These were close by to the steerage sections thereby resulting in permeating -saturating all within the surrounding areas. It even caused one’s breathing & taste to be with a foul after taste when consuming our food .The only good aspect that I can recall of what seemed like a never ending sojourned was the prevailing good weather and the calm seas. The only delicacy we received on board was bananas, the like of which we had not eaten before. Although in most instances these were over-ripened, we nevertheless craved the sweet taste of this new fruit.

As already been said the main mode of passenger accommodation was in steerage. I guess even those who had the means to a better class of travel did take steerage in order to conserve their monies for the unknown circumstances that may await them in a land unknown to them. Here Irish to inject an observation pertaining to somewhat of a difference RE: immigration to the USA VS CANADA. This is mainly from my own perspective. Persons coming to the USA had the benefit of looking forward in some form or other to being received by Landsleute who were to some extent already integrated into their communities where they resided. In many instances these earlier peoples had already organized and established their churches, social clubs, etc. In this way the new immigrants were not altogether left to their own wits and not with the feeling of abject isolation. Too they had only to adjust to the learning of one new language. ENGLISH.

On the other hand those of us who came to Canada in the late 20,s & during the 30;s there was primarily only one main destination. It was the city of Montreal, which at the time was the Financial & Manufacturing centre of Canada.That, s where the Immigrants expected to find jobs in order to improve their lot for themselves and their children. In the absence of favourable situations such as described earlier for Landsleute going to the U.S., settling into a new country with no know how of the FRENCH nor ENGLISH language was a distinct hardship for most of the newcomers
To compound this setback the 1930,S depression effected all of the population and one can well imagine the hardship resulting for the new Immigrants.

What an extreme disappointment for our Schwabische parents, who for the most part were in the 25 to 35 year old range and had looked forward to improving their position in life for themselves and their children. Joblessness reigned supreme and for the newcomers who neither spoke French nor English the chance of finding a job, at least for the men was NIL. I recall hearing conversations among them where the sole topic was " Wer hat etwas neues gefunden wo arbeit moglichkeit existiert " This was largely the everyday subject of what they had to say to one another. In time many suffered from hopelessness, extreme depression, & in a few cases that I know of the end result sad to say was suicide.

In those days it was the women who by hard labour, working as " HOUSE CLEANERS" for the established gentry or as sewing machine operators, at low pay, in the sweat shop dress making factories, bore the heavy responsibilities of trying to keep their families fed with meager sustenance and doing their utmost in maintaining the family unit.

The general conditions which I have portrayed in all of the foregoing prevailed to a great extent for the duration of the 1930S & well into the early 1940,S, when as the result of the 2nd world war employment opportunities came about for men and women, respective of one’s fluency in either the French or English language. Gradually the conditions improved for most of the citizens, as was also the case for the Schwaben who by their " Schwowische Fleis" made good progress in furthering the future aspirations of both parents and their children.

I am sure that which I have written here is familiar to some of you. However it is the story of one individual who actually lived this experience as a young boy. As then, even now it still resonates with me & no doubt will do so until the end of my time.

Dankeschoen for giving me the opportunity to tell my story.
From your long lost Landsmann of 76 yrs.ago.

Best Regards to all.
Rudy. 

MY PERSONAL ACCOUNT

My personal route (Lebenslauf) to life in Canada began at the age of six on arrival in Montreal at the middle of the month of August 1929.  It was a well-timed occasion just a short period prior to the opening of the new school year. Coincidentally it was also for a number of reasons favorable to my and my sister’s integration into new subject matter in the English language

Just before the time of our coming a number of Donau-Schwabian men had petitioned the Roman Catholic Archdiocese to bring into being a “Parish Mission” for members of the then small German Community. This petition was favorably received and granted.  In the early part of May 1930 the parish came into existence under the name :Sankt Bonifatius R.C Deutsche Gemeinde Zu Montreal.

The first parish priest was Reverend Tiburtius Huempfner of the Cistercian Order whose tenure only lasted for six months and then was recalled to Rome by his Superiors.   Following Reverend Huempfner’s departure, the Bishop of Montreal assigned Father Adalbert Debelt - O.F.M., a Franciscan priest, to the parish.  After becoming oriented with prevailing circumstances within the parish, Father Debelt set for himself the objective of establishing a limited course of study in the German language for the young German speaking school children in religion (catechism) and German Reading within the primary grades. The school was located within the boundaries of the parish and where almost all of the parishioners resided.  To bring the goal of the German instructions to reality required teachers competent in the German language.  Father Debelt spared no effort towards acquiring these personnel and he was soon successful in finding two persons to take on the positions.  The RC School Commission of Montreal formally hired them.

In addition to giving limited instructions in German, they were also fluent in the English language.  As both teachers were so influential in all of the children’s  development and integration in all phases of their schooling, especially their rapid absorption of the English language.  It is with humble recognition that I dare to mention their respective names: Herr Karl Schreiner and Herr Heinrich Hock.

After reading much of the foregoing history of the creation and initial ongoing activity within the parish, you might well ponder what relevance my related discourse might have to my personal route to life in Canada.  It no doubt gives insight to what constructive planning will achieve as put into action by Father Debelt towards the well-founded and timely integration of the young German immigrant school children in their newfound life in Canada.

In my own case, as was for children generally; the start of a new venture began with the start of the first school year. After completing primary and secondary education, I then entered a Montreal Technical Institute (Mechanical).   Upon graduating, I temporarily joined the work force in the war- time defense industry. My initial employment was as a technician in a naval ship maintenance facility.

Subsequently, I was hired into the Aircraft Industry engaged in the manufacture of the “Harvard” Aircraft that was the mainstay flight aircraft of the British Overseas Pilot Training Program.  I was the department supervisor in the production of the hydraulic components used in the Harvard Aircraft.  During this period I enrolled in the faculty of Commerce at then Sir George Williams College where I successfully completed three years of studies during evening classes. Formal graduation escaped me due to diverse happenings, which among others were my reluctance to continue and some health adversities in the family. Over time I also took evening lectures in Accounting and Labor Relations.

I spent the bulk of my years of employment with one company, thirty-four years, starting with Northern Electric, which later became known as Northern Telecom and now is called Nortel Networks.  I began with the company in1945 and took voluntary retirement in 1979, taking one-year leave of paid absence prior to officially going on pension in January 1980. 

During my time with the firm I worked the first twenty years in various Manufacturing Departments starting as a first line Supervisor and subsequently in a number of Management Positions within the Telephone Manufacturing Division. The last appointment in the division was that as Divisional Manger of Purchasing. Then I was transferred to the Company Head Offices and appointed to the position of Corporate Manager of Procurement for the Manufacturing Section of the Company.
After some years in this position, I held a number of special assignments in Head Office.    

MY WIFE, CHILDREN & GRANDCHILDREN

I will now reveal some historical lore concerning that of my wife, children and grandchildren.

My wife, Emma, and I have now been married for sixty-one (61) years.  During our early courtship my mother on speaking with her for the first time, said to me after their first meeting, “Rudi, she is the girl for you.”  As it turned out, my mother surely was a superb judge of what was best for me, and I did not wait a moment too long to make sure she did not escape from my initial hold of her.  And so we were wed at the early age of twenty-two and twenty-one, she naturally being the younger.
In praise of her, I must say she has always been a steadfast and loving wife and mother to me and the children and grandchildren.  As is the rule in many families, it is mainly mother that lovingly binds the family together through times of joy and sadness.
Emma and I getting to know each other was not accidental because we knew one another from the time we were in grade school and from our attendance and participation in parish activities. Throughout our married life together, Emma surely made more than her fair share of carrying the overall workload that is required to maintain and improve the necessary stability in the life of the family.  By her nature she was always and still is a very industrious lady and is rarely unoccupied, always finding some project or other to engage in.  Even to this day at eighty-two, she still enjoys keeping busy.

Here I now publicly express my deep gratitude to Her for the Wonderful Contribution she has made and still makes in furthering our way of life. 

Finally just a short note as to Emma’s heritage.  She is of German heritage on her Father’s side and Slovak origin on her Mother’s side.  Her parents, she and her siblings, apart from normally using the English language on a daily basis, also spoke the German language.

Emma was born in the town of Spisska-Bela in 1924 in the region of the Tatra Mountains, which at the time was part of Czech-Slovakia.  She immigrated to Canada in 1933.

I will now present a synopsis pertaining to our children and grandchildren.

Our oldest child is Evenly, now 57 years of age. She has been married to Robert Kramer a Dutchman originally from Amsterdam for the past 34 years. They have two children, Jennifer and Mark.  Evenly during her academic career graduated first from Loyola College with a Bachelor of Arts degree (cum laude) in English Literature and then went on to receive her Bachelor of Education degree from the University of McGill.  Upon completing her studies she taught grade school classes for several years within the Montreal Catholic School Commission.

 Our second child is son Kenneth (Ken) now 54 has been married to Katherine Anne Gibis for the past 30 years. Her father was a German man from Passau and her mother came from Kernei in the Batschka.  Ken and Ann have two children, both boys, Daniel and Michael.

Ken is a graduate in the faculty of Engineering at the University of McGill.  He received his Bachelor of Mechanical Engineering Degree, Majoring in Thermal Dynamics in 1975. He is a member of the Association of the Professional Engineers of Ontario. He has also obtained his Professional Certification as a Certified Management Accountant, CMA.  During his active working career he has been employed full time with the originally named “Ontario Hydro” and is now called “ Ontario Power Generation “.  Starting as a management trainee in1975 at the Nanticoke Generating Station, he progressed to assignments in several other company facilities including three years at corporate head office. He is now, and has for the past five years been the Manager of Production and prior to this position he held a number of other management assignments at the Nanticoke Station.  In his time at OPG. He has also held a number of Power Industry Association Positions as Chairman of specific Power Industry Sectors in Canada and the U.S.A.

The youngest member of our family, Louise, is a career business woman. She dedicates her life to her profession, nephews, niece, and to her solid attachment as a member of the Anglican Church of Toronto.  She is presently fifty-two years old and is now contemplating taking early retirement within the near future.   She is also presently afflicted with Parkinson’s.  Louise’s academic career encompasses studies at the George Vainer College in St.Laurent Quebec with additional University studies at McGill University in Montreal in the Faculty of Commerce from whence she graduated with a Bachelor Degree in Commerce, majoring in Marketing Research and International Finance. Over time she has been employed in Canada by a number of Major Industrial Corporations and by private firms specializing in the field of Marketing Research.

I now arrive to tell something about our Grandchildren.

The oldest is Jennifer, the daughter of Evelyn and Robert.  She is now at the age of 29, and has been married for five years to a French Canadian gentleman, Pierre Dufour. They are expecting an addition to their young family in September 2006.  Jenny after completing her college time at Geo. Vainer college, enrolled in the Faculty of Science at Concordia University in Montreal, graduating with a Bachelor’s Degree in Biology.  Following Graduation, she also received formal training in the field of Para –Legal Discipline and has been employed in a Law Firm for the past five years.

Her brother, Mark, is now 26.  Upon completing his secondary school studies, Mark also went to George Vanier College and thereafter entered the University of McGill as an Arts Student and went on to receive his Bachelor of Arts Degree B.A in English Literature.  On graduating he then went to the University of Windsor and received his Master of Arts Degree.  Presently he has taken a hiatus from his studies and is employed in a position with the Canadian Government in Ottawa where he now lives, pending his intention to pursue in obtaining his PH.D at the Univ. of Ottawa at a later date.

At last I come to the sons of Ken and Ann, Daniel and Michael.  As is said in “Schwowisch”, they are the  “Stammmhalters” of the “Namen” Jobba, or if you prefer the long ago name of the original Ancestor in Banat “Jopa”.

Daniel is now 25, an eligible bachelor and that is in more ways than one. He also bears the designation behind his name as Bachelor of Engineering, having majored in the field of specialized and exotic materials essential to the Nuclear Power Generating Industry. He received all of his university education at the McMaster University in Hamilton, Ontario.  He, like his father, is a member of the Professional Engineering Association of the Province of Ontario, with the designation of P.Eng.  Since graduation in 2005, he has been an employee of Ontario Power Generation in the Nuclear Power Division.

Now to the youngest member of the Jobba clan.  Michael is at the present time 22 years of age. His Emma Grandma always said during his very young years that Michael was one very smart lad and would grow up to achieve great accomplishments. He presently is a student in his fourth year of studies also at the McMaster University following in the footsteps of his brother, in that he is working towards Graduating in the same field of specialized materials.  By nature Michael is a very industrious fellow and as his Grandma says, he is never one to be unoccupied for any length of time.  Even when pursuing his own studies, he finds time to being a teaching assistant and further takes part in carrying out the Student Mentorship Program.

(Unedited)