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Tom Meyers
Wisconsin, USA
Genealogy Research Director
2015-Present DNA @ DVHH Administrator
Mail List Subgroup
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". . . it was only a few years ago that I discovered
that my ancestors were Donauschwaben"
My grandfather Paul Huber was born in Velika Pisanica, Croatia, formerly known as Groß Pisanitz, in 1908. After serving his time in the Austrian Hungarian army his father along with one brother decided to emigrate to America and made the journey with their families through Ellis Island to Milwaukee in 1912.
Partly because of the time of their arrival and also due to local pressure to quickly integrate into the culture, my family worked hard to speak English and leave many of their German, Croatian, and Hungarian traditions and customs behind. While some dishes and a few phrases persisted, my mother and her siblings along with their children grew up knowing very little of the history and customs of the life our ancestors left behind. In fact, it was only a few years ago that I discovered that my ancestors were Donauschwaben and that their families had lived in Hungary at least as far back as the mid 1700s in Somogy and Baranya counties in the region now known as Swabian Turkey.
Because of my German heritage from both of my parents I did study German in high school and at the University of Wisconsin where I met my wife Kathy. We have been married for 33 years and have 4 children and our first grandchild is due in late December. I am an engineer and have spent most of my career designing and manufacturing medical devices including magnetic resonance (MRI) and computed tomography (CT) imaging systems. As I near retirement I find more enjoyment working with a friend who owns a small company making custom metal stairs, railings and structural steel products.
I have many hobbies that include reading, hiking, mountain biking, and boating. I am an active member of the US Coast Guard Auxiliary and spend time teaching boating safety, inspecting vessels and patrolling the Mississippi River and Lake Michigan to assist boaters in distress.
I have been interested in genealogy for over 30 years and am a member of the Association of Professional Genealogists, the National Genealogical Society, and multiple local, state and ethnic genealogical groups. I am interested in history and work to search for and copy original sources to provide evidence for family relationships and life events. I have found DNA to be a valuable tool to complement my family history research, helping me locate new cousins as far back as 7 generations and even a few with common roots in Austria-Hungary!
~Tom Myers, November 9, 2015
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