Marian Anna Merzke

Marian Merzke Roegner

Marian Anna Merzke

Marian Anna Merzke, the thirteenth child, was born at home at 181 Weaver Street on December 30, 1908.  She was baptized February 6, 1909. Her sponsors were Albert Bonke, Anna Scheiderman and Anna Missel.  She married a widower, Walter William Roegner  on August 30, 1927  in Concordia Lutheran Church. They were attended by Marian’s brother, Erwin L. Merzke and Walt’s sister, Alma Roegner. Walt Roegner’s first wife was Clara Bertha Felgner.  They married on February 20, 1919. Clara died of tuberculosis December 27, 1919 at the age of 21 years, 3 months 29 days.

Walt and Marion’s first home was at 8 Theodore Street. They lived at 86 Weyl Street for a time. For many years they made their home at 34 Loomis Street.  They moved to 181 Durnan Street about 1952 and remained there for the rest of their lives.

Marian

Walt Roegner

Marian worked for some time as a box maker.  Her real job in life was being a homemaker.  She kept an immaculate house that even included curtains on the windows of the garage.  She had four sets of matching chair pads, tablecloths, and curtain tiebacks for the kitchen that she changed with the seasons.  She was an expert in the kitchen turning out such treats as pies, cookies, fruit breads and fudge.  She kept singing canaries, a collie named Kipper, and a beautiful garden.  Walt worked as a painter and paper hanger.  He was later employed by the Eastman Kodak Company.  Walt could build or repair anything.  He and Marian salvaged parts from broken things they found on their daily walks.  Everything was organized and kept on shelves lined with white shelf paper.  Even after Walt was too old to climb a ladder, friends would ask for his help.  He would supply the tools and the know how, supervising while they did the work.

Russel Roegner

Walt and Marian had a son.  Russell Walter Roegner was born September 28, 1929 in Rochester, NY.  Marian died March 2, 1969.  Walt died five years later on February 23, 1974.  They are buried in Mount Hope Cemetery in Rochester New York.

Willian Paul Merzke

William (Bill) Merzke

William Paul Merzke was the twelfth child.  He was born at home on February 5, 1907, the first of the children to be born at 181 Weaver St.   He was baptized May 16, 1907 at Concordia Lutheran Church. William’s sponsors were William Main, Paul J?, and Mina Bonke.  He was confirmed on May 20, 1921 at Concordia Lutheran Church.

Bill, Billy John & Sadie

William, who was known as Bill, married Sadie Elizabeth Bark who was born in Montreal, Quebec, Canada.  They were married on July 4, 1925 by Rev. Harry Long, pastor of Bethel Full Gospel Church on 20 Ripley St., Rochester, NY. Their first home was with Sadie’s parents at 80 Medfield Drive.   For a short time they lived at 101 Woodbine Avenue. They moved to Irondequoit and lived there until moving to 38 East Park Road, RD 2, Pittsford, Monroe County, New York. Bill and Sadie had one son, William John (Billy John) Merzke who is still living.

Bill & Sadie

Bill worked as an auto mechanic for several years.  Sadie worked as a bookkeeper. Bill then went into building. However, during World War Two when home building was at a standstill, he worked as a foreman for the Eastman Kodak Company.  Following the war he went back to building.  He formed William P. Merzke & Son, Inc. Bill had wonderful and innovative ideas that made him a well respected builder.  Most of his building was done in the Pittsford, NY area.  His houses are among the finest of their time.

Sadie died on January 6, 1975. Bill died October 11, 1984 in Lake Worth, Palm Beach, Florida.  They are buried in White Haven Memorial Cemetery.

Henry Carl Merzke, Jr.

Henry (Hank) Merzke

Henry Carl Merzke, Jr. and Ruth Maria Merzke were the tenth and eleventh children.  They were born at home at 208 Berlin St. on June 6, 1902.   They were baptized July 6, 1902. Henry’s sponsors were Maria’s older brother, Henry Smarcz and Johanna Regner. Ruth’s sponsors were August Brickert and Almine Sick. Ruth died November 10, 1902 at four months and 4 days of Gastro Euteritis. She is buried at Mount Hope Cemetery.  Hank often introduced his youngest brother, Floyd as his twin brother. Though misleading, it was technically true.  They were twins and they were brothers.  They just happened to be born ten years apart.

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Henry was known as Hank married Beatrice K. Koester on May 18, 1926. Their first home was at 66 Lang St.  They moved to 826 Joseph Avenue in 1933 and lived there until 1967. Hank and Beatrice had two daughters.  Betty and Gladys who are both still living

Betty Merzke

Hank worked as a presser for Hickey Freeman Clothing Manufacturer.  Beatrice, like many other members of the Koester family, worked in several bakeries.  One such place was Johnney’s Bakery on Joseph Avenue.  They made wonderful light rye bread and delicious sheet cakes.  Those sheet cakes were often included on the menu of the Merzke Family Reunions. 

Gladys Merzke

Hank died January 21, 1967. Beatrice died June 8, 1991.  They are buried in White Haven Memorial Cemetery.

Albert Henry Merzke

Albert Merzke

Albert Henry Merzke was the ninth child.  He was born at home on July 24, 1900, the last of the children to be born at 39 Henry St.   He was baptized August 4, 1900. Sponsoring Albert were his uncle, Albert Smarcz and Maria Krapp.  He was confirmed at Concordia Lutheran Church.

  

Albert, who was known as Ep, married his childhood sweetheart, Leona Caroline Berndt. They were married on December 31, 1921 in Concordia Lutheran Church, Rochester, NY.  They lived at 106 Cinnabar Road in Irondequoit, NY and than moved to 5036 St. Paul Blvd. in Irondequoit where they lived for the rest of Ep’s life. Ep and Leona had two children. Elvira Leona Merzke and Gilbert Merzke. Both are still living.

   

Leona Berndt Merzke

Ep’s first jobs were for oil companies. He was a manager at the Monroe County Union Oil Company and than became a manager for the Colonial Beacon Oil Company where he worked for several years. Ep was eventually hired by the Eastman Kodak Company and worked “B” trick there until his death.  After the children were grown, Ep and Leona opened their home to many foster children.  Some of the children were only there for a short time, but five of the boys were there for many years.  They included two sets of brothers and John “Joey” Carmen. 

   

Albert died of cancer on October 7,1964. At the time of his death, Leona did not know how to drive a car and had never had a job outside of the home.  Her brother-in-law, Floyd taught her how to drive.  She took a job doing what she knew best.  She was hired by a young couple with a new baby to care for the child while they worked.  They both were school teachers, so Leona had her summers free.  She finally retired from this job when the couple’s fifth and final child was in school full time.  Leona died June 5, 1995 at the age of 91.  Leona and Albert are buried in Holy Sepulcher Cemetery, Rochester, New York.