Genealogy: Family Histories
Podolske Family
Compiled and Edited by Michael R. Reilly
Last Revised 05/18/2005
Descendants of George Richard Podolske
Generation No. 1
George and Laura Podolske - Wedding day
1.
GEORGE RICHARD1 PODOLSKE was born January 03, 1891 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin (Source: SSDI, World War I Draft Registration Cards, 1917-1918.), and died December 05, 1976 (Source: Sussex Sun, Retrospect, by Fred H. Keller, Sussex Historian, issue Tuesday, July 13, 2004, page 17.). He married LAURA C. STOLZ November 24, 1915 in Milwaukee, Milwaukee, Wisconsin. She was born July 08, 1891 (Source: SSDI.), and died May 1980.Notes for G
EORGE RICHARD PODOLSKE:Podolske Hardware Store was downtown Sussex, across the Sussex Main Street School (Sussex Village Hall today), until June 2004 it was the Sentry store's west parking lot, now Piggly Wiggly.
After George sold the hardware store in October 1966, a bulldozer soon demolished the multistory wooden structure. Sussex Sun, Retrospect, by Fred H. Keller, Sussex Historian, issue Tuesday, July 13, 2004, page 17
More About G
EORGE RICHARD PODOLSKE:Masonic: 1915, Joined local lodge; in 1932, served as Worthy Master. (Source: Sussex Sun, Retrospect, by Fred H. Keller, Sussex Historian, issue Tuesday, July 13, 2004, page 17.)
Membership 1: Bet. 1922 - 1955, Helped start the Sussex Fire Department; served as chief from 1923 to 1928. (Source: Sussex Sun, Retrospect, by Fred H. Keller, Sussex Historian, issue Tuesday, July 13, 2004, page 17.)
Membership 2: 1939, Charter member of Sussex Lions Club, and served as its second president in 1940-41. (Source: Sussex Sun, Retrospect, by Fred H. Keller, Sussex Historian, issue Tuesday, July 13, 2004, page 17.)
Membership 3: Aft. 1966, He and wife founded the Sussex Golden Agers Club; George its first president, and Laura as his assistant. (Source: Sussex Sun, Retrospect, by Fred H. Keller, Sussex Historian, issue Tuesday, July 13, 2004, page 17.)
Occupation 1: Was a tinsmith by trade (Source: Sussex Sun newspaper, Retrospect, by Fred H. Keller, Sussex Historian, issue Tuesday, July 13, 2004, page 17.)
Occupation 2: Bet. 1915 - 1966, Operated Podolske Hardware Store in Sussex. (Source: Sussex Sun, Retrospect, by Fred H. Keller, Sussex Historian, issue Tuesday, July 13, 2004, page 17.)
Order of the Eastern Star: He and wife Laura were both involved. (Source: Sussex Sun, Retrospect, by Fred H. Keller, Sussex Historian, issue Tuesday, July 13, 2004, page 17.)
Political: 1924, One of 16 who signed the papers incorporating Sussex as a village, and later served as a village trustee.
Residence 1: Bet. 1915 - 1966, The hardware store included the retail store, a tin workshop, and the family quarters on the side and upstairs. (Source: Sussex Sun, Retrospect, by Fred H. Keller, Sussex Historian, issue Tuesday, July 13, 2004, page 17.)
Residence 2: October 1966, Lannon-stone house on Orchard Drive. (Source: Sussex Sun, Retrospect, by Fred H. Keller, Sussex Historian, issue Tuesday, July 13, 2004, page 17.)
Retirement: April 26, 1966, Massive fire destroys the Marsden-Lees-Schumann General Store next door; Tony Schumann persuades George to sell out and retire in October. (Source: Sussex Sun, Retrospect, by Fred H. Keller, Sussex Historian, issue Tuesday, July 13, 2004, page 17.)
More About G
EORGE PODOLSKE and LAURA STOLZ:Honeymoon: A train trip from Milwaukee to Sussex on the Northwestern Railroad to reopen the hardware store Monday morning. (Source: Sussex Sun, Retrospect, by Fred H. Keller, Sussex Historian, issue Tuesday, July 13, 2004, page 17.)
Marriage: November 24, 1915, Milwaukee, Milwaukee, Wisconsin
Children of G
EORGE PODOLSKE and LAURA STOLZ are:i. RAYMOND "RAY" A.
2 PODOLSKE, b. December 17, 1917, Sussex, Waukesha, Wisconsin; m. ISABELLE BENSON, July 28, 1945, St. Alban's Episcopal Church, Sussex (Source: Sussex Sun, Fred H. Keller, Sussex Historian, issue May 4, 1999.); b. January 11, 1922, Minnesota (Source: SSDI.); d. June 1983.Notes for RAYMOND "RAY" A. PODOLSKE:
According to article, Sussex Sun, May 4, 1999; His prisoner group (was in the prisoner camp for 18 months) was forced to flee the Russians in Poland, and eventually in May, 1945, he was freed (Editor: Sounds as if he was still a German prisoner of war). He had lost a tremendous amount of weight while being held prisoner, but while (recuperating) in Florida, regained much of it back, enough so that only six weeks after being freed, he returned to be married.
More About RAYMOND "RAY" A. PODOLSKE:
Education: 1933, Sussex Junior High School graduate
Membership: Charter member of Sussex Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW); was post commander for a while. (Source: Sussex Sun, Retrospect, by Fred H. Keller, Sussex Historian, issue Tuesday, July 13, 2004, page 17.)
Military service: Inducted into service during WWII, and became a lieutenant in the U. S. Army Air Corps. He was a navigator on a B17 shot down over Germany, and became a prisoner of war in the infamous Stalag 17 camp. (Source: Sussex Sun, Retrospect, by Fred H. Keller, Sussex Historian, issue Tuesday, July 13, 2004, page 17.)
Residence 1: Aft. 1945, Built house on Elmwood Avenue, where they raised four children. (Source: Sussex Sun, Retrospect, by Fred H. Keller, Sussex Historian, issue Tuesday, July 13, 2004, page 17.)
Residence 2: August 14, 1945, A week after returning from their honeymoon, they left for Florida; Ray still in the service. (Source: Waukesha Freeman, August 15, 1945.)
Notes for ISABELLE BENSON:
Adopted daughter of "Aunt" Shirley Morgan, who took her in when her father and mother had problems with sickness and the Depression. Sussex Sun, May 4, 1999.
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The 1930 Census reveals "Isabel", age 8, and who probably is her father, Ernest, age 41, boarding with Ray and Shirley Morgan. Isabelle is listed as being born in Minnesota, her father born in Sweden, and mother (unknown), in Norway. Ernest was born in Sweden who came to the U. S. in 1910 and was employed as a stonecutter in a local quarry. Note: there were two other Benson in the Town of Lisbon, Byron K. and his mother Lillian A., but there isn't any apparent connection.
More About ISABELLE BENSON:
Education: 1937, Sussex Junior High School graduate
Membership 1: Served as Sussex VFW Auxiliary commander (Source: Sussex Sun, Retrospect, by Fred H. Keller, Sussex Historian, issue Tuesday, July 13, 2004, page 17.)
Membership 2: Sussex Fire Dept from 1948 - 1970's, serving as its Secretary-treasurer. (Source: Sussex Sun, Retrospect, by Fred H. Keller, Sussex Historian, issue Tuesday, July 13, 2004, page 17.)
Occupation: Bef. August 1945, Employed at Waukesha Motor Works (Source: Waukesha Freeman, July 25, 1945.)
More About RAYMOND PODOLSKE and ISABELLE BENSON:
Marriage: July 28, 1945, St. Alban's Episcopal Church, Sussex (Source: Sussex Sun, Fred H. Keller, Sussex Historian, issue May 4, 1999.)
ii. LORRAINE C. PODOLSKE, b. August 25, 1922, Sussex, Waukesha, Wisconsin; m. JOHN ECKHARDT GOODE, August 14, 1948; b. June 23, 1922, Menomonee Falls, Waukesha, Wisconsin.
More About LORRAINE C. PODOLSKE:
Residence: 1969, DePere, Wisconsin
More About JOHN GOODE and LORRAINE PODOLSKE:
Marriage: August 14, 1948