Volume 4 No. 3 - May to December 1992

Dr. and Mrs. Leonard Lobsinger Celebrate
50th Wedding Anniversary

Dr. Leonard and Jean Lobsinger of Sarnia, ON., Canada celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary on May 30, 1992. It was a busy day for the young at heart, active couple who celebrated by renewing their vows with a mass at St. Joseph's Church, followed by an afternoon open-house and an exciting evening dinner-dance.

However, this activity was nothing new for Jean and Len. Len was used to hard work; he was a practicing veterinarian. In 1938, his practice was in his house basement, where many unusual animals became residents. Jean made good use of her nursing skills and patience in helping Len until his practice moved out of the house and he founded Sarnia's badly needed Blue Cross Animal Hospital. As a result, after 46 years of practice, many relatives from Canada and the USA came to the fiftieth anniversary party.

Their special mass had son Joseph, a music teacher, daughter-inlaw Anne, an English teacher, and their three daughters, Stephanie, 19, and twins Karoline and Kristen, 17, singing hymns of praise. Daughter Marie, a nurse; son-in-law Dr. Bill Dafoe, Associate Professor at the University of Ottawa Heart Institute and their children Alan, 12, and Joanna, 5, assisted at mass, through readings and intentions.

The next activity was an afternoon open-house where over 150 friends and relatives came for coffee, tea, fruit bread and cookies. Their good wishes were especially valued by Len and Jean. The front porch was filled with food for The Inn of the Good Shepherd and many monetary gifts were donated to the food bank in lieu of gifts for the couple. However, guests still arrived with heart-felt gifts of masses and flowers for the family.

At 5:30 p.m., 98 guests gathered at The Holiday Inn for dinner. Daughter Marie provided a heart-warming series of slides from the last fifty years to the music of Bette Midler's "The Wind Beneath My Wings." Marie's husband Bill directed the entertainment while son Joe was Master of Ceremonies and talked of Jean's younger days when she was an infamous baseball player in Florida. After dinner, all four granddaughters sang a very moving version of "If We Hold On Together." Then the dancing began: Len and Jean were "rockin" with the best of them until midnight.

The week was hardly over. Two days later, the couple boarded a plane for Ottawa to be present at their grandson Alan's Confirmation. No sooner was this activity over when Len and Jean were back in Sarnia in June to attend their twin granddaughters' graduation from St. Patrick's Highschool.

Being 80 plus has not been a deterrent for Len and Jean... life just gets better! Their children Joe and Anne Lobsinger, and Bill and Marie Dafoe and family said, "We thank God for the love they've given us and we wish them many happy and peace-filled years ahead."

Golden Wedding Anniversary Celebrated
By Mr. and Mrs. John Ross Lobsinger

The children of Mr. and Mrs. John Ross Lobsinger of Lake Worth, FL., spent several months working by mail and telephone to put together a surprise 50th Wedding Anniversary Party for their parents on November 14th.

John Ross Lobsinger and Catherine Marie Davis were actually married on November 19th, 1942 in Enid, Oklahoma, where John was stationed as a sergeant in the US Army Air Corps at Vance Air Force Base. But the anniversary party was scheduled a week or so early in order to throw the couple off the trail, as none of the 8 kids have ever been able to put anything over on them without them getting wind of it ahead of time.

True to form, some one snitched, but didn't have the date right, so John knew something was brewing... he just didn't know when.

Son John Francis Lobsinger was chairman of the organization committee and delegated out tasks to the other kids. Months in advance sons Robert William and Mark Allan of Newkirk, OK., planned on the weekend trip to Florida. John took care of the invitation list and catering projects, while various other brothers and sisters-in-law put together the rest of the details and decorations for the party which was held in Madonna Hall at Sacred Heart Church. Invitations were printed and drop shipped from Oklahoma; Mark, Byron Louis, Patrick and Michael, and their wives, all worked on decorations and devious schemes to get their parents to the party without suspecting anything.

Michael and his wife Kim, who were married on the same day, asked John and Catherine to attend mass Saturday evening to celebrate their anniversary early because they had a Bahama's cruise planned for the real date. Dad agreed.

At mass, the couple were surprised to find themselves renewing their vows, and wondering why so many of their friends were there. While they were at mass, the rest of the clan put finishing touches on the decorations at the hall, and a couple of brothers stripped the house of Catherine's favorite photographs to add a personal touch to the affair.

After mass, on some phony pretext, John and Catherine were escorted into the Hall full of friends, relatives and wellwishers. John figured out what was happening, but Catherine didn't catch on until she spotted her Oklahoma son Mark in the crowd.

Everyone was treated to a buffet dinner, followed by each of the children taking turns telling stories on their parents. Twins Patrick and Michael, who are local musicians, performed a song they had written in honor of the occasion, and Michael, who operates a part time "Disk Jockey" service for parties and dances, played recorded music from the 40s as John and Catherine were invited to dance to the first song.

For the rest of the evening, guests danced and visited and renewed old acquaintences. Son Jim from Phoenix, AZ., and daughter Mary Ann Quinn of Bardstown, KY., who couldn't attend, placed phone calls during the evening.

One special guest who pleased John by her appearance was Sister Joann Marie... his seventh grade teacher. "Johnny Lobsinger," she quipped, "It took a lot of years for you to prove me wrong, but you finally did amount to something!"

Something is right. In the early 50s John Lobsinger built the church and school at Sacred Heart in Lake Worth, and then he and Catherine raised their 8 surviving children within a three block area of the church. One son, Dennis, died at age 3. Robert is a newspaper publisher in Newkirk, OK. John Francis is a Para Medic with Palm Beach County, Fl. Jim, (John's twin) is an electrical engineer with Honeywell in Phoenix, AZ. Only daughter Mary Ann Quinn is a housewife with 6 children in Bardstown, KY., Mark is an employee of Southwestern Bell Telephone in Newkirk, OK. Byron is an executive with UPS in West Palm Beach, FL. Patrick is a landscaper and tennis court contractor in south Florida. His twin Michael is a construction laboratory quality control technician in Port St. Lucy, FL.

All of them went to the school that John built. All of them are relatively happy and successful. That's something, all right.

The party was professionally video-taped and copies made for the couple to remember the day.

John Ross Lobsinger, incidentally, is the nephew of Dr. Leonard Lobsinger who also recently celebrated his 50th Wedding Anniversary. See front page.

From The Mail Bag

Ruby Lobsinger Chase, Vancouver, BC, was in a bad accident last summer, but we are relieved to report that she is recovering, although still tied down and can't travel the world like she has in the past. She is staying with her daughter Penny and her husband Al Spidel who are moving shortly to Vancouver Island north of Victoria. We had hoped to visit Ruby and her sisters Marie and Rita and brother Lorne and his wife Elly last summer, but cancelled the trip due to other problems to deal with at home, not to mention their problems after the accident. Maybe this summer... (House of George)

Received some postage money in the mail from Irene Lobsinger and Carol Lane of Arnold, MO., but no note. They are descendents of Michael Lobsinger, who settled in the St. Louis, MO., area. (House of Michael)

Teresa Walsh of Brantford, ON., sent a newsy letter to report that their spring and summer has been cool and comfortable. She also reports the deaths of "aunts" Dorothy Billinger and Anna Heaney from Hanover, and that Bea Long in Buffalo, NY., had a big operation in June but was home and doing very well.

Her children Mary and Mark Bond had thier 6th child on July 13th - Katie Joyce. All are doing well and keeping everyone busy. Bishop Tom Lobsinger was home in May for Confirmations in the area. Teresa and her sisters were all hoping to get away to the Yukon to visit the bishop in the fall, but we haven't heard if they made it or not. They also planned to visit their two sons who live in the western provinces. (House of Louis)

Teresa's sister Joan Luciani, Brantford, dropped us a note as well asking us to put her 4 children on the list, and gave information about her new grandson Derek Christopher Thompson.

Bernice Maslen of Lucan, ON., writes that her son is an assistant supervisor at the University of Western Ontario in London with access to computers, so he copied some family chart disks we had sent her earlier. She notes that her son was married on May 30, 1992 and was celebrating at their reception in the same Holiday Inn at which Jean and Leonard Lobsinger were celebrating their 50th Anniversary that day. There were Lobsingers all over the place. She had two weddings to attend: one in April as well. She says she will send photos, and when they arrive we'll get them in the newsletter. Bernice reports that her father Michael Lobsinger was 97 on June 15th and still puts everyone to shame with his pep and vigor. (House of Louis)

Mr. and Mrs. Irwin Lobsinger of Walkerton, ON., sent us a clipping of Irwin's retirement from the Walkerton Fire Department after many years service. We did a story on it in the last newsletter, but appreciate the clip anyway. (House of Louis)

Tony and Sarogini Lang of Toronto have kept us informed of some cult activities in their area. A group of them have tried to sneak into our town several years ago, and as part of our newspaper job, we've been keeping close tabs on their activities. We appreciate the clippings. Earlier in the summer, they sent us a postcard of their trip to Saskatchewan, where they attended Sarogini's sister's wedding and visited relatives in Regina. And a card just before Christmas says they are expecting their first child the end of April. (House of Peter)

Harold and Lois Lobsinger of Stratford, ON., report that their daughter Gail and her husband David Moloughney have moved to St. Marys, ON., and their son Larry and his wife Tracey have a new daughter. (House of Louis)

We would like to welcome Lois Fletcher of Phoenix, AZ., Joan Whitworth, of San Jose, CA., and Lisa Lobsinger of San Mateo, CA to our mailing list. They are descendents of Jacob Anthony Lobsinger, we think, but we don't have enough detail yet to track them all. Would appreciate some family tree information from each of them to help put it all together. (House of Jacob Anthony)

Clarence Kuntz of St. Clements, ON., wrote just before we mailed the last newsletter. He says someone is trying to sell books on the Lobsinger family for $33. Usually, these things are standard books on geneology with a few pages of addresses bound in the center. They're ok, but provide only a starting point from which to chase relatives. If you want to know who's related to who, drop me a line for a much more complete list.

Clarence is recuperating from a couple of operations last summer, but says he is getting along well for the moment. (House of Louis)

Mary Ann Quinn writes to give us her new address in Bardstown, KY., where she moved during the summer from Lake Worth, FL. She and her 6 kids are anxiously waiting for her husband Mike to get his transfer approved with Southern Bell Telephone so he can join them in their new town. (House of Peter)

Laurier Lobsinger of Kitchener, ON., sent us some postage money but no news, so we hope all is well in his part of the world. (House of Louis)

Christine Lobsinger has apparently moved from one place to another in Fayetteville, AR., but we don't have the new address, so somebody give us a call and let us know. We also need to have a copy of Christine's sister's (Marion Louise Richardson) immediate family tree. It got blitzed in the computer and we have to rebuild it. (House of Peter)

Doreen Robson of Chesley, ON., sent clips of her father Clayton Lobsinger, retired Police Chief, who celebrated his 85th birthday in March. She also reports that her children Terry and Wendy Robson of Chesley have a new baby, as do Paul and Heather Robson of Meaford, ON. Doreen says she has been retired from her hospital RNA work for almost a whole year and is pursuing her hobbies of oil, acrylic and watercolor painting agin, as well as various crafts and reading. (House of Peter)

Beatrice Long of Buffalo, NY., reports that she is recuperating from her operation, and sent some postage money. (House of Louis)

Harold Lobsinger of Denver, CO., and Apache Junction AZ., dropped us a couple of notes reminding us about which of his establishments he is staying at. Harold stays warm in the winter and cools off up north in the summer. He also reports a new blossom on his family tree, which we are pleased to hear about. The new arrival means he and Allean now have eleven great grand children. (House of Michael)

Dolores Tschirhart of Ferndaly, MI., has sent us the new address of Richard Tschirhart, whose copy of the last newsletter was returned. Thank you for that, and we'll get him back on the list. (House of Louis)

The St. Clair County, (IL) Genealogical Society has published a new volume which contains a somewhat factual account of the arrival of the Lobsinger family in the new world, which they asked me to write. If there are any copies left for sale, they cost about $60 US., and can be purchased from the Archives Section of the Belleville Public Library, 121 E. Washington, Belleville, IL, if anyone is interested.

John Lobsinger, Marsha, and kids Katrina and Samantha send Christmas Greetings to all. Picture somewhere in here. They live in Edmond, OK., where he is a student at Central State University and works as a computer technician. (House of Peter)

William G. Lobsinger, Jr. formerly of Des Moines, IA., Omaha, NE., and Linden, UT., is now back in Omaha. Hope we've been keeping up with him. (House of George)

Lois Lobsinger was working in the Phoenix, AZ. area and found my brother Jim's phone number in the book. He referred her to me. Turns out she is a daughter of Walter R. Lobsginer, son of Raymond E Lobsinger, son of Philip Lobsinger, son of George C. Lobsinger, son of Anthony Jacob Lobsinger. Few and far between are the descendents of Anthony Jacob, so we were pleased to hear from her. She has since moved to the Houston, TX area. (House of Anthony Jacob)

David Lobsinger, formerly of Detroit, sent us his new address in St. Clair Shores, MI., and we appreciate the notice. (House of Louis)

Dr. Bill and Sheila Lobsinger of Waterloo, ON., write that one of my "lost souls" is their daughter, who has been married since 1986, and long moved from our address. She was one of the Lobsingers on my list that came from one of those infamous geneology books that appear now and then that only contains addresses. At least now I know who A. Lobsinger really is.

Ann Lobsinger is now Mrs. Paul Sabo and they have two children, Breanna born 08AP1988 and Nathaniel born 18OC1992, which is pretty recent, come to think of it. We've put their new address on the list.

Also added Bill and Sheila's youngest son Mark William Brady Lobsinger to the mailing list. He is now a law student UBC. Already has a degree in chemistry and a business degree from University of Western Ontario at London.

Their middle son Tom and his wife Bernadine are both doctors practicing in Orillia, ON. and they have three children now. Peter, 17OC1987, Claire, 21NO1989, and now David Edward Brady born 07OC1991.

Mary Lou Lobsinger, their oldest girl, teaches architecture at the University of Waterloo. Their oldest boy, Jim Lobsinger just returned from his contract in Libya after 2 1/2 years as a petroleum geologist with AGOCO (Arabian Gulf Oil Co.) and is back home in Calgary, AB.

Dr Bill is trying to cut down on his work days, and he and Sheila spent a couple of weeks in Costa Rica where they enjoyed a 6° earthquake while they were there! Later they spent a couple of weeks in Palm Springs, CA., and left the area just in time to miss out on California's earthquakes last April.

Sheila suggests that if you want to experience an earthquake, just ask them to come visit you! (House of Peter)

We received a charming letter from Sister Janet Mikol, SSND., in Merseyside, England, asking to be added to the list. We are pleased to do that. She is a grand daughter of Louis John Lobsinger and Catherine Stumpf; daughter of Mary Elizabeth Lobsinger and Stan Mikol. She says her brother Jim Mikol lives in Orlando, FL., where he manages a couple of golf courses. She entered the convent in 1958 in Waterdown, ON., and has lived and worked in Canada, England, the US, and the Isle of Man.

She is on her second tour of duty in England... working in a very poor area

of Liverpool, the area that produced the Beatles. She is chaplain in a high school and does parish work in two parishes. She says the work is challenging because of the high unemployment, violence, vandalism, poverty, and general hopelessness that prevails there.

In one of our past issues, we did a piece on Sister Anne Lobsinger from Hamilton, ON., who works in the slums of California. Perhaps one day both of them can meet and exchange stories. (House of Louis)

New Branches In The Family Tree

Katie Joyce Bond

Katie Joyce Bond was born July 13th, 1992 in Brantford, ON., weighing in at 7 lbs, 14 ozs. She is the sixth child of Mary and Mark Bond. (House of Louis)

Derek Christopher Thompson

Sharon and Bob Thompson are the parents of a new baby bory born on July 8th, 1992, weighing 5 lbs, 9 ozs. Named Derek Christopher Thompson, the new baby is the grandson of Joan Luciani of Brantford. (House of Louis)

Stephanie Lynn Lobsinger

Stephanie Lynn Lobsinger arrived on June 4, 1992 to Larry and Tracey Lobsinger. Grandparents are Harold and Lois Lobsinger of Stratford, ON. No statistics.(House of Louis)

Jonathan Terrance Robson

Jonathan Terrance Robson was born Jan. 18, 1992 to Terry and Wendy Robson of Chesley, ON., Jonathan has an older brother Justin and sister Jennifer. Grandparents are Doreen and Bill Robson. Great Grandparents are Clayton and Phyllis Lobsinger. (House of Peter)

Clayton Jack Robson

Clayton Jack Robson arrived May 6, 1992 to Paul and Heather Robson of Meaford, ON. He is the new brother of Amelia Clare Robson. Grandparents are Doreen and Bill Robson. Great Grandparents are Clayton and Phyllis Lobsinger. (House of Peter)

Samantha Jo Kreig

Samantha Jo Kreig was born December 12, 1991 to Andrew and Diane Kreig of Kremmling, CO. Grand parents are Helen and Gene Kayser, and great grandparents are Harold and Allean Lobsinger of Denver and Apache Junction. (House of Michael)

John Allan Lobsinger Graduates From OU

John Allan Lobsinger, son of Robert W and Susan M Lobsinger of Newkirk, OK.., is a mid-term graduate of the University of Oklahoma in Norman, OK. Lobsinger has completed the requirements for a degree in Civil Engineering. He is employed with Star Construction in Oklahoma City, and intends to continue his education at the University, where he will return next semester to pursue a degree in Elementary Education. (House of Peter)

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