VGI Updates

Wanda Warkentin, the daughter of Aaron James "Jim" Warkentin & Adena Lenora Wiest, was born 26 June 1950. She has a twin sister, Vivian. In addition to playing with the Berkeley Symphony and Festival Opera in Walnut Creek, Wanda continues as principal cello of the Santa Rosa Symphony and as a member of the Midsummer Mozart Orchestra, and she plays frequently with the California Symphony, Napa Symphony, and various chamber ensembles.

Her Volga German ancestry is through her mother's side and takes her to the colonies of Müller, Moor, Wiesenmüller, and Brunnental.

Father Waltz served St. Joseph Catholic Church in Hays, Kansas.

The Reverend Conrad J. Wagner was born in Frank on 4 October 1868. He came to McCook, Nebraska, in 1899 with his wife Anna (Kissler) Wagner whom he had married in 1898. He entered the Chicago Theological seminary, graduated in 1906, and was ordained that same year. He held pastorates in South Dakota for a number of years before moving to Walla Walla, Washington where he built a church and parsonage during his ministry there (1908-1916). He later accepted a call from Endicott, Washington, where he served from 1916-1923 and built another church.

Jacob Volz (Sr.) was born on 17 October 1868 in Balzer. The family left for the United States on 16 November 1891, arriving in New York City on 15 December 1891 aboard the SS Dania. They settled in Sutton, Nebraska.

Mr. Volz was a leader in the Volga Relief Society that provided relief to those who remained in the Volga German colonies during the Famine of 1921. Mr. Volz himself served as a representative of the American Relief Administration distributing CARE packages in Russia from September 1922 to June 1923.

Jacob Volz, Jr., was a Carpenter's Mate Third Class in the United States Navy. He was awarded the Medal of Honor for his actions in the Moro Rebellion in the Philippines.

Volz was born in the Volga German colony of Balzer on 23 June 1889, the eldest of seven children. His father was Jacob Volz, Sr. who was a key leader in the Volga Relief Society. The family left for the United States on 16 November 1891, arriving in New York City on 15 December 1891 aboard the SS Dania. They settled in Sutton, Nebraska.

After 7 years of wrestling as an amateur, under his given name Jake Pappenheim, Jake entered the arena of professional wrestling on January 3, 1944. He soon became well known throughout the Pacific Northwest and subsequently established a name for himself in the annals of professional wrestling as Kurt von Poppenheim (he legally changed his name in 1958). During his career, a variety of aliases were used including Eric von Hess, Jack Pappenheim, Jack Poppenheimer, and Kurt von Poppenheim.

Father John Schmeidler, O.F.M., a native of Hays, Kansas, is the son of Marcellus F. & Mary Schmeidler.  He was ordained in 1997 and began his service to the parish of St. Fidelis Catholic Church in Victoria, Kansas, in 2013. He will also be serving the missions of St. Ann in Walker and St. Boniface in Vincent.

His Volga German ancestors come from the colonies of Graf, Herzog, and Pfeifer.

Father Tallman began serving St. Joseph Catholic Church in Hays, Kansas, in 2003.

Father Schuster served St. Joseph Catholic Church in Hays, Kansas.

Father Schönheiter, son of Anton Schönheiter, was born 22 November 1873 in Neu-Kolonie. He attended the Catholic Seminary in Saratov and was ordained on 3 July 1897 and began serving the parish in Hildmann. From 1910-1928, he jointly served the parishes in Köhler and Göbel.