Contributed by Shelly (Noah) Holm

August Karl Franz, the son of August and Louise (Arnholter) Franz, was born Oct. 28, 1861 in Wisconsin.  Jan. 8, 1891, he married Alwina, the daughter of Ludwig and Charlotte (Strate) Noah who was born Dec. 10, 1871.  She was also Wisconsin born. 

August and Alwina had seven children, five sons and two daughters.  The oldest six are pictured above.  Their first born was a son, Friedrich August, who arrived that fall, Oct. 27, 1891.  He was christened two months later, Dec. 20, 1891 and confirmed at the Immanuel Evangelical & Reformed Church, Apr. 13, 1916, when he was twenty-five years old. 

Dec. 17, 1893, their second son, Calvin was born.  He was christened Feb. 11, 1894 and was confirmed the age of fifteen, at an Easter service, Apr. 17, 1908.

A third son, Adolf Ludwig, was born Mar. 10, 1896, christened Apr. 26, 1896, and confirmed Mar. 25, 1910.

Their first daughter, Alma Agnes, was born Mar. 26, 1899, christened May 14, 1899, and confirmed Mar. 27, 1913, just one day after her fourteenth birthday.

Otto Arthur was born in the depth of a Wisconsin winter, Jan. 17, 1903.  He was christened as springtime was about to arrive, Mar. 15, 1903.  He was confirmed in the Christian faith, May 20, 1917.

The youngest son, Herold Gilbert, was born May 28, 1905, and was christened in the heat of the summer, July 23, 1905.  When he was twelve years old, he was also confirmed at Immanuel.

The baby of the family and second daughter, Leona Ruth, was born after the harvest, Sept. 28, 1911.  Apr. 2, 1926, she, like all of her siblings confessed her belief in God during a confirmation ceremony.

Feb. 1, 1932, August Karl Franz died and was buried in a hand dug grave, just East of the Church where he'd sung many well-known hymns.  Nearly seven years later, Jan. 21, 1939, Alwina was laid to rest beside him.