1920s ...The 1920s weren't without change either. In 1923, Johan's wife, Katharina, died of tuberculosis. She had been sick for a long time. But while her pain was over, Johan needed a wife and his children needed a mother. This is where Anna Ketler comes in. Johann married her in August 1924 - we believe in Ukraine but don't know in what village or settlement. She had been working at Raduga Press in Halbstadt, Molotschna at that time (photo available) and was part owner in land located in Neu-Halbstadt, Molotschna (deed is scanned and will be uploaded). Johan was getting papers together so that they could leave for North America, but then Anna became pregnant with Bernhard (Ben) and he was born in February 1926. Finally, in November 1926, the Rempel family managed to leave Omsk, Siberia; travel to Moscow to pick up their official papers; take the train to Riga, Latvia; take a ship to Southhampton, England; another ship to St. John, New Brunswick; and finally a train that took them to Manitoba. They spent the first year(s) in Canada with Johan's step-brother, Wilhelm, in Winkler, Manitoba. More can be written about the journey now (2009) that a travel diary written by Johann has been located. The underage children travelled under Anna (nee Ketler) Rempel's passport, and so were photographed with her.
This is what their train ticket stubs looked like. See the date of departure from Moscow: 4 November 1926
© 2000-02 Judith (Judii) Dianne Rempel, rempel@jrsolutions.net |
