Bertha Lessner Scheffke Trzebiatowski and Franz Scheffke , Scheffki, Szefka or  Szewka and Family

Bertha Lessner was born in December 25, 1865 in Poland. She died September 2, 1944. Her obituary reads:

Mrs. Bertha Trzebiatowski, 86, a resident of Calumet City for 56 years, died Saturday at St. Margaret’s hospital. Funeral services will be held at 9:30 am Tuesday, from the Czechanski funeral home and at 10:00 am in St. Andrews church. Rev. Joseph Sehnke will officiate and burial will be in Holy Cross cemetery.

Born in Poland, Mrs. Trzebiatowski, who lived at 145 154^th Place, was a member of the Polish Women’s Alliance of American Group 31.

She is survived by three daughters, Mrs. Walter Lewkowski, Mrs. William Zick both of Calumet City and Mrs. Frank Savage of Chicago and five sons, John, Anthony and Frank Scheffki and August Trzebiatowski all of Calumet City and Felix Trzebiatowski of Perronvillle, MI., also 39 grandchildren and 38 great-grandchildren. The body may be viewed at the Chapel today.

Bertha came to the United States with her first Husband Frank Szefka.  He died September 24, 1889.

Cook County Coroner's Inquest Record Index, 1872–1911

NAME OF DECEASED           VOL.  PAGE   DATE FILED DATE OF DEATH

SZEFKA, FRANK              20    188    9/27/1889     9/24/1889   

[http://www.sos.state.il.us/GenealogyMWeb/CookCntyCoronersInquestServlet]

I have sent for this record as of July, 2003

Frank was also listed in the Polish Roman Catholic Union Association Database.  His Polish first name was Franciszek.

PRCUA Insurance Claim Index: Results

http://www.pgsa.org/database/prcua_results.cfm?lastName=szefka&lastNameSearch=exact&firstName=&submit=submit&page=1

[Note: 1880 Illinois census has a record for a William Schefke for Cook County Wheeling Township, page 476.

Living with Jacob Hanson and family. W M 20 Farmhand, employed 8 months, from Germany. (Not sure if he is a relation, the family tended to name their children after other family members and there is a William in later generations.

Also, in the 1920 census, there is a listing for Alex Szefka age 67, came to the U.S. in 1872 and was naturalized in 1880.  Next door, 67 Noble St. and North Ave., (which is where Stanislaus Kostka Church is located) lived Adam Szefka age 39, born in Illinois.  They were both tailors in a factory.]

Bertha and Frank’s children were:

1) John George Scheffki born December 3, 1882 in Germany and died July 31, 1954. May have come to the United States in 1885.

John’s obituary read: (The Times, August 2, 1954)

John G. Scheffki Sr., 71, of 233 154^th Pl., a resident of Calumet City for 61 years, died Saturday evening at his home. He was a member of the Holy Name Society of St. Andrew Church, where members will meet in the chapel at 7:30 Tuesday. He also belonged to the Polish Alma Mater Group 21 of St. George Society.

Mr. and Mrs. Scheffki celebrated their golden wedding anniversary May 30.

Services will be held at 9:30 am Wednesday in the Czechanski Funeral Home, 248 155^th Pl., Calumet City and at 10:00 am in St. Andrew Church, Msgr. Joseph Sehnke officiating. Burial will be in Holy Cross Cemetery. Friends may call at the funeral home after 7 o’clock tonight.

Surviving are his widow, Pauline; six daughters, Mrs. Michael ( Lillian) Urick, Mrs. Joseph (Julia) Zasada, Mrs. Emily Skwirtz and Mrs. Earl (Corrine) Eley all of Calumet City; Mrs. Al (Florence) Mehorczyk of Harvey and Mrs. Frank (Pauline) Haury of Chicago; four sons, Andrew and John Jr., both of Calumet City; Clemence of Chicago, and William of East Chicago.

Three sisters, Mrs. Walter Lewkowski of Hammond, Mrs. William Zick Sr. of Calumet City and Mrs. Frank Savage of Morton Grove, IL; four brothers, Anton and Frank Scheffki and August and Felix Trzebiatowski, all of Calumet City; 33 grandchildren and 11 great-grandchildren.

John was a Paint Sprayer in the hospital supply business.

2) Anthony Scheffke born December 27, 1883 in Germany. Died March 1969.

3) Frank Scheffke born January 19, 1886 in Amalienfelde Germany.

Frank’s obituary read: (The Times, April 24, 1957 B-3)

Frank Scheffke Senior, 71, of 324 155^th St., Calumet City, died Tuesday at his home.

Surviving are his wife Cecelia; four daughters, Mrs. Martha Bulczak of Calumet City, Mrs. Adeline Jayjac of East Chicago, Mrs. Dorothy Wilk of East Chicago, Mrs. Alice Buitron of Granada Hills, California; two sons, Henry of Calumet City and Frank, Jr. of Harvey; three sisters, Mrs. Walter Lewkowski of Hammond, Mrs. William Zick of Calumet City, Mrs. Rose Savage of Morton Grove, IL; a brother, Anthony of Calumet City and two half brothers, August and Felix Trzebiatowski of Calumet City; 15 grandchildren and 3 great-grandchildren.

Services will be Saturday at 9:30 a.m. at the Czechanski Funeral Home, 248 155^th Pl., Calumet City, and at 10 a.m. in St. Andrew’s Church the Rt. Rev. Msgr. Joseph Sehnke will sing the mass. Burial will be in Holy Cross Cemetery. Friends may call after 7:00 pm today.

Scheffke was a member of the Polish Alma Mater Group 21 of the St. George Society. A resident of Calumet City for overt 65 years, he was a retired machinist and formerly employed at the Pullman Standard Co.

4) Anna Scheffki Lewkowski was born October 21, 1888 in Chicago died March 31, 1971.

Anna’s obituary read:

Anna A. Lewkowski, age 82, 7229 Woodlawn Ave., Hammond, passed away at the residence March 31, 1971. Survivors: Husband, Walter; three sons, Andrew, Robert of Hammond, Walter Jr. of Calumet City, IL; two daughters, Florence Burdelak of Hammond, Rita Mikals of Calumet City, , IL; two brothers, Gust Trzebiatowski and Felix Trzebiatowski both of Calumet City; two sisters, Cecelia Zick of Calumet City and Rose Salvage of Morton Grove, IL.; nine grandchildren and twelve great grandchildren. Funeral arrangements will be announced at a later date through Emmerling-Paddack Chapel, 6020 Hohman Ave., Hammond IN.

Bertha married Michael Trzebiatowski in 1890 in Chicago.

Marriage Index for Polish Parishes in Chicago through 1915: Results

[http://www.pgsa.org/database/chicmar_results.cfm?lastName=szefka&firstName=&lastNameSearch=exact&page=1]

Bertha and Michael were founding members of St. Andrew’s Catholic Church in Calumet City IL.

Children by Bertha Lessner Scheffki Trzebiatowski and Michael Trzebiatowski were:

1) Rose Savage

2) Cecelia H. Trzebiatowski was born September 26, 1893 and died June 2, 1983. She married William Zick February 20 1929; possibly at the Assumption of the BVM Church, 6005 S. Marshfield, Chicago, IL 60636. William Zick died January 27, 1979. He was the Mayor of Calumet City from 1935 to 1941.

William Zick’s parents were Louise Zick, died April 19, 1913 and Edward Zick died September 28, 1928. His brothers and sisters were:

Edna M. Krueger
George F. Zick
Lucille F. Zick

3) Felix Trzebiatowski was born 1898 and died May 14, 1975.

4) August Trzebiatowski was born August 28, 1899 and died January 28, 1977.

Michael Trzebiatowski died April 26, 1937 in Perronville, MI. He died of stomach cancer and was a farmer by occupation.

His obituary reads:

Aged Perronville Resident is Dead.

Michael Trzebiatowski, 82, passed away at 1:30 o’clock Monday morning at his home in Perronville.

He was born in Poland, September 2, 1855 and came to the United States 66 years ago. His marriage to Bertha Lessner took place in Chicago in 1890. Twenty-one years ago, he moved to Perronville and resided there until his death.

The body was removed to the Boyce Funeral Home to be prepared for burial and will be returned to the family residence this morning. Funeral services will be held Wednesday morning at 9:30 o’clock at St. Michael’s church, Perronville, Rev. Fr. Edmond Krystiniak officiating, and burial will be in the Perronville cemetery.

Surviving are his widow two daughters, Mrs. Celia Zick of Calumet City, IL and Mrs. Rose Savage of Chicago; two sons, August and Felix of Perronville; and the following step-children; John, Frank and Anton Scheffki and Mrs. Anna Lewkowski, of Calumet City and forty-one grandchildren and nine great grandchildren.

Michael Trzebiatowski

Funeral services, large attended, were held for Michael Trzebiatowski, Wednesday morning at 9:30 o’clock at a solemn requiem high mass. Rev. Fr. Francis Krysty was celebrant; Rev. R. George Laforest, deacon, and Rev. Fr. William Remmillard, sub-deacon.

The music of the mass was sung by the church choir, Miss Helen Macur, organist, and Mrs. Florance Nault, director and at the offertory Mrs. Nault sang "O Meritum Passionis."

Burial was in Perronville cemetery. Pallbearers were: William Adyam, Michael Panek, Jacob Fetro, Frank Bartoszek, Joseph Palko and Casmir Butryn.

Out-of-town relatives and friends who attended were Mr. and Mrs. William Zick and , Calumet City, IL., Mr. and Mrs. Frank Savage, Chicago; Mr. and Mrs. John Scheffki; Mrs. A. Szewki, Calumet City; Mr. and Mrs. Walter Lewkowski, Calumet City; Miss Celia Lewkowski and Martin Rosinski, Calumet City.

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