Frances Josephine (Brooks) Kowald 1896-1995

This photo graciously shared with me by Ruth Ann Peake.

Frances is top center, moving clockwise we have baby brother

Thomas, then her sisters, bottom, Helen and, left, Eunice

(All other images from my personal collection.)

Born: April 19, 1896 in Appleton, Wisconsin

Died: July 27, 1995 in Sedalia, Missouri.

Place of burial: By her husband Arch in what is now called Lincoln Memorial Cemetery, previously known as Wanderer’s Rest Cemetery in Milwaukee, Wisconsin; Sect 11, Block 16, Lot 5.

Spouse: Archibald Ferdinand Kowald m. July 2, 1924 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.

Children: Barbara (Kowald) Williams

Margaret (Kowald) Sharp

Roger Brooks Kowald

Occupation: Nurse

Father’s name: Frank Brooks Birth place: Lansingburg, New York

Mother’s name: Mary Elizabeth (Briggs) Brooks Birth place: Appleton, Wisconsin

Siblings: Eunice Ruth (Brooks) Wingrove

Helen Margaret (Brooks) Williams

Thomas Wallace Brooks

Half sisters. Same mother, different father, Austin Horr

Mary Cora Mae (Horr) Orcutt

Jenny ‘Betty’ Elizabeth (Horr) Sellick b. 1903 in Appleton, Wisconsin, married Percy Sellick in 1924 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.

The photo of young Frances was sent to me by my Aunt Margaret, who got it from her sister Barbara. It is clearly identified as being Frances, but is not dated. My guess is that it is from 1920, as she graduated from Milwaukee County General Hospital School of Nursing in June, 1920. She was the last surviving member of her class.

In 1921 she began working for the Milwaukee County Health Department and that is where she met Arch whom she married in 1924. Her 25 years at the County dealt mostly with babies and children, and immunizations and infectious diseases.

Following Arch’s passing, she moved to the Tampa, Florida area where she stayed for 20 years. In 1988, Frances moved to Sedalia, Missouri to be closer to the family of her oldest daughter, Barbara, and her family.

Frances once sent to Roger Kowald’s wife, Betty, a letter that outlined quite a bit of family history. It is fascinating. I’ve transcribed it and urge everyone to take a moment with it. Read it here.

Grandma passed on to us a German Potato Salad Recipe that is the best. It’s simple, tasty and authentic.

Try it here.

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