Ernest G. Vorwerk Family

Ernest Vorwerk was born June 12, 1903 eight miles west of Napoleon, Ohio on the Vorwerk farm on Adams Ridge. He is the eighth child of Henry Vorwerk and his wife Doretta. The story of Ernest's ancestry is on page 455 of the History of Henry County, Volume I.

He was baptised and on April 1, 1917 confirmed by Rev. Herman Schult in Bethlehem Lutheran Church. Afflicted with appendicitis as a child, he was not sent to school until he was eight years old and had not yet learned to speak or understand a word of English. His father and mother and all the neighbors spoke only low German. Estella Bidlack, his first teacher knew no German. The little red school house in district five of Adams Township, Defiance County had only a total of 12 to 20 pupils in all grades. Some of the older boys came only in the cold winter months and the girls usually quit school when they were confirmed at about age 14.

After completing the eighth reader and eighth grade arithmetic, he attended Jewell High School 1919-1920.

His parents retired from farming in the fall of 1920 and moved to 717 Welsted Street in Napoleon where Ernest enrolled as a high school sophomore and with his parents became a member of St. Paul Lutheran Church. He started to teach sunday school in 1921.

Helen Vorwerk, nee Baden, the daughter of William Baden and his wife Minnie, nee Bunk, whose family history is recorded in Henry County History Volume I on page 77, was born on July 30, 1903 on the family farm near Stanley, Ohio.

They were members of St. Peter Lutheran. Helen was baptised by Pastor Rotman and confirmed by Pastor Schwan on April 1, 1917. After confirmation she quit school to help on the farm and to do ,house work for other people to earn a few dollars per week. Even before confirmation she helped her Bunk grandparents a good deal and was rewarded with the gift of a gold watch.

At a Walther League Valentine party at St. Paul Lutheran Church in February, 1922, Helen and Ernest first were introduced to each other. Ernest was graduated from Napoleon High School in 1923, attended Defiance

College one year 1923-1924 and enrolled in International Business College in Fort Wayne for a few months.

The couple were married in St. Peter Lutheran Church, October 5, 1924. Ernest was already an experienced retail shoe clerk and became manager of a Henry Clay shoe store in Charleston, West Virginia. From there he was transferred to Kokomo, Indiana and then to Fort Wayne as shoe store manager. From 1926 to March, 1929, he worked as retail shoe clerk for Gottschalk shoe store in Napoleon.

With the help of his parents they bought a house at 511 Vine Street and here on October 12, 1926, their daughter Leah was born. Kathleen was next on June 3, 1931. The Vine street home was sold in 1942 and the family moved to their present home at 517 High Street. Betsy Sue, the youngest daughter, first saw daylight in Heller Memorial Hospital on April 2, 1941.

On March 18, 1929, Ernest quit his job at Gottschalk Shoe Store and joined his brother Herman to form the Home Oil Co. as a partnership. The story of this business venture is recorded in Henry County History, Volume I page 41.

God has blessed the family in so many ways and so bountifully that words cannot express adequately their thanks and appreciation.

There have been many health problems but God has always been with them in time of need. Helen's nerve condition progressed from one crisis to another but with loving care, good medical advice and hospitalization she has recovered well and is presently quite comfortable.

Ernest's appendix flared up again in 1974 and necessitated an emergency operation in Heller Memorial Hospital. Two hernia operations plus a heart attack in Florida were taken in stride with the helping hand of God. Even on the highways and in other hazardous situations, God provided guardian angels. The Vorwerk's know the power of prayer from experience.

In spite of heavy debts and loaded with management of a growing business, Ernest devoted many hours every week to his church, his community in industrial development, Public School Board, hospital, Kiwanis, scenic rivers and parks, etc. and the oil industry as director and vice-president for 18 years of the Ohio Petroleum Marketers Association. Tithing involves not only just giving money liberally to church and charity but also sharing time and talent.

In 1955, they purchased the cottage at 608 Clear Lake, Indiana. Weekends and vacations there helped to hold the family together and provided relaxation from the press of many other activities. Even here Ernest served for two years as president of the Lutheran Chapel Association.

All three daughters graduated from St. Paul Lutheran School and from Napoleon High School. Kathleen was elected to the National Honor Society in her Junior year. At age 11, she rescued Earl Tweitmeier from drowning in Clear Lake and was awarded a Carnege Hero Medal.

Leah enrolled at Valparaiso University one year and the next year at International Business College, Ft. Wayne. After several years in public accounting, she married Paul Dammeier in June, 1951. He became associated with the Home Oil Company as a distributor and is now vice-president and sales manager. They have five children — Nancy, Janet, Roger, Lisa, and Scott and they live at the corner of Sheffield and Strong Streets.

Kathleen attended Valparaiso University two years and married Gus Conrad. He is now vice-president and operations manager of Home Oil Company. They live at 323 West Clinton Street and have four children — Kenneth, Karen, Kristine, and Karla.

Betsy Sue also attended Valparaiso University two years. Her husband, Warren Kahrs has the Kahrs Tractor Sales and Service Co. four miles south of Wauseon on State Route 108. Their home is nearby. They have four children — Wade, Brett, Todd and Kimberly.

All the 13 grandchildren are enrolled at St. Paul Lutheran School or have been graduated from there.