Not long ago, one of our museum’s friends, June Ernst, presented me with a story idea, along with a few documents to assist me. It is actually a kind of story that I shy away from because a standard rule that usually guides my decision on whether to do a story is that the beginning of the story takes place in the 1800’s. Using that rule not only gets us farther back in time, but it enables me to keep track of a character’s life as evidenced by several census entries. Today’s main character does not follow that rule but I will tell it anyway.

Dalvin Otto Yamnitz was born on Christmas Day, December 25, 1924, which means that today would be his 100th birthday. I can tell you that Dalvin is not found in our German Family Tree. When we look at who Dalvin’s parents were, it leads us back to some names that have records in local Lutheran churches. Dalvin was the son of Gustav and Hazel (Shrum) Yamnitz. His father, Gustav, was one of the 13 children that are found in the family photo with Dalvin’s grandparents, Ernst and Mary (Brickhaus) Yamnitz that has appeared on this blog a few times before. A previous post was written on this blog about the Ernst Yamnitz family that was titled, Yamnitz’s in Yount. That post shows that Ernst Yamnitz had some records in the books of Trinity Lutheran Church in Friedheim. Dalvin’s father, Gustav, is the man standing in the back row in the photo below directly above his father’s head. So, you can already see an example of a very large Yamnitz family.

I am not sure where Dalvin was baptized, but it may have been at a Lutheran church whose church records are not in our GFT. He is then found in the 1930 census at the age of 5. His father was a farmer in the Bois Brule Township. Dalvin was the oldest in his family, and I believe there were 5 children all together.

Dalvin is found in the 1940 census at the age of 15. This time the Yamnitz farm was located in the St. Marys Township.

In 1942, Dalvin had his World War II draft card completed. He is given a Yount address on this document, and it says he was working on his father’s farm. It also states that he was born in Claryville.

In 1944, Dalvin enlisted in the military and went off to fight in that war. The short article below says that Dalvin served in the Pacific. He was part of the U.S. Army.

Here is Dalvin pictured in his military uniform.

It is now time to turn our attention to the woman who would become Dalvin’s wife. Her name was Viola Elizabeth Clements, who, along with her twin sister, Iola Clements, was born on January 6, 1929. That means these twins were born on Epiphany Day. Viola and Iola were likely baptized at a local Catholic parish. However, in the case of Viola’s family tree, she can trace her ancestors back to Henry and Mary (Eichmeier) Lix, who have church records in the books of Trinity Lutheran Church in Friedheim as well as the Lixville Lutheran Church, which was located near Yount. Viola was the daughter of August and Albertine (Behrle) Clements. Viola is found in the 1930 census at the age of 1 2/12 years. Her father was a farmer in the Central Township.

Next, we find the Clements family in the 1940 census when Viola and Iola were 11 years old. This time, their father was a laborer in Perryville.

Dalvin Yamnitz would get married to Viola Clements prior to the 1950 census, but before they were married, they had this photo taken which illustrates the fact that they knew each other rather well by that time.

Dalvin Yamnitz married Viola Clements on April 17, 1948. This couple was married at St. Vincent’s Catholic Church in Perryville. I am able to display this couple’s Missouri marriage license.

Dalvin and Viola would have a very large family. They eventually had 14 children, with only 4 of them being boys. So, this is yet another example of a very large Yamnitz family. When the 1950 census was taken, which is the only one I can picture in this post after they were married because it is the last one the public is permitted to view, we find the Yamnitz’s living in Perryville. Dalvin was a clerk in a grocery store, and Viola was a sewer at the shoe factory.

It was about this time that Dalvin Yamnitz made his way into the church books of Immanuel Lutheran Church in Perryville. In the 1950 church record for Gustav Yamnitz’s death, we find Dalvin listed as a son.

A photo of Dalvin Yamnitz appeared in a newspaper in 1979 showing him in the process of making apple butter.

Dalvin and Viola had these photos taken later in life.

I am going to let Dalvin’s obituary tell you more about his life, but before I do that, I must tell you that Viola Yamnitz died first. She died in 2014 at the age of 85. Her obituary is pictured here. It mentions that she was a member of St. Vincent’s Catholic Church.

This photo of Dalvin with most of his children was taken in 2015.

Dalvin Yamnitz died in 2017 at the age of 92. His obituary shown below gives quite a few extra details about his life. It appears that Dalvin remained a Lutheran while Viola remained Catholic.

June Ernst also provided this death certificate for her father.

Dalvin and Viola Yamnitz are buried together in the Mount Hope Catholic Cemetery in Perryville. Their gravestone is very unique. I am able to show 3 different images of their gravestone, including a military plaque for Dalvin.

For quite a few years, June (Yamnitz) Ernst has headed up an effort to place a Christmas tree which is part of our annual Christmas exhibit at the museum. June was the postmistress in Frohna for many years, so this tree is one that highlights the United States Postal System. Below is a photo of this years postal tree. It is placed next to our mail hack that was once used to deliver mail in the Uniontown area.

So, today we not only wish you a Merry Christmas, but we also acknowledge that today would be the centennial birthday of Dalvin Yamnitz.