Lake Maxinkuckee Its Intrigue History & Genealogy Culver, Marshall, Indiana

Jerome J. Zechiel Family  



Jerome J. Zechiel Family jerome "Zeke", Betty & Jeff - 1985
Jerome J. Zechiel Family - My Father Jerome Herman Zechiel second son of Louis Christian and his wife Louisa Christiana Stahl Zechiel was born near Culver , Marshall County, Indiana on January 22, 1882. He married Bertha Larua Fechner on March 10, 1909. My mother was born April 15, 1885 South Bend. She was the daughter of Carl and Olgas Brose Fechner. She was a milliner before her marriage. My farther was a successful farmer and livestock dealer. He died February 16, 1951 and my mother died October 14, 1983.

I Jerome Junior Zechiel , was born in Culver on November 23, 1923. I have an older sister Margaret Imogene, now Margaret White born September 24, 1915. and an older bother Donald Walter born November 24, 1909. Donald died at South Bend in July 1954.

I attended schools in Culver and graduated in 1941. One of my first jobs was to work for Western Union. I applied for social security under the name of Jerome Junior, since my family had called me that since birth. My birth certificate read Jerome Zechiel Jr. Thinking this was wrong I had my birth certificate changed to Jerome Junior. It wasn't till I was in my 50s that I learned I really was named Jerome Zechiel Jr.

I was an apprentice machinist for South Bend Lathe before being drafted into service March 1, 1943. I was accepted in the Aviation Cadets at Fort Belvoir, Virginia and commissioned as Second Lieutenant pilot at Columbus, Mississippi, in the class of 44-I. I was assigned to C-45's, Curtis Commando - Troop Carrier Command. I was discharged August 14, 1946.

On June 22, 1947 I married Elizabeth "Betty" June Craft daughter of Wilfred Clyde Craft and Izora June (Bolen) Craft. We have one son Jeffrey David.

In 1947 I bought the Lake Shore Recreation and sold it in 1950. I worked in the personnel and purchasing departments at Kingsbury Ordnance plant. I also worked as a salesman for Midwestern Veterinary Supply. In the fall of 1954 my wife and I started our own business, Zechiel Farm Service in the basement of our home at 462 Liberty Street, Culver . We out grew our basement and purchased the former roller skating rink building owned by Donald and Patricia Grothaus, located as 514 West Jefferson Street Culver , in the fall of 1959. Our business continued to grow and in May 1985 we liquidated our inventory and equipment after being in business over 30 years.

After retiring for a few weeks we bought the former dime store building at 114 North Main street Culver. After extensive remodeling we opened October 1 1985 "The Parlor" a game room for all ages.

My wife Betty and son Jeff and I are members in the same church where my great grandparents were charter members, My parents and grandparents were also members of this church known today as Grace United Church of Christ.

My outside interests have been sailing and ice boating. After many years of wishful thinking and driving around Lake Maxinkuckee we moved to our present location on the lake [920 E. Shore] and have lived here since 1972.

I have been active in the Maxinkuckee Yacht Club, serving in many capacities in the early years. My wife has helped in our business ventures and her hobbies have been painting in oils and watercolor.

Our son Jeff attended Culver schools . He attended Indiana Vocational Technical College in South Bend for two years, majoring [majoring] in automobile mechanics. He is now employed by the highway department of Marshall county. He is also interested in water sports and radio communications. - Jerome J. Zechiel. - - History of Marshall County Indiana Sesquicentenial 1836 - 1986 (Taylor Publishing Co., 1986, Publication # 357 of 1422) Marshall County Historical Society pg. 472

They both died in the same car accident of 12 Dec 1996; Bety was driving and what happened was not fully determined as noother vechile was invovled. Both were buried 16 Dec 1996 Culver Masonic Cemetery, Culver, Marshall, Indiana