Hilda Ida Brunken

Dale William Kirmse

When Hilda Ida Brunken was born on September 22, 1906, near Platte Center, Nebraska, her father, William, was 28, and her mother, Clara, was 22. She married Julius Heinrich Kirmse on November 1, 1936, in Lahoma, Oklahoma. They had four children during their marriage. She died on September 24, 1946 in Hardtner, Kansas at the age of 40, and was buried in Alva, Oklahoma.

Born, to Mr. and Mrs. Willie Brunken near Monroe, Saturday a little bright-eyed girl baby. Grandpa Brunken of this route has forgot all about his rheumatism. [Route 3]

WHAT: Birth Announcement – Newspaper clipping
WHO: Hilda Ida Brunken
WHEN: September, 1906
WHERE: Platte Center, Nebraska
SOURCE: The Columbus Journal, September 26, 1906. page 2

Mr. and Mrs John Brunken attended the christening of their little five weeks old grand daughter, Hilda Ida, at home of their son, Will Brunken, west of Platte Center on last Sunday. [Route 3]

WHAT: Baptism Announcement – Newspaper clipping
WHO: Hilda Ida Brunken
WHEN: October, 1906
WHERE: Platte Center, Nebraska
SOURCE: The Columbus Journal, October 31, 1906 page 8

WHAT: Portrait of Hilda Ida Brunken, daughter of William Leopold and Clara Marie (Petersen) Brunken,
WHO: Hilda Ida Brunken, daughter of William Leopold and Clara Marie (Petersen) Brunken
WHEN: Circa 1907 – Hilda appears to be about one year old
WHERE: Platte Center, Nebraska – West of
SOURCE: Grandma Brunken’s Album
NOTES: None

To Hilda
from Herbert
Birthday 1909[1]

A birthday greeting to Hilda from her cousin Herbet.
WHO:
- “Hilda” is Hilda Ida Brunken, daughter of William and Mary (Petersen) Brunken.
- “Herbert” is Herbert E. Arndt, son of Edward and Mathilda (Petersen) Arndt.
WHEN: September, 1909
WHERE: Near Platte Center, Nebraska
SOURCE: Grandma Brunken’s Album
NOTES:
1. The “Birthday 1909” was added at some later date than when the postcard was given.
2. Hilda was turning 3 years old and Herbert was 4 years old in September, 1909.
3. This post is an example of the greeting postcards in the third section of the album.

Valentine Card From Elsa. SOURCE: Grandma Brunken’s Album

Postmark: PLATTE CENTER NEB FEB 10 4PM 1915
Miss Hilda Brunken
Meno
Okla.
%Wm Brunken
Hello Hilda,
Recd your Mama’s postal yesterday. Well how are you all up there. We are all well. I have plenty of time now to write we have no German school yet The teacher did not come yet, Suppose you go to school every day. How do you like school? I only go to Confirmation — the forenoon —- ans soon.
As ever
Elsa H.Who

WHAT: Valentine Card From Elsa
WHO:
- “Elsa H.” is Elsie Ida Hagelman, daughter of Henry and Anna (Petersen) Hagelman.
- “Hilda” is Hilda Ida Brunken, daughter of William and Mary (Petersen) Brunken.
WHEN: February 10, 1915 – Postmark
WHERE: Platte Center, Nebraska – Postmark
SOURCE: Grandma Brunken’s Album
NOTES:Elsa, who is 5 years older than Hilda, apparently has a lot of extra time since her school has not yet started.

WHAT: Hilda had the responsibility of keeping the turkeys in place so the photographer could snap a picture of them. However, the turkey tom is not taking kindly to this – he is protecting the hen while ruffling his feathers and screaming “Gobble, Gobble, Gobble”.
WHO: Hilda Ida Brunken
WHEN: About 1916, There are no leaves on the trees next to the house so this is winter time.
WHERE: Lahoma, Oklahoma – The William Brunken Lahoma family home is in the background.
SOURCE: Grandma Brunken’s Album
NOTES: Compare Hilda in the current picture with the photograph in the “William and Mary Brunken Children – 1916” picture, both pictures are the same size, on the same postcard film stock, and have the same border – the pictures were likely taken on the same film load and possibly on the same day.

WHAT: Birthday Party for Hilda Brunken
WHO: UnIdentified
BACK ROW, LEFT TO RIGHT: Leona Brunken, Hilda Brunken, Alvin Brunken, UnIdentified
FRONT ROW, LEFT TO RIGHT: Harold Brunken, UnIdentified, UnIdentified
WHEN: Saturday September 22, 1917 – If this was Hilda’s 11th birthday
WHERE: Lahoma, Oklahoma – at the William Brunken farm house.
SOURCE: Grandma Brunken’s Album
NOTES: Names are according to a sticky note on the snapshot

WHAT: Second snapshot of Birthday Party for Hilda Brunken
BACK ROW, LEFT TO RIGHT: UnIdentified, UnIdentified, Mary Brunken
MIDDLE ROW,LEFT TO RIGHT: UnIdentified, Hilda Brunken, Alvin Brunken, UnIdentified
FRONT ROW, LEFT TO RIGHT: Harold Brunken, UnIdentified, UnIdentified
WHEN: Saturday September 22, 1917 – If this was Hilda’s 11th birthday
WHERE: Lahoma, Oklahoma – at the William Brunken farm house.
SOURCE: Grandma Brunken’s Album
NOTES:
- According to a sticky note attached to this second snapshot, the woman on the right is Grandmother Brunken
- The woman on the left holding a child (apparently a girl) is not identified. Her facial features are very similar to those of Grandmother Brunken – possibly a sister or cousin?

How old was Hilda on this birthday? We have two pictures/chances to count the candles on Hilda’s birthday cake.

Be careful not to include the candle shadows in your count.

What is your count? As best as I can count the candles on Hilda’s birthday cake, there are 10 candles. By candle count, this was Hilda’s 10th birthday. As an addition reference for dating this picture, Harold would have been almost three on Hilda’s 10th birthday. In my opinion Harold looks older than an almost three year old. Could one of the candles be missing – the candles do appear to have previously been lit. Possibly a candle dropped off of the cake on the way outside for taking the picture and being dirty was not replaced on the cake. After all, who would have expected that someone was going to try to count the candles in a picture a hundred years later?

For now, I am going to assume that this was Hilda’s eleventh birthday.

WHAT: Hilda Ida Brunken – Confirmation
WHO: Hilda Ida Brunken – daughter of William Leopold and Clara Marie “Mary” (Petersen) Brunken
WHEN: Circa 1920
WHERE: Lahoma, Oklahoma
SOURCE: Grandma Brunken’s Album
NOTES: According to a caption on the back of the postcard, this picture was taken on Hilda’s confirmation day

WHAT: A scene in a Walther League Playlet called the “The Booger Man”
WHO: Hilda Brunken, Elenor Rosell
WHEN: Circa February 1924 – Assuming Hilda is 18 years old
WHERE: Lahoma, Oklahoma
SOURCE: Hilda Brunken’s Album
NOTES: Hilda Brunken participated in many local theater plays as a young adult. These pictures show the costumes worn and scenes in a Walther League Playlet called the “The Booger Man”.

WHAT: Another scene in a Walther League Playlet called the “The Booger Man”
WHO: Hilda Brunken, Elenor Rosell
Circa February 1924 – Assuming Hilda is 18 years old
WHERE: Lahoma, Oklahoma
SOURCE: Hilda Brunken’s Album

Hilda Brunken, Irene Brakage and Elenor Rosell

WHAT: Another scene in a Walther League Playlet called the “The Booger Man”
LEFT TO RIGHT: Elenor Rosell, Hilda Brunken, Irene Brakage
WHEN: Circa February 1924 – Assuming Hilda is 18 years old
WHERE: Lahoma, Oklahoma
SOURCE: Hilda Brunken’s Album

WHAT: Hilda and two friends have their picture taken.
LEFT TO RIGHT: Louise Brandhorst, Edna Graf, Hilda Brunken
WHEN: Circa 1924 – Assuming that Hilda is about 18 years old
WHERE: Lahoma, Oklahoma – probably
SOURCE: Hilda Brunken’s Album

WHO: Hilda Brunken
WHEN: Circa 1925
WHERE: Lahoma, Oklahoma – probably
SOURCE: Hilda Brunken’s Album
NOTES: None

WHAT: Hilda Graduation from High School
LEFT TO RIGHT: Hilda Brunken, UnIdentified, UnIdentified
WHEN: Circa 1926
WHERE: Lahoma, Oklahoma
SOURCE: Hilda Brunken’s Album

WHAT: A play that Hilda participated in
WHO: UnIdentified
WHEN: Circa 1928
WHERE: Lahoma, Oklahoma
SOURCE: Hilda Brunken’s Album
NOTES: Hilda enjoyed helping produce and act in plays

WHAT: Swimming at Walther League Camp
WHO: Hilda Brunken
WHEN: Circa 1930
WHERE: Walther League Camp
SOURCE: Donna Martin

Hilda Ida Brunken, SOURCE: Mildred Kletke. — Hilda Ida Brunken

WHAT: Photographs that were exchanged with friends
WHO: Hilda Brunken
WHEN: Circa 1935
WHERE: Lahoma, Oklahoma – probably
SOURCE: Mildred Kletke

Hilda (Brunken) and Julius Kirmse Wedding

WHAT: Wedding portrait of Hilda Ida Brunken and Julius Henry Kirmse
LEFT TO RIGHT: Julius Henry Kirmse, Hilda Ida (Brunken) Kirmse
WHEN: 1936
WHERE: Lahoma, Oklahoma – possibly could be Enid, Oklahoma
SOURCE: Judy Yordi

LEFT TO RIGHT: Mildred Lorena Brunken, sister of the bride; Laura Helena Maria Kirmse, sister of the groom; Hilda Ida Brunken, bride; Julius Henry Kirmse, groom; Harold Casten Brunken, brother of the bride; Ella Anna Paulina Kirmse, sister of the groom
In Front: Audrey Lee Lindorfer, niece of the bride
WHEN: November 1, 1936
WHERE: Lahoma, Oklahoma
SOURCE: Judy Yordi

LEFT TO RIGHT: Mildred Lorena Brunken, sister of the bride; Laura Helena Maria Kirmse, sister of the groom; Harold Casten Brunken, brother of the bride; Ella Anna Paulina Kirmse, sister of the groom
In Front: Audrey Lee Lindorfer, niece of the bride
WHEN: November 1, 1936
WHERE: Lahoma, Oklahoma
SOURCE: Judy Yordi

LEFT TO RIGHT: Mildred Lorena Brunken, Laura Helena Maria Kirmse, Hilda Ida (Brunken) Kirmse, Julius Henry Kirmse, Harold Casten Brunken, Ella Anna Paulina Kirmse,
In Front: Audrey Lee Lindorfer
WHEN: November 1, 1936
WHERE: Lahoma, Oklahoma
SOURCE: Judy Yordi

Hilda Ida (Brunken) Kirmse, Julius Henry Kirmse

LEFT TO RIGHT: Hilda Ida (Brunken) Kirmse, Julius Henry Kirmse
In Front: Audrey Lee Lindorfer
WHEN: November 1, 1936
WHERE: Lahoma, Oklahoma
SOURCE: Judy Yordi

LEFT TO RIGHT: Hilda Ida (Brunken) Kirmse, Julius Henry Kirmse
WHEN: November 1, 1936
WHERE: Lahoma, Oklahoma
SOURCE: Judy Yordi

Hilda Ida Brunken and Julius Heinrich "Henry" Kirmse — Hilda Ida Brunken and Julius Heinrich “Henry” Kirmse

Julius Henry Kirmse

When Julius Heinrich Kirmse was born on January 20, 1905, near Goodwin, Oklahoma, his father, Wilhelm, was 29 and his mother, Martha, was 25. He married Hilda Ida Brunken and they had four children together. He then married Hildegard Frieda Kletke on August 19, 1951, in Alva, Oklahoma. He died on December 4, 1998, in Alva, Oklahoma, at the age of 93, and was buried there.

WHAT: Julius Kirmse with his sister Edna Kirmse
LEFT TO RIGHT: Edna Barbara Kirmse, Julius Heinrich “Henry” Kirmse
WHEN: Circa 1908
WHERE: Goodwin, Oklahoma – possibly taken at Shattuck, Oklahoma
SOURCE: Donna Kirmse
NOTES: Edna Barbara Kirmse, , daughter of Wilhelm Kirmse and Martha Margaretha Cordes, was born on February 5, 1908, in Ellis County, Oklahoma. She died as a child on July 10, 1909, in Ellis County, Oklahoma, and was buried in Alva, Oklahoma.

WHAT: Julius Heinrich Kirmse – confirmation portrait
WHO: Julius Heinrich “Henry” Kirmse, son of Martha Margaretha (Cordes) and William Kirmse.
WHEN:
WHERE: Alva, Oklahoma
SOURCE: Donna Kirmse

LEFT TO RIGHT: Julius Kirmse, Alvin Kirmse
WHEN: DateUnknown
WHERE: Alva, Oklahoma
SOURCE: Donna Kirmse

WHO: Julius Kirmse
WHEN: DateUnknown
WHERE: Alva, Oklahoma
SOURCE: Donna Kirmse

WHAT: A photograph taken in a photobooth
LEFT TO RIGHT: Julius Henry Kirmse, Hilda Ida (Brunken) Kirmse
WHEN: Circa 1936
WHERE: Alva, Oklahoma – possibly could be Enid, Oklahoma
SOURCE: Hilda Brunken’s Album

Julius Heinrich “Henry” Kirmse, Hilda (Brunken) Kirmse

LEFT TO RIGHT: Julius Heinrich “Henry” Kirmse, Hilda (Brunken) Kirmse
WHEN: Circa 1938
WHERE: Alva, Oklahoma
SOURCE: Gary Brunken

Hilda (Brunken) Kirmse and Julius Heinrich “Henry” Kirmse

LEFT TO RIGHT: Hilda (Brunken) Kirmse, Julius Heinrich “Henry” Kirmse
WHEN: Circa 1938
WHERE: Alva, Oklahoma
SOURCE: Judy Ann Yordi
NOTES: None

Hildegard Frieda Kletke

When Hildegard Frieda Kletke was born on March 18, 1905, in Alva, Oklahoma, her father, Edward, was 31, and her mother, Ida, was 25. She married Julius Heinrich Kirmse on August 19, 1951, in her hometown. She died on February 27, 2002, in Alva, Oklahoma, at the age of 96, and was buried there.

WHAT: Wedding portrait
LEFT TO RIGHT: Hildegard (Kletke) Kirmse, Julius Heinrich “Henry” Kirmse
WHEN: August 19, 1951
WHERE: Alva, Oklahoma

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Julius Henry Kirmse

Hildegard Frieda Kletke

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