Allen was married to the late Ruth Rafoth. They have a daughter, Lynn, and Allen has a son, Allen Jr., and six grandchildren. Betty is married to Raymond Avenarius, and they have two sons, Dennis and Daniel. Betty and Ray have five grandchildren. I have fond memories of Sunday dinners at Grandma & Grandpa Stoffregen's house, with lots and lots of food to eat! The grownups ate in the dining room, the grandchildren ate in the kitchen!

My Maternal Great-Grandparents

Charles (Carl Friedrich) & Hannah Loeck

Louis Stoffregen's parents were Charles Stoffregen and Hannah Loeck. Charles was born in Prussia in June 1867. Hannah was born in 1867 in Schleswig-Holstein, Germany. They emigrated to America in 1872 and were married in 1890. Charles died in East Dubuque, Illinois in 1928, Hannah died in August 1934 in Dubuque. They also had two other sons, Albert, Edward, and a daughter, Elizabeth. Albert and his wife Mary had no children. They are buried in Greenwood Cemetery in Galena, Illinois. Edward was always known as Uncle Stoffy, and he was married to Florence Liddle, always called Aunt Chone. Their children are Catherine and William. Elizabeth, or Aunt Liza, as we called her, was widowed at an early age and was left to raise two sons. She was an excellent seamstress, and made her living that way. I remember a spring coat she made for me when I was about 12 years old, and a beautiful formal gown for my senior prom when I was 17. She also made First Communion dresses for my sisters. She was known to sew complete bridal party gowns, and never used a pattern! Aunt Liza and her husband Leonard Swanson are buried in East Dubuque Cemetery, Illinois.

Minnie's father was John Remus, born in 1856 in Triepkendorf, Mecklenburg-Stelitz, Germany. He emigrated from Germany at age 16. John died in 1923 in Dubuque, Iowa. Her mother's name was Wilhemina (Minnie) Caroline Friederike Gau, born October 2, 1860 in Triepkendorf, Mecklenburg-Strelitz, Germany, and died in 1931 in Dubuque. John Remus and Wilhemina Gau were married November 18, 1882 in Dubuque, Iowa. They also had another daughter, Anna, and three sons, Alfred, Arthur, and Herman (Buff) Remus. Alfred and Herman (Buff) never married. Alfred was a WWII veteran. Arthur married Marie Muhulka and they had a daughter Marianne. They lived in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, and are buried there. Marianne still lives in Milwaukee. Anna Remus married John Utzig and also lived most of their lives in Milwaukee. Anna had a daughter Loretta who was married to Louis Keuter. "Aunt Annie" was my godmother. but at the time of my baptism, she was suffering with a broken leg, so her daughter Loretta stood in proxy for her. Loretta lived to be 92, died in 1999.

My Maternal 2nd Great-Grandparents

Frederick Remus & ? Brest

John Remus' father was Frederick Remus and his mother's maiden name was Brest. They lived in Triepkendorf, Mecklenburg-Strelitz, Germany. Wilhemina's father's name was George Carl Mathias Gau, born about 1838 in Triepkendorf, and her mother's maiden name was Johanna Friederike Dorothea Doernbrack, born about 1838 in Triepkendorf. They had 4 children besides Wilhemina; Herman Wilhelm, born 1864, Wilhelm August, born about 1865, Herman Carl, born about 1867, and Fred C., born November 13, 1872. All were born in Germany.

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