Radcliffe, John and Engel (Johnson)

(Lilly Womeldorf)

John and Marie (Johnson) Radcliffe January 11, 1908

Engel Marie was born 24 Aug 1877 on the Island of Stord, Norway, the second child of Jan and Iverine Jansen. Her education began there, in the Stord Seminary School, and was continued in Decorah, at the Trout Run School, District #7, and then at Breckenridge’s Academy. Marie had vivid memories of Norway and the trip to this country, although she was a very little girl at the time.

Marie and her sister Pauline taught school in the Decorah vicinity following the course at the Breckenridge Institute. Some time later, Marie went to teach in a school near Strand, MN. She remembered a strait-laced community much taken with prayer meetings and public demonstrations of faith. There was also a time when there was much devastation by grasshoppers. She also remembers the great bicycle riding fad and Indian celebrations at Borup, MN.

After the Minnesota sojourn, Marie returned to Decorah to help out because of her brother Johnny's illness and taught in the home school until his death. After that she went to Chicago and lived with her sister Andrea and Henry Schwarze. She worked at Sears, Roebuck & Co. and also at the patent medicine firm, Peter Fahrney’s.

While in Chicago, she met John Thomas Radcliffe who roomed at the Schwarzes and was married to him 11 Jan 1908. Two daughters were born to them: Ena Jeannette Marie (17 Oct 1909) and Andrea Eleanor (10 Feb 1912). John Radcliffe worked in the ship building industry and his jobs took the family to various locations, i.e., Ontario, Canada; Pensacola, FL and Chickasaw, AL before moving back to Chicago again. The first summer after the return to Chicago from the South was spent in Decorah. Cousins Ernest and Gerald Johnson and Walter and Roger Womeldorf were playmates and it was especially nice to be near Grandmother Iverine, aunts and uncles and cousins.

Ena was killed in a hit-run automobile accident 20 Jan 1928 before she had graduated from the University of Chicago. Tragedy came to the family soon again when husband John died 12 Oct 1929 after several months of illness. Sister Pauline Johnson went to Chicago to stay with Marie and Andrea during this time. Marie and daughter Andrea continued to live together in the Chicago area until Marie’s death 20 Apr 1966. Andrea became a secretary at Sears after graduating from the University of Chicago and continued to work there as an assistant buyer until her retirement. She lives in Elmhurst, a suburb of Chicago.

Ramlo, Howard and Gladys (Foss)

(Charlotte Wilkins Lee)

Gladys Beatrice Foss, born 14 Aug 1904 (See: Foss, Arne), married Howard Ramlo (10 May 1898-7 Dec 1978). Howard’s parents were Peter Torald Ramlo and Mary Elizabeth (Lizzie) Bergeson. Howard and Gladys worked for several years at the Wapsie Produce and then worked for Luther College in food service. The Ramlos, members of Decorah Lutheran Church, had 5 children: Mavis, Howard, Peter, Clarion and Marilyn. Mavis Deloris was born 15 Jan 1928 and died 6 Apr 1928. Howard Bernell was always called Bernell. He married Mildred Bigler (27 Jan 1935 in Locust, IA) on 4 Apr 1959. Bernell served in the US Air Force. He worked as a salesman for Kies Electric in Waterloo. They have 4 children: Randy, Terry, Brenda and David. Randy Allen graduated from the University of Northern Iowa. He is the Senior Commercial Underwriter for United Fire and Casualty in Cedar Rapids. Randy married Lisa Christiansen (25 Nov 1960). She graduated from the University of Kansas in occupational therapy. She is the Director of the Work Injury Rehabilitation Center, a division of the Iowa Medical Clinic in Cedar Rapids. They have one child, Alexa Kelly. Terry Lee graduated from Luther College in business. Terry is the Assistant Manager of the K&S Grocery Store in Decorah. He is a runner and has entered several 10K runs throughout the USA. Brenda Kay graduated from Luther College. She is a drug abuse counselor in Colorado Springs, CO. David Scott graduated from Luther College in business. He works in Silver Thorn, CO. Peter Lowell graduated form Luther College and received his Masters Degree in Finance from the University of IA. He served in the US Army. Peter is

Marilyn, Clarion, Peter and Bernell Ramlo