businesses in Calmar. Albert was a man of slender statue and said to be quite handsome. He met his bride-to-be, Helen Ruzicka, when she stayed with the Shindelar family while visiting her sister, Sister M. Procopia, a Franciscan nun who was teaching at St. Aloysius Catholic School in Calmar. Helen is the daughter of John and Barbara (Rezac) Ruzicka. Albert, Jr. and Helen are the parents of 10 children: Frances, Marie, Anselm, Cyril, Albert (born and died 24 Dec 1929), Gertrude, Joseph, Helen Ann, Aloysius and Richard. All their children were born and raised in Winneshiek Co.

Frances was born in 1921, She died of pneumonia in 1937.

Marie married Paul Tieskotter of Ossian, IA. They operated a farm near Ossian. There they raised 9 children: Lou Ann, Jerry, James, Luke, Leon, Mark, Dale, Paul and Jane. Marie and Paul still live in Winneshiek Co. Anselm married Marjorie Leuenberger, daughter of Monroe and Amelia (Frey) Leuenberger of Ft. Atkinson. After farming for a few years, Anselm and Marjorie moved to an acreage outside of Roseville, IA (a small town in Floyd Co.). Throughout the rest of his life he worked in lumberyards and did carpenter work on the side. Anselm and Marjorie raised 11 children: William, Janet, Charlotte, Thomas, Diane, Aleta, Marcia, Monroe, Robert, Virginia, and Richard. Anselm died of a heart attack 14 Oct 1972. Marjorie still lives on the acreage with her 2nd husband, Dean Walker, of Rudd, IA and her mother, Amelia (Frey) Leuenberger. The only child of Anselm and Marjorie who still lives in Winneshiek Co. is Janet. She married Jerry Brincks (an electrician). They live in Calmar.

Cyril lived his entire life in Winneshiek Co. He died 12 Apr 1992. Cyril never married. He lived with his parents and worked for the town of Calmar for many years.

Gertrude married Art Holthaus of Ossian. They maintained a farm near Ossian where they raised 13 children; Linus, Danita, Neal, Morris, Aileen, Mary Jo, Ann, Leonice, Zita, Ruth, Lisa, Art, Jr. and Lee. Gertrude and Art are now retired. They still live in Winneshiek Co.

Joseph graduated from Iowa State University with a degree in engineering. He was employed by the John Deere Co. for many years. He is now retired and lives in Le Claire, IA. Joseph married Arlene Leuenberger, daughter of Monroe and Amelia (Frey) Leuenberger. They raised 4 children: Daniel, Ronald, Paul and Joleen.

Helen Ann went to college and became a registered nurse. She married Adrian Zbornik of Ft. Atkinson. They worked a farm west of Ft. Atkinson. There they raised 6' children: Steven, Susan, Catherine, Julia, John and Sarah. Helen and Adrian now live in Ft. Atkinson. Helen is a nurse, working out of the Winneshiek County Public Health Nurse Office.

Aloysius married Fran Ryan. Together they raised 4 children: Michael, James, Dianna and Nicole. Aloysius worked the home farm for a few years, but decided farming was not for him. Al then went to college and studied engineering. He worked for the John Deere Co. in Waterloo, IA. Al and Fran are now retired and live in Hudson, IA.

Richard married Joyce Heying. They have lived on and worked the home farm for many years. There they raised 5 children: Randy, Alan, Sheri, Marty and Shannon. In addition to their natural children, in 1947 after the death of Helen’s brother's spouse, Albert and Helen cared for Theresa Ruzicka (age 6) until Theresa left for college. Theresa married Darrell Hauer. They had 2 children, Corey and Eric. Theresa presently lives in Albert Lea, MN.

Albert W. Shindelar, Jr. (with his spouse Helen’s assistance) provided for his family by farming. Albert was one of the first farmers in Winneshiek Co to employ contour plowing to conserve the soil. He sold milk to Calmar businesses until pasteurization became mandatory. The high cost of pasteurization equipment was a determining factor in his discontinuing his milk delivery business. Christmas was a very special time. Albert and Helen's children remember their father singing Czech Christmas hymns every Christmas Eve. A favorite was “Nesem Vom Noviny” (Come, All Ye Shepherds). The youngest child would sit on his lap and the other children around him on the arms of the easy chair. A bell could be heard in the distance signaling that Jesus had come. A trip would be made upstairs to see if the gifts had been left. When they returned to the living room the gifts - one per child plus a puzzle for the family - would have magically appeared around the tree. Jesus was Santa Claus and activities centered around the Nativity and the Christ Child with mid-night church services an integral part of the celebration.

John Shindelar, the first Shindelar to come to Winneshiek Co, has many descendants. Many still live in Winneshiek Co; others are scattered throughout the United States.

Shindelar, John and Anna (Kruchek)

(John and Beulah Shindelar)

John J. Shindelar, the son of Matt and Rosalie (Silhacek) Shindelar, was born in Spillville. He was united in marriage on 15 Oct 1907 to Anna Kruchek. Anna was born in Spillville to Joseph and Mary (Polansky) Kruchek.

After their marriage, John and Anna moved to a farm one and one-half miles southwest of Spillville in Section 25, Sumner Twp, Winneshiek Co, IA. They lived there all their married life and farmed. They became the parents of 6 children all born at home.

Anna Mary (b. 26 Jul 1909) married Edward Wagner and lived in Spillville. They were the parents of 3 children: Edna, Robert and Tom. Anna died 18 Jan 1995. Agnes (b. 23 Jan 1911) married Stephen Frana, Sr., son of Vaclav and Josephine (Matousek) Frana. They had one son, Vincent. Stephen farmed all his life in Madison Twp, Winneshiek Co. Pauline married Clarence Vsetecka, son of Joe and Mary (Novotny) Vsetecka. They farmed in Section 22, Sumner Twp. After Clarence died Pauline moved to Protivin. Alois John (b. 5 Jul 1914) married Blanche Rys at Walnut Grove, MN. Blanche was the daughter of Jim and Mary (Horky) Rys of Walnut Grove. Alois and Blanche farmed southwest of Spillville in Section 26. They became the parents of 7 children: Larry, Sister Miriam, Connie, Gary, Ronald, Anita and Karen. John Alois (b. 9 Mar 1917) took care of his mother until