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John Gertz

Male 1892 - 1983  (90 years)


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  • Name John Gertz 
    Birth 3 Oct 1892  Wloclawek, Russian, Poland Find all individuals with events at this location  [1
    Gender Male 
    Occupation Farmer, Carpenter 
    Death 1 May 1983  Metairie, Jefferson, Louisiana Find all individuals with events at this location  [1
    Burial Aug 1983  Sarasota, Sarasota, Florida Find all individuals with events at this location 
    Notes 
    • John Gertz was born October 3, 1892, at Wloclawek, Russian Poland, and baptized at the town church there. When he was about 6 years old, he went live with his Uncle Michael Abend and his wife, Catherine Gertz. . They gave John a fine home. Uncle Michael was a police officer. Schools were strict there, with hours from 8-4 p.m., six days a week, with a long Russian poem to be learned over Sunday. The man teacher also held church services on Sunday. When John was 9 1/2 years old, his parents, with John, Otto and Olga Evelyn left for America. John had been a farmer since his parents moved from Baltimore, MD, to a large farm in Waterbury, MD, in 1910. John was 18, and he worked exceedingly hard to build up the poor soil, and with the help of his brother Otto, cut down trees, hauled them to the mill, then built an 8-room house w/attic and basement, to house the family In 1917, when World War I involved this country, John went to work as a carpenter for a contractor at Ft. George G. Meade, MD. He still supervised the farm management and hauled crops to market at night. John was active in farm groups, learning about new methods and getting new ideas about farming. He sold fertilizers, lime and seed to other farmers. From age 10, John worked for farmers all summer, before school stopped and after it started in September. He also worked at canning houses near Havre de Gras. John did not leave home at age 21 but stayed on the farm to help raise his seven younger sisters and brothers, until he was almost 33 years old, when he married. After his marriage in 1925, John farmed his own places, building many new barns thereon. In 1929, due to a country-wide drought and depression, with no farm income, Helen started to work at Fort Meade and continued during World War II, until 1952, when she retired, after 22 years service there . In 1942, John returned to work as carpenter at Fort Meade. In 1944 he worked in the Maintenance Shop for the Post Exchange, continuing until June, 1960, when he retired, and he and Helen moved to Sarasota, Florida, where they now live. Notes by Helen Gertz, 1969

      "Pop" died on May 1, 1983, at East Jefferson Hospital, Metairie, Louisiana, of a rupture, abdominal aortic aneurysm. Surgery was attempted but unsuccessful. He was 90 years, 6 months and 28 days old. He was cremated, according to his wishes, and ashes interred in the plot at Sarasota Palms Memorial Park, where "Mom" had been buried 3 years before. Notes by Elsie Eggen, 1992

      1940 US Census, Maryland, Anne Arundel, 4th Election District, John Gertz, 47, education 8, born Russia, farmer, wife Bertha H., 42, education 12, born Iowa, stenographer USA war department, daughter Elsie H., 12, born MD, son John H., 2, born MD [2]
    Person ID I12557  Mindrum
    Last Modified 7 Apr 2014 

    Family Bertha Helen Benton,   b. 14 Dec 1896, Des Moines, Polk, Iowa Find all individuals with events at this locationd. 5 Aug 1980, Sarasota, Sarasota, Florida Find all individuals with events at this location (Age 83 years) 
    Marriage 24 Jun 1925  Washington, District of Columbia Find all individuals with events at this location 
    Children 
     1. Living
     2. Living
    Family ID F8606  Group Sheet  |  Family Chart
    Last Modified 23 Sep 2023 

  • Sources 
    1. [S16] Social Security Death Index.

    2. [S7938] 1940 US Census, Maryland, Anne Arundel, 4th Election District, Enum. Dist 2-22, sheet 3B.