Erna Emma Minna
Grabenstein
3 May 1910 — 19 August 1989
Mother
Minna Luise Santelmann
1870 – 1947
Siblings
Wilhelm Grabenstein, Luise Grabenstein, Hermann Grabenstein, Ernst Grabenstein
Half-siblings:
Emma Grabenstein, Wilhelm Grabenstein, Adolf Grabenstein, Erna Grabenstein
Children
Adolph Pytlik
Anneliese Pytlik
Gerhard Pytlik
Ilsedore Pytlik
Biography
On 12 April 1929, Minna gave birth to her first child, Adolph Heinrich Wilhelm. She would not tell anyone who the father was; it’s possible she did not know. Sometime before Adolph’s fifth birthday, Minna married August Pytlik Jr, the son of a coal miner from Edemissen. He would give Minna’s son his last name and the couple went on to have three children together. One of their daughters, Anneliese, passed away from a short illness at the age of 21, leaving behind a husband and at least one child.
In 1951, Minna’s oldest son immigrated to Canada, where he would raise a family of his own. Minna made at least one trip across the Atlantic to visit him, and in the late 80’s would meet her grandson and infant great-granddaughter.
Minna passed away on 19 August 1989 at the age of 79.
Gallery
Sources
Birth Certificate for Erna Emma Minna Grabenstein, 28 March 1928, Register No. 29, Edemissen. Certified copy in possession of the Pytlik family.
Birth Certificate for Adolf Heinrich Wilhelm, 13 April 1929, File No. 16, Edemissen. Certified copy in possession of the Pytlik family. [The original birth certificate does not include a last name or father’s name, but a note in the margin dated 16 July 1934 states that August Pytlik has given the name of Pytlik to the child.]
Family genealogy notes of Adolph Pytlik; in possession of the Pytlik family. (Typed notes and family tree.)