Kermitt Ivan Schaffner




Kermitt Ivan Schaffner "At the old place"

 Born in Wisconsin January 19, 1926. He was my Father's half-brother. His Mother was my Grandmother Clara Heath Crosley and his Father was John (Jack) Schaffner who I never met, and know nothing about. Uncle Kermitt was in the Army during WWII.

In 1963 he married Iva B. Chambers. They never had children.
Uncle Kermitt loved his C.B. Radio and went by the handle "Casper". When we were on our way over, he would be upstairs in his bedroom talking to us while we were blocks away. Pretty silly now, but fun in the 1970's!

He worked at Switchcraft in Chicago for many years. He came home at exactly 4:30 everyday, and had supper. He used to mix all his food together before he ate it, and when we would comment he would always say the same thing "it all ends up the same place anyway". He also LOVED model trains, that was what we got him every year for Christmas. He had them all set up in his basement. If he wasn't upstairs on the radio he was downstairs with his trains! He was sweet and funny.

Uncle Kermitt died in 1979. He was buried on Christmas Eve at Clark's Grove Cemetery in Tennessee.

A love of Genealogy, Photos, and Grandma

Well, here it is. My first post.
My obsession to learn my about my family's history began almost at birth. I used to sit on my Grandmas floor and look through her old photo albums and wonder who everyone was. Now, am lucky enough to be the owner of most of those same photos.
Thus begins my second obsession, sharing them.

While I can identify most of people in my photos. Alas, some I cannot. I hope that someone will come along, and figure it out. Not just for me, but for all of the people who have never seen a picture of their Great Grandparents.

I am looking forward to sharing some of the fun stuff I've learned, and uploading photos as I identify them. I'm also hoping to write what I know about someone along with their photo. Here's the first.

My Grandma
Clara Belle Heath Crosley
Born in Iowa in 1902
Died in Chicago in 1979 Buried in Lancaster Wisconsin.

Grandma lost her mother Alta Clinger Heath when she was only 5. She was then raised by her Maternal Grandparents Ella McCartney Clinger and John Alexander Clinger.

She never said much about this to me, but did mention her Grandmother in conversation. I didn't know about her loss until I started working on my family tree. Grandma always wore cool cotton dresses, and was "soft" when you hugged her. Just how Grandmas should be.

She always had dinner on the table at 4:30 exactly, and held the phone to her chest when she talked because of her hearing aid. Its funny the stuff you remember. She loved dogs (especially her dog Tiny), and to sew.

She was married twice. The first time to Jack Schaffner, with whom she had 2 sons. And the second to my Grandfather Reuben Thompson Crosley III, to which 2 more sons were born. The youngest being my Dad.