This is the first time I have seen this site. It was sent to me by my niece, Tina Marie Asche.

My father was Martin Asche. He was born June 13, 1924 in Rock Rapids IA, the son of Elsa, and (I believe) my grandfather's name might have been Ludwig. They emigrated here from Germany, some of their children were born in Germany, some in the US. My father's siblings were Arthur Asche, Pittsburgh PA; Selma Asche Brommer, Rock Rapids IA; Jenny Asche Steenblock, Rock Rapids IA, Louis Asche, Bentonville AR; Fred Wiert, both deceased before I was born, the only thing I knew about them was that one was killed in a car accident, and I think the other might have been in the military, I'm not positive. And another girl, who died shortly after birth. I'm not sure of the birth order, I know that Arthur was the oldest and my dad, Martin, was the youngest. I believe that they are all deceased by now.

My niece, Tina asked me for info on family background, and I couldn't tell her much more, what I know is more younger generation, but it would be neat to hear from cousins and unknown relatives.

Hi Cheryl, I read your message and realized we are related. the Ludwig(Lodewieh, Louis) you mentioned was a brother to my grandfather Weert(Ward). Their parents were Weert Klaassen Asche and Martha Lodewyks Martens, their children besides Ludwig and Weert were, Benjamin, Friedrich Klaassen, Anna, Tillie, and Klaas. Ludwig married Elsa, his first wife, their children were Selma, Martin, Louis, Jennie, Arthur, Weert, Fred and Martha. I have dates and birth places and more info. if you are interested, send me your address and I will send it to you. Weert A. was my Father's dad who was Joe A. We were rsaied in Iowa but I now live in Oregon, you can contact me by my e-mail address or reply to this message. Ruth. rlhlucy@aol.com

Hi, Ruth!

Thank you for the info so far -- yes, I would love birthdates and birthplaces of the relatives. I knew there was a little sister (Martha) who died, I didn't know her name or what happened to her.

I was reading some of the other Asche messages, and they speak of Iowa Illinois -- I just drove 10 1/2 hours today through Illinois Iowa after spending the weekend with my brother his family. They live in Indiana, near Chicago, and I live near Kansas City. I haven't seen them in 10 years, so it was a GREAT weekend!!

This whole website is really neat! It sounds to me that your grandfather and my grandfather were brothers, and that Weert was a name passed down several times! My brother's name is Frederick Joseph Asche, I would venture to guess that he was named after someone in the family!

Please send me whatever information you can, and I can pass it on to them, or, my niece will probably check this site and find it herself before I do!

My e-mail address is littlsis@vines.net.

Thank you,
Cheryl

Hi Cheryl,

I would be interested in hearing from you. My cousin married John Alfred Asche who was the son of Weert Asche. Weert is the person you referred to in your message that was killed in an auto accident. He was born 5/27/1914 and died 2/1/1940 near Custer, So. Dak. He married Leona Rasmussen 3/31/1935, probably in Custer.

That was all the information I had for him. However, I just found the family of Louis and Elsa Asche on the 1930 census for Rock Rapids, IA.

My cousin John knew very little about his father because he was only about 4 or 5 months old when his father was killed in the auto accident. I told him I would see what I could find. Hope to hear from you soon.

Ruth,

Do you have a new email address??? I tried to send you something at rlhlucy@aol.com and it was returned to me. I have information on the Asche family to share with you. Please send your new email to me at the address below.

Eileen Reed
email ereed_51659@msn.com

We are too related.. I am the Great Great Granddaughter of Anna/Hilke (Helen) Ashce Schroeder.. would love to share info.. Charlea Harris Ralston in VA

Jenny Asche Steenblock is my grandma. She is now dead, but she told me one time about her brother Fred Asche who was in the army and was killed in action. Last year I did some searching and found a site called American Battle Monuments Commissions and entered in the state name of Iowa and Asche and his name came up Fred Asche was a Corporal service #6935103 in the 3rd Reconnaissance Troop, 3rd Infantry Divison and died on 9-20-1944 in Southern France. Fred is +buried at: plot A row 21 grave 65 in Epinal, France in the Epinal American Cemetery. My grandma's mother was named Elsa and here father was name Ludwig. I did meet Martin one time at my grandma's house.

My grandfather was Weert Asche, & my grandmother was Leona Rasmussen Asche Sheets, born 9/29/1917 (she married Glen Sheets in 1941, I believe). Glen Sheets died in 1985; Leona Sheets died on 12/1/2008 at the age of 91.

I have an uncle named John Asche & an aunt named Martha Asche Van Antwerp. My mother's name is Norma Ann Asche Craft, & she was born in Custer, SD, on 9/28/1940. She married my father, Ross Cecil Craft, in Hot Springs, SD on 6/3/1958. Ross (nicknamed "Butch") was born 2/23/1938 and died 7/23/1994.

Weert Asche was nicknamed "Slim," and he had a brother named Martin Asche, who would be my great-uncle; I have, however, lost track of him. The last I heard, Martin Asche was living in Florida.

Martha Asche Van Antwerp has 2 children, John Asche has 4 children.

Norma Asche Craft has 4 children: Ralph Allen Craft, b. 2/11/1959; Deborah Lynn Craft-Marks, b. 4/17/1960; Ronald Joseph Craft, b. 1/9/1962; Rosalie Ann Craft-Andersen, b. 11/25/1963.

One final note: I think Ludwig Asche was the name of Weert's father. I don't know the name of Ludwig's wife, but I do know she was Polish, not German like Ludwig.

I hope this info helps.

My grandfather was Weert Asche who was born in October 1914 & was killed in a car crash in 1940; he had a brother named Martin & a sister named Selma (who lived in Rock Rapids, IA) & another sister named Jenny (who also lived in Rock Rapids, IA). Weert's & Martin's father was, indeed, named Ludwig -- I saw Ludwig's headstone.

Weert married Leona Rasmussen & they had 3 children: Martha Idyll Asche Van Antwerp (b. 2/1937), John Alfred Asche (b. 9/1939), & Norma Ann Asche Craft (b. 9/28/1940, shortly after Weert was killed in a car crash). Norma is my mother.

She married my father, Ross Cecil Craft, in 1958; they had 4 children: Ralph Allen Craft (b. 2/11/1959), Deborah Lynn Craft-Marks (b. 4/17/1960, Deborah is writing this), Ronald Joseph Craft (b. 1/9/1962), Rosalie Ann Craft-Andersen (b. 11/25/1963). Ross, nicknamed "Butch," died of a heart attack in 1994.

Leona Asche married again, to Glen Sheets. Leona died 12/1/2008, & is buried next to Weert in Custer, SD.

Is your father, Martin, deceased? We saw quite a lot of him in the mid-1970s. In fact, my family went with him to visit Selma & Jenny in Rock Rapids; I believe that is where I saw Ludwig's headstone. One of Martin's daughters would occasionally visit us, but right now I'm blanking on her name -- could it be Terri?

Can you please help me out? I'd love to know more about the Asches.

Thanks,
Deborah Craft-Marks

Deborah -

I am Martin's youngest daughter, Cheryl. You are correct, my sister Teri did visit Rock Rapids in the 70s with my dad.

Dad passed away September 12, 1990 at the age of 66 from a brain tumor.

I forwarded your message to my brother Joe (Frederick Joseph Asche SR), you will probably be hearing from him soon.

It is all very interesting to learn about family members. We first met Frank & Jenny in the late 60s. I don't even know most of their children's names. I remember Doug & Elaine and their children, and they came to visit us in Florida the next year or so after we were in Iowa. And when we were there, I remember meeting a daughter-in-law Sharon, who was pregnant, but those are the only names I remember.

We also met and stayed with cousins, Cliff & Louann. Their daughter was Ginger, can't remember the son's name. Can you tell me anything about them? I couldn't remember their last name either. I think Louann was the Asche, but don't know who she belonged to.

This thread is the first I've ever heard of our grandma being Polish and not German