Germans from Russia Heritage Collection

Journey to the Homeland Tours

Sponsored by the North Dakota State University Library, Fargo North Dakota

Comments from Tour Members from 1996 to 2008:

"Yes, the trip home went well as did the entire tour. I thank you deeply for this rich and meaningful experience in the former homeland of my grandparents and great grandparents.

I more fully understand their contributions to make this beautiful and productive land of farms, vineyards, and trees from the formerly open steppes. Leaving this homeland for an uncertain future and hardship in a new land calls for profound admiration for their courage and faith.

The opportunity to see and experience these villages is a great blessing. Thank you for making this a possibility, Michael!"

--- Ruth Tietz DeNault, San Clemente, California, a member of the 2008 Journey to the Homeland Tour

"This trip was a dream come true visiting and walking on the soil of my grandparents was a remarkable experience. We stayed overnight in Glueckstal with a wonderful family who were so gracious with fresh fruit and vegetables from their garden as well as eggs from their chickens. Leaving the village of Hoffnungsburg, I met an old woman who told me all about the cemetery of my ancestors.”

--- Sylvia Feilock Frahm, Palm City, Florida, a member of the 2008 Journey to the Homeland Tour

“It was an experience of a lifetime to walk and visit where my ancestors came from. I better understand that many were hesitant to talk about their lives before coming to America. I can see many resemblances to the Dakotas such as beautiful valleys. But I felt a sadness that many of the churches were gone and so much destruction.

It was a joy to share this tour with family members and to make new friendships.”

--- Allean Mertz Boschee, Crookston, Minnesota, a member of the 2008 Journey to the Homeland Tour

“I better understand why our ancestors missed some parts of their life in Russia. The fertile soil, the large fields of wheat, the vineyards and fruit trees, where greatly missed when compared with the hilly rocky soil, no trees and endless wind in the Dakotas.

When I consider all the hardships our ancestors endured, first in Germany, then the long trip to Russia, the hard difficult years in Russia, the long ship ride to America, and finally the settling of the Dakota prairies, disease, childbirth complications, so forth - it is miracle that any one of us was born. I am grateful for each and everyone of my ancestral family.”

--- Penny Kramer Eberhardt, Sioux Falls, South Dakota, a member of the 2008 Journey to the Homeland Tour

"From beginning to end this trip was organized perfectly. I had no idea how difficult it would be to get into the villages, but thanks to your wonderful guise, planning and experience, it went beautifully. I was also surprised by the warm reception we received from the village people. I know I will be exchanging emails and Christmas cards with my host family for years to come. Thank you so much for all you do for the Germans from Russia. It was such a blessing to be able to take a trip like this and even better that it was taken with family and so many new friends."

--- Lori Gauper Kischel, Lita, Florida, a member of the 2008 Journey to the Homeland Tour

"This was an unforgettable trip and brought my sister, Dorothy Roth Rapson, and me back to our roots. I especially enjoyed the trips to the village of our parents (and ancestors for that matter) and being where they live their lives. I have also come to appreciate the courage and tenacity these Germans from Russia carried with them and passed on to us. This journey to the Homeland has been an awesome experience."

--- Isabelle Roth Allen, Kamloops, British Columbia, a member of the 2008 Journey to the Homeland Tour

"This has been an eye opening experience. Seeing the villages of our ancestors, and the burial sites was a highlight for me. Our hosts at the Glueckstal village were so gracious and cooked a wonderful meal. We partied into the night and left as friends. Sergey was such a help translating for us from Russian to English, staying the same home in Glueckstal. I will never forget this well planned and interesting trip. It was so educational."

--- Joanne Mertz Gauper, Fargo, North Dakota, a member of the 2008 Journey to the Homeland Tour

"I have dreamed of doing this trip for many years. Thank you for doing this tour. I will always remember being in the villages where my forefathers lived."

--- Kathleen Kuntz Wellmann, Hanska, Minnesota, a member of the 2008 Journey to the Homeland Tour

"I just wanted to add my thank you as well, for a most memorable trip to the Homeland. Isabelle and I have been talking about going there for a long time, so we finally made it! I know now that we picked the right tour guide as well, with your knowledge of the villages, etc., we were in good hands. I've been familar with these villages on paper, for a long time, and to actually go there, and walk there, is a dream come true.

I also enjoyed the tour guides, Elvira in Russia (Ukraine), Amelia, and of course, Ruth & Stefan in Germany. Their dancing was delightful, and the 'kuchen', which turned out to be a whole meal. A wonderful ending to a wonderful trip.

Thanks again Michael, you made it a special trip, and I also could understand your German, well, most of it. I was the 'kid' in the family, so I didn't always listen well, when my parents, and grandparents were talking German."

--- Dorothy Roth Rapson, Bow Island, Alberta, a member of the 2008 Journey to the Homeland Tour

"I really enjoyed the trip. It was a rewarding experience on many different levels -- spending time with other people with the same background and on the same quest, learning more about the history and current situation in the Black Sea area, as well as seeing, meeting, and talking to people from the area were worth the trip.

But then there were the villages. Those two days were just outstanding. We found that the spirit of our Germans from Russia lives on in the villages. Each of us was able to connect with them in some small way. I also really enjoyed sharing in the experience of other villages than ours. The German portion of the trip was a wonderful experience on its own, and the side trip to Entringen to visit our ancestral villages in Germany was the highlight of that portion of the trip. A close second was the Bundestraffen in Wiesbaden. We actually found a cousin there who shared genealogical information we did not have. Learning about the plight of the Germans returning from Russia was also an eye opening experience.

All in all, it was the trip of a lifetime."

--- Janis Weisz Piotrowski, Tallahassee, Florida, a member of the 2007 Journey to the Homeland Tour

"I just want to thank you for the amazing trip to Ukraine and Germany. On one hand, I was very apprehensive about visiting the land of my ancestors; on the other, I was excited and eager!

Our ancestors certainly worked very hard to break the land, build homes and churches in spited of the many challenges with the social, economic, political and climatic conditions they thrived.

When they decided to leave that beautiful land and homes, they must have been heart broken. When they arrived at their chosen places in the Americas, it must have been depressing but challenging and a relief to be out from under all the rules and regulations of the Soviet regime.

It certainly has given me a better understanding of my background and wish my mother could have in my joy.

Indeed, we are blessed that our ancestors had the courage to leave home and family to seek a new life in an unknown country..and thrive!

Again thank you for all the effort you put into this trip and preserving the culture of the Germans from Russia."

--- Marie C. Tandeski Delizonna, San Jose, California, native of Maddock, North Dakota, a member of the 2006 Journey to the Homeland Tour group.

I had a wonderful time on our tour. Thank you so much for all the planning you did. It was a dream of a lifetime trip. My memories will linger on.

-- Frances Fran Cooperrider, Crystal River, Florida, a member of the 2005
Journey to the Homeland Tour group.

Thank you for a wonderful trip to the Homeland, it was even better than I thought it would be.

Thank you for answering all my thousands of questions about the villages, sight seeing in the cities, E-mail etc.

Michael, you are wonderful! We are all so lucky to have you in a position to save this important
information about our homeland and to share it with all of us.

Again, thank you for doing the Homeland trip every year and making it possible for me to walk the streets of my ancestors. It still all seems so surreal and I'm so glad I went. And weren't we lucky to have such a good group of people? Everyone was so nice, but then decedents of the Germans from Russia are very nice people to begin with.

--- Patricia Gabriel Belknap, Fargo, North Dakota, a member of the 2005
Journey to the Homeland Tour group.

The Tour to the Homeland was all and more than I expected. Every day was a new adventure. I felt we were particularly blessed because we found two sets of relatives, which was a surprise. Wherever we went, we were treated like royalty. The people from the villages were hospitable and very anxious to please. They were curious about our backgrounds, and we in tour exchanged information with them through an interpreter. We learned much about their lifestyle, and were impressed with their generosity and friendliness. You are to be commended on how well organized this tour was. Perhaps one day I can go on another Journey to the Homeland.

--- Florence Schatz Barrow, Regina, Saskatchewan, a member of the 2004 Journey to the Homeland Tour group.

Thank you so much for a trip never to be forgotten. All was fantastic. Among the many highlights there is one that could be crowned the queen of all. Event thought sad to see the grounds and thought of my very dear dad who, without a doubt, was baptized there. I shall never forget the emotion and joy. He was born March 1882 and I saw that the corner stone was earlier.

--- Marguerite Bullinger Gustin Lien, Marysville, California, a member of the 2004 Journey to the Homeland Tour group.

Please know how much I enjoyed the trip as well as the good company there. I had a wonderful time and really appreciate your help as well as that of Elvira, Albina and Vadim. They were most helpful and good natured to help me go running all over Crimea.

-- Kenneth L. Messmer, Orem, Utah, member of the 2003 Journey to the Homeland tour group. Kenneth visited his ancestral Crimean German villages of Adschiketsch, Argentschick, Friedenstal, Heilbrunn, Neusatz, and Zurichtal. In Germany, he visited Klingemmunster, Baden-Württemberg, where the Bohrer family lived before immigration to Crimea. The Bohrer name is still found on several businesses and on tombstones in the cemetery.

It was a great trip. A trip that will impact my life forever. I made great friends, met wonderful people, ate great food, visited the most interesting places, formed the most endearing memories, and found my roots!

--- Dr. Harley Roth, San Jose, California, member of the 2002 Journey to the Homeland Tour group.

WOW! Do you do a tour! I can't imagine how I could have enjoy Ukraine/Moldova more. We both appreciated getting to know you firsthand! I look forward nostalgically on my time in "South Russia" and must admit there is some longing to go back. If so, I'd like to spend a lot more time in the villages at leisure just taking in the routine of daily life there. I can imagine an article on Ukraine/Moldova in National Geographic with a Germans from Russia twist!

--- Dr. Kenneth Vogele, Rapid City, South Dakota, a member of the 2002 Journey to the Homeland Tour group.

Words cannot describe my feelings about the trip to the Homeland. I have had a very hard time to get back to normal. I am trying to get some books in German for the school in Karlsruhe and also some books in the English language. Keep up your good work.

--- Elizabeth Baron Anton, St. Louis, Missouri, member of the 2001 Journey to the Homeland tour group. Elizabeth was born in 1924 in the village Karlsruhe, Beresan District. She went to school in Karlsruhe for 10 years and left in 1943. In 1946 she went to Germany and in 1951 she immigrated to Mandan, North Dakota.

"I hope the year 2001 will bring you many blessings as you continue to carry on the rewarding work of guiding the descendants of the Germans from Russia on the journeys to visit the land of their ancestors. I will be eternally thankful for having had the opportunity to visit the land where my father was raised. My thanks and I know the thanks of so many others goes to you for having made our dreams a reality - dreams we never ever thought would come true. May God bless you for carrying on this rewarding work."

--- Cora Wolff Tschaekofske, Dickinson, North Dakota, member of the 1997 and 1998 Journey to the Homeland tour groups.

I was thrilled to receive the pictures and album you sent recently. Thank you so much. I was especially pleased to receive the picture of the little girl presenting me with the loaf of bread at the Landau Orphanage. The trip was fantastic. It was a wonderful group. I had so much fun.

-- Evelyn Fleck Simpson, Seattle, Washington, member of the 2003 Journey to the Homeland tour group. Evelyn visited her ancestral German village of Landau, Beresan District (today near Odessa, Ukraine). Evelyn is a native of Mandan, ND.