KIT Vol XXVI No4 - Oct2014 HighRes 4.21MB

KIT The Keep In Touch Newsletter
Volume XXVI No. 4 October 2014

The KIT Newsletter editorial staff welcomes all suggested contributions for publication in the Newsletter from
subscribers and readers, but whether a given submission meets the criteria for publication is at the sole
discretion of the editors. While priority will be given to original contributions by people with past Bruderhof
connections, any letters, articles or reports which the editors deem to be of historical or personal interest or to
offer new perspectives on issues of particular relevance to the ex-Bruderhof Newsletter readership, may be
included as well. The editors may suggest to the authors changes to improve their presentation.
Have you made your KIT Newsletter subscription/donation payment this year?
Please find details on page 32, under Contact Us.
CONTENTS:
Impressions of the Klaashof KIT Gathering, by Elisabeth Bohlken-Zumpe. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1
KIT Klaashof, August 8 to 11, by Bill Bridgwater. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3
The Klaashof Germany Get-Together, by Linda Lord Jackson. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4
Klaashof 2014, by George Gurganus. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5
Klaashof 2014: An additional note, by George Gurganus. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7
4-Page Supplement with additional Photographs of the Klaashof Gathering. . . . . . . . . . . . . 33-36
Memories of Primavera, by August Pleil. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8
Traveling in Argentina and Paraguay, by Hans Martin. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14
Remembering our dear ones who have passed from this life:
Peter Keiderling remembered, by Esther Schnell-Keiderling, Pete Keiderling and
Elisabeth Bohlken-Zumpe. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22-24
Peter Keiderling, by Hans and Hanna Zimmermann. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24
Remembering Gertrud Braun Wegner, by Margot Wegner Purcell.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25
Memories of Heiner Kppschall, by Andy Harries. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27
Luke Baer, by Ruth Baer Lambach. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28
Dave Ostrom, by Charlie Lamar.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 29
Remembering Jane Hazelton Marchant. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30
Bernard William Vowles, RIP, by Raphael Vowles.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30
A Synopsis of the 1935 Bruderhof Sendbrief, by Susanna Alves. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Another Note from the Editor. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Address changes. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Contact us. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
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Impressions of the Klaashof KIT Gathering, 10th August 2014

by Elisabeth Bohlken-Zumpe
Hans and I have only just returned from the German KIT get-together at the Klaashof, so let me write
down a few impressions. It was worthwhile to travel the four-hundred kilometers to meet up with so many
childhood friends, but for poor Hans who has hearing difficulties he has hearing aids in both ears but
in addition to that, it was a bit overwhelming for him to meet a crowd of people he hardly knows. Of
course I enjoy talking with long lost friends in a mix of German and English, but it was more than tiring
for him, I know. We are a funny, lovely lot of friends, like a bouquet of flowers, all different, but all tied
together somewhere along the stems. The bouquet is lovely, with each stem having its own blossom,
fragrance, colour and size. Each one is special and each one is different.
We arrived Friday evening in pouring rain

to find that a few had arrived before us. We
were welcomed by the Klaashof owners with
coffee, tea and home-baked cakes. Later they
served a very nice potato salad with sausages,
while more people arrived to join us at the
festively decorated tables. Later that evening
the group booked into the nearby Youth Hostel
turned up, for not everyone could be housed at
the Klaashof.
There was a lot of singing and talking, and
glasses of beer or wine, all in all a happy get
together of old friends. I especially enjoyed
Walking in the Woods of Nettetal
meeting men and women I only remember as
Front: Gordon Jackson, centre: Sascha Lord, right: Eunice Lord
children in Primavera when we left in 1953.
Absolutely lovely!
Hans and I as well as a few others had rooms in the backyard
of the Klaashof in a house belonging to the owners mother.
This was perfect, as we could relax and go to bed in our own
time, away from all the discussions and noise. We slept so
deeply into the Saturday morning that we overslept and Mr
Heinz Klaas had to knock at our door at 10:00am to tell us that
breakfast was served. This never happened to us before, but I
guess we were very tired.
Later a large group went walking through the wonderful
woods in this hilly area, while those of us not capable were
taken by car to a place where we had a meal outside under huge
The five young swallows
old trees. I did not count everyone, but I guess we were between
thirty-five and forty people. It was lovely out there, with the
weather perfect and the mood
happy and relaxed.
That evening Mr and Mrs
Klaas had organised a
wonderful barbecue out in the
open. Most of us were greyheads indeed, but we behaved
like a class of schoolchildren
on an outing. There was much
singing, talking, sharing,
laughing, and even crying, as
we exchanged our
experiences and caught up on
each others lives.
In the barn above our heads
a swallow was feeding five
little ones sitting in a row by
an opening, flapping their
Drinking coffee in the morning sun.
Far left, L-R clockwise: Tracy Lord, Berndt Hasenberg, Eunice Lord, Rosie (Johnson)
wings to be served by Papa
Sumner, John Holland, Anthony Lord, Rita Lord, Gordon Jackson, Linda Lord Jackson,
and Mama. Wonderful to see
Elisabeth Bohlken-Zumpe
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how the parents kept flying back and forth to feed their little ones. Many took photos of this wonderful
scene.
I guess the singing went on deep into the night while Hans and I enjoyed our little apartment.
On Sunday, Hans and I decided to return home, although we had booked until Monday. The group had
chosen to have another barbecue (Stein-Grill) at some wonderful place, but we were tired so it was time
to go. It was good of Hans to put up with all this chatter about the past, and drive all the way for my sake!
We all sat in the sun drinking coffee together and when Hans and I got up to leave at about 11:00am,
the group started singing, Kein schner Land, and waved us goodbye until we couldnt see them any
longer. This gave us such a warm feeling to start the trip home.
Like all KIT gatherings, this one was special in many ways, and Hans and I want to thank Anthony and
Rita Lord, Linda Lord Jackson and Irene Pfeiffer-Fischer for organizing this weekend. I saw many old
friends and was very aware of the fact that I would not see them again. This was most definitely our last
time.
Of course, there are always issues we need to learn from in order to make it even more special and
harmonious for a next time we might meet up.
1.) The Nettetal is beautiful, an area full of woods, lakes and picturesque little villages. But I think it
is better to find a location where all of us are at one and the same place. Having one group sleep and eat
at the Youth Hostel broke up the togetherness of the weekend. I know that not everyone could be
housed at the Klaashof, but I think one place even with tents on a lawn is better than living and
experiencing the weekend apart from each other. We did the best we could, but that does not mean that
it couldnt be better next time.
2.) Although most of us do not want to be organizers, I personally think it is better to have some
planning so everyone knows where to go and what to expect of the day. We should be able to learn from
every experience how to make our next meeting even happier and get the most out of the time we have
which is short enough for a single weekend together when so many have come from so many countries
with so many different experiences and lives after their Bruderhof upbringing in the jungles of Paraguay.
But mostly the Klaashof did leave good and harmonious memories to think and talk about.
It was good to see friends from England, from all over Germany, Sweden, Holland, and the United
States and Canada. We had some wonderful precious exchanges, discussions and talks. After arriving on
Friday afternoon in a very heavy rain which turned the streets into rivers, we had wonderful weather on
both Saturday and Sunday and I am more than thankful to all of those who went out of their way to make
this weekend special, and most certainly the hosts
did their part to make us feel welcome and at home.
Greetings to all, Bette
KIT Klaashof, August 8 to 11
by Bill Bridgwater, Vallda 2013-08-25
Hi All,
This was my second appearance at a KIT event, and
I must say that it exceeded my expectations. I
enjoyed meeting old friends, some of whom I had
neither seen nor heard of in over half a century.
There was some talk about the good old times, but
also many interesting accounts of how friends had
proceeded and succeeded in life after Primavera
closed.
The participants were housed in two places, the
Klaashof and a youth hostel in Hinsberg, a fifteen
minute walk away.
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Irene (Friedemann) Pfeiffer-Fischer and her accordion
I stayed at the latter location, and my group went over to visit the Klaashof crowd on Friday. We went
again on Saturday night for a barbecue. The barbecue was a rather primitive affair, but we compensated
by having a good time singing the old songs to the tunes of Irene's accordion.
Weather-wise we were lucky. Friday evening there was some rain but we had decent weather for the
rest of our stay.
On Sunday those who had not already left went for a nice excursion to the vicinity of Venlo to visit a
rose exhibition. We concluded with a nice dinner at the Hinsbeck youth hostel.
One lesson to be learned: On future meets, try to book all participants at one place.
Live well, Bill
The Klaashof Germany Get-Together
by Linda Lord Jackson, 12th August 2014
Well, everyone has now departed, although Gordon and I
have another couple of days here at Klaashof.
Just a short resume of our weekend. I am sure many
who took photos will follow on with more.
We arrived at Klaashof early Friday. As Anthony could
not be there, we were ready to welcome people as they
arrived and to collect people from the station as needed.
At Klaashof, cake and coffee was ready for everyone.
On Saturday, those who wanted to walk or cycle
gathered and set off into the woods. Those of us who
Cycling in the Nettetal area. Eunice Lord takes the lead;
behind her, left: Anthony Lord, right: John Holland.
Photo: Rosie (Johnson) Sumner
At the Steingrill Restaurant.

Clockwise L from near: John Holland, Anthony Lord.
R from far end: Gordon Jackson, Linda Lord Jackson,
Maris Vigar, Hedwig (Wiegand) Herrmann, Berndt Hasenberg, Jean
(Hasenberg) Roering
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could not walk so far made our way to the

Waldesruh Restaurant in the woods where
everybody would be meeting up for lunch. In
the evening we all gathered at Klaashof for a
barbecue followed by singing and chatting.
On Sunday there was a visit to a nearby
village where a Rosenfest was being held.
Those of us who did not go, met up at the icecream parlour for a delicious midday snack.
One was called Primavera, so had to be tried
by someone. I am sure a picture will be sent in
due course. Huge it was. Then those who
wanted to went for a bike ride.
In the evening some of us went to a
restaurant, again in the woods of course, where
you were served a Heisser Stein (hot stone)
it was really hot too with trays of a variety
of raw meat to choose from and cook on your
stone, accompanied by the usual salad, beer
and lively conversation, of course.
On Monday, sadly, it was time to say
goodbye.
Irene, Anthony and a few of us had a last
coffee together and a short chat about what
went well and what might have been done better. All agreed that a good time was had by all. As always
it was wonderful to have the opportunity to meet up with so many friends from the past. The singing was
enjoyed with enthusiasm, the barbecue too.
It is a beautiful area, and walks, bike rides and sitting out in the comfy reclining chairs in the sunshine
in the yard at Klaashof chatting was gemtlich. The youth hostel also had a nice area outside to sit and
sing and chat.
It was generally felt, however, that a venue where there is enough accommodation for all would be
better next time. Due to the split venue, sometimes arrangements for activities were missed by a few, and
also time that could have been spent together slipped by due to meals being at different sites, and walking
between sites. However, I think the organisers did a wonderful job. I know well how much effort goes
on before and during such a gathering not always appreciated by everyone, so thank you Irene and
Anthony for a wonderful weekend.
We were so lucky with the weather. Rain had been forecast for the whole weekend, which I am sure
made it difficult to plan ahead. Another aspect of course is also that it is not easy to know what people
may want to do.
Overall it was a wonderful weekend with friends.
Klaashof 2014
by George Gurganus
Klaashof was our fifth KIT gathering, although our first was just a mini-gathering at the home of Horst
and Irene Pfeiffer-Fischer. Every time we attended was special, but this time it was especially so in that
Amanda and I had celebrated our 50th wedding anniversary on May 27, 2014.
The decision of whether or not to attend was not easy. The desire to be there was great, but there were
situations at home and around the world which made the decision difficult. Our grandchildren, especially,
were against our flying to Europe. The shooting down of the airplane in the Ukraine and the fighting in
the Middle East made their fears for our safety very intense. Their opposition was quite vocal. We weren't
sure our financial circumstances warranted the trip, as all our other travels had been paid for before in
advance. Then, too, our age meant that the trip would be exhausting, with jet-lag, train rides, and lugging
around the three months supply of clothes which is absolutely essential for a ten-day excursion across
the Atlantic.
Still, in spite of the objections of grandkids, the depletion of our savings, and the consolidation of our
clothing into suitcases, we decided to make the trek to Nettetal. We first rendezvoused in Bremen where
Irene and Horst had arranged not only for us to rest, but for Maris Vigar to escort us to the Klaashof
Pension where we would stay during the KIT gathering. Irene even arranged for someone to meet us at
the train station to take us to the Klaashof. As it turned out, our chauffeur was one of the ex-hofers Mandy
had long wondered about, so being met by him at the train was the first of several hoped for reunions. We
are grateful to him, not only for meeting us at the train, but also for taking us along with Maris to Bremen
after the get-together was over.
When Mandy and I left Dallas, the temperature was 100F, but in Germany it never got more than
85F. Except for a few brief showers, the climate was wonderful for all activities. There were walks, bike
rides, intimate talks, sing-alongs, and of course, eating! Every meal, to me, was exceptional, but
Saturdays barbecue was especially great. All the meats and fish were delicious, but the conversations
exchanged during the feasting, and the singing that accompanied the festivities, made for a wonderful
evening.
Actually there was one meal that I would not call delicious and that was at a beer-garden where we
were having lunch after a walk. Because there were so many of us eating lunch, we decided to order from
the specials being offered. For those who wanted fish, there was no problem, but for those of us who did
not want fish, we had two options. Gordon Jackson and I made the wrong choice. Sitting across from
Gordon and Linda, I was able to see his reaction and it was like looking in a mirror! We tried to make the
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most of it, but the pancakes got the last laugh. Despite not particularly enjoying the meal, the dialogue
more than made up for it.
While we were hiking, we wanted to visit a tower beside the path. Just before we got to the tower,
Mandy slipped and ended up face down in one of the few mud holes we saw anywhere on the journey.
After the initial shock and embarrassment of her graceful descent to earth, good humor took over. A
picture is worth a thousand words, but I wasn't quick enough to get one. Actually, it was probably
fortunate for me that I did not take a picture, as she still has a little pain in her knees when she goes up
or down stairs, and of course we still have to live together. Perhaps, after all is said and done, it is best
for all of you to picture the incident in your own minds so I can live in peace with my wife.
We climbed up to the next-to-last landing of the tower and were amazed at how far we could see. I did
not know we were so close to the Netherlands but we could see all the way there. We discovered that the
place we visited the next day (Venlo), wasn't in Germany, but in the Netherlands.
It was one of the most memorable occasions on our whole trip. On Sunday, as we were preparing for
our trip to Venlo, Irenes daughter googled events in the area and found that there was going to be a rose
festival in Lottum. The decision was made on the spot. We were off to Lottum. Mandy and I took our
passports when we left the Klaashof and were surprised that we didn't need them but were able to go to
another country as easily as going from State to State back at home.
The festival was fabulous. One of the first things we saw were acres and acres of marigolds. All the
homes were manicured in anticipation of the many visitors to town. What a sight! Everywhere we looked
there were roses. Among my favorites was one house that had beautiful red, white, and blue roses, but the
most spectacular display we saw was in the church! The church was adorned with forty-five-thousand
white roses. It is difficult to find adjectives to describe how it looked. The only downer was that we saw
the church first; all the other displays paled in comparison.
Flowers weren't the only highlights Just when we ended our excursion through the festival, we passed
a beer-garden where there were four singers in costume singing songs from operettas. We went in and
were serenaded for nearly an hour. I recognized many songs and could hum along, but my German was
lacking. We will talk about our trip into the Netherlands for years to come.
On our last evening at Nettetal, a large group went with Anthony Lord to an exotic restaurant he knew
of. It sounded a lot like restaurants that Mandy and I enjoyed while we lived in Japan. The Japanese called
their food Genghis Khan. The story is that his warriors cooked their meat in their helmets over open
fires. Because the cooking surface the Japanese use looks like warriors helmets, the name for the meal
became Genghis Khan. They cooked mutton along with onions, leeks, bean sprouts, mushrooms, carrots
and any other vegetables in season. Each patron cooked his portion individually, dipped in a sauce with
chopsticks, and enjoyed. The restaurant Anthony escorted us to was similar, in that each person cooked
their own food. But they cooked an assortment of meats, not just mutton, and in place of a helmet they
cooked on a very hot rock. The reports are that it was delicious! After returning to Klaashof, I talked with
Rosie Johnson about the restaurant. She enjoyed it and was happy she went. She said that the cooking
surface was a very dense stone which retained heat for a long time but if it cooled off, a hotter stone was
brought in to replace it. I am sure that the experience of the food along with the fellowship of all the exhofers was momentous for all who were there.
While one group was enjoying themselves at the restaurant, the rest of us enjoyed ourselves at the
Youth Hostel. After supper we wanted to sing and visit outside the hostel, but rain made us stay in. So
after dinner we just sat where we were and shared stories, laughs and libations.
For me, who came as an outsider who was never in the Bruderhof, the story-telling filled in gaps of
Mandys life I never heard about for the fifty plus years we have been together. At every KIT meeting we
have attended, the tapestry of her life has gradually filled in. As of yet the picture is still unfinished, but
with every person who shares their experiences, good and bad, the parts that were hazy come into a clearer
focus. I was enthralled by what Renatus Klver told about his childhood. I don't think anyone at the table
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knew about the things that he shared, which, I suppose, is to be expected, after all, as it was from his own
memories. His sharing did give me a deeper respect and liking for him.
His was not the only story woven into the tapestry of Mandys life, but there is not enough time to
mention them all. I can only quote Bob Hope, and say, Thanks for the memories. I also want to thank
Anthony Lord and Irene Pfeiffer-Fischer for coordinating this years gathering. Just as with the other four
we have attended, we experienced strong bonding with those we met for the first time, as well as a
strengthening of the bonds we have with those we met at past gatherings. So again I say, Thanks for the
memories.
If there was a downer to our time at Nettetal, it was only that the time was too short. We visited with
everyone we could, but all too often the dialogues werent long enough to really satisfy. I spoke with
Elisabeth Bohlken-Zumpe and wanted to ask her many questions, but time was too short. Still, even with
conversations that were too brief, the Nettetal experience, like the other meetings we attended, was great!
Again, thanks to all who organized, and to all who contributed to a fabulous experience!
Klaashof 2014: An additional note
by George Gurganus
When Irene Pfeiffer-Fischer invited my wife, Amanda Stngl Gurganus, to visit Bremen and reunite with
friends from Paraguay, I wasnt specifically asked, not because I wasnt welcome, but rather that I would
probably be bored. Nothing could have been further from the truth! The fact is I was extremely inquisitive
about the many names and stories I heard of, not only from Mandy, but also her parents and siblings.
Being able to put a face to the names of her friends from the past and meet the very people who helped
shape who she is precluded any chance of indifference.
Every time we attended a KIT gathering, while Mandy was reuniting with old friends, I was meeting
new friends. The first such person I met was Erdmuthe Arnold. Erdmuthe was our guide in Frankfurt to
Bremen. We have since met at other KIT gatherings. Our correspondence and meetings have built a strong
friendship. Since that first occasion at Irene and Horsts, I have come to consider many of those people
my friends. I hope the feeling is reciprocated.
Every gathering has had its own flavor. The first time we attended Friendly Crossways, I felt out of
place at first, not because of the language, for almost everyone spoke English, but because I did not share
the experiences that bound everyone together. But my feeling of being an outsider soon passed, and I soon
got to know many. Tim Johnson was one of the first whom I met, and subsequently enjoyed many
conversations. His brother Barnabas was there also, along with others of the Johnson clan, including Joy
and Rosie. I met John Holland at Boston, but it was in Swindon in England that I feel we became friends.
Of course, it is not hard to want to be friends with someone as gregarious as John. I also met Miriam
Arnold, but it was at the next Boston gathering I felt a friendship was established. Muschi brought me to
tears of laughter when she explained about roof rabbits (you can ask her to explain).
In Swindon I became acquainted with Linda Lord Jackson and the Lords, but it wasnt until this year
at Klaashof that I got to know all of them personally. The list goes on, but my reason for writing this is
to attempt to entice those who, for whatever reason, have not joined in the reunion which KIT represents.
For years Amanda has been wondering, Whatever happened to so-and-so? Then, some years back,
she heard of the KIT Newsletter, and many of her questions were answered. But because she did not want
to jeopardize being able to visit her parents who were still in the Bruderhof, she refrained from any
contact other than reading old KIT Newsletters online. It was only after her parents passed away that
Mandy and Irene got in contact, and we were welcomed into the ever expanding circle of friends who
assemble at the annual KIT gatherings.
Since that first mini-gathering in Bremen, we have attended two KIT meetings in Boston, one in
Swindon, and one in Nettetal in Germany. Each time the same thing occurred: Recognition of someone
from her past, hugs of greetings and tears of joy which seemed to melt away the years of separation and
thoughts of past sufferings, and then bloomed into memories of shared happy experiences of long ago.
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What I just mentioned was Mandys experience, but I could not help but notice that what I witnessed
with Mandy was the same with just about everyone else who was there for the first time. Of course,
everyone has their own past narrative, and I do not want to minimize the hurt or bitterness that resulted
from those experiences in any way. But I notice that, with a few exceptions, the bitterness seems to
subside, and the memory of happy times seems to increase. Sure, some memories will always remain
painful, but the memories of happier times will remain good! The irony is that all the emotions are from
the same times in the past.
We long to relive the happy times, and at each KIT gathering we have attended, there seems to be more
of the joy and less of the bitterness. Mandy and I are in our seventies, and each year it is harder, not only
physically but also financially, to attend. Mandy still has questions about things that happened to her and
her family, which perhaps will never be answered; but having been able to attend the gatherings has been
an analgesic. Her pain has definitely subsided and has been replaced by the joy that comes from the
reuniting with her friends from years past.
I would like to encourage anyone who has refrained from attending the gatherings, to reconsider. Some,
like Mandy, are reluctant because of not wanting to jeopardize their being able to visit their families.
Others just do not want to take a chance of past hurts being revisited. But even for them there is still an
opportunity to embrace the joy of reconciliation and there is also the happiness others would experience
by being able to see you again.
Since 1963 I have been a part of the Stngl family and vicariously shared in what they endured in
Paraguay, England and America. And I want to say that what I witnessed with Mandys attendance at KIT
gatherings and the healing she has experienced there has truly been therapeutic, and I don't think that what
has happened with Mandy is limited to her. Rather, I believe similar experiences have been repeated again
and again, not just for a few, but for most of those in attendance.
To KIT I want to extend our gratitude; to the friends Mandy has been reunited with, our love; to the
new friends we have met, our continued appreciation, and especially to the ones who have not yet availed
themselves of attending a KIT meeting, I want to say: DO IT! You will be thankful you did.
Memories of Primavera, August 2007

by August Pleil
Many people ask me where we come
from and what we did in South America.
I thought it would be good to write down
my memories for those who are too
young to remember what happened.
It was in 1940 when the first people
from the Bruderhof came to Paraguay.
There was nothing there but the campo
(prairie). There was one house and one
barn in Loma Hoby which had belonged
to the previous owner, von Rutenberg.
The men had to start building everything
else from scratch. Completely new
buildings had to be constructed in order
to have housing ready for the women and
children to come to. A lot of blood and
sweat went into each building.
L-R Emil (Migg) Fischli, August Pleil and Bruce Sumner, in 1994 at
Rockwood Euro-KIT, UK
Isla Margarita was the first place started,

and then Loma Hoby. It is amazing how all
this happened and that new housing came into
being in so short a time. We started a
Childrens Village in 1946. This was the third
Bruderhof to be built. We had planned to take
in orphaned children from Germany. Sad to
say we were never able to get orphans from
Germany. Our request was turned down.
That was the year my family decided to give
up our homestead and Yerba plantation to join
the Bruderhof. My father, my brother Herman
A family house in Isla Margarita
and I visited the Bruderhof before we made the
decision. We stayed for two weeks. Then my
father and brother went home to help our mother to wind up our affairs.
Our family had great hopes we would find a
Christian life to join where we could live in peace
and harmony, and where people would be cared for
until they died. We thought we were building for the
future! We thought we were building for our
children, grandchildren, and the old people so that
they would all be cared for. We really thought this
was what we were working toward a brotherly life
in faith and harmony! We all wanted to give our
lives to Jesus and God. That was the plan.
My father left with Hermann, but I was told to
stay and help build a house for our family. However
that was only a ploy. I never helped build a house for
Ibat was the third Hof in Primavera
my family. I was put to work in the garden and then
told I was to move to Loma Hoby. It was felt that I
should be away from the family so as to not be influenced by my parents joining. All this did not go down
well with me. I was not happy, and I already felt that what the Brothers were doing did not fit with what
they were preaching. The Brothers said everything was done for God. Everyone dedicated their life to the
Cause, and everyone had great joy for the Cause.
In those days we sent Brothers out on
mission to tell people about the way of life. We
sent Brothers to Germany to try to get children
to live in the Childrens Village and we were
working very hard to have the Childrens
houses ready. We built brick houses, some
even had tiles on the roof. We also cleared a lot
of land in order to have fields to plant
vegetables and avocados, etc. Everyone
helped. The school children took off from
school to help, but I never saw the Servants of
the Word come to work on the buildings or in
the garden. Later on, two of the English
Servants helped.
The Ibat Dining Hall
9
The orphan children did not come. That was a big

blow. We were all disappointed! So instead of a
Childrens Village, Ibat became the third
Bruderhof.
Work continued. We had to build roads between
the three Hofs. We needed a brickworks in which to
make bricks and fire them in a kiln. Everything had
to be done by hand until much later when we had
enough money to buy some machinery. We worked
until we dropped and then had to be alert for the
evening meetings which was very hard after a full
days manual work in the fields and the heat. If we
were not fully awake for the meetings we were
reprimanded by Servants of the Word for being
Ibat: a family dwelling built with bricks
sleepy. This I found very unfair.
A new Bruderhof had been started in England.
Charles and Hella Headland and Stanley Fletcher, who had remained in England to wind up the Cotswold
Bruderhof, had so many interested people, they
couldnt leave. It seemed the appropriate thing
to do was to start another place in England.
They bought a farm in Shropshire which
became Wheathill. Actually the Wheathill
Bruderhof was already in existence when my
family came to Primavera. Some of the English
families had been sent from Primavera to
England during the war. At this time there was
great enthusiasm in both Wheathill and
Primavera. The people who joined Wheathill
and built the place up lived sparingly and
worked hard. They managed to pay for both
farms, Upper and Lower Bromdon. Wheathill
The Brickworks in Isla Margarita Photo: U.B. Lacy Collection
had chickens, cows and sheep.
When our family arrived, the Primavera
Bruderhof had only just been started, so there
was a lot of work to be done. Two men joined
the Bruderhof from Colonia Independencia:
Adolfo Weiss and Nicholas Willem. They were
very dedicated. A few people came and joined
from nearby. A lot was said about finances,
and how we could do more to earn a living. It
was suggested that we have a Yerba plantation.
Adolf Weiss started the project. He planted
some Yerba in the shade of the woods. We
hoped to harvest the Yerba in five years.
Then one day when the Yerba plantation
was thriving and we were making a living,
there was an upheaval. We all had to ask
The Isla Margarita Wood Gas Plant
10
ourselves why we were not progressing in our inner lives. The Servants made us look into ourselves and
told us we had to repent. It was a very difficult time for all of us. We had meeting after meeting, and some
people were sent away. Others left of their own accord as they just were tired of so many clearance
meetings and being put in exclusion. Everything was
upside down. Then the American Brothers came, led
by Heini, and everything got more intense. More
people left, and Primavera started to look very
empty. There was a lot of confusion. People didnt
know if they were coming or going. Then came the
blow: Heini and the Americans decided that
Primavera had to be given up and sold. The reason
given: it was a burden to Woodcrest.
A great deal of money had been put into the
building up of Primavera! We had asked our
Paraguayan friends to help us clear the land, and we
had all worked very hard. We had to get the tree
stumps out of the ground so we could plough. A lot
of this was done by hand until we got a tractor. We
had horses and wagons, and in the beginning we had
to transport everything that way. Little by little the
transport was done by truck. We saved ourselves a
bit of extra work when we got the truck. We also
Preparing for the Rice Project near Ibat
improved our roads between the villages. Each
village had chickens and a hog farm. Isla Margarita
had five-hundred hogs which I had to take care of. We had plenty to eat with milk and eggs and pork and
beef which we produced ourselves. We also sold our products to other people. We sold honey and turned
goods in Asuncion.
It is hard to comprehend that we had so many houses in Primavera all empty, when so many of those
who were sent away had to live in very cramped quarters. Why did all this have to happen? Was it really
necessary? There were differences of opinion with the American Brothers, but things could have been
straightened out. However Heini and the American Brothers came to judge us, and the result was that
Primavera had to be given up and
sold. It was as if Heini was
revenging himself. All of the old
sins were brought to the surface
again. There was no forgiveness!
There was a power struggle and
people were punished again for old
sins. Even the children were
brought into the power struggle and
they too suffered and were
interrogated about several things
they knew nothing about. So many
people gave up. They were tired of
living in community and tired of
being put in exclusion, tired of
being ruled by a small group of
men who sought to have complete
The Rice Fields near Ibat
11
control. People had no strength to go on because they did not believe that the situation would change, but
would only get worse.
Again and again one asks, why did all this have to go just like that? The villages were self-sufficient.
Many who were sent away had to go on welfare and beg the authorities for help. Some large families who
went back to Germany had to live in very cramped quarters.
Many people lost what little faith they had left. Many do not want to hear about the Bruderhof
anymore. They are all so disappointed. So many letters written to the Bruderhof were not read and no
answers sent out. Everything was lost. The Bruderhof did not want to reach out and offer a helping hand.
It is all very sad. The Bruderhof has said that all those from Primavera came to the States. That of course
is not true. Many are still in Paraguay; many are still in England. Many families were sent away from
Wheathill and Bulstrode and Sinntal. Many had hoped to go back to the Bruderhof. When some of them
asked to return, they were told there was no room. They were told, You just cannot come back! Brothers
and Sisters who had dedicated their lives were just pushed out and told to go and find lodgings elsewhere.
There was always some reason as to why the Bruderhof should not take the people back. Sometimes
the Servants said there was too much need and that therefore they could not take people back. There were
too many crises and just too much inner need to cope with! Where was Christianity? I have to say that it
was very un-Christian! Cant one share the need? Is it so difficult, after so many years of dedication, to
share the needs, to reach out? One day when Christ might knock on their door they will not recognize him
and they will call the police to have him arrested! They will tell him, "We have no room!" If Mary and
Joseph knocked on their door, the same would happen when Jesus was born. They would be told there
was no room for them, we ourselves have too much inner need! They would be sent on their way. Some
never came back again.
Do the people who live in the Bruderhof think that they are so perfect, they can prohibit ex-members
from visiting? Who do people think they are, to just push aside requests for visits to their family and other
members. It is more than shameful that such things happened. The Bruderhof professes to be so Christian
and holy! However they are not willing to help people who lived in the Bruderhof and take them out of
Ausschluss [exclusion] so that they can be forgiven. So many letters were written, so many confession
letters, but no notice taken. Jesus came to forgive, but who is so perfect? Nobody is perfect. We all have
feelings to contend with.
In Primavera a meeting
was called by the American
Brothers and Primavera was
just given up. Many thought
that it was their fault that the
Bruderhof had to be given up.
They tried to apologize but it
was to no avail! Once Heini
had spoken, there was no
going back! Once again many
people were sent away. Not
many people were left. There
was no Brotherhood. The
Americans had dissolved the
Brotherhood and taken over.
All decisions were made by
the American Brothers.
The same happened in
Bulstrode. All the so-called
The El Arado Bruderhof
weak members from
12
Bulstrode had to move to Wheathill and had to stay there until Bulstrode was sold. They were not allowed
to live in so-called community. That meant they all shared the accommodations but were not permitted
to eat together in the diningroom. They were not a Brotherhood. In short, another Ibat was created!
It became clear that so many places were being sacrificed because Heini wanted to have everyone brought
together under one umbrella, mainly in the USA.
El Arado in Uruguay was a well established Bruderhof and was doing well. El Arado was not in debt
and was holding its own. We had a wonderful garden and an orchard and chickens, etc. We sold produce
in Montevideo, the capital of Uruguay. In addition, Brothers went to Buenos Aires to visit friends of Stan
and Hela Ehrlich who donated
money to El Arado because Stan
and Hela lived in El Arado. Their
friends were very glad that they
could visit El Arado, as it was so
much easier than travelling to
Paraguay to visit Primavera. We
had many interesting guests who
were genuinely interested in
community living.
El Arado was an established
Bruderhof in spite of what Heini
said about it. In his eyes it was a
deadweight. El Arado was a very
nice place. Erwin Weiss, who had
been in Wheathill, came to El
Arado and brought some strawberry
The El Arado diningroom
plants with him. The strawberries
from England ripened earlier than
the others we had planted. We were able to sell these strawberries at a very good price. With the money
that we earned from selling produce we were able to build a house so that some of the men who were in
El Arado without their families could have the family come to El Arado.
We also made preserves and sold them, in addition to other produce. We had a bakery and made bread
of which some was sold along with the produce. Economically we were doing very well. It is very sad
that El Arado had to be given up. So many of our friends were upset, especially Stan and Hela Ehrlichs
friends. These friends had helped fund the building up of El Arado, they thought it was a very worthwhile
venture. All of a sudden our friends were faced with the termination of El Arado. There was no warning
either. It was a repeat performance of what happened to Primavera. The Mennonites in Paraguay still do
not comprehend why Primavera was forsaken just as it had become prosperous.
The Paraguayan friends and neighbors do not understand why everything was just given up. Why the
barbudos (bearded ones) up and left. Many of the neighbors were out of jobs and very upset. Some of
our friends think that we left because of the political atmosphere. It was hard to explain to the friends and
neighbors why we were leaving Paraguay. At that time it was not for political reasons, it was because of
a power struggle within the community. Economically Primavera was doing well! Heini maintained that
Primavera was a financial burden, however we all knew that was not so.
So much hard work had gone into not only Primavera, but also Wheathill, Bulstrode, Sinntal and El
Arado and everything was finished within so little time. Bulstrode was sold just after we had built another
house and we had a good income too. We sold Community Playthings and Bromdon Products. It was a
beautiful place not far from London. Now it is a missionary retreat.
Two years after Bulstrode was sold, believe it or not, Heini suggested starting up in England again.
What was the purpose of that? Brothers were sent to England to look for a new place. One place, Cruxton
13
Manor, was almost bought. However it turned out not to be suitable, and the owner was not willing to sell
to the Bruderhof. In the end, Darvell was bought. How stupid to give up such a beautiful place as
Bulstrode was, and then, two years later, start another place in England.
Some years later the Michaelshof in Germany was purchased. Then just as they received permission
to build a dinningroom, they sell the place. They said, because of the Nazi persecution they had to leave
Germany. At the time when they lived in the Michaelshof they had to use a tent for a dinningroom. A lot
of people visited there in Germany. I often wonder, do we really know why the Michaelshof was sold?
That is a big question. Many people who visited the Bruderhof were very interested in the Bruderhof way
of living. So once again everything was given up.
It is all so hopeless. People who have been sent away do not want to go back again because they are
afraid that sooner or later they will be kicked out again. Things which have been forgiven will be dug up
again. Why should anyone want to go back again to such a life? A life where one is so completely
controlled, one can hardly recognize oneself anymore? They have never understood why all of this had
to happen.
In Paraguay. there is a bird, it sings a very sad song. This bird sings in a palm tree and its name is
unknown. When it sings, it sounds as if it is saying, The Bruderhof is gone, nothing is left, everyone has
gone away!
With this sad note I end my story about the building up and the giving up of Primavera.
Traveling in Argentina and Paraguay, and a visit to what used to be Primavera
by Hans Martin, Yucaipa, August 17, 2014.
Finally I have a chance to write about our trip to Argentina and Paraguay. When you come back from a
month of vacation there is always so much to do. First, the weeds hadnt gone on vacation, and then we
had visitors. So, about our trip: It was wonderful!
June 3rd was the highschool graduation of our youngest grandson, Ian Martin. I had promised him that
if he did well in school I would show him the place were his grandparents grew up. Well, you have to
keep your promises! So on June 8th, 2014 we boarded Korean Airlines for Buenos Aires, Argentina, where
our trip was to start. We had a ten hour wait in So Paulo, Brazil for our connecting flight. We knew we
had a long wait in So Paulo so we thought it would be nice, after the ten hour flight from Los Angeles,
to rest, sit in a nice restaurant, and relax. We were disappointed by the airport, not one decent restaurant
to relax in, just mile-long corridors. There were lots of people at the airport due to the Football World
Series happening in Brazil.
Finally we boarded our three-hour connecting flight to Buenos Aires. We arrived late in the evening
and were surprised at how well organized the
immigration services were. My grandson had his
first encounter with the Spanish language. Ian
was born in the United States and his mother is
American, so they only speak English at home;
however, since his dad is Argentinian, he
traveled with an Argentinian passport. As is
customary in most countries, there are queues at
immigration counters for nationals and queues
for foreigners. Ian proudly went to one of the
nationals queues, laughing because his
grandfather, with his German passport, had to
stand in a longer queue.
When he got to the immigration officer, the
officer asked him some questions in Spanish and
he just shrugged his shoulders to make the
The Tango Show at El Viejo Almacn
14
officer understand that he did not speak Spanish. The officer, who was quite annoyed, asked why an
Argentinian citizen could not speak Spanish? Well, observing from the distance, I got a good chuckle out
of it.
A nephew picked us up at the airport and since it was late we went straight to their apartment and had
a good nights sleep. I was exhausted after the long trip. The next day I had to deal with some business
in Buenos Aires, and then we went to El Tigre.
El Tigre is a small tourist town located on the Rio de la Plata, where the Paran River becomes very
wide and changes its name to Rio de la Plata. It is a very interesting place visited by many tourists,
foreigners and nationals. The river has many smaller and also a lot of bigger islands which are all
inhabited. All traffic is by boat; there are even supermarket boats which go from house to house selling
their products. You can take boat rides which last close to two hours. There is also a wonderful museum
of fine arts, mostly containing works by local artists. We also visited a mat museum. Most of you
probably know what mat and a bombilla are. There are also many little tourist stores which sell
memorabilia and souvenirs.
The following day we celebrated Ians eighteenth birthday with a typical Argentinian asado (barbecue).
We also did some site-seeing in Buenos Aires. In the evening we went to El Viejo Almacn to see a Tango
show. The place is located in the old part of town known as San Telmo, not far from the Casa Rosada,
the Government Palace. The dances are performed by professionals and of all the Tango shows I have
seen over the years, I believe this was the best. The price is kind of steep, but no worse than a good show
here in the US. The show was wonderful and I recommend the place very much.
The next day we started heading north, leaving Buenos Aires behind. Our nephew and his wife were
going to take us by car all the way to Paraguay and back to Buenos Aires. This we appreciated very much,
since it gave us the freedom of moving around. Our next stop was the University were Elena and I studied
nursing. The University is located at about a five-hour drive northeast of Buenos Aires in a small town
called Libertador San Martn in the Province of Entre Rios. It was fun to see many relatives and
classmates. Many of our classmates and also our relatives have retired there. It was also fun to remember
the fun times I had as a student so many, many years ago. I can hardly believe it is almost sixty years ago.
Where have the years gone?
Early Monday morning we headed north to the Province of Misiones. We drove for hours through the
flat boring countryside of the Provinces of Entre Rios and Corrientes. Close to the border between the
Provinces of Corrientes and Misiones we stopped at Las Marias, a yerba mat factory. The tour is very
interesting, they show you the
processing of yerba mat from
planting through to the preparation
of this tea which, as many of you
know, is consumed in large
quantities mostly in Argentina,
Uruguay, Paraguay and in the
southern part of Brazil. By the way,
they claim that it lowers your
cholesterol.
In the evening we arrived in
Leandro Alm in the Province of
Misiones, a small town were we
have relatives. All the relatives I
mention here are from Elenas side
of the family.
The next day we drove to
Posadas, the capital of the Province
of Misiones. We wanted to cross
Hans and Ian at the Jesuit Ruins of San Ignacio
15
the Paran River over to Paraguay, but the queue of cars at the border stretched for miles, so we decided
not to. We did some site-seeing of Posadas which, since I last saw it, has become a vibrant modern city.
The main business comes from the Paraguayans who cross over and buy in Argentina, since everything
is a lot cheaper than in Paraguay.
In the evening we returned to
Leandro Alm.
Then our trip took us further
north to another small town in the
Province of Misiones, Aristbolo
del Valle. The reason for visiting
there was to see a sister-in-law who
recently lost her husband. We had
hoped to still see Elenas older
brother, my brother-in-law, ninetyfive-years old, but he passed away
on the day of our arrival in Buenos
Aires. Since there are no
The Mocon Waterfalls
refrigerated morgues there, the dead
[Photograph: Editors collection]
are interred very soon, often the
same day, before the body decomposes. So there was no way we could get to the funeral service in time.
From Aristbolo del Valle we visited the old Jesuit ruins of San Ignacio. It is amazing what the Jesuits
did for the Indians, and what a shame that the Spaniards, who ruled the country at the time, destroyed
everything, expelled the Jesuits from the country, and either killed or dispersed the Indians, just because
they were afraid of the power the Jesuit priests had gained with the Indians. The National Park Division
of Argentina maintains the place very well. There is a visit to a nice museum included in the entrance
price to the site. They also have a wonderful show at night which is worth seeing. In fact it is an excellent
show, I enjoyed it very much. Mist is created with water and then they project moving pictures onto the
mist, it looks as if the figures, which represent the history of the ruins, are in a cloud of fog. Again, all
very well done. Of course, for the show you pay separately.
One more place that we visited from Aristbolo were the Mocon Waterfalls. They are located on the
Uruguay River which at this point creates the border between
Argentina and Brazil. The trip takes you away from anything
that reminds you of the modern world. You see a lot of real
jungle, just as I remember it when we were children in
Primavera. What excitement and pleasure to walk through those
woods! It reminded me so much of the days when we had to
walk to school from Ibat to Loma Hoby. I could have spent a
week there exploring the woods, seeing the wild animals and reliving memories from so many years ago. There was also a palm
tree packed with nests of the Weber-Vgel or weaver birds, as
we called them. Im sorry I dont know their scientific name
[ed. Boyero Cacique, red-rumped Cacique, Cacicus
haemorrhous]. The Mocon waterfalls are the only ones in the
world were the river spills over sideways, not like other
waterfalls do. They are only about two meters high and about
two miles long. I had been there previously, but this time
because of the monsoon-like rainfalls in the region there was no
falling water, it was just a double wide river, the water level was
so high that it covered up and hid the falls. However, as
mentioned earlier, the walk through the jungle made up for it.
Ian Martin at the Iguaz Falls
16
The Province of Misiones is a beautiful Province; with its lush green mountains it reminds me a lot of
North Carolina and Tennessee here in the USA.
Then our trip took us further north to the Iguaz
Falls, definitely the highlight of our trip. On the road
to the Falls we made a quick stop at the precious
stones, open-cast mines of Wanda. It was very
interesting to tour the mine and see how they retrieve
these colored transparent quartz-like stones out of the
rock, and make wonderful artifacts out of them. I
barely resisted the temptation to buy a wonderful blue
bowl, but I did, and left with as much money as I had
on our arrival there.
In the early evening hours we arrived in Puerto
Iguaz. There, the three countries, Paraguay,
Argentina and Brazil, meet. The Iguaz River forms
the border between Argentina and Brazil, and the
Paran River separates Argentina and Brazil from
Paraguay. Where the two rivers meet you can see
across to the three countries.
The next day we visited the Iguaz Falls. What a
spectacular sight! They are considered one of
Natures seven world wonders. Because of the heavy
rains in the area there was water everywhere. The
Falls stretched for about three kilometers; usually
they are a row of individual waterfalls [ed. 275 falls].
The Road to the Tapiracuay Reserve
This time it seemed as if it was just one wall of water.
Too bad that the water had destroyed some of the
footbridges; a few had been taken down before the water could destroy them. We could not get to the
famous Garganta del Diablo (The Devils Throat) because the footbridge leading to it had been removed.
We took a boat ride that takes you right up to the Falls, kind of scary, but lots of fun. Again, Argentina
keeps the surroundings very nice, keeping nature as virgin as possible. We felt very lucky that we could
enter the Iguaz National Park, since the week prior it had been closed due to the extreme rainfalls.
After a good nights rest we crossed
into Paraguay. It is quite a culture shock
for those that have never been to
Paraguay. What a difference from
Argentina! You can hardly walk the
streets of Ciudad del Este because of all
the street vendors. I thought there were
some improvements, at least at the border
control they got rid of the vendors. The
border control, if you want to call it such,
has not changed; if you want to stop you
stop, if not, no one will bother you. We
stopped because we needed papers to
drive the car in Paraguay. If the highway
patrol stops you and you dont have the
right papers they will impound the car
unless you bribe them. Paraguay has not
The Taufplatz on the Tapiracuay River today
17
changed! The highway patrol will

actually tell you how much money they
want and they accept only cash,
otherwise you have to go to court and
that does not just take time, but it costs a
lot more.
But back to our trip: in Ciudad del
Este we stayed at the Hotel Austria.
Good place to stay, and the price is very
reasonable. We also had all our meals
there.
We wanted to see the dam and
hydroelectric plant of Itaip which are
not very far from Ciudad del Este,
however when we got there we
discovered that it was closed for tourists
Hans and Ian enjoying a day at the Taufplatz
because of the Football World Series, and
on the Tapiracuay River
that afternoon, Brazil was playing, I
believe with Croatia.
From Ciudad del Este we drove across to Coronel Oviedo and Santani (San Estanislao) and on to
Friesland. I was afraid that we would not find our hotel, but Lux had given me excellent instructions
which we followed. We stopped, as told, at the EPCO gas station on the highway, just a couple of miles
after passing Carolina, and asked there for
directions, how to get to the Hotel Tannenhof.
It was getting dark by the time we arrived at
the hotel where we stayed for three nights.
The Hotel Tannenhof is wonderful, and the
owners are very friendly. I asked them if they
could prepare a picnic basket for us for the
next day, since our plans were to spend most of
the day at the Tapiracuay River. They said that
was absolutely no problem, and you should
have seen the basket they prepared for us! I
would rate the Tannenhof Hotel as a five star
hotel.
After breakfast I asked for directions, how
to get to the Tapiracuay River; the owner gave
me excellent instructions and gave me a key so
we could enter the reserve. Once we got to
what I believe used to be Loma Hoby, I felt
like coming home after many, many years. It
was actually a very emotional moment even if
many spots of our beloved Primavera are hard
to recognize. Practically all the forest has
disappeared, and from the three Hofs, the only
thing remaining in Ibat is a ruin of the bakery
and one house which is occupied by a
Mennonite family. Our family used to live on
one side of that house, and on the other, the
The Forest Trail that leads from the
Trmpi family. For those of you who lived in
Taufplatz to Liverpool
18
Ibat, there were two identical brick houses. In the other one, if I recall rightly, lived the Vigar and the
Friedemann families. You could scream when seeing this, the only thought that crossed my mind was:
So much work and sweat, for what?
Its a shame, but it is too late to cry, and
what does it help?
I must admit, the Mennonites have
done a pretty good job at keeping the
Tapiracuay Reserve. At least the woods
close to the river still exist. When you
take a walk from what we used to call the
Taufplatz to Liverpool, you can very well
re-live our times in Primavera.
We had our lunch at the Taufplatz
were the Mennonites now have a nice
picnic area. Too bad I cant add all the
pictures we took, but I hope that these
few will give you an idea how the place
looks. Then we took a stroll to Liverpool.
It reminded me of when as kids we used
The Road to the Totengarten. The wood in the background seems to be what
to go to the Tapiracuay, we enjoyed it so
is left of the Apfelsinenwald (Orange Wood)
much, and knew our way around the
jungle very well. I dont remember
anybody ever getting lost. The only thing which has disappeared are the animals, and most of the birds.
At least we did not see any. The woods used to be full of monkeys, parrots and all sorts of creatures. Once
in a while you could even see a tapir. Now there is not enough jungle for them.
Well, all good things come to an end. We wanted to go to the Totengarten (cemetery) but it was getting
late. We crossed through what used to be Ibat, and across the field we used to call Campo Lechera. I had
been there in 2005 and thought that I would have no problem finding the Totengarten. Good luck! It took
us nearly two hours to find it. Twice we were very close, but due to high grass and a little wooded area
we could not see it. The owner of the Hotel Tannenhof had explained how to get there, but what threw
us off was that the gate he had mentioned was locked, although he had said it would not be. So we first
tried it from where Josua Dreher had
taken us nine years ago, where the Isla
Margarita diningroom used to be. We
walked through what I thought might
have been the Schulwald (school wood),
but did not find it.
Finally we drove to the EPCO gas
station on the highway which was not
very far and asked for directions. An
older guy told us where he remembered
the burial ground would be.
I must say, the Bruderhof Community
is taking very good care of the cemetery
but I wish they would place signs so you
can find it more easily. Its amazing that
nobody seems to know were it is. We
asked a Paraguayan family that lived
At the Burial Grounds: Hans picked flowers at the Tapiracuay River and
only a mile away, but they did not know.
placed them on the grave of his little sister Angelica
They told us that once in a while they see
19
some barbudos (bearded men) walking across the fields, but they had no idea that there was a burial
ground in the area. Interesting how little interest people show for their surroundings.
So many memories come to one: faces of friends and others, many no longer with us anymore, people
who gave the best years of their life for something they believed in, leaving family and friends behind
because they wanted to build a better world.
The following day we went to Santani. I had a special interest to see that city again because I
remembered a trip when I must have been in the sixth grade. I had been very excited about that trip since
any opportunities to leave Primavera were few and far between. We went with some teachers; I believe
Marianne Zimmermann was one of them. I do not remember if we did the trip in one or two days, it must
have been two days, since it is about forty kilometers from Primavera. We camped out at the Schmelings,
a German estanciero who lived not too far from Santani. Now you can make the trip on an excellent
asphalt road in about forty-five minutes.
The other reason I remember the trip so well was because of a little incident. We had always been told
in the Bruderhof how bad the Catholics were, specially the priests, and about how the Hutterites had
suffered and were burned on the stake by them, because of their beliefs. Well, when we walked through
the little town we passed the Catholic Church, I remember everyone walking a little faster to pass the
Church as quickly as possible, except for Hans Martin, he wanted to see what this bad place looked like
on the inside. So as soon as everybody had turned around the corner, I sneaked into the Church, trembling
like a leaf.
The door was open, but the inside was very dark, just a couple of candles burning. I suddenly got very
scared. I thought that someone would grab me from behind and that would be the end of me. I turned
around and ran as fast as I could to catch up with the group. Of course no one had noticed my short
absence and I did not utter a word about my whereabouts.
So this time I wanted once again to go to the Church, go inside and explore it.
Santani has become quite an important city for Paraguay. It is here where three main routes cross each
other, one from Concepcin on the east side of the Paraguay river; in Santani, the highway divides, one
goes to Coronel Oviedo from where one continues to Ciudad del Este, another direction leads to Asuncin
through the town of 25 de Diciembre, and the third goes to Villa Rosario. So you can imagine that there
is a lot of traffic going through the city.
After lunch we drove to Puerto Rosario. From Santani it is about a one-and-a-half hour drive, all on
excellent asphalt roads. You dont
need to worry about the weather
anymore, come sunshine or rain, you
can travel. It was a cold and cloudy
day, it rained off and on, sometimes
quite hard. The city has changed
dramatically during the sixty years I
had not seen it. When we arrived in
Puerto Rosario we had to ask where
the old port used to be.
Since the building of the highways
the city itself is kind of dead. They tell
me there is a cruise ship which goes
from Asuncin to Concepcin. While
we were there, there was no
movement of anything, only a couple
of fishermen trying their luck.
I want to mention here how much I
Ian and Hans under the tree in whose shade women and children waited
in 1941 when they arrived from Europe
appreciate what John Holland has
done to keep memories alive. He has
20
helped with a small memorial around the tree where supposedly, on our arrival in 1941, the women and
children took refuge from the burning sun while the men loaded all the boxes and containers onto the
Mennonite wagons. Thank you very much John!
From Rosario we went back to Friesland, with a stop in Itacurub del Rosario. This city has also grown
very much, and is not recognizable anymore.
We spent the last day roaming around Friesland.
I forgot to mention earlier that when the owners of the Hotel Tannenhof learned that I had grown up
in the area, they asked me if I would be willing to give an interview to their Newsletter editor, to which
I agreed.
(Here is the link to the website with the article: dec@friesland.com.py/juni2014. Look for Milch Tag,
then scroll down to page 16, Erinnerungen.)
I got talking with the editor after the interview who told me that they had a museum in the central
village where we were staying, and asked if I would be interested to visit it, which of course I was. So on
our last day in Friesland she picked us up after breakfast and took us there. It is simple but very well kept.
It has mainly old hospital and laboratory equipment and old wooden washing machines just as I
remembered them from when I was thirteen and was sent to Friesland were I stayed for a whole year.
However, what really caught my eye was an old electric washing machine. The label on it said: This
washing machine, brought in 1941 by the
Hutterite Community, was used in Loma
Hoby until 1961 when it was purchased
by the Mennonite Hospital, where it was
used without need for repair until 2003.
The lady told me that the only reason
they replaced it was that more modern
washing machines were available,
although it was still working.
Well, I dont know when Ill be
visiting Primavera again, but it was
wonderful to see what was once our
home. What a wonderful, privileged
childhood we had, and so free!
I was amazed about how well the
Mennonites did. All the houses look well
and the ones we visited had airconditioning, running water and all The old Washing Machine brought over from England in 1941, used in Loma
Hoby, bought in 1961 by the Mennonite Hospital and used without repair
modern conveniences. The yards were
until 2003
well taken care of; the villages just
looked fine. Again my thoughts
wandered when I saw all that the Mennonites had achieved. How well the Bruderhof Community could
have done, and what a wonderful place Primavera would be now!
Well, such is life!
From Friesland we traveled to Asuncin where we mostly visited relatives from Elenas side of the
family. Her mother was born and reared in Altos, Paraguay. They were a family of eight brothers and
sisters, so you can imagine there are quite a few relatives, most of them living in Caacup and the
surrounding area. I spent Sunday visiting my good friend Lux Fischer-Meier while the rest of the party
visited relatives in Altos. We had a wonderful time talking about old times and laughing a lot. Most likely
your names were mentioned too, but I assure you, nothing bad was said, everything could be repeated in
front of you.
In the evening the rest of the party joined us and we had cake with ice-cream. Asuncin looks
deplorable, dirty, with buildings falling apart, and nothing seems to be done to restore any of them. What
21
a shame. I felt sorry, for there are some beautiful Colonial architectural structures. I remembered the days
when as a fifteen-year-old boy I roamed the streets after work. I knew this city inside out. Well, times
change.
From Asuncin we drove back to Argentina, to the city of Roque Saenz Pea in the Chaco Province,
which was our next stop. We had worked there for seven years in the late 1960s and early 1970s. We
still have friends there. We thought since we were close by, we should look in and say hello. This was a
short one night stop. From there, we continued to Humboldt, Santa F, once again visiting family, and on,
driving to Crdoba, where we spent a nice weekend with more family. Finally, after driving close to
seven-thousand kilometers, we arrived in Buenos Aires from where we took the plane back to Los
Angeles.
What an awesome trip! But I was glad to sleep in my own bed again. You get tired moving around from
place to place, constantly packing and unpacking.
Well, as I said before: who knows when Ill do it again!
Recollections of Peter Keiderling, from a letter by Esther Schnell-Keiderling, dated 7th August 2014,
and translated by Elisabeth Bohlken-Zumpe:
My dear Bette, The funeral of my brother Peter will take place on 14th August 2014. The family will
gather in Beaconsfield where the Eulogy will be read by Peters best friend, the Pastor of his Church,
Christ for All! He will then be taken to Bulstrode graveyard to be buried next to his wife Jeanette, and
also next to his sister Irmi and her twin babies.
I also want to say that my sister Erika and my brother Ben are so happy that you and Hansfried (Hans
Zimmermann) remembered Peter so lovingly.
Erika said, It does help so much in handling our grief to hear good about our brother.
She was particularly happy that you mentioned Peter's special gifts. He improvised music on the violin
as well as the cello, and could play Mozarts Kleine Nachtmusik by heart and with joy. It's amazing to
think of all the beautiful handmade gifts he made from leather. Once he killed an Anaconda by the river,
cleaned and dried the skin, and made the most beautiful handbag as a Christmas present for me. It had
several pockets and was beautiful and delightful, with perfect matching stitches. It turned out so
absolutely lovely that Margot, the housemother, asked if he would agree to sell it in the Asuncin shop,
rather than give it to me.
It sold for a lot of money. Those were times when we were poor and always hungry. I remember
Stephan, Jakob, Tobias and me sharing one small crust of bread, each only getting a very small piece. It
seems unthinkable now how constantly hungry we were. One night Peter went out and cut off a whole
cabbage head, and Heidi, Maidi and I ate it raw in one go which resulted in terrible stomach pains, and
we had to admit to stealing from our garden. Most of us seem to have forgotten this time of need and
constant hunger and how we managed to find ways to cope. One way was to get up early to search the
campos for champignons. If we found any ostrich eggs it would mean there would be a super-breakfast
for the whole family.
So many memories come back as I think about this time of our common childhood.
I wish you and Hans a good trip to Germany. Please greet everyone who might still remember me.
Love, Esther
Email from Esther Schnell to Elisabeth Bohlken-Zumpe and Hans Zimmermann,
12th August 2014:
My Dear Ones, Here, briefly, is the latest about Peters funeral. Both the photographs you sent are typical
of Peter. I know you love them. I imagine Reto, Peterle and Rudi will send us a few more. What I am most
happy about is that the Eulogy will be read by Peters best friend, the Pastor of his Church, Christ for
All! which he dearly cherished. Also the Vivaldi, picked out by the three boys, is a very good choice.
Vivaldi was Peters favourite.
22
I often think of you both. I hope that the trip across the Dutch border and to Hanneles former motherin-law wasnt too strenuous.
Always yours, Esther
Email by Pete Keiderling,
11th August 2014, to Esther
and others:
Dear All, Dads funeral is fast
approaching and I thought Id
send over the order of service
along with the Eulogy that
will be read.
The music played at the
chapel as everyone goes in
will be Vivaldis The Four
Seasons, and then, during a
moment of remembrance,
Don Williams, Youre My
Best Friend. Im sure you
At the Bulstrode Burial Grounds
can download or listen to
these songs online. The Bruderhof will also sing at the grave-site: All the birch trees grow green [ed.
Alle Birken grnen in Moor und Heid, German folk song.].
You are all in our thoughts and we know you would want to be here, so I hope the attached will allow
you to take part in the service on Thursday.
Lots of love, Pete
Remembering Peter Keiderling, 13th November 1928 1st August 2014, from the Eulogy read at his
funeral on 14th August 2014:
Peter was married to Jeanette, and is survived by four children, eight grandchildren, four step
grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.
Peter was born in Germany in 1928, and at a young age and in extraordinary circumstances he left
Germany and settled with his family in the UK for a short time before leaving from Liverpool on a ship
bound for Rio de Janeiro, and eventually settling in Paraguay.
Growing up on a ranch, he soon became an
accomplished gaucho, breaking in and training
wild horses, rounding up cattle as well as
becoming a skilled saddler. His love for music
also played a big part in his life, and he could
turn his hand to many different instruments.
I can see the attraction for Jeanette, when
they met. After all, what girl wouldnt be able
to resist a cowboy on a white horse who would
also serenade her.
His sons Fritz and Reto were both born in
Paraguay before the four of them along with a
number of others from the ranch made the long
and difficult journey back to the UK and
settled at Bulstrode Manor in Buckinghamshire
where the births of two sons Pete and Rudi
L-R Peti Mathis on Moro, Pit Keiderling on Arabi,
Ibat Brennkorral [cattle branding corral]
would complete the Keiderling family.
Photo by courtesy of Hans Zimmermann
23
The four boys grew up with tales from their dad about the ranch and the jungle and how Mum stepped
barefoot onto a sleeping Anaconda and about the Piranhas in the rivers. He also told them amazing
bedtime stories, not from a book, but made up as he went along, about a man living in the forest who
would live off the land, just like hed done.
Peter was an avid sports fan following tennis and football, in particular, Bayern Munich. His boys
however followed a different team, This came about one day when Reto asked him, Whos the best
player in the world, as Im going to support his team.
Peter answered, The best player in the world is Pel, and he plays for Santos, in Brazil.
To which Reto replied, I cant really support a Brazilian team, so whos the best player in England?
Peter replied, There are three: Bobby Charlton, George Best and Nobby Styles, who all play for
Manchester United.
Peters faith played a major part in his life and he was actively involved in prayer groups and Church
meetings as well as having an insatiable appetite for literature about Christianity. He would have made
a fantastic preacher. I think this would have been his true calling in life.
His faith gives us good cause to celebrate his passing, as after all his travels and eighty-five years, hes
now in the place that he dreamt about for all his life.
Peter Keiderling
by Hans and Hanna Zimmermann
On Saturday we heard the sad news from Esther
Keiderling Schnell that her brother Peter had died on
Friday 10th August 2014. We knew that he was ailing but
did not grasp the gravity of his condition. For us it was a
shock as on that same day we had talked about hoping to
see him again on our next visit to Europe.
I knew Pit well as we worked together in the cattle
department. Pit was a gentle person and a perfectionist in
everything he did. He was mostly my padrino (the other
rider) to help one when breaking in wild horses. This can
form a close relationship as one has to understand one
another even more, and when the rides are successful,
theres the satisfaction of a job well done.
We spent many days out on the range, be it campo
Guan, Riveros-Cu, Dolores, Invernada and camped out
by the river Tapiracuay in Monte Jaime trying to chase
cattle out of their hiding onto campo Invernada, where
later the rice fields would be.
Pit also did all our tanning in Loma Hoby, in sheds next
to my fathers Zedernwldchen [cedar wood]. Pit was an
accomplished leather worker and one could see it on his
saddle tack.
Music was another indulgence. He loved to play his
violin and enjoyed improvising, which always reminded
me of the song, Drei Zigeuner fand ich einmal [Once Two old cow punchers meet again after fifty-three years
Hans Zimmermann with Peter Keiderling
upon a time there were three gypsies], and the line:In
den Hnden die Fiedel, spielt er umglht vom
Abendschein sich ein feuriges Liedel [In his hands the fiddle he plays himself a fiery song, surrounded
by the glowing evening].
24
After the closing of Primavera we lost

contact. I knew he was in England, but
where? I then got his address through his
sister Esther, six or seven years ago, and
with that picked up contact again. Pit by
then was living a quiet life, somewhat
withdrawn, with a leaning to being pious.
We exchanged periodic letters but he was
rather guarded, so it was one of the
highlights of our recent trip to Europe
when we paid him a surprise visit. We
did not stay long but had the feeling that
it meant a lot to him.
We will miss him but are glad that he
may be buried next to his wife Jeanette.
Hans and Hanna
L-R Hanna, Hans, Peter and Chris Beels
Remembering Gertrud Braun Wegner, 13th August 2014

by Margot Wegner Purcell
Helmut, Gisela, Adolf and I want to share the news that our mother Gertrud Braun Wegner passed away
on August 13, at Platte Clove Bruderhof. She was ninety-three years old. She had been doing fairly well
with a good memory till the last week of her life.
Mama came to the Bruderhof life as a five-year-old with her parents Adolf and Martha Braun and her
little sister Elfriede (later married to Leslie
Barron). They joined the small circle at the
Sannerz Bruderhof. She had happy memories
of her childhood at the Rhnbruderhof and the
times that led the community to the Alm and
then the Cotswold Hofs. She trained as a
kindergarten teacher in England. My parents
Gerd and Gertrud celebrated a double wedding
with Alan and Nellie Stevenson on the
Cotswold Bruderhof..
Soon after the wedding they travelled on the
first ship to Paraguay. Mama helped care for
the children and worked as the kindergarten
teacher all the years we were in Isla Margarita.
It was here that to their great joy their first
daughter, Marlene, was born. Shortly after,
Gertrud and Gert Wegner, 1959
their first son Hans Helmut arrived, followed
closely by Gisela, Margot and Adolf.
We all appreciate the job that our parents and grandparents did in the buildup of the Hofs in Primavera.
We know it was hard, especially the first few years. Papa was away in the USA for more than two years
and Mama had to manage. We all treasure the time she took with us and the little things that made her so
special to each of us.
Gisela writes: One very ordinary day, I came home for rest-time to find a little handmade doll on my
bed. It was made from a red poppy, the stem was the body, the seed pod the face with face parts drawn
on, and the petals gently pulled down to make the very delicate bright red dress. You cannot imagine the
emotion joy, and above all, a sense of being loved and made to feel special. For a middle child that is
25
HUGE! Sadly, the little doll only lasted the day, as the petals wilted, but I kept it as long as I could. The
doll was fleeting, but the precious memory lasts forever. It was a poignant gift of love. When I asked
Mama why she made this for me, she just smiled and said, Because she wanted to make something nice
for me. I felt so loved that day.
Mama loved classical music. I think her
favorite composer was Beethoven. In Isla
Margarita she would take us to hear the Meier
family playing music as they practised outside
their home. She passed on to each of us the
love for music. Of course as children we
preferred to listen to other things if we had the
chance.
Mama grew up with parents who loved to
sing and Papa loved singing as well so we did
a lot of singing in our family. She enjoyed
harmonizing quietly and I learned that from
her. She loved to sing with us at night or she
would play a tenor recorder. There was never
enough time to sing all the songs we wanted
Mamas scissor-cut of her five oldest children in Primavera, and we
her to sing. She was an excellent storyteller as looked
just like that: L-R Gisela, Helmut, Adolf, Marlene and Margot.
well. Too often she would have to rush off to a
meeting and was gone till very late.
She also had wonderful artistic abilities and loved to draw pictures and encouraged us to do the same.
She did scissor-cuts with great detail and very realistic. She made an album of these of us her children
mostly the two oldest or our Papa. She had a wonderful ability at calligraphy. She enjoyed doing arts and
crafts with us and with the children in her care. She knew many circle games and circle songs that little
children enjoyed. She loved nature and especially flowers. She treasured each garden that she managed
to have and encouraged all of us to plant something if we wanted to.
I have a little memory that I treasure: Mama had made a teddy bear for me when I was two years old.
Brli was my favorite, as he could share my frequent earaches and had a place to put the cotton in his ears
too. One day in preschool, another little girl wanted to hold him and took him with her into the outhouse.
She did not come out for a very long time and the adults got worried. When she came out there was no
Brli with her he had fallen into
the hole! Luckily the teachers had a
long pole with a hook which they
used when things were tossed down
the hole. He was rescued,. Mama
washed him and put him into a
papaya tree next to our house to
dry.
Our family moved to Forest
River in 1956, then to Oak Lake in
1957. Our younger sister, Hannah,
was born in the first year of the new
Hof. Nine years later Marcus was
born in Woodcrest.
Our Mama was a gentle, quiet
Sister and mother who loved all the
The 2012 family reunion Mama with her seven children.
children in her care. I dont know
Sitting, L-R: Mama Gertrud and Marlene; standing, L-R Adolf, Margot, Hannah,
how she found time to care for us
Helmut, Gisela and Marcus.
26
after having to care for lots of children during the day. We heard from many who had her as their teacher
that they felt she understood them and loved them. In later years she did other duties in the Hof.
The Bruderhof was her chosen way of life and she was special in that she had experienced almost all
the Bruderhof history. Our family was off the Hof twice for a year or more. These were hard times for
Mama in that she was not familiar with life away from the community. She tried to make it a pleasant
home for us and did her best, but was always happy to return to where she felt most at home.
The five oldest did leave the community life in various ways and made a life of their own. The two
youngest remained and became members of the Bruderhof communities. Our parents were happy that at
least two of their children remained in the life they had chosen. Over the many years visits were fewer
and later we were pretty well cut off from contact with the Hof family as we gained contact with former
friends which is something the Bruderhof does not approve of. Her five oldest only had their childhood
years with her and did not get to spend much time with our parents as adults and the eight grandchildren
couldnt get to know her either.
In May 2012, Helmut and his wife Janet arranged a family reunion. We gathered near Platte Clove and
invited Mama, Hannah and Marcus. Our Papa had passed away six years prior and our oldest sister
Marlene was not well, but she managed the trip with our help. We had one lovely sunny day together.
Mama had a chance to spend time with most of her grandchildren and to meet her two great-grandsons.
She enjoyed the day with all of us and each of us treasured the chance to have us all together one more
time.
At the time of our reunion, our brother Marcus told us that we would not be informed if Mama should
become too ill and pass away. Instead, he would call us after the burial. So we were surprised when he
called to tell us she was not doing well and would not live much longer. She passed away at 2:15am the
following morning and he called each of us that day to share the news
We were all very thankful that Hannah and Marcus decided to call us the day before so we could be
thinking of Mama. Late that night I could not sleep. so I lit a candle and talked to Mama. When Marcus
called me the next day to tell me she had died at 2:15am that morning, I realized that it was exactly the
time I was talking to her and thinking of her. For me that was so nice to know.
Mama is survived by six children, fourteen grandchildren, two great-grandchildren and many nieces
and nephews. Each of us have precious memories of a moment with her, a song we loved to hear her sing,
a vase of flowers she brought into the house, a painting she did, a little card she decorated, a stuffed
animal she made, embroidered clothes or other little signs of her love.
Thank you Mama!
Memories of Heiner Kppschall
4th October 1938 10th August 2014
by Andy Harries
Photographs by courtesy of Andy Harries
Heiner was always close to nature and animals

and a deep thinker. He used to call me the
professor, and I called him the professor
because I think he could well have been one if he
had that kind of opportunity. His main passion at
the Wheathill Bruderhof was sheep, and the
training of sheepdogs, and he obviously had a
special gift for that. It was a common sight at
Cleeton Court Farm to see him with a puppy or
young dog teaching it to respond to different
commands. He used to say, Start them early and
work up the expectations, and they will end up as
good sheepdogs. I dont know how it is in the
Wheathill, ca. 1949-1950 L-R sitting: Edeltraut Brose, Daphne

Rimes, Jrgen Holz, Ursula Stsse. L-R standing: Herbert Brose,
Klaus Holz, Margaret Meyer, Alice Humphries (adult), Roger
Rimes, Dieter Holz, Heiner Kppschall, Owen Humphries (adult),
Waltraut Meyer, Erica Stsse.
27
United States but here in England a sheepdog is

essential with sheep; a good dog can do all sorts of
things a human cannot, and of course dogs are much
quicker.
I used to cycle to Ludlow weekly with Heiner,
Klaus, Dieter and Jrgen, four of the German
orphans. We were doing an agricultural course in
animal husbandry, dairying, mechanics and crop
husbandry. Heiner always had a great fear of cars.
We mostly were on B-roads which were plenty wide
enough for two cars to pass each other in separate
lanes; but Heiner was so fearful that every time a car
came along he would stop and get off his bike till it
had gone past. We used to tease him, poor chap. It
1949-1950 Alice Humphries teaching the ten German orphans

upstairs at Cleeton Court school. Front row L-R: Ursula Stsse, Dieter
Holz, Erika Stsse, Jrgen Holz. Second row L-R: Herbert &
Edeltraut Brose, Waltraut & Margaret Meyer. Back, standing, L-R:
Klaus Holz, Heiner Kppschall
our room. One time I was there after milking the

cows and Ilse came in to clean the room. She wasnt
too pleased because Heiner had stuffed all his
clothes under his bed. She had told him to tidy up his
clothes instead of leaving them strewn on the bed;
instead, he had dumped them underneath.
Heiner was very sociable and always seemed to
be happy and friendly and have a smile on his face.
My wife Gudrun tells me he was one who also
liked the company of girls; but I wouldnt know so
much about that.
Wheathill Sheep on the Site Field and Lower Site Field.

A typical picture of the Wheathill farm land and the sheep we
had.
also meant he got there and back later.

When we were still at school, we I say we,
meaning mainly the five of us mentioned
above used to say we would never work with
tractors; we only wanted to work with horses.
Later, when tractors came in more and we were
old enough to drive them, we gradually
changed our opinion and became keen to work
with tractors. To my memory, only Heiner
didnt want to and stayed true to horses.
Heiner was not always very tidy. I used to
share a room with him and Klaus at Upper
Bromdon. Ilse von Kller was like a
housemother to us single boys and looked after
Wheathill, 1954-1955 Play The Dancing Shoes

L-R: Emily Paul, Heiner Kppschall, Janet Mason, Bram
Burger, Andy Harries, Elske Fros.
Luke Baer
by Ruth Baer Lambach
Luke had requested a party for Saturday, September 13th. He knew he had only a week, or a couple of
weeks at best, as he had struggled with chemotherapy for the entire past year, and with four different
chemical cocktails. They had opened his stomach area but just stapled it back shut so we knew the cancer
28
was so bad that there had to be a

miracle. Luke had not had any real
food for a couple of weeks, but had
been fed with an IV. On Thursday,
I saw him with a cup of coffee and
a piece of delectable apple pie
made by a niece from Alberta. I
think he ate it and suffered the
consequences. Hospice was taking
care of things at this point and they
administered whatever they do
which probably hastened his
demise.
Everyone, including my son
Back row, L-R: Mark, Luke, James, Eden, Amon, Elam, Moses, Amos
Front row, L-R: Joel, Naomi, Jona, Miriam, Ruth, Zenas
from Switzerland, and another
German guy, hustled in for the
party knowing they might not see Luke alive if they waited. Unfortunately, Luke was gone before any of
us saw him alive on Saturday, as he died early that morning.
We had the party anyway. It was a great celebration of his life as he was a generous spirited man who
loved having as many people around him as possible. People brought food and drinks and we closed out
the evening with about forty people holding hands and singing Amazing Grace. This was followed by
some words from brother Mark who lives some four-hundred-fifty miles north of Edmonton, Alberta. The
funeral took place on September 17th and many people came back for that. Two conservative Mennonite
couples (our double cousins) came in for that from California and Montana.
Ruth
Dave Ostrom,
by Charlie Lamar
Dave Ostrom died on June 2nd, 2014 having spent fully three quarters
of a lifetime trying to uncover exactly what happened when his
parents pulled up stakes and moved the family to the Woodcrest
Bruderhof Community and surrendered all their property in hopes of
joining, only to be kicked out with nothing the day after the
community cashed the last
Ostrom check. Dave is
survived by his wife Diane,
and their three children,
Kevin, Nancy and Sarah.
Diane and Nancy were
with Dave when he died.
Dave made a lifelong
project out of fathoming
what actually happened
when he and his family
Dave, young
encountered the Bruderhof,
Forest River and KIT,
because he had to. The young man from Salida, California had
a very hard time finding out the facts, let alone coming to terms
with what he encountered in the Bruderhof and among exBruderhofers, generally. Because he was born outside and
Dave and Diane, older
29
because of his incredible naivete, sincerity and persistence, Dave Ostrom, with a very different
perspective on both the Bruderhof and on KIT, persevered in finding out all he could about where he came
from and what happened to his family, both before, and then inside, and then afterwards outside the
Bruderhof, right up until his very last moments on a Hutterite Preachers lawn. Dave left behind a great
deal of valuable information, not only about the Bruderhof, but also revelatory of KIT itself.
All those who knew him well and who were his close friends are deeply saddened by this sudden loss.
Remembering Jane Hazelton Marchant
Jane Hazelton Marchant was born on September 5, 1939 in the Cotswold Bruderhof in England and died
on August 21, 2014 at the Fox Hill Bruderhof in Walden, New York.
She was the mother of twelve and the grandmother of thirty-one children. She died peacefully
surrounded by her close Bruderhof friends. She will be much missed by her husband Jerry, with whom
she shared more than fifty-one years of marriage.
Jane grew up in Paraguay, where she trained as a nurse. Over the years she helped deliver hundreds
of babies and stood countless hours at the bedsides of the sick.
Jane could be blunt and forthright but combined this with a quickness to forgive. She counselled many
couples who sought her advice as they began raising their children.
She will be remembered with fondness by all those who knew her.
Bernard William Vowles, RIP 5 October 1946 11 September 2014, aged 67
by Raphael Vowles
Dear friends, It is with further sadness that I have to tell you that my brother Bernard died tonight around
8:00pm UK time. He had been in hospital diagnosed with an abdominal aortic aneurysm. Just two days
ago he survived an operation to prevent critical rupture. He survived the operation but sadly passed shortly
afterwards. The whole family are mindful of his surviving wife Sue, his four children, two grandchildren,
his seven surviving siblings and his extended families.
Please join me in a short prayer on this 9/11 for all that have died in difficult circumstances. May his
memory be honoured and his loved ones nurtured.
Raphael
A Synopsis of the 1935 Bruderhof Sendbrief

by Susanna Alves
This Sendbrief (circular letter) was recently discovered among old papers by Elisabeth Bohlken-Zumpe
who kindly offered it to Hummer members and KIT Newsletter readers.
It was written during Advent in 1935 shortly after Eberhard Arnold died on 22 November in the
Darmstadt Hospital, where he had gone for an operation on his leg, broken about three years earlier during
a period of upheavals and persecutions the Bruderhof had experienced in Germany, and which resulted
in the Almbruderhofs founding in Liechtenstein.
The Bruderhof community was in a state of deep shock. They had sent a brief notice of Eberhards
passing to all their friends in Europe, and to the Hutterites in America, but now wished to inform
everybody in greater detail about the meaning this loss had for them, and to address the concerns
expressed by some outsiders that the Bruderhof might not survive.
The letter included an outline of Eberhards life and background, how he was educated, the influences
that formed him and the path he had followed in his search to find spiritual fulfillment which lead to the
founding of the first community in Sannerz, their move to the Rhn, the building up of the
Rhnbruderhof, and the need to create the Almbruderhof. The reasons for this last Bruderhof arent
specified. I presume that given the political situation it would have been too dangerous to put reasons in
black and white.
30
The letter describes the influence Eberhard had on their daily practical, intellectual and spiritual life.
It describes his attitude to their children, their youth, to marriage; to those of feeble mind; to money,
material goods, to their work ethic, and his constant counsel that they never fall into living too
comfortable a life and his worry that they might stagnate intellectually.
It tells of the loss of his sister-in-law, Else von Hollander; about Eberhards eleven-month journey
around the United States and Canada to visit the Hutterites, and about the Bruderhofs unification with
the Hutterites; about his begging expeditions (my words) in England, Scotland and Holland, and of his
fears of a return to bourgeois values when some Swiss began to join, bringing with them large fortunes
at a time when the German Youth Movement which had always eschewed money had practically
disappeared.
It quotes parts of letters written by Eberhard, in one of which he names Hans Zumpe his successor.
Towards the end, the letter discusses each of Eberhards sons and daughters and the roles they played
at the time in the Bruderhof. Throughout the Sendbrief various books, brochures, songbooks and
pamphlets are alluded to. Lastly there is a list of all the books available from their publishing house at the
time.
This Sendbrief is written in the German of 80 to 100 years ago, and its style is pontifical, to say the
very least. It's no easy read. But it will interest those who wish to study the Bruderhofs earliest
beginnings and about Eberhard Arnold, as described by the author who I guess was Hans Zumpe. The
letter carries his signature as well as those of Georg Barth, Emmy Arnold (Eberhards widow), Fritz
Kleiner, Alfred Gneiting, Eberhard Heinrich (Heini) Arnold, Arno Martin, Arnold Mason, and August
Dyroff.
Note to our KIT Newsletter readers:
The Eberhard Arnold "Sendbrief" has been archived in the KIT Newsletter archives on the web and can
be accessed via the following link: Sendbrief Advent 1935
Anybody who wishes to order a printout of either the German transcript (34 pages) or the English
translation (32 pages), kindly send in a contribution to cover printing and mailing costs, as this will be a
special mailing separate from the Newsletter, and will be handled by KIT Volunteer, Linda Lord Jackson:
Contributions: to be sent by your usual payment method to Tim, Anthony or Raphael (see page 32,
Contact Us, of the Newsletter). Please mark your payment with the reference: SENDBRIEF
For UK subscribers: 3.00 (three pounds sterling)
For Europe subscribers: 7.00 (seven euros)
For Rest of World including US and Canada: $10.00 (ten US dollars)
Please contact Linda Lord Jackson see Contact Us page.
Another note from the Editor: Why not subscribe via email!
May I suggest that all our readers with an email address subscribe to the
KIT Newsletter via email. It offers full colour photography and modern
easy to read features. You receive it quickly and it saves us printing
and mailing costs. To subscribe via email, contact Linda Lord Jackson
at linda.lord7@gmail.com.
Address Changes
Change of email address:
Christine Mathis has a
new email address:
christinemathis@sky.com
Attention: Our next KIT Newsletter publication is scheduled for 1st February 2015. Will all of you who
intend to send in submissions please make sure that they reach us no later than 10th January 2015.
Thank you!
WISHING EVERYBODY HAPPY HOLIDAYS AND JOYFUL

NEW YEAR CELEBRATIONS !
31
Contact Us The Volunteers who produce the Keep In Touch Newsletter

Susanna Alves Editor and Layout
susannaalves@arnet.com.ar
+54-(0)3757-422017 Puerto Iguaz, ARGENTINA.
Send your ideas and articles to any of the volunteers below.
Charles Lamar Copy-Editor
rastus@mindspring.com
+1-415-235-3623 c/o SFCR, 755 Frederick St. 1st floor, San Francisco, CA 94117, USA
Linda Lord Jackson Email and Circulation Worldwide
lord.linda7@gmail.com
7 Severn Street, Longridge, Lancashire, PR3 3ND, UK
+44(0)1772-784473 or (mobile) +44(0)7703-133369
Mark Trapnell Circulation USA and Canada cimarronva@yahoo.com
7774 Level Run Rd, Long Island, VA 24569, USA (mobile) +1-434-942-1386
Margot Purcell Address Lists
purcellmb@comcast.net
+1-219-324-8068 2095 South Emmas Lane, LaPorte, IN 46350, USA
Address Corrections: Please advise Margot Purcell
The Newsletter is available via:
Email full colour (the preferred method). Please confirm email receipt to
Linda Lord Jackson.
Printed Paper monochrome
Large A3 monochrome. For the vision impaired
Subscriptions: Suggested annual contribution: USA $20, UK 10 or Euro 15
Donations: Depending on which currency you use, please send your donation:
North America: US$, Cash or Check payable to Tim Johnson
timchowki@comcast.net
+1-404-373-0633
155 Garden Lane, Decatur, GA 30030, USA
Europe (Euro Zone Euro only): Bank Transfer or Eurocheque
payable to Anthony Lord, Johann-Finken-Str. 35, 41334 Nettetal,
GERMANY. nalord44@googlemail.com
+49(0)21 57 3109
Bank transfer: VOBA KREFELD. Ref: KIT !New! Euro only please.
IBAN: DE66 3206 0362 2201 0520 10 BIC: GENODED1HTK
From other countries: !New! See UK for other currencies.
UK: Bank Transfer or Cheque payable to Raphael Vowles
raphaelvowles@yahoo.co.uk UK, PayPal UK
+44(0)777 391 0044 Reading, Berkshire, UK
Bank transfer: Sort code: 40-47-58 Account: 85757290
First Direct Bank, 40 Wakefield Road, Leeds, LS98 1FD, UK
From other countries: Currency converted to UK can be deposited into the
account using: IBAN: GB75MIDL 404758 8575 7290
BIC: MIDLGB2172O (field 57) or Swift Code: MIDLGB22XXX HSBC
International (First Direct) (field 56)
Resources
Yahoo Group: KIT-exBruderhof-CCI A members only archive.
Scribd Web: Open archive - KITexBruderhofCCI
Anyone can view its free, anonymous and easy
see The Universal Copyright Convention Geneva 1952
32
Here is a selection of photographs taken during the KIT-2014 Klaashof Encounter from the 8th to 11th
August. If not otherwise indicated, all Klaashof photographs by courtesy of Anthony Lord
For all our email subscribers: If anybody would like a high resolution copy of some of the photographs in this
Newsletter issue, please get in touch with Linda Lord Jackson. See her contact details on Page 32, Contact Us.
A walk in the Nettetal Woods

Berndt Hasenberg and Rosie (Johnson) Sumner
At the Windmill L-R: Gordon Jackson, Tracy Lord, Berndt

Hasenberg, Jean (Hasenberg) Roering, Anthony Lord, Rosie (Johnson)
Sumner, Eunice Lord, Sascha Lord, John Holland
John Holland and Anthony Lord having fun.

Mr Heinz Klaas in background
(See comment in box)
Linda Lord Jackson comments:
In the background is our host Herr Klaas, who has just
given everyone a free miniature bottle of liqueur.
Apparently the tradition is to unscrew the lid and stick it
on your nose while you drink, as Anthony is doing. John
has just unscrewed his lid, which is still in his left hand,
with the little bottle ready to drink in his right hand.
Of course you have to have had a few beers before you
undertake this challenging activity.
L-R: Hedwig (Wiegand) Herrmann, young Hedwig (greatgranddaughter of Irene Pfeiffer-Fischer), with
Elvira and Michel Friedemann
Rita Lord with Nadine Utke.

By the time you read this, Nadine will be Ritas daughterin-law, married to Sascha Lord, having celebrated their
wedding on 11th September 2014. We wish the young
couple every happiness in the world!
Great Singing!
Hedwig Wiegand, Maris Vigar and Rita Lord.
Far left, background: Berndt Hasenberg
Photo: Rosie (Johnson) Sumner
33
Gordon Jackson (Lindas husband), Anthony Lord,

Nadine Utke (Sascha Lords fianc)
Mandy (Stngl) Gurganus, Tracy Lord, Tim Dorrell
Maris Vigar and Hedwig (Wiegand)

Herrmann
L-R Waitress, John Holland, Anthony Lord, Rosie
(Johnson) Sumner
Berndt Hasenberg and Jean (Hasenberg) Rring
The Primavera
L-R Maris Vigar, Karola (Friedemann) Klver, Renatus

Klver, Linda Lord Jackson
Culinary delights at the

Steingrill Restaurant
34
Grilling on the hot stone.
At the Steingrill Restaurant

L-R: John Holland, Anthony Lord, Rosie (Johnson) Sumner,
Eunice Lord and Tracy Lord
Bill (Ingmar) Bridgwater, Anna (Friedemann) Schultz,

Irene (Friedemann) Pfeiffer-Fischer
Front L-R: Irene Pfeiffer-Fischers granddaughter, then Irene

herself, Kurt Zimmermann; Brigitte Zimmermann, Rosie (Johnson)
Sumner. Far back L-R: Jean (Hasenberg) Roering, Anna
(Friedemann) Schultz, Gareth Wright
Renatus Klver and Tim Dorrell
At the Windmill L-R Sascha Lord, Gordon Jackson

and Jean (Hasenberg) Rring
Tim Dorrell and Maris Vigar
35
Starting from under the tree, clockwise: Maris Vigar (pink top), Karola (Klver) Friedemann, Renatus Klver, Linda Lord
Jackson, Rita Lord, Anthony Lord, Gordon Jackson, George Gurganus, Elisabeth Bohlken-Zumpe, Hans Bohlken, Berndt
Hasenberg (red shirt), Tracy Lord (standing), Hedwig (Wiegand) Herrmann (white hair in front of Berndt), Elvira Friedemann
(hidden behind husband), Michel Friedemann, Bill (Ingmar) Bridgwater (white hair), Anna (Friedemann) Schulz, Irene
(Friedemann) Pfeiffer-Fischer, Gareth Wright, Kurt Zimmermann
Breakfast at the Klaashof

L from near: Rosie (Johnson) Sumner, Jean (Hasenberg) Roering, Berndt Hasenberg, Elisabeth Bohlken-Zumpe,
Mandy(Stngl) Gurganus, George Gurganus Sitting right from far end: Linda Lord Jackson, Gordon Jackson, John Holland,
Gareth Wright, Eunice Lord, Rita Lord, Anthony Lord, Tracy Lord.
36

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KIT The Keep In Touch Newsletter

Volume XXVI No. 4 October 2014

Impressions of the Klaashof KIT Gathering, 10th August 2014

KIT The Keep In Touch Newsletter

Volume XXVI No. 4 October 2014

We arrived Friday evening in pouring rain

KIT The Keep In Touch Newsletter

Volume XXVI No. 4 October 2014

Irene (Friedemann) Pfeiffer-Fischer and her accordion

KIT The Keep In Touch Newsletter

Volume XXVI No. 4 October 2014

At the Steingrill Restaurant.

could not walk so far made our way to the

KIT The Keep In Touch Newsletter

Volume XXVI No. 4 October 2014

KIT The Keep In Touch Newsletter

Volume XXVI No. 4 October 2014

KIT The Keep In Touch Newsletter

Volume XXVI No. 4 October 2014

KIT The Keep In Touch Newsletter

Volume XXVI No. 4 October 2014

Memories of Primavera, August 2007

KIT The Keep In Touch Newsletter

Volume XXVI No. 4 October 2014

Isla Margarita was the first place started,

KIT The Keep In Touch Newsletter

Volume XXVI No. 4 October 2014

The orphan children did not come. That was a big

The Isla Margarita Wood Gas Plant

KIT The Keep In Touch Newsletter

Volume XXVI No. 4 October 2014

KIT The Keep In Touch Newsletter

Volume XXVI No. 4 October 2014

KIT The Keep In Touch Newsletter

Volume XXVI No. 4 October 2014

KIT The Keep In Touch Newsletter

Volume XXVI No. 4 October 2014

KIT The Keep In Touch Newsletter

Volume XXVI No. 4 October 2014

KIT The Keep In Touch Newsletter

Volume XXVI No. 4 October 2014

KIT The Keep In Touch Newsletter

Volume XXVI No. 4 October 2014

KIT The Keep In Touch Newsletter

Volume XXVI No. 4 October 2014

changed! The highway patrol will

KIT The Keep In Touch Newsletter

Volume XXVI No. 4 October 2014

KIT The Keep In Touch Newsletter

Volume XXVI No. 4 October 2014

KIT The Keep In Touch Newsletter

Volume XXVI No. 4 October 2014

KIT The Keep In Touch Newsletter

Volume XXVI No. 4 October 2014

KIT The Keep In Touch Newsletter

Volume XXVI No. 4 October 2014

KIT The Keep In Touch Newsletter

Volume XXVI No. 4 October 2014

KIT The Keep In Touch Newsletter

Volume XXVI No. 4 October 2014

After the closing of Primavera we lost

L-R Hanna, Hans, Peter and Chris Beels

Remembering Gertrud Braun Wegner, 13th August 2014

KIT The Keep In Touch Newsletter