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Welcome to Our Family

This website is an informational photo and story website about the ancestors of Joseph and Margaret Theisen, my parents. Family was very important to both of them, and I believe they would want their descendents, neices, nephews, and cousins to know about these fascinating people.

In my day to day work I work with and talk to many elderly men and women. I have come in time to appreciate the stories and experiences that they have

had, with some sadness of the loss of this richness when they leave our world. At the same time, my mother was an amateur geneologist. This and other geneology work I have done is in their memory.

To protect the privacy of living descendents and relatives of Joseph and Margaret, photos of living members of our family will be very limited on this site, and no last names will here be published.

Joseph Theisen was born on May 13, 1918 in the small Caledonia, Minnesota Hospital. He was the son of Nicholas William Theisen and Gertrude Alice Howard. He went to the Catholic grade school and high school in Caledonia, Minnesota. When he was 19 he moved to La Crosse, WI, and got a job at Birmbaum Grocery store in the north side of La Crosse, owned by his uncle, Archie Birmbaum.

Margaret Konter was born on the family farm at home in Fox Coulee near Arcadia, Wisconsin to Matthew Konter and Anna Clara Bautch, on May 31, 1918. She attended the small one room Fox Coulee schoolhouse until 8th grade, and then rode with a neighbor or boarded in order to attend high school in Arcadia, Wisconsin. At age 19 she moved to La Crosse to attend the St Francis School of Nursing, and upon graduation she bacame a Registered Nurse.

Joseph and margaret met at a dance in the Avalon Ballroom in La Crosse, Wisconsin. Joseph looked across the room, and said he saw the most beautiful woman he had ever seen. Margaret was at the dance with another fellow, but Joseph eventaully convinced her to dance with him. And that was the start of the legacy....

The Joseph and Margaret Theisen Wedding, September 1st, 1941

Wedding Party: Pat Theisen, George Theisen, Alvina Konter, Bride Margaret, Groom Joseph, Teresa Theisen, Marcel Konter, and Ann Wera as flower girl

Joseph and Margaret dated for about 2 years before they got married.

Above, Joseph Theisen, Caledonia high school football player, at center

Right, First Communion, 1927, Joseph Theisen, Bert Wagner, Bert Teeters.left, Margaret Konter, school photo

Above, Margaret and Alvina, abt 1935.

Below, Joe making pickles at Birmbaum's Grocery Store.

Joseph Theisen served in the army in World War 2, as a Medic. He had training in Washington State and in California, and then was shipped to Hawaii where he ran the Px at the Kauai base. He was in the Pacific Theatre in Morotoi, New Guinea, and the Philippines.

Below: V-Mail letter