Rest in Peace, John A. Blaha

John Blaha, Arnie's brother died on December 22, 2011. 

Age 84, of Shoreview, MN 30 Years with Int'l Harvester Passed away on December 22, 2011. US Navy Veteran; member of VFW Post 7555, Roseville. Survived by his wife of 59 years, Virginia; daughters, Barbara (Brad) Cornforth of North Branch and Patricia Heiman (Ken) of Coon Rapids; 6 grandchildren: Daniel (Elisa Coppini), Andrew, and Sara Cornforth, Jennifer (Todd) Paulsen, Kelsey & James Heiman; great-granddaughter, Scarlett Cornforth; brother, Arnold (Dorothy) Blaha; sister, Bernadine Benson; many nieces, nephews, extended family and friends. Mass of Christian Burial: 11 AM Thurs, Dec 29 at the Church of St. John the Baptist, 835 2nd Ave NW, New Brighton. Visitation 1 hr prior. Interment at Ft. Snelling Nat'l Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, memorials preferred. Services by Wulff Funeral Home of St. Paul.

Retrieved from: Legacy.com

Christmas Tradition--Hoska

Every year on Christmas Eve, the Blaha family gathers in Arnie and Dot's basement to celebrate.  This always involved good food, thousands of Christmas cookies and Czech Christmas bread--hoska.

Here's the recipe from Rose Svec Hansen:

Hoska
1/2 c milk

1/4 c sugar

1/3 c soft margarine

1 T salt

add to milk

3 T yeast

1/2 c warm water

dissolve yeast, add to above mixture

To above mixt:

Add 3 eggs slightly beaten

4 c flour

1/2- 1 c ground cherries and/or pineapple

a bit of lemon rind

blend/beat until smooth.

Sometimes Grandma Dot puts golden raisins in it

Add 3-31/2 c flour to make dough easy to handle.

Turn out & knead 5-8 min or until smooth.

Put in a greased bowl--let rise for 1 - 1 1/2 hrs.

Punch down--let rise 1/2 hr. 

Turn out & divide into 2-3 parts. Divide each part into 3.  Roll into long strips for braids.

Braid.

Let rise until doubled. 

Bake 350 for 30-35 minutes.

Brush with melted margarine and sprinkle with cinnamon sugar. 

Look at those smiles...

Dot & Arnie, Christmas Eve 2010

Aren't they cute?  Love this picture. 

Chrsitmas Eve at the Blahas is a longstanding tradition.  May there be many more!

Bulera Update

     One of the researchers at the Poznan Project recently sent information about Frank and his brother Joseph. Both men were married in Poland before they came to the United States.
     Information translated from the marriage record of Frank is:

 Farm worker: Franz Bulera;  Roman Catholic; b. 14 Aug 1857 in Kaczkowo, resident in Kaczkowo, son of the farmer Valentin Bulera and his wife Catharina Wyt, resident in Kaczkowo.
Unmarried girl Franziska Bauza, Roman Catholic;  b. 16 Nov 1862 in Kaczkowo, resident in Gasawa, daughter of the farmer Michael Bauza (deceased in Kaczkowo) and his wife Catharina Traczewska(?) now married Dominiak, resident in Kaczkowo.

      Information from Joseph's first marriage is as follows:

Farmer's son Joseph Bulera; Roman Catholic;  b. 2 Mar 1863 in Kaczkowo, son of the farmer Valentin Bulera (deceased in Kaczkowo) and his wife Catharina Domagala (sic) (resident in Kaczkowo).
Farmer's daughter Apollonia Jurek; Roman Catholic; b. 13 Jan 1866 in Bozejewiczki, son of the farmer Andreas Jurek and Anna Chrusniak from Bozejewiczki.

Lukasz recently found information giving the death date of Valentin Bulera as 5 Sep 1884.  The info was given by Joseph.  It also indicates that Valentin was born about 1821 in Kaczkowo.  This needs to be verified by church records.  This info won't be available until Archives open in spring.

There are also records that indicate that Valentin Bulera and Catherina Wyt were married in 1853.  It appears that Valentin was also married previously in 1850.  His parents were Martin Bulera and Margaret (maiden name unknown).