Recovered original email from Peter Zeimet.
Original subject: “the Kirks”
Date: December 2, 2010
Anna Zeimet (sister of Mike) married a Kirk. She died in the 1918 influenza crisis. Her hubby was like most men back then. They did NOT cook. clean, etc. Grace Zeimet had to raise them for all practical purposes added to the bus tour of children she already had. They worked on the Kirk ranch and basically lived with Grace. Grandma Grace looked 90 years old when she was 50. I can understand why. I know I have mentioned this bizarre bond they all shared which was almost freaky. It was brothers and sisters first and spouses/children second for all of them. Now, they did not neglect their families, but in their hearts the FAMILY was their siblings. It was a compulsion and the bond was so strong, no one else really entered into the zone of Zeimet family connection. The Davidsons went their own way about 50% and the Kirks 75% or so. It did not cripple them as it did the Zeimet children. I do use the word cripple, too.
Mary Jo is a dead ringer for Anna Zeimet/Kirk. I “think” my father is in the striped sweater, but Jim Zeimet was younger. Maybe he was not in the photo being too young. Dona was the youngest and I believe still in dapers when her dad passed away. If Peter William is in the striped sweater, then a couple of the boys must be Kirks. Still, this is a photo of the children Grace raised, which is the most important fact. – pz
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