German visitors find family connections in Monticello


The visitors from Germany pose at the Monticello welcome sign at Riverside Gardens. (Photo submitted)

While visiting with parishioner at Sts. Peter & Paul Church, some family connections were made with the German visitors. Marianne Hillers (far left) is a second cousin to David Bunting (far right). Pictured in the center is David’s mom, Barbara Bunting. Hillers’ and David’s grandfathers were brothers. (Photo by Kim Brooks)

As part of the German group’s visit to Jones County, tour guides Wolfgang Grams (left) and Steve Hanken of Monticello display a flag of East Friesland, Germany. The flag was donated to Wayne Zion Lutheran Church. (Photo by Pete Temple)
By: 
Kim Brooks
Express Editor

A year after Jones County welcomed visitors from Germany, the group of 32 returned again last week. 

The trip was organized jointly between Steve and Sharon Hanken and Wolfgang Grams with the Routes to Roots travel company in Germany. 

It wasn’t until January that the Hankens received word the Germans would be returning. 

“They loved it here,” said Sharon. 

The Hankens were told to expect around 20 visitors this time around; however, over 30 were on the trip. 

The Germans spent just over a day in Jones County this time, arriving late in the evening on Oct. 15 and leaving early Thursday morning. 

They spent Wednesday, Oct. 16 touring several Lutheran churches (St. Matthew, Sts. Peter & Paul, Wayne Zion and St. John’s). Historically, these churches have German roots. 

It was Steve’s great great grandfather from Germany, Nanne Hanken, who was one of the founding members of St. John’s in 1864. 

Many of the Germans on the trip to the U.S. come from Ostfriesland (East Friesland) in northwest Germany. 

Last year, numerous family connections were found among the visitors, particularly with the Hinrichses, Tapkens, and Wolkens in Monticello. This year, the tradition continued. 

The tour group spent several hours at Sts. Peter & Paul Lutheran Church the morning of Oct. 16. There, they sifted through church records, burial plots, plat books, land records, etc. There were also some family reunions. 

“There are always some surprises,” Steve said. 

David Bunting and his mother, Barbara, both of Linn County were in attendance. (David’s father Rhinehart “Rhiney” passed away in 2009.) The Buntings are originally from Anamosa. After visiting with the German group last year, David said he wanted to meet up with them again. The timing could not have been more perfect. David and his brother, Dale, and their wives just returned from a trip to Germany themselves. 

“We visited with 30-plus relatives throughout Germany on the Bunting and Wolken sides,” shared David. 

As luck would have it, the Buntings were able to meet their cousin Marianne Hillers from Ostfriesland for the first time while at Sts. Peter & Paul Church. 

This was Hillers’ first trip to the U.S. Hillers and David are second cousins. 

“We’ve never met each other before,” he said. 

Hillers’ grandfather, Luppe Bunting, was a brother to David’s grandfather, Gerd Bunting. 

“My grandfather lived in the Scotch Grove/Amber area,” said David. 

Hillers brought with her handwritten notes about her Jones County relatives, hoping to connect to some of them while here. The “Bunting” name was on the top of her list. 

“This is just incredible to meet members of my husband’s family,” said Barbara. “I’m thrilled to pieces to find family like this.” 

Holly Knouse, pastor at Sts. Peter & Paul, was pleased to open the church to the German visitors. Several church parishioners were also there to greet the guests, serve food, and hear about their lives, perhaps forming family connections as well. 

Knouse, who is a relative of the Buntings, was also ecstatic to meet Hillers. 

“My grandparents were Harm and Clara Bunting,” said Knouse. “Harm and Rhiney were brothers, both nephews to Luppe Bunting. My great grandfather is David’s grandfather (Gerd Bunting).” 

Also members of the German traveling group were sisters Helga Brand and Gerda Rieken. These gals were hoping to find family in Jones County and present them with a scrapbook of their family heritage. 

“This trip is special feeling because our grand (great) uncle (Gerd Janssen Grafe) arrived here alone at 16 year old in 1888,” said Brand. Gerd married Rena Bohlken in 1895; they had six children. 

Brand showed several letters and photos Brand sent to Germany to her parents and vice versa. 

“He never came back,” she said. 

Brand was born in 1948, just after the end of WWII. Gerd’s family sent care packages over to Germany with baby clothes and American baby powder. “Germany was destroyed in the war,” said Brand. 

Brand believes that her sister was named “Gerda” after their grand uncle, Gerd, as a way to keep him in their memory. “Our grandmother told our parents to name their child after our grand uncle who left us.” 

Brand said Gerd’s grandson, Gary John Grafe, was about 10 years older than her. He would be about 80 years old now. The sisters hoped to find any Grafe relatives… 

The Germans presented Ostfriesland memorabilia to both Sts. Peter & Paul and Wayne Zion churches, thanking them for their hospitality. They spent their evening on Oct. 16 partaking in Wayne Zion’s Harvest Festival meal. They also sang to the crowd before departing, and church member Dale Heeren delighted the group by playing Ostfriesland music on his accordion. 

Another stop on Wednesday was to the LaVern and Dorothy Nagel farm in Monticello, originally the A.H. Hanken farm. (Dorothy’s mom was a Hanken.) 

While there, Linda (Nagel) Kahler presented the Germans with tea towels with the initials A.H.H. embroidered on them. 

Out of the 30-some on this recent trip, there were four returning Germans. 

Wolfgang Grams praised Steve Hanken for helping to plan the trip. 

“Without Steve, we would not be here,” he said. 

While they were only here for a day, the Hankens said the group would like to return again in the near future. 

“We’d love to see them here again,” said Sharon. 

“They’re also working on me to lead a group to Germany,” hinted Steve. “They’re just as curious about us as we are of them.” 

Steve said when the Germans’ ancestors left to the U.S. many years ago, it feels like they lost that part of their families. 

“It’s like being adopted and wanting to know more about where you came from,” added Steve. “They look to us as cousins.” 

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