Wilhelm Andreas Linnenkohl as a baby. He was born on the 9th of August 1891 in the small village of Stötterlingen.

As Wilhelm grew up, he would wear a Kasack from time to time, as would his son Friedhelm one day. Boys at this time did not wear pants as they were still wearing diapers, and it was easier to change them with this type of clothing.

Nothing is known about Wilhelm from this time.

Wilhelm was a student in Hannover circa 1910.

Over on the right in the front row, second, from the guy on the corner, is Wilhelm Andreas Linnenkohl, and on his right, which is our left, is Uncle Fritz Schwacke. This photo was taken most likely in Hannover while Wilhelm and Fritz were in veterinarian studies.

Close-up detail of Uncle Fritz and Wilhelm, the two seated gentlemen on the left. Uncle Fritz was married to Jutta’s godmother, Annamarie.

Helene “Lenchen” Vespermann getting an education for young ladies in Goslar, Germany. This type of advanced study was to give her a better education than Volksschule. While everyone went to Volksschule, not everyone could afford this type of learning for social advancement and a place in proper society.

Helene “Lenchen” is the hottie on the right, and the other three women were likely fellow students at the school in Goslar. To the best of Jutta’s recollection, this would have been the ladies putting on a small performance.

Helene “Lenchen” wearing clothes that would have been indicative of someone in the upper-middle class.

Helene with her older brother Friedrich Vespermann.

Friedrich Vespermann on the far right.

Friedrich Vespermann, on the right, was a soldier in World War I, which was also the war he died in. Lenchen lost two brothers to war and one brother to diphtheria.

Otto Linnenkohl, father of Wilhelm, in 1929, just a year or two before he passed away.

In January 1923, Wilhelm Linnenkohl, son of Otto and Louise Linnenkohl, married Helene “Lenchen” Vespermann, daughter of Heinrich and Frida Vespermann. The Linnenkohl family was originally from Quedlinburg, while the Vespermanns came from the Hannover area. By 1925, Friedhelm was born, and ten years later, Jutta.

Wilhelm died on the 24th of July 1959 (Jutta isn’t exactly certain of this), and her mother, Lenchen, passed away in the early 1980s.