1# BEGIN HERE - June 26 2002 73years old.

  This seems like a foolish way to start a journal but I feel it could be important to my children; whom I love very much!  I know it should have been started decades ago; but now, I seem to have the time and also I am filled with love and gratitude for all the Lord has given me.

   I have  recently had an operation on my bunion and I am currently bedridden , so have the time!  One of the reasons I was moved to start this journal was - a recent phone conversation, which I had with my loving son - Gene.  I feel so blessed by the Lord, because my son is able to confide in me.  Do all mothers have this great feeling of love brimming over for their children?  I wonder- he must be more like my side of the family. Most likely- the Laggers.  My mother was Evelyn Lagger, called Eva.

   My mother was the second oldest of eight children. 5 girls and three boys. They were all loving people. The kind you could sit down and have a good old talk around the kitchen table.!  They always would try to understand and help if at all possible.  On the down side they all had a weakness for the drink!  In their defense- that was quite common during the depression years.!  My Grandma Lagger, (whom we called Ma)  was a wonderful woman - kind and loving also.  She always counseled me, when I had trouble at home; which was quite often!  I could tell her anything and she would not judge me!  My Sherri is a lot like her because everyone always gathered at her modest home and felt welcome and was well-fed. Grampa Lagger died the year I was born 1929, from a heart attack, they thought.  He was a good deal older than Ma.   He was William Joseph.  Ma was - Clara Zachmann.  She and Pa were born in Germany.  She came over to the U.S. as a girl and was in service as an indentured person. for those who don't know an indentured person - had her passage paid by her employer  here in America . She worked for them until her debt was paid.  Anyway,  She did housework and soon met Pa and they were married and settled in Toledo, Ohio.  Later, Pa got work on the Railroad and moved to the South side of Chicago.  Grandma Lagger had several miscarriages before she had her first girl- Ida Rose and a year later 1896 - my mother Evelyn Rose was born.  Ida died supposedly of a tooth infection after her first child was born- a girl named Rose. 

My mother and Dad met and married shortly after he came home from the Navy -in World War 1.  I believe in 1916.  Mama had 6 children.  The first was Violet, whom was stillborn.  Then came your Aunt Viola. Viola Norma; whom all you kids knew and loved!  Evelyn Dorothy was next- who is my only living sister.  At this time, she is recovering from a stroke and is 90 years old this coming June. Next came Laverne Clare/ Two  years between those three, and then they took a break .

Seven years later September 6, 1929, I was born.  Named Claire (as I found out when I retired) but christened Willetta Pearl ! The story goes-   After my birth at the Cook County Hospital (By the way, I had two teeth already! My only claim to fame. Ha!)  Daddy wanted me named after him since he already had 4 girls.  And so my name was changed to Willetta instead of William but I was called Billie - all my life.  I have always hated having a boy's name and I wished I would have known sooner that I was Claire.  I feel like Claire!  Isn't that strange?  Anyway,  two years later - August 26, 1931 - another girl was born Marlene Adele. She was slow doing things like talking and walking from the beginning;  But that is a story for the next time.  Anyway, that made six children for William and Evelyn Lagger.  By the way my Dad was called Bill, and my Mama was Eva.