Abbett, Velma Kathleen

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• _FSFTID: L6VN-Z8M
• _UID: CE3342A3AB00452BAF9794FB9371C15DF86F

Notes:

Velma was born in Denver, CO, where her parents had moved because of her father's tuberculosis. Shortly after her birth they moved on to Albuquerque, NM, also because of her father's tuberculosis. Her father died a few years later. She and her mother returned to Kansas City, where her mother, Cecile, married and divorced (1923-24). Cecile then moved to Three Lakes to marry her 3d husband. Velma spent her childhood in Three Lakes, WI, where her step-father raised fox and then developed a 3-cabin resort. It was a happy childhood with little money and lots of love.

Velma met her first husband, James Elmer Warren, while they both served in the Army in Florida during WWII. She was a punch-card operator. They married in 1945 and their daughter was born in 1946. After leaving the Army he deserted his family, and they were divorced in 1949.

Velma was a waitress and assistant restaurant manager for about 10 years in various locations before opening her own cafe in Laona, WI. It was there she met her second husband, Felix J. Grumann, who owned the TV repair shop next door. They were married on 2 Feb 1960 and had a son 2 years later. About 1968 they left Laona, moved to Neenah, WI, and eventually settled in Oregon, WI.

Velma was very artistic and enjoyed a variety of crafts. After settling in Oregon, WI, Felix went to work for the State and Velma began selling some of her art in various craft fairs around the State. She also had a couple of one-person shows around Madison. Eventually they turned the front-room of their home into a shop selling Velma's "nature art" (collages made from parts of plants). She eventually wrote a book, "Nature Art", showing others how to create similar creations.

When Felix was diagnosed with Alzheimer's, they sold their home and moved into senior housing. When she was no longer able to care for Felix, she moved him to a nursing home in Crandon, WI, so that he would recognize names and locations that he would hear on radio and television. This was tough because Velma didn't drive. Once a month she would travel 6 hours by bus to visit him.

Velma died in a hospital in Madison, WI, from heart and lung disease. She was buried next to her beloved husband, Felix J. Grumann.
From Find A Grave

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• _FSFTID: 94QX-KY7
• _UID: FA0252108860404CBC70AA4FFE58732EEE41

Notes:

Note: Cemetery information shows his name as Abbott. This is a misspelling that slipped in the paperwork somewhere along the way.)

Parents: Andrew T. Abbett and Roxie J. (Denton) Abbett.
Married to Cecile T. Weeks on 18 Aug 1918 in Jefferson City, MO. Two children: Mildred Irene and Velma Kathleen.

Worked as a motorman (tram driver) in Kansas City, MO, where his 1st daughter, Mildred was born. When diagnosed with tuberculosis they moved to Denver, Colorado (his daughter, Velma, was born there), and then to Albuquerque, NM. In both places he continued to work as a motorman. His wife, Cecile often rode with him and took over when he was too sick to operate the tram safely. He died at the John Hopkins (tuberculosis) Sanitarium in Albuquerque, NM. He was survived by his wife, Cecile; his daughter, Velma; both parents; and 7 of 10 siblings.

He was buried 27 Mar 1923 in an unmarked grave because Cecile did not have funds for a headstone. The Mortician was Albuquerque Undertaking.
From Find A Grave

Lewis married Weeks, Cecile Thirza on 18 Aug 1918 in Jefferson county, Missouri, USA. Cecile was born on 29 May 1900 in Linn, Osage, Missouri, USA; died on 3 Sep 1988 in Stoughton, Dane, Wisconsin, USA; was buried in Three Lakes, Oneida, Wisconsin, USA. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

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• _FSFTID: LKFP-C4M
• _UID: 8031935AA4864113A269F32BC18FE5A721BC

Notes:

Cecile was born in Linn, Crawford Twnshp, Osage Co, MO, in 1910. Her family continued to live there until 1911 when they moved to Jefferson City (Clay Co), MO.

I have no idea how or where she met her first husband, Lewis Ivy Abbett, but his family lived in nearby Miller Co, MO. Cecile married Lewis in 1918 in Jefferson City when she was 18 and he was less than 21. (His father had to sign the marriage application.) She had her first child, Mildred Irene in 1919. Lewis developed tuberculosis and it was recommended that he move to Colorado for his health. In the 1920 Census Cecile is living with her parents in Kansas City while doing ironing for a cleaners. I assume Lewis was looking for a job in Colorado. Mildred was alive at the time of the census (January) but was not mentioned. In March of 1920 Mildred died at 8 months old.

Shortly after Mildred's death Cecile joined Lewis and from 1921 to 1922 they rented an apartment in Denver, CO. Their 2d child, Velma, was born in Denver in 1921. Lewis was a "Tramway Motorman". In 1922 they moved to Albuquerque, NM, so that he could be treated at the Albuquerque Tuberculosis Sanitarium. He continued as a streetcar driver, with Cecile frequently traveling with him and even driving in his place. While in Albuquerque Cecile made extra money hunting rattlesnakes with several other people. After his death, Cecile and Velma moved back to Kansas City.

In 1923 Grandma married Robert Mitchell. There were immediate problems and during the last argument Cecile grabbed Velma and walked "across the bridge to Kansas City" back to her folks. Cecile & Robert were divorced in 1924.

Sometime between 1922 and 1925 Cecile met Clark Stoneking, who was also a street car driver at the time. Clark's brother-in-law had started a fox farm on Medicine Lake in Three Lakes, WI. Clark was convinced to join them in the business and he moved up there. While there he courted Cecile via letters and eventually Cecile and Velma joined him in Three Lakes. One of Cecile's brother's drove them up in a Model A or T during really cold weather. There were no side windows in the car, only roll-down shades, and Velma remembered it as a very cold ride. Cecile and Clark got married in June of 1925 in Rhinelander, WI.

Cecile, Clark, & Velma first stayed in a log cabin he had built on the property. The cabin was right on the shore of Medicine Lake and eventually became known as the "Big Cabin". When the Depression hit, the bottom fell out of the fox-raising industry. The fox house was cleared of all the cages inside & out and Clark's family moved in there while renting out the Big Cabin and building 2 additional rental cabins. During this time and for quite a while after Cecile & Velma cleaned houses and did ironing and sewing while Clark hunted, delivered mail, drove a school bus, and did maintenance for other property owners. Cecile was a good cook and a well-known baker and often helped out at various resorts. She bartered pies and other baked goods for beef, etc. They always had a large garden and Cecile canned everything she could. The fox house did have a pump in the kitchen and eventually had a bathroom, though running water to the bathroom was not added until the late 1950's.

Cecile & Clark had 6 children: Sally, James, Carol, Harry, Cecilia, and Douglas. After Clark died in 1960, Cecile took over his postal route and continued to run the 3-cabin resort. After all the kids left home the resort was sold and she moved into the town of Three Lakes. She continued to cook, to help nurse her friends, and to travel quite a bit visiting family all over the country - including several trips to Arizona and California.

By the early 1970's Cecile's health began to deteriorate. She stayed with several of her kids for various lengths of time and eventually she moved into the Stoughton Nursing Home in Stoughton, WI, which was close to Velma's home. Cecile died in 1988.

4 of her 8 children have died: Mildred (1920), Velma (1990), Carol (2011), and Harry (1996). Mildred and Velma have gravesites. Carol was cremated and her ashes are held by her family. I would appreciate hearing from anyone who knows where Harry may be buried.

From Find A Grave