and Hermann own a quite sucessful farm with 16 cows and numerour pigs in the village of Arnegg
near Gossau, St.Gallen.
The Kuenzle's were hard working wealthy farmers, that in addition to running the farm also operated a blacksmith shop.
In 1920, Edwin and Albert decided that farming had outlived it's appeal and they emigrated to the United States. Hermann was invited to join them on their journey to the U.S. but he declined, to stay with with his girlfriend, Elsa Maria Wuest, who later became his first wife.
Joseph received 30'000 swiss francs from his father and went on to start a cheese factory.
As the 1930's approached, the farm fell into decline due to abandonment by the children.
The farm went into further dissaray when Bertha Senn, Hermann's second wife refused to inherit the farm and to work on the property.
Father Augustine became more and more depressed with the absence of his family and the future of the family farm. In his alcoholism, Augustine would often go th restaurants to drink, while his horse went back to the stable by itself, leaving him stranded.
In 1936, his wife of 44 years, Bertha Kuenzle, died at the age of 68.
With no family member to take over the farm by the late 1930's the property had to be auctioned off. His son Joseph died in 1940 at the age of 47. (Cause unknown)
A deeply depressed and alcohoholic man, Augustine died in 1942 at the age of 77.
Due to Hermann's wife Bertha's refusal to accept the farm, Augustine's dream of his once succesful farm staying in the family name was never realized.
His son, Hermann took ood jobs as a daily laborer and brick layer, thus never gaining ant financially security.
Hermann was a very lovable and understanding husband and father, and showed much love towards his children until his death in 1970.
Edwin's travel to the U.S, left himself with little communication with his family in Switzerland. Hermann could not write very well and relied on his wife Bertha to do the corresponding.
Albert resided in Tacoma until his death in 1970 at the age of 74.
Edwin passed in 1978 at the age of 84.
Author: Monica Leuenberger