Carl and Elisabeth Kegler – Part I

Chart II a – I

Adapted from the Kegler Family Chronicle

By their son Günther Kegler (1894-1986)

Title Page of the Kegler-Mass Family Chronicle

Carl Kegler

Born 1860-09-22 in Luckow, Randow County, Western Pomerania,

Pastor in Grünewald, Neustettin County,

Died 1919-06-15 in Grünewald.

and his wife

Elisabeth Kegler (neé Mass)

Born 1868-08-13 in Groß-Krossingen, Obornik County, former Province of Posen (Poznan),

Died 1948-09-14 in Erfurt after the expulsion from Stolpmünde at her son’s residence.

The two were married 1891-02-05 in Pniewno-Konopat, Schwetz County, former Province of West Prussia.

Carl Kegler studied theology in Greifswald, Berlin and Halle. He was a member of the student fraternity “Neo-Borussia”, a color-bearing association with the color band black-white-black-red. The fraternity founded after the Napoleonic Wars adhered to Christian-patriotic ideals and strove for the unity of the German nation. He would talk a lot about his student life, the great challenges, about serious and also lighthearted matters. Soon his children could sing many of student songs by heart, such as Halle on the Saale and many more. His youngest son Bruno was especially receptive for such things and would have loved to study.

In 1891 he was installed as pastor of Grünewald, Neustettin County and stayed in the congregation until his early death. He was the successor of Pastor Nedtwig, who had taken the vacant and larger parish in Gramenz, Neustettin County.

Affiliated with the parish of Grünewald were also the sister congregations (without pastors) Zechendorf and Kowalk and some other smaller churches especially during WW1. The distances were considerable and the congregations could only be reached by horse buggy or bicycle. He was not only a spiritual caregiver with all his strength, but also as a farmer’s son a capable countryman. To the parish also belonged ca. 40 Prussian acres (morgen) of land with a barn, stables, cattle and farm implements, etc. Thus, in the agricultural domain he was able to be helpful  with much advice and supportive action.

For more information I added the text of the eulogy, which a pastor and friend had delivered at Carl’s funeral in 1919. It is in German and can be located at the usual subheading of the P. and G. Klopp Story.

To be continued …