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- My Great Grandfather was born in 1918 in Brampton, MI. His father Jerome died when he was only two years old and he was sent to live in an orphanage with his two brothers, Earl and Willard. At an early age he had to have surgery for his cross eyes. He was almost adopted by a family, but then his mom decided she wanted him back. Wally never went further in school than the 10th grade.
Wally met Marie Laurin on New Years Eve and he married her 6 months later, it was 1940 and he was 22. At the time they were married he was unemployed, and she was a house maid for $4.00 per week. They lived in an upstairs apartment of her mom's for $9.00 a month. Soon after Wally got a job working at Marathon Corp. in Menasha.
In 1948 they bought a house in Menasha and the payments were $19.00 per month. By this point they had seven children, all boys. The hosue they lived in had no hot waster, central heat, or refrigerator, and the ice man brought the ice.
In 1960 the family moved to Combined Locks. On October 19, 1960 Wally went to his doctor and had a complete physical done, and was given a clean bill of health. That night he died in his sleep, leaving Marie to raise 7 boys alone, the youngest was 4. Marie could not afford to have an autopsy done on Wally, but it is believed he had a massive heart attack during the night.
Mallorie Pendergast, 2008
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