LaVera "Vera" SCHMIDT was married at least twice.
She appears in the Rockford, IL City Directories from 1935 to 1951
with Ben COLE, sometimes Benj COLE and sometimes as Bernard COLE. He appears on the 1930 Census there at 1221 Preston.
I haven't read the 1934 Directory yet.
From 1935 to 1944 Ben & Vera appear to be boarders at 316 N Rockton, RockforD, Winnebago, Illinois. Ben is listed first as a cook & later as a chef, with one oddball entry in 1938 transcribed as Sheriff. (typo?)
The 1940 census data is where the info on being boarders comes from.
From 1948-1951, his name was listed as Ben M Cole, and their address was 210 8th, Rockford, Winnebago, Illinois.
If this was the case, then Ben COLE was born in IL
and his father was born in Nebraska, but his mother in IL.
Ben COLE died 21 July 1952.
So Vera's first husband was Bernard M "Benj M" COLE of Rockford, IL.
Then the newspaper announced a Max DIEHL (?),
but she clearly married Frank D GARDNER of Freeport, IL
and was known primarily as Vera GARDNER up until her death,
although her real name was LaVera.
Her grave marker reads LaVera COLE GARDNER.
15 Jun 1953 the Dixon Telegraph reported her marriage license to Frank D. Gardner of Freeport issued on 12 Jun 1953. A subsequent anniversary announcement for her parents said Mrs. Frank D. Gardner of Freeport was unable to attend the anniversary memorial in Dixon.
Frank must have passed away early as well - and Vera continued to live
in the small house on Bidwell St in Freeport, Stephenson, IL.
She owned & operated the Dairy Dreem ice cream drive-in next door.
Her Will indicated that she only had a 1/3 interest in the house, so perhaps Frank had some business partners. The house and property also included an "extra lot" on the south side, plus the Dairy Dreem business.
Gladys, Mildred, Arthur, and LaVera were the four grown children
of William Charles SCHMIDT & Louise KREINBRING and
were born in (or near) Springfield Township, near Lowden,
Cedar County, Iowa, USA.
The family later moved to Dixon, Lee, Illinois, and Vera & Gladys moved north to Rockford, Winnebago, Illinois.
Gladys worked the concession stand at Lowell Park (north of Dixon) when Ronald Reagan was the lifeguard there.
Gladys married Frank O'Donnell and early on they had a house in Rockford, and later they had a house on the west side of the Rock River north of Rockford near the current Machesney Park Mall. The address was probably Loves Park, IL at the time, but I'm not sure about that.
Frank & Gladys had a son, Clarence O'Donnell, and he was married to Betty and he had served in WW2. They also had a daughter, LuVerne O'Donnell. LuVerne married Leonard "Lenny" Leppert and had two daughters.
Gladys later in life moved in with her sister, Vera, to the house on Bidwell St in Freeport, IL. Gladys died in that house on the couch after falling asleep while watching TV. Vera survived her by several more years.
She appears in the Rockford, IL City Directories from 1935 to 1951
with Ben COLE, sometimes Benj COLE and sometimes as Bernard COLE. He appears on the 1930 Census there at 1221 Preston.
I haven't read the 1934 Directory yet.
From 1935 to 1944 Ben & Vera appear to be boarders at 316 N Rockton, RockforD, Winnebago, Illinois. Ben is listed first as a cook & later as a chef, with one oddball entry in 1938 transcribed as Sheriff. (typo?)
The 1940 census data is where the info on being boarders comes from.
From 1948-1951, his name was listed as Ben M Cole, and their address was 210 8th, Rockford, Winnebago, Illinois.
If this was the case, then Ben COLE was born in IL
and his father was born in Nebraska, but his mother in IL.
Ben COLE died 21 July 1952.
So Vera's first husband was Bernard M "Benj M" COLE of Rockford, IL.
Then the newspaper announced a Max DIEHL (?),
but she clearly married Frank D GARDNER of Freeport, IL
and was known primarily as Vera GARDNER up until her death,
although her real name was LaVera.
Her grave marker reads LaVera COLE GARDNER.
15 Jun 1953 the Dixon Telegraph reported her marriage license to Frank D. Gardner of Freeport issued on 12 Jun 1953. A subsequent anniversary announcement for her parents said Mrs. Frank D. Gardner of Freeport was unable to attend the anniversary memorial in Dixon.
Frank must have passed away early as well - and Vera continued to live
in the small house on Bidwell St in Freeport, Stephenson, IL.
She owned & operated the Dairy Dreem ice cream drive-in next door.
Her Will indicated that she only had a 1/3 interest in the house, so perhaps Frank had some business partners. The house and property also included an "extra lot" on the south side, plus the Dairy Dreem business.
Gladys, Mildred, Arthur, and LaVera were the four grown children
of William Charles SCHMIDT & Louise KREINBRING and
were born in (or near) Springfield Township, near Lowden,
Cedar County, Iowa, USA.
The family later moved to Dixon, Lee, Illinois, and Vera & Gladys moved north to Rockford, Winnebago, Illinois.
Gladys worked the concession stand at Lowell Park (north of Dixon) when Ronald Reagan was the lifeguard there.
Gladys married Frank O'Donnell and early on they had a house in Rockford, and later they had a house on the west side of the Rock River north of Rockford near the current Machesney Park Mall. The address was probably Loves Park, IL at the time, but I'm not sure about that.
Frank & Gladys had a son, Clarence O'Donnell, and he was married to Betty and he had served in WW2. They also had a daughter, LuVerne O'Donnell. LuVerne married Leonard "Lenny" Leppert and had two daughters.
Gladys later in life moved in with her sister, Vera, to the house on Bidwell St in Freeport, IL. Gladys died in that house on the couch after falling asleep while watching TV. Vera survived her by several more years.
LaVera "Vera" SCHMIDT was married at least twice.
She appears in the Rockford, IL City Directories from 1935 to 1951
with Ben COLE, sometimes Benj COLE and sometimes as Bernard COLE. He appears on the 1930 Census there at 1221 Preston.
I haven't read the 1934 Directory yet.
From 1935 to 1944 Ben & Vera appear to be boarders at 316 N Rockton, RockforD, Winnebago, Illinois. Ben is listed first as a cook & later as a chef, with one oddball entry in 1938 transcribed as Sheriff. (typo?)
The 1940 census data is where the info on being boarders comes from.
From 1948-1951, his name was listed as Ben M Cole, and their address was 210 8th, Rockford, Winnebago, Illinois.
If this was the case, then Ben COLE was born in IL
and his father was born in Nebraska, but his mother in IL.
Ben COLE died 21 July 1952.
So Vera's first husband was Bernard M "Benj M" COLE of Rockford, IL.
Then the newspaper announced a Max DIEHL (?),
but she clearly married Frank D GARDNER of Freeport, IL
and was known primarily as Vera GARDNER up until her death,
although her real name was LaVera.
Her grave marker reads LaVera COLE GARDNER.
15 Jun 1953 the Dixon Telegraph reported her marriage license to Frank D. Gardner of Freeport issued on 12 Jun 1953. A subsequent anniversary announcement for her parents said Mrs. Frank D. Gardner of Freeport was unable to attend the anniversary memorial in Dixon.
Frank must have passed away early as well - and Vera continued to live
in the small house on Bidwell St in Freeport, Stephenson, IL.
She owned & operated the Dairy Dreem ice cream drive-in next door.
Her Will indicated that she only had a 1/3 interest in the house, so perhaps Frank had some business partners. The house and property also included an "extra lot" on the south side, plus the Dairy Dreem business.
Gladys, Mildred, Arthur, and LaVera were the four grown children
of William Charles SCHMIDT & Louise KREINBRING and
were born in (or near) Springfield Township, near Lowden,
Cedar County, Iowa, USA.
The family later moved to Dixon, Lee, Illinois, and Vera & Gladys moved north to Rockford, Winnebago, Illinois.
Gladys worked the concession stand at Lowell Park (north of Dixon) when Ronald Reagan was the lifeguard there.
Gladys married Frank O'Donnell and early on they had a house in Rockford, and later they had a house on the west side of the Rock River north of Rockford near the current Machesney Park Mall. The address was probably Loves Park, IL at the time, but I'm not sure about that.
Frank & Gladys had a son, Clarence O'Donnell, and he was married to Betty and he had served in WW2. They also had a daughter, LuVerne O'Donnell. LuVerne married Leonard "Lenny" Leppert and had two daughters.
Gladys later in life moved in with her sister, Vera, to the house on Bidwell St in Freeport, IL. Gladys died in that house on the couch after falling asleep while watching TV. Vera survived her by several more years.
She appears in the Rockford, IL City Directories from 1935 to 1951
with Ben COLE, sometimes Benj COLE and sometimes as Bernard COLE. He appears on the 1930 Census there at 1221 Preston.
I haven't read the 1934 Directory yet.
From 1935 to 1944 Ben & Vera appear to be boarders at 316 N Rockton, RockforD, Winnebago, Illinois. Ben is listed first as a cook & later as a chef, with one oddball entry in 1938 transcribed as Sheriff. (typo?)
The 1940 census data is where the info on being boarders comes from.
From 1948-1951, his name was listed as Ben M Cole, and their address was 210 8th, Rockford, Winnebago, Illinois.
If this was the case, then Ben COLE was born in IL
and his father was born in Nebraska, but his mother in IL.
Ben COLE died 21 July 1952.
So Vera's first husband was Bernard M "Benj M" COLE of Rockford, IL.
Then the newspaper announced a Max DIEHL (?),
but she clearly married Frank D GARDNER of Freeport, IL
and was known primarily as Vera GARDNER up until her death,
although her real name was LaVera.
Her grave marker reads LaVera COLE GARDNER.
15 Jun 1953 the Dixon Telegraph reported her marriage license to Frank D. Gardner of Freeport issued on 12 Jun 1953. A subsequent anniversary announcement for her parents said Mrs. Frank D. Gardner of Freeport was unable to attend the anniversary memorial in Dixon.
Frank must have passed away early as well - and Vera continued to live
in the small house on Bidwell St in Freeport, Stephenson, IL.
She owned & operated the Dairy Dreem ice cream drive-in next door.
Her Will indicated that she only had a 1/3 interest in the house, so perhaps Frank had some business partners. The house and property also included an "extra lot" on the south side, plus the Dairy Dreem business.
Gladys, Mildred, Arthur, and LaVera were the four grown children
of William Charles SCHMIDT & Louise KREINBRING and
were born in (or near) Springfield Township, near Lowden,
Cedar County, Iowa, USA.
The family later moved to Dixon, Lee, Illinois, and Vera & Gladys moved north to Rockford, Winnebago, Illinois.
Gladys worked the concession stand at Lowell Park (north of Dixon) when Ronald Reagan was the lifeguard there.
Gladys married Frank O'Donnell and early on they had a house in Rockford, and later they had a house on the west side of the Rock River north of Rockford near the current Machesney Park Mall. The address was probably Loves Park, IL at the time, but I'm not sure about that.
Frank & Gladys had a son, Clarence O'Donnell, and he was married to Betty and he had served in WW2. They also had a daughter, LuVerne O'Donnell. LuVerne married Leonard "Lenny" Leppert and had two daughters.
Gladys later in life moved in with her sister, Vera, to the house on Bidwell St in Freeport, IL. Gladys died in that house on the couch after falling asleep while watching TV. Vera survived her by several more years.
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