German American Heritage Society

121 S. Meramec Ave., Ste. 1108, Saint Louis, MO 63105 USA Call: 314-862-1733, Fax: 206-350-2194, E-mail: gahs-stl@sbcglobal.net    


The GAHS Office is in part made possible through a grant from the         

                                          


GAHS Calendar 


German School Association of Greater St. Louis has German classes for children and adults.  Contact them to see when the next classes start.

For more information
Call: 314-544-3990 or 314-963-9534  
Email them: gsa_stlmo@yahoo.com
Visit their website: www.germanstl.org/germanschool

GAHS members should remember the German American Heritage Society Endowment Fund at certain times of the year. This fund will provide a financial opportunity for members to help sustain the long term viability of the Society through potentially tax-advantaged annual financial gifts or estate plan contributions. For more information, contact your financial advisor or Treasurer, David Gast.


Director, Center for International Studies at University of Missouri - St. Louis, Joel Glassman, receives a Student Studies Abroad Grant from GAHS president, Lansing Hecker, with German Culture Center Coordinator, Larry Marsh.

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"German TV Programming in the USA"

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The German School Association

For more information please visit our website: www.germanstl.org/germanschool. 


Family Genealogy:  G-SIG forum #52

Read the latest fascinating update from the German Special Interest Group (G-SIG) leader Gerald Perschbacher. G-SIG is a collaborative effort of the St. Louis Genealogical Society and the German American Heritage Society, both based in the St. Louis area.  For more information about joining, go to www.stlgs.org.


St. Louis County Library Seminars on Ancestry   More info...


We need your help!

We need your time and talent to assist in planning and producing our social events.  Contact Carolyn at the GAHS office.


Interesting Web Links to Visit.


GAHS establishes endowment fund for donations, gifts

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Interested in joining the GAHS?

Contact the office.


GAHS 20th Anniversary Diplomatic Reception & Founders Banquet Guest of Honor:  

Roland Herrmann 

Deputy Consul General, Consulate General of the Federal Republic of Germany, Chicago

While born in the Simmern, State of Rhineland-Palatinate in Germany, Mr. Herrmann has led a fascinating 45 year career with the German Foreign Office in different Diplomatic and Consular posts in Yemen, Denmark, India, Algeria, Morocco, Malta, France, Belgium, Mali/West Africa and the USA (Seattle, WA).

His most recent assignments were Deputy Ambassador at the German Embassy in Kuwait (1999 to 2003) and the Head of the Economic Department at the German Embassy in Bucharest, Romania (2003 to 2006).

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The GAHS Friedrich Hecker Freedom Award Recipient   

Isabelle Coovert 

GAHS Vice President of Events (2004 to 2009)

Twenty years ago, Isabelle and her late husband, Sander attended the first Founders Banquet and signed on as charter members in the German American Heritage Society of Saint Louis. For the past six years, Isabelle has served as our Vice President of Events and has completely changed types and almost doubled the number of events held each year to entertain the wide variety of member interests.  She added a Maifest which usually attracts two to three generations of members at fun family venues. Her Sommerfest motor coach tours have taken us to fascinating places like the Dresden “Green Room” palace treasure exhibit in Jackson, Mississippi , the new Lincoln Presidential Museum in Springfield, Illinois and this past year to the special Missouri StateMuseum exhibit in Jefferson City with members from six area German American organizations. Isabelle has opened her home many times for our festive Weihnachtsparty. She has taken our fund raising “up a notch” with our “A Taste of Germany” Benefit Dinner & Auction, as well as the addition of our Junifest benefit buffet, many times on her own patio. Just recently, Isabelle has asked to step down from her office to focus on fighting a personal health challenge.

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The GAHS Stemmler-Hecker Founders Award Recipient

St. Louis-Stuttgart Sister Cities Cities                                  Celebrating their 50th Anniversary (1960 to 2010)

This Sister City relationship is both St. Louis’ first and longest of many international Sister City relationships that promote world peace through mutual understanding. Their organization’s half century of actively fostering friendship with the city and citizens of Stuttgart is an exceptional accomplishment. This unique program, established by President Eisenhower, continually provides opportunities for city officials and citizens to experience and explore other cultures through long-term community partnerships. Many of the leaders and members of the St. Louis-Stuttgart Sister Cities helped establish and continue to support GAHS over its first 20 years. This year the organization has a variety of events planned both in St. Louis and Stuttgart and they invite your participation.


GAHS Members and Guests Made Merry at the 2009 Weihnachtsparty

St. Louis - Almost 80 German American Heritage Society of Saint Louis (GAHS) members and their guests celebrated the holiday season at the historical Magic Chef Mansion in the beautiful Compton Heights neighborhood. The 2009 Weihnachtsparty was organized by GAHS’s own Roy Leimberg and Barbara Nahlik. They were assisted by a merry crew that included Harrison Billy, Judd and Peggy Presley, Anna Beck, Shirley Aschinger and Lansing Hecker. The holiday event was graciously hosted by the mansion's owner, Shelly Donaho.                                 

Left: HRH Harrison Billy, GAHS Board members Shirley Aschinger and Barbara Nahlik get in the spirit to welcome members and guests.

 

The stunning residence, designed by Ernst Janssen and completed in 1908, remained in the Stockstrom family until 1990. The home has been restored to its turn-of-the-century elegance, including original lighting fixtures and period furniture. Seated on a two-acre site enclosed by an iron fence, this private residence is available to rent for cocktail receptions, seated dinners, bridal showers, engagement parties, weddings, birthdays and anniversaries. For more information, visit: http://www.magicchefmansion.com

Left: GAHS Members Roy Leimberg and Simone Marlock with guests Kimberly and Steven Flo.

The annual holiday event is free to members and $25 for guests who can apply the door fee to new membership dues in 2010. Members shared their favorite recipes and holiday treats on a dining room buffet, as well as joined in singing Christmas carols in German, accompanied by members Hermann Eisele and Joe Hoffmann on accordions.

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GAHS members Ilona Wilken, Harrison Billy crowned 2009-2010 Karneval Prinzenpaar

Kansas City, MO - GAHS members, Ilona Wilken and Harrison Billy were officially crowned the royal Prinzenpaar of the 2009-2010 Karneval season at the November 14, 2009 Germania Club of Kansas City’s elegant Coronation Ball at The Park Place Hotel. In attendance were several hundred revelers, including leaders and members from the German American Heritage Society of St. Louis, the St. Louis-Stuttgart Sister Cities committee, the St. Louis Strassenfest, St. Louis Badischer Unterstützungs Verein, Deutscher Kulterverein, St. Louis German/American Committee, the St. Louis Volksmarch Club and others.

Their 2009-2010 Karneval reign will also include a royal reception at the February 6, 2010 St. Louis-Stuttgart Sister Cities 50th Anniversary Winterball. This black-tie event will also be traditionally attended by members of the Germania Club of Kansas City, including several former Prinzenpaar.

The Royal Entourage included GAHS members, Anna Meyer Beck, Carol Margreiter and Susanne Evens, as Hofdamen; and Walt Beck, Roy E. Leimberg and Jim Evens, as Adjutants, with 10 year old Alex Evens as the Kinderprinz.

The colors for the theme of the Prinzenpaar were the German Flag colors, and their Royal Costumes of Black, Red & Gold were exquisitely designed by Elizabeth-M of Chicago.


John Karel honored with the 2009 Carl Schurz Heritage Award  

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von Humboldt's 240th Birthday Celebrated at Tower Grove Park

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Wilson's loft hosts GAHS 2009 Advisory Board Picnic

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GAHS Sommerfest Attracts Seven German American Groups

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GAHS Junifest fund raiser patio dinner enjoyed by 60 members and guests  

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GAHS Maifest held at Grant's Farm

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Dr. Uwe Siemon-Netto honored by The German American Heritage Society of St. Louis

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