German couple says 'Vielen dank'

To the editor:

In October 2006, my husband (Johannes Kraemer) and I, (Gail Kraemer, nee Bruening) from Germany, visited Cape Girardeau for the first time to do genealogical research on the Bruening family.

Our Bruening research was a real success, and we would like to thank the many family members, friends and others who helped us with the genealogy.

First of all, we thank the Southeast Missourian for making our family search public. The various articles in your newspaper resulted in many contacts and finally our family get-together in Cape Girardeau. Special thanks goes to librarian Sharon Sanders, community news editor Chris Pagano and photographer Fred Lynch.

Many of the area churches were also of help. Special thanks goes to Ruth Kasten of Trinity Lutheran Church, who searched church records and gave us the first information of the Bruening ancestors and the area in Germany from which they came. We also thank the pastors and secretaries of Hanover Lutheran Church, Grace United Methodist Church, Centenary United Methodist Church (all Cape Girardeau), Zion Lutheran Church in Gordonville (the Rev. Schwiesow) and Christ Lutheran Church in Gordonville (the Rev. Hoffstetter).

Much of our research also took place in the Cape Girardeau County Archives. Everyone there was extremely helpful and friendly. The same goes for the Cape Girardeau Public Library (genealogy section). Both institutions were of invaluable help in our genealogical search.

Our visit to Cape Girardeau was great. We love Cape Girardeau. Thanks again.

GAIL and JOHANNES KRAEMER,

Holzminden, Germany