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Griestina "Christine" Banko (b. October 7, 1905, d. January 29, 1977)
Griestina "Christine" Banko (daughter of Jakob "John" Banko and Emelia "Amalia" Jurick)69 was born October 7, 1905 in First Street, LaSalle, Illinois69, and died January 29, 1977 in Peru, Illinois70, 71. She married George Koehler on September 19, 1925 in Princeton, IL72, son of Leopold William "Dody" Koehler and Elizabet V. Noel.
Notes for Griestina "Christine" Banko:
May 2000
Griestina "Justina" Christine
Christine was the 4th child of Jacob (Jakob) and Amelia (Amalia) Juricic Banko. There should be records at St. Roch's Catholic church in LaSalle, but I couldn't find her. Jacob was 32 at the time of her birth and was a miner. Amelia was 22. Chris's German name was Griestina. I love it.
Marriage date in newspaper obituary is incorrect. They were married 4 months before their first son Jim was born, Grampa being 21 & Gramma 19. Had trouble tracking this one down because they went to the neighboring county of Bureau (Princeton) to be married by a judge. Obituary is incorrect about the number of brothers & sisters who preceded her in death also (says 1 brother & 2 sisters). Check their records.
My Gramma Chris was a pip. She was the mother of four sons, and I don't know how she kept her sanity because they were wild ones. She told us she had to put them to bed in half-hour increments so they could fall asleep and not fool around. She was not particularly domestic that I could tell, and I knew her a long time. She passed away when I was married and had three children.
We spent a lot of time with she and Grampa since they lived within a few blocks of us. It was a very different household in comparison to my other grandparents, the Mauritzens. I think, in retrospect, she was probably a bit flighty, but she had a heart of gold and an irrepresible spirit. She bought me my first bicycle when I was five and always bought me a new dress at Easter time. Of course, I was the first grandchild, and even though I was unplanned, I know they adored me. She always remembered her grandchildren's birthdays, and had them marked on her calendar.
She could talk a blue streak and always made me laugh. I never felt like a child with her. She treated me as a grownup, I felt. She seemed to have a zest for life and just loved people. She was well-liked by all who knew her. One of the things I remember so well is her desire to learn to play the organ in her later years. She bought herself a small organ and would sing along to her own accompanyment for anyone who would listen, especially at Christmas. I thought she was adorable, but I remember my grandfather grouching at her, "Chris, for Chrissake, that's enough!" He wasn't a very tolerant man.
In early years she worked in their paint store. I do remember this store, although I must have been under five. She apparently had a wallpaper section in the back of the store and sold nicknacks and Hummels. My grandmother would have probably been an interior designer in this day and age.
When they no longer had the store she began working for Debo's Hardware as a sales clerk and was with them for many years. I don't think Grampa was working then. I don't know if he was retired or had lost the business. She was rumored to know the inventory of Debo's better than the owners. Many people would come back at another time if Chris couldn't help them. I remember her walking to work while Grampa sat on the front porch of the house. Couldn't figure that one out. Obituary says she was a member of the Lily Rebeccah Lodge in Peru, whatever that is.
Christmas time was an event for our family. We had three gift exchanges, starting with the Koehlers on Christmas Eve. This included our Aunt Linda & Anne and our Uncles Jim & Kent. They all lived close by. Their other son and his family were rarely there on holidays. Uncle Speck was a career Navy man and they lived all over the world. The opening of gifts was a boisterous affair and since Gramma couldn't wait herself, she passed out the gifts almost all at once. As a result, no one knew what anyone else received.
Of course, Christmas morning was at our home, but then in the afternoon the other side of the family met at Gramma Mauritzen's house for dinner and the gift exchange, a much more orderly process and a tradition which I've carried on. Gift opening takes well into the afternoon and is broken up by several brunches!
I remember fondly a trip she and I took together. I was working at the Peru Bank and on my vacation time I drove her to Tennessee where her son Speck was stationed. Gramma didn't drive but her chatter fueled us all the way down and back. She was a lot of fun. She was very candid and to the point and I thought a very practical, realistic person. I always felt comfortable talking to her.
I suspect she always wished she had had a daughter along with those four boys. That's probably why she was always buying me nice dresses. I know she adored my mother and probably was grateful for all my mom put up with during my father's rough times.
She lived three years longer than my grandfather and was only 72 when she passed away. I was living with my family in Lewistown, MD., at the time. She wanted no funeral service and Gramma was cremated. Since there was no service and I didn't go home, it never really felt like she left me. In my heart she's still back there in Peru.
SS record in file 352-16-2267
Obituary in file (incorrect day of birth
Birth Certificate in file
Marriage Certificate in file
Death Certificate in fle
More About Griestina "Christine" Banko:
Birth name: Griestina on birth certificate.
Occupation: Sales Clerk.
Residence: Born 1st Street, LaSalle, Illinois.
More About Griestina "Christine" Banko and George Koehler:
Marriage: September 19, 1925, Princeton, IL.72
Children of Griestina "Christine" Banko and George Koehler are:
- +James "Jim" Koehler.
- +Merle Douglas Koehler, b. April 12, 1927, Peru, Illinois73, 74, 75, 76, d. May 29, 1995, Peru, Illinois77, 77, 77, 77, 77, 77, 78, 79, 79, 79, 80, 81.
- +Richard K. Koehler.
- +Kent L. Koehler.

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