The Man Who Might Have Been our Grandfather......

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From the Fortress of Solitude
Pleasant Grove

Hello All,
Another mystery solved. Grandma Elda's First Husband has been found. He name was William John Zderick, someone she rarely mentioned or spoke about except to say that he was a good man. There is nothing more about their marriage except they divorced or perhaps the marriage was annulled.

Grandma Elda Vercellino around the time of her first marriage

This is the marriage record of his second wife, Ida Werlinger. Notice that he is listed as a Bachelor (noting the option of stating he was divorced). Again, this leads me to think their marriage was annulled. I think I remember Grandma mentioning that. Anyone else know of anything she said about the subject?

Simply,
Victor

An Update:
Our cousin Tharon was kind enough to shed new light on Grandma Elda's first marriage in an email received after reading this above entry.

Victor,
William "John" Zderic was born January 5, 1909 in Lawrence County. His parents were John & Anna, immigrants from Austria. He was 1 of 10 children. Grandma (Iris) Vercellino always said Aunt Elda married John to spite her mother. John's family were devote Catholics, so he wanted the marriage anulled. He married Ida Werlinger on July 4, 1936 in Dewey County (Timber Lake). John died in Las Vegas in December of 1984. They also lived in Washington State. Ida died December 2, 1999 in Bellingham, WA. Grandpa (Ed) & Grandma (Iris) Vercellino always received Christmas cards from John. I always remember going from Deadwood to Lead and Grandma would always say, "There's were Elda and John Zderic lived." It wasn't very far from where Mom, Uncle Danny, Grandma & Grandpa lived in Deadwood.

Tharon