Henrietta Mohelnitzky and Frank Duren

Henrietta is the daughter of Anton Mohelnitzky and Mary Ruskauff.

Duren's Orchestra Dance Band

Frank Duren directed a dance orchestra comprised of his children in the early 1930s. Frank played drums. Previous to this, Frank played with Richard 'Chuck" Carney. Chuck Carney married Louise Rockweiler. Louise played the piano in the Duren band. Other band members were Lyle Amerly, and Francis Keller who played the trombone. In the 1940s daughter Irene Duren played the piano in the Duren band. Irene's daughter, Dianne, played accordion in the band for at least 3 years. Son, George Duren played the alto saxophone; son Robert "Bob" Duren played the saxophone and clarinet. Daughter Joanne Duren started with the band in the 1950s. Joanne played the bass violin. Frank taught Joanne how to play the drums which she played in the band until 1967 when she quit to devote time to her job as member of the Wisconsin State Assembly. While in the Assembly, Joanne organized a band that played at some capitol doings for certain governors.

The Duren orchestra played at dances in Plain, Sauk City, the Cazenovia Dance Hall, and at Yuba. Some of the Yuba dances were three days long.

After the death of Frank Duren in 1952, son George Duren started a band called the George Duren Band. Later, son Bob Duren started a band called the Bob Duren Band.

The family has some recordings of the band.

Henrietta Mohelnitzky Duren died at age 94 at her home in Cazenovia on January 20, 1983.

Henrietta (Mohelnitzky) Duren, 1888-1983

Frank M. Duren, 1886-1952

St. Anthony de Padua Catholic Cemetery,

Germantown, Richland Center, Wisconsin

Obituaries:

Duren Rites Will Be On Saturday - CAZENOVIA, Wis. - Funeral rites for Frank Duren, 65, widely known musician, who died Wednesday, will be held Saturday at 9:30 in St. Anthony's Catholic Church, Germantown. An active member of the church all his life, he was director of its choir for 45 years.

The Rev. Hubert E. Duren, a brother, will officiate at the services Saturday, and the Rev. A. J. Daniels, pastor of St. Anthony's Church, will deliver the sermon.

Mr. Duren directed a dance orchestra comprised of his children, and he was a member of the Yuba Band.

Friends may call at the Duren residence. The rosary will be recited there tonight at 8.

Mr. Duren's survivors, besides his brother, are his wife; four daughters, Mrs. George Richart, Hilbert; Mrs. Edward Anderson, Richland Center; Mrs. Paul Soltwedel, Cazenovia, and Joanne, at home; three sons; George and Robert, both of Cazenovia, and James, at home; six other brothers, Peter, John, Jake, Rinold, Leo, and Joseph; two sisters, Sophia and Johanna; 16 grandchildren, and two great-grandchildren.

Source: Unknown newspaper, unknown date.

Henrietta M. Duren - Henrietta Mary Duren, 94, died Thursday, January 20, 1983 at her home in Cazenovia.

She was born May 22, 1888 in New Lisbon to Anton Mohelnitzky and Mary Ruskauff, and married Frank M. Duren on September 8, 1910 in St. Anthony's Catholic church of Cazenovia. He died June 25, 1952.

Survivors include three sons, George and James of Cazenovia, Robert, Ironton; three daughters, Lucille Richart, Hilbert, Irene Soltwedel and Miss Joanne Duren, Cazenovia; 22 grandchildren; 54 great-grandchildren; 23 great-great grandchildren. One daughter, Marcella Anderson preceeded (sp?) her in death in 1980.

Funeral services were held on Monday in St. Anthony's Catholic church with Fr. Ambrose Blenker officiating. Burial was made in St. Anthony's cemetery. Rosary was said in the Gant Funeral chapel of Cazenovia on Sunday evening.

Gant Funeral Home was in charge of arrangements.

Source: Reedsburg Times Press (Reedsburg, Wisconsin); January 27, 1983, page 2, column 1.

Henrietta Duren Dies Thursday

Henrietta Mary Duren, 94, of Cazenovia, died at her home Thursday (Jan. 20, 1983).

Mrs. Duren was preceded in death by her husband, Frank on June 25, 1952 and by a daughter, Marcella Anderson in November of 1980.

She is survived by three sons, George of Cazenovia, Robert of Ironton and James of Cazenovia; three daughters, Lucille Richart of Hilbert, Irene Soltwedel of Cazenovia and Joanne Duren of Cazenovia; 22 grandchildren; 54 great-grandchildren; 23 great-great-grandchildren; several nieces and nephews.

Funeral services were held Monday at St. Anthony's Catholic Church in Cazenovia.

Source: Unknown newspaper, unknown date, copy from the Richland Center library.

CAZENOVIA - Henrietta Mary Duren, age 94, passed away at her home on Thursday evening, January 20, 1983. she was preceded in death by her husband, Frank, on January 25, 1952 and by a daughter, Marcella Anderson, in November of 1980. Survivors are three sons, George of Cazenovia, Robert of Ironton and James of Cazenovia; three daughters, Lucille Richart of Hilbert, Irene Soltwedel of Cazenovia and Joanne Duren of Cazenovia; twenty-two grandchildren; fifty-four great grandchildren; twenty-three great great grandchildren; and several nieces and nephews. Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. on Monday, January 24, at St. Anthony's Catholic Church in Cazenovia. Friends may call after 4 p.m. on Sunday at the Gant Funeral Home in Cazenovia where there will be a parish rosary at 8 p.m.

Source: Wisconsin State Journal (Madison, Wisconsin); January 22, 1983

Henrietta Mohelnitzky was married to Frank Duren on September 8, 1910 in St. Anthony Catholic Church, Germantown, Richland County, Wisconsin.

Henrietta and Frank had 9 children.

Frank and Henrietta Mohelnitzky Duren lived in the house that was attached to the store in Germantown, Richland County, Wisconsin, for about six months after they were married. The store was owned by Frank's father, Joseph Duren. Frank worked in the mill for his father. During the time Henrietta and Frank lived at the store, Hubert Duren, who later became a Catholic priest, stayed with them to attend the Germantown school each day. Henrietta gave him his dinner at noon. Henrietta, was very worried about the acetylene lights which were located in the large room in the upper story of the Germantown store. Those lights covered the church, rectory and also provided lights at the store.

Perhaps Frank and Henrietta ran the store during the 6 months they lived there. Some relatives say they did run the store, some say Henrietta never mentioned running the store. In either case and for whatever reason, Joseph Duren wanted someone to run the store and so Henrietta contacted her oldest brother, Conrad Mohelnitzky, who was living in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Conrad agreed and moved with his wife, Mary Fastner, and 3 of their daughters to Germantown to run the store. A 4th daughter of Conrad and Mary was born in Germantown in June 1912.

Some history of the Germantown store, located in Richland County, Wisconsin:

The abstract of the store in Germantown shows that on May 16, 1902--Joseph Duren bought store property from Ben Adelman. On January 4, 1918, Theodore Bauer and Mary Fastner Mohelnitzky Bauer bought property from Joseph Duren.

The store building in Germantown owned by B. Adleman but occupied by Geo. Ruscoff who had a full line of dry goods and groceries in it was struck by lightning Thursday night and burned to the ground, together with its contents. His family occupied a part of the building but escaped uninjured.

Source: Reedsburg Free Press (Reedsburg, Wisconsin); May 15, 1902, page 7.

In the spring of 1911, Frank and Henrietta Duren moved to house at the bottom of the hill toward Cazenovia, the farm later referred to as the John Schmitt farm. The farm was located across the bridge on the right (south side) of the road.

They lived at this farm until 1918 when they moved across the bridge and across the road to the Henry Keller farm. Frank was ill after an operation and worked in a saloon in town (probably Cazenovia) and he walked home every night with the money. Later, Frank sold Jeffrey cars and had a special song to sing when selling the cars. Frank Duren lived at the second farm until his death on June 25, 1952.

"About Folks You Know

Frank Duren bought drug store and land at Germantown."

Source: Cazenovia Reporter (Cazenovia, Richland County, Wisconsin); January 10, 1918, page 1, column 1.

"Henry Keller moved into the house with his parents Sat, he having sold his farm to Frank Duren."

Source: Cazenovia Reporter (Cazenovia, Richland County, Wisconsin); January 24, 1918, page 1, column 1.