Oscar Percy Muehlberg
Oscar Percy Muehlberg
Oscar Percy Muehlberg was born in Lobethal on the 9th of April 1907. He was named after Paul’s brother Carl ‘Oskar’ Wilhelm Mühlberg who died at age 19.
Oscar Percy married Bertha Matilda Dohse at Zion Lutheran Church in Swan Reach. Brother ‘Ernie’ was witness. Oscar and Bertha had six daughters together. Oscar and Bertha lived at Nildottie and later Clare, where most of the children were born. Oscar worked on vineyards in the Clare district and as a shearer at White Hut, Yorke Peninsula around time of marriage breakdown in 1943.
Oscar’s occupations were numerous. He quarried stone to construct the Mannum Lutheran Church, sunk bores around Port Augusta while living out of a caravan and worked over two decades as a mechanic. His employers included Litchfield Engineering Co Ltd, Croydon Park (c1940-1946); Universal Motors Pty Ltd, Adelaide (c1956); Carnes Garage Ltd, Murray Bridge (c1959); Motor Services, Sunshine (c1962); and Moe Transport & Engineering Service Pty Ltd, Moe (c1966). His talents were also musical as he is remembered to often play a piano button accordion. After he retired, he adopted woodwork as his hobby.
Mattschoss, Una (1999), 'Hettner 1849-1999,' Grandeur Press, Balaklava, South Australia, p.62
Knowling, Doreen (2007), 'Letter concerning Muehlberg descendants,' Letter dated 3 Aug 2007, p.1
Mattschoss, Una (2004) 'Letter concerning Muehlberg descendants,' letter dated 26 Oct 2004, p.1
After his first marriage, Oscar married Edna Grace Joyce Oliver. Together they lived at Osborne. It is thought that Edna was born in Sydney in 1908. Edna Grace Joyce Muehlberg died on the 4th of June 1973. She was buried two days later at Cheltenham Cemetery.
Short, Julie (2006), 'Edna Grace Joyce Oliver,' State Library of New South Wales, slinfo@sl.nsw.gov.au, email dated 10 Mar 2006 Skinn, Peter (2007), 'Grave location of Edna Muehlberg,' Adelaide Cemeteries, peter.skinn@aca.sa.gov.au, email dated 27 Mar 2007– Grave location is plot 270S [Section B, drive A, path 9, site licence C21239, expires on 6 Jun 2023]Adelaide Cemeteries (2022), 'Internment Right Expiration: C21239' Letter dated 4Oct22 records@aca.sa.gov.au
Following a move to Melbourne, Oscar married Nellie Catherine McBride nee Stephens, daughter of a New Zealand Miner. Nellie had four daughters from a previous marriage to George S. Tindal. Whilst living in Victoria, a car hit Oscar as he redirected traffic around a hazard. The consequence was an intermittent uncontrollable shake owing to nerve damages to his arm.
On the 3rd of June 1983, Oscar died age 76 of a heart attack at Doncaster near Box Hill, where he lived with wife Nellie. Both Oscar and Nellie rest at Springvale Botanical Cemetery, Dodonaea memorial garden, Garden N4, Bed 3, Rose 27.
Canale, Stephanie (2008), 'Muehlberg grave locations,' s.canale@hotmail.com, email dated 31 May 2008
Bertha Matilda Dohse
Bertha Matilda Dohse was born on the 26th of April 1912 to Alfred Bernhard Carl Dohse and Eliza Butler. Bertha’s parents were among the first settlers in the Copeville area.
Father: Alfred Bernhard Carl Dohse
Settled: Copeville, South Australia
Mother: Eliza Butler
Settled: Copeville, South Australia
Bertha Matilda Dohse
Born: 26th of April 1912, at Copeville, SA
Married: 29th of July 1933, Oscar Percival Muehlberg, at Zion Church, Swan Reach, SA
Died: 19th September 1992, at Glenelg, SA
Bertha Matilda Dohse and Oscar Percy Muehlberg married at Zion Lutheran Church in Swan Reach. Brother ‘Ernie’ was witness. Oscar and Bertha had six daughters together.
Oscar and Bertha lived at Nildottie and later Clare, where most of the children were born. Oscar worked on vineyards in the Clare district and as a shearer at White Hut around time of marriage breakdown in 1943.
Bertha later married Arthur Edgar Eisen, a Hahndorf born poultry farmer, in 1949 at Clare. Each of the six girls was adopted by the marriage. The family then relocated to Langhorne Creek and later to Lameroo.
Mattschoss, Una (1999), 'Hettner 1849-1999,' Grandeur Press, Balaklava, South Australia, p.62 Mallet, Margaret, Crowther, Gabriel & Tyler, Isabelle (2006), 'Interview about life of Oscar Muehlberg,' interview conducted on 25 Feb 2006Mallet, Margaret (2008), 'Letter concerning Bertha Dohse,' Letter dated 4 Jan 2008, p.1Knowling, Doreen (2005), 'Interview about life of Oscar Percy Muehlberg,' interview conducted on 21 Aug 2005
Bertha later married Jack Dawson then James Andrew Dykes.
Mallet, Margaret, Crowther, Gabriel & Tyler, Isabelle (2006), 'Interview about life of Oscar Muehlberg,' interview conducted on 25 Feb 2006
Bertha died aged 85, on the 19th of September 1992 at Glenelg in South Australia.
Descendants of Oscar Percy Muehlberg & Bertha Matilda Dohse
1. Margaret Audrey Muehlberg
married Les Mallet
2. Gabriel Beverley Muehlberg
Born: Oct 12th 1935.
Married: 28th of March 1953, Patrick Christopher Crowther (born 24 Aug 1931).
Patrick Crowther worked as a shearer whilst getting his pilot’s licence and was one of South Australia’s first aerial agricultural pilots (crop duster). The family moved to Kangaroo Island to manage a mixed farm at Snug Cove and Patrick developed Coveair. In 1971, Coveair disbanded and the family moved to Loxton as Pat was developing techniques for the aerial spraying of citrus and grapes. In 1975 the family moved to Oaklands Park, on the formation of Crowthair. Patrick died on June 17th 2009, aged 77years.
Gabriel and Patrick had 6 children:
Christopher Peter Crowther, born 21st of June 1953 at Lameroo, SA.
Scott Crowther
Marc Henri Crowther
Leanne Louise Crowther
Naomi Crowther
Ashleigh Crowther
Jarrad Crowther
Haydyn Crowther
Ryan Crowther
Dawn Janet Imelda Crowther, born 26th of April 1955 at Clare, SA. Married Brian Kroemer on the 4th of December 1976.
Joshua Mark Kroemer
Courtney Kroemer
Patrick Gregory Crowther, born 28th of May 1958, at Kangaroo Island, SA. Married Carole Fisher.
Andrew Fisher (adopted by marriage)
Steven Fisher (adopted by marriage)
Jasmine Crowther
Liam Crowther
Teresa Gabriel Crowther, born 9th of July 1960, at Kangaroo Island, SA.
Katie Louise Broadbent
Thomas James Grant
Lynne Marie Crowther, born 2nd of May 1962, at Kangaroo Island, SA. Married Peter John Hill on the 16th of March 1985.
Jana Marie Hill
Phoebe Joelle Hill
Alexander John Trevelyan Hill - named after his paternal grandfather, Alfred John Trevelyan Hill
Imogene Matilda Hill - Imogene was born 2 months after the passing of her great-grandmother Bertha Matilda Dyke’s (nee Dohse)
John Mark Crowther, born 26th of November 1963, at Kangaroo Island, SA. Married Erika Aranyos on the 26th of July 1986. John followed his father as a crop duster, but died in a motor vehicle accident at Wee Waa NSW on June 12th 1998, aged 34.
Jessica Emily Crowther
Hill, Lynn (2010), 'Gabriel Muehlberg,' lynnem@adam.com.au, email dated 10 Oct 10
3. Isabelle Claire Muehlberg
4. Doreen Ida Muehlberg
married Darryl Knowling , together they had three children:
Timothy Knowling married Leah Fisher
Samuel Knowling
Jamie Knowling married Kellie Hand, together they have one child:
Ava Skye Knowling
Knowling, Doreen (2007), 'Letter concerning Muehlberg descendants,' Letter dated 3 Aug 2007, p.1
5. Annette Natalie Muehlberg
married Mr Angrave
Veronica Angrave married Mr Josephs
6. Lesley Yvonne Matilda Muehlberg