Hedwig (Hattie) Leverenz

Hattie married George Aiken about 1920.  They lived in Tujunga, California.  George was a very successful businessman there who built his business ventures upon the principles of loyalty and trust, according to an article about him in the Tujunga newspaper.  He opened an insurance agency there and later added a real estate office.  He was a Mason and a member of the Kiwanis Club.  George and Hattie had a very active social life and were respected members of their community.  Hattie was born August 2, 1885 in Dupont, Wisconsin and died in Glendale California April 8, 1961.  George was born September 11, 1886 in Pittsburg, Pennsylvania and died January January 22, 1960 in Glendale.  They are both buried in Forest Lawn Memorial Park in Glendale.

The top photograph shows Hattie with her older sister, Emma Krieser and Emma’s two daughters, Rosella (left) and Belva Krieser.  It looks as though the the photo was taken in Marion, Wisconsin where they were probably visiting relatives who still lived there.  The house in this photo was not Emma’s Milwaukee home but is quite similar to some of the homes in Marion.  The bottom photo was taken July 19, 1949 at a state park in Michigan.  Left to right are: Bertha and Ed Gruenstern and George and Hattie Aiken.  Bertha was Hattie’s younger sister and they ran Gruenstern’s IGA store in Stephenson, Michigan.  Hattie’s name was actually Hedwig but she went by Hattie or Harriet rather than using the German name of Hedwig.  She always kept in touch with her relatives and they all  visited back and forth to and from California to keep in touch as often as possible.  They were always a close-knit family.

Hattie Leverenz Aiken Visits Relatives in Wisconsin and Michigan