$150.00 - Luxembourg American Heritage Information Center

was at 4646 Oakton Street. By 1941, Hubert had branched out to include insurance and loans and
even found time to run in the 1941 Village election as an Independent for the post of Trustee. He
lost that election to the candidates supported by Mayor George E. Blameuser.
Hubert was a building commissioner in Skokie, director of the Luxembourg Gardens, and a
member the Luxembourg-American Social Club. In 1964, he and Marie celebrated their Golden
Wedding Jubilee at the Luxembourg Gardens. In 1957, Hubert would transfer to Section 15 and
join his sons, two of whom, Hubert John and Aloysius, had joined Section 15 in 1944. The third
son, Louis, joined in 1947. All three boys worked for their father in the business, John as a
construction supervisor, Al as a
carpenter and Louis as a cement
mason. In 1952, Louis would
move to San Diego, California
and start his own business.
Hubert John Hansen (married
to Mary Ann Schneider) was
born October 6, 1914. In 1933,
he moved to Niles Center with
his parents and worked with his
father in the construction business.
He joined the Gross Point
Band in 1934 and played the
tuba. In 1940, he married
Mary Ann Schneider and lived
with his family at 8024 Kolmar
Avenue. His eldest son, Donald J.,
would join Section 15 in 1966,
succeed his father as Section President,
and be elected as Grand
Secretary of the L.B.A. in 1980,
only the second section member
elected to a Grand Lodge office.
John was President from
1964 to 1975 and after the Luxembourg
Gardens closed in 1968,
Section meetings were held at
John's home. One of the small
joys in attending meetings with
John and George E. Blameuser
were their fishing stories. These
two would charter a plane to
take them to Great Bear Lake,
just beneath the Arctic Circle.
They would camp out for one
week before the plane would
return for them. At the time,
The Hansen Boys - Al, Louts and John circa 1942. both men were in their late 60's
and early 70's.
In October, 1941, Joseph J. Witry, Sr. (married to Catherine Burke) moved his family to
Skokie, and in 1946, joined Section 15. He was born in 1905 on Chicago's south side, the fifth son
of John and Anna Melsen Witry, both of whom had emigrated from Schieren, Luxembourg, in
the early 1890's. He attended De La Salle High School, was President of his senior class, and
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