My Great Grandfather Werner was born in 1916 in Switzerland. In 1923, at the age of 7, he immigrated with his mother to Wisconsin. Growing up he lived in cheese factory quarters, since his mother and stepfather operated a cheese factory in 1924. He got his first job there working for his parents, working 60 hours a week at 41 cents per hour. In 1944, he took his cheese to the fair, called Limburger cheese. He ended up getting second prize and that is the award in the picture. Lastly, in a book about his life that his daughter made him fill out, he wrote “All I knew was make cheese and loved it.” under a section titled favorite job. This represents what it means to be American to me because having a passion about something that is part of your culture is just so inspiring. Everyone and their families bring and keep their own traditions and culture while also passing them on from generation to generation.

– CS

Relationship:  Im/migrant who arrived as a child Im/migrant who arrived as a child