In the News – 8 July 2021 – The Ellis Review

Schuster Relatives Visit BSA Museum and Family in Ellis

Becky Hageman

Posted July 8, 2021

Pictured left to right are Becky Hageman, Mark Wilpolt, Oren Windholz, and Carrie Wilpolt. Mark and his sister were guests of Becky Hageman, Bukovina Board member from Wichita, and her husband John (not pictured). Mark Wilpolt presented the Bukovina Society Museum with the Kaiser Family History Book.
Recent visitors to the Bukovina Society and Ellis, Kansas were Mark Wilpolt of Chico, California, and his sister, Carrie Wilpolt, of Pepperell, Massachusetts. Mark has inherited his late brother Jay’s numerous genealogical files, pictures, and interest in the Schuster and Aschenbrenner family histories and heritage.

Both took great interest in the museum displays and learned about the culture and lifestyle of the Bukovina ancestors and descendants, while Mark, a musician, took special interest in the instruments on display. During the visit, Mark presented the Society with the Kaiser Family History book, written in part by Mary Kaiser Conard, a Schuster cousin who grew up in the Ellis area, and authored a number of stories about the Schuster family. Afterward, we were accompanied to lunch by cousin Norma Lang, who shared her family recipe for Galushkis.

As Mark had a strong desire to walk in the footsteps of our late mother, Teresa (Terry) Schuster Wilpolt, we enjoyed the “Art Walk” down Washington Street. A phone call to uncle Richard Schuster helped to locate Grandpa Frank’s three family homes on 10th street, and the family farm a few miles away in Trego County.

Carrie and Mark were guests of Becky Hageman of Wichita, board member of the Bukovina Society, and her husband John. Special thanks to Oren and Pat Windholz and Norma Lang for opening the building and explaining the significance of the museum’s treasures.