ANN VAN VALKENBURG ZOWADA (Br 7)

My name is Ann Zowada (Br 7) and my first annual meeting of the NAVVF was in August 1980 at Bellevue, Washington. I had been persuaded to attend by my brother Fred. He and his wife, Aileen, had attended and joined a couple of years before and he was sure I would be interested in learning about our family history.

I was born and grew-up in Denver, Colorado. After grade and high school, I attended Creighton University in Omaha, Nebraska where I met Raymond Zowada whom I married. I was one of these wives that "worked to put her husband through" to get his degree after he came back from the war in Europe.

We had four children--Maryann Nelson (deceased), Steven, Michael, and Gregory. We moved from Denver to Coulee Dam, Washington in 1949. We have six grandchildren.

I have been active in our community. I served on a Recreation Council, was president of Pre-School and P.T.A. and served as president of Spokane Diocesan Council of Catholic Women. I was elected president of Coulee Community Hospital Auxiliary. These are all volunteer commitments. I enjoy bowling for recreation and exercise and have been secretary/treasurer of the Women's Bowling League.

It's always great to attend our annual meetings and to meet new "cousins" and to see many members who attend each year. I have attended nine meetings and served previously on the Board.

My granddaughter, Melissa Nelson, has become a member of the NAVVF and has attended four reunions, and in the process, has learned a bit about our heritage.

Our family is listed in Volume 11, page 93. My grandfather, William Henry VV, was born in Athens, New York. My father, Fred Albert, was born in Nebraska City, Nebraska.