Overview

"Ruth Ann (Fleis) Smith has woven together the biography of her family, beginning in the early 1870s, when her Fleis ancestors from West Prussia/Poland crossed the Atlantic in search of religious freedom and a better way of life in the great ""land of delight,"" Leelanau County, in northern Michigan. In this 150-year span, Smith describes her French-Canadian Lamie ancestors and their arrival in the area, and the quaint introduction of Ed Fleis, of Polish descent, to Irene Lamie, a French maiden. They united in marriage in September 1937 at St. Mary of Assumption Church in Lake Leelanau. They raised twelve children, with Ruth Ann being their firstborn. The Fleis family was known for its musical talents and community involvement-including its participation in the annual Cedar polka festivals. Smith had more than ninety contributors to Faith, Family, & Music. She incorporated memories and recollections of her parents, siblings, and other relatives, including nieces, nephews, and cousins, and others who knew their family. Events and landmarks will be familiar to residents of Cedar, Maple City, Glen Arbor, Empire, Lake Leelanau, and Traverse City. The book will also be of interest to historians, especially those who study immigration, the Catholic faith, and the settling of the Leelanau County area."

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9781958363911

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This book is about survivors doing what has to be done. Stoic at times as they push through and hide the tears, they celebrate Old World heritage in ways still observable in their church, celebratory food, music, and most of all, in their value as a people. -Linda Dewey, author and freelance journalist Large, cohesive families, lots of ambition, and old country ethics, along with unlimited abilities, have prevailed. They truly experienced hard and sometimes painful times but the love and joy instilled in them carried them through. To this day, the power of a good Christian life and the blessings that music brings to everyone have been paramount in sustaining their good life. -Sylvia Kievit-Milan, artist, musician, and dear friend

Author Information

Ruth Ann (Fleis) Smith became motivated to write a family book after being inspired by her parents' writing. Her father had written a lengthy letter containing his autobiography in 2000, and her mother's history was contained in a few pages of the Lamie book from 1994. Ruth Ann had also written several family stories of her own.Ruth Ann is the oldest of twelve in the Ed and Irene Fleis family and a fourth generation descendent of the Fleis-Lamie families to live in Leelanau County, Michigan. She was a member of Holy Rosary Parish, Isadore (north of Cedar), for nearly fifty years (1945-1994).In 1994, Ruth Ann moved near the village of Suttons Bay, Michigan, after her marriage to Keith Smith. Her home parish is St. Michael the Archangel Church in Suttons Bay.Ruth Ann's favorite pastime is playing the piano and accordion, and she teaches Polish folk dances to youngsters of all ages.The most important aspect of her life was raising eight children, and having grandchildren and great-grandchildren. At the age of eighty-three, she is thankful for her faith, a strong family bond, wonderful friends, and a lasting gift of music.She hopes a member of the Fleis-Lamie family will continue writing where she left off.

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