When John turned fourteen years old his Aunt Mary took him away from the orphanage to live with her. The reason that Aunt Mary took only John is that he was old enough to work. John's brother, Tony, ran away from the orphanage after John left. Although he was not old enough to work yet.
Aunt Mary let him move in with Johns' persuasion. John lived and worked with Aunt Mary until he was eighteen years old. At that time World War I was being fought in Europe. John joined the U.S. Army. He was enlisted for one day before Germany surrendered. He was discharged, since there was no longer a need for solders.
In the same city of Chicago the daughter of Joseph and Ann Warczak was born on May 28, 1904. Her parents named her Irene Julia. Irene was a good student and as she grew up she wanted to be an interior decorator, Great Grandma Ann had other ideas. When
Irene was old enough to finish grade school her mother sent her to work. Irene determined to go to high school; worked during the day at Oscar Henem Silk Factory and attended evening school. Great Grandma Ann was a widow at the time and she needed the
extra money support to raise Irene and her two other sisters.
The first time Irene met John, she was about fifteen years old and it was early in the spring. John was painting the eves of a house and he was wearing overalls. Irene's friend Lillian was dating John at the time, and Lillian introduced Irene to him. Lillians' plans were to get Irene to date either John's brother Tony or her brother Steve. Tony Gniech did ask Irene for a date she accepted. They all went to the movies. Irene and Lillian walked to the show themselves; meeting the gentlemen inside the theater. John was playing the drums at the Star Theater on Milwaukee Avenue near Wood and Paulina. Between sets and every chance John got he would sit next to Irene and Lillian. However when the evening ended it was Tony Gniech who walked Irene home. Irene and Tony went on several dates, while John was dating Lillian.
The next time Irene and John would meet would be Easter Sunday 1921. Irene and Lillian went to Easter mass. After mass it started to rain and that is when Irene ran into John again. Since it was raining, John gave Irene the newspaper to hold over her head so her bonnet would not be ruined. John asked Irene for a date, while walking her home. Irene refused because John was dating her best friend Lillian. On the following Saturday while Lillian and Irene were shopping. John met them and asked if could walk the girls home; they accepted. Irene was not really impressed with John; she used to call him a "Farmer." As persistent as John was Irene kept telling him she would not date him. John kept asking Irene out again and again she said no. This cat and mouse play went on for several weeks. It ended when John and Irene met at a birthday party at Lillians house. John walked Irene home and told her he was taking her out to the ice cream parlor the next evening. Irene and John dated until December. Then on the tenth of December John proposed to Irene and thankfully Irene said yes. As was the tradition John asked Irene's mother Ann for her blessing on the marriage. Great Grandma Ann had a saying "wait and see if you still like it tomorrow." However, when it came to Irene marrying John she did not utter a word except yes.
John and Irene were married on January 25, 1922 at 11:00 a.m. from Saint Mary's of the Angel. Irene's sister Vern was her maid of honor and the best man was John's friend. The weather turned out to be nice, and the reception was at Irene's mothers' home. Great Grandma Ann did all the cooking. John worked at a shoe factory after he and Irene were married. Grandma Irene went on to have the first of nine children. After fourteen years of marriage Grandpa John started his own upholstering business. The store was located on Fullerton across from Saint James Church and beneath Grandpa and Grandma's apartment.
On August 13, 1924 John and Irene's first son was born Clarence Anthony Gneich, his father called him "Little Buddy." Through the years Clarence became to be known as Bud.
Click here to read Clarence Gniech's Story
The third child and second son was Herbert Joseph. Herbert was born November 2, 1927. His birth was started after Grandma Irene took a fall on the kitchen floor. No one was hurt. Herbert was a very lovable and happy child. His life was taken away to soon. Herbert died from an obstruction of the bowels at the age of five. Herbert Joseph died September 25, 1931.
On April 6, 1930 the fourth child and third son was born. His parents named him Robert John.
Click here to read Robert Gniech's Story
The fifth child and fourth son was Donald Alfonses born January 13, 1932.
Click here to read Donald Gniech's Story
John Henry "JR" was the sixth child and the fifth son of John and Irene. Grandpa John put his hands on his head and exclaimed "OH BOY!" when the doctor told him how much the baby weight. JR was born on February 5, 1935, weighing approximately 11 pounds. There is some debate over what JR's real name is; Grandma Irene named him George Henry at his birth. When JR was baptized his Godmother Alice Buttz (Irene's sister) named him John; after his father and his Godfather. Since his birth certificate was destroyed in a fire JR's baptismal named was kept. JR attended Lane Technical High School. Instead of graduating he joined the U.S. Air Force, where he became a mechanic. JR never married and had no children. John Henry died August 1977.
The seventh child and sixth son is Charles. He was born at home on May 18, 1938; Charles was the smallest of all the babies born to Grandma Irene.
Click here to read Charles Gniech's Story
Elizabeth Louise is the eighth child and the second daughter of John and Irene. Betty was born on January 10, 1941 at home.
Click here to read Elizabeth Gniech's Story
The ninth child and seventh son was finally born on June 20, 1944 at Martha Washington Hospital. Click here to read George Gniech's Story
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