Rev. Henry and Mrs. Minnie Oermann had a mission to serve God and His church, despite their hardships of over-work, sickness, death and crises of faith. Speaking German at home, they raised their family of six in Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania during the Great Depression. Between the two World Wars, the little ones faced anti-German prejudice. The church demanded services in the English language.
Although the town respected and appreciated them, the elders of the congregation had doubts. When their children were grown, Henry and Minnie finally had to move away, their hearts broken. They had no savings to fall back on for retirement.