By Deborah Larsen Richard Robert Ponke Richard Robert Ponke was born in Royal Oak, Michigan, on September 22, 1923, the son of August and Wanda Magdowski Ponke. Richard grew up in Avon Township, where his family lived on Hamlin Road. In December 1942, Richard enlisted...

By Deborah Larsen Richard Earl “Dick” Masters Richard Earl “Dick” Masters was born in Elkton, Michigan, on January 3, 1925, the son of Leland and Eva Wiltse Masters. The Masters family moved to Rochester when Dick was a teenager and lived on West Fifth Street (now...

By Deborah Larsen Paul Douglas Strohkirch Paul Douglas Strohkirch was born in Pine, Minnesota, on November 20, 1916, the son of Adolph and Valida Morin Strohkirch. Paul grew up in Minnesota and moved to Rochester about 1940 with his mother after her remarriage. Before...