Swedish American Historical Society of Wisconsin

On this page members genealogy research is published.

Marjorie Jothen

During the SAHSWI March meeting 2021 we celebrated with Marge her 102nd birthday. “Goda Vänner” Carol Gustafson and Mary Stetson, led the ZOOM participants in singing “Happy Birthday” and followed up with “Ja må hon leva” on Violin. Then presented Marge with a fabulous birthday cake.

SAHSWI Past President Barbara Froemming spoke a tribute to Marge…

“This is a very special day! Our wonderful Marge Jothen is celebrating her birthday. This is not just any old birthday – this is Marge’s 102nd birthday. I’m not sure that all of you know Marge has been a member of the Swedish American Historical Society of Wisconsin since the mid-80s. She has always been a leader, having served on the Board of Directors for many of those years, and more recently, she served as President. Currently, Marge is our genealogy “guru,” helping our members who are searching for guidance in their family history pursuit, and also helping in the genealogy research room at Scandinavian Fests. AND, she has made sure our Society’s historical files have been properly maintained. I could go on and on, but let’s just say Marge has been a terrific role model, a mentor to many of us, and a great friend!”

Marge is 102 years young and has surpassed the Swedish birthday song, translated “may you live to be a 100”, a great accomplishment to stay young for so long.

Marge told her story in the 2019 March newsletter. “Between 1869 and 1892, my 4 grandparents, 4 great-grandparents, and 12 great-uncles and -aunts emigrated from Sweden, primarily from Småland, some from Östergötland and Dalsland, to settle mostly in Chisago County, Minnesota.” She has researched her family history and is the author of two books:

• The Carlson Family: Sons of Carl Gustaf Petersson: Ancestors, Descendants and Emigration from Gärdserum, Småland, Sweden to Fish Lake, Chisago County, Minnesota, 1991 and  
• Warme Swedish Ironsmiths: Descendants of Carl Werme (1711-1772) in Sweden and America, 2000.

In the article published in 2019 Marge continues “I’m proud of my Swedish heritage and have enjoyed learning more about it, traveling to Sweden 4 times and finding the areas of my heritage: Småland, Östergötland and Dalsland.”  However, researching Swedish heritage is only one part of her busy life:

• Born in Minneapolis, MN on March 13, 1919 to Arthur Warme and Hannah Carlson Warme, when her father was serving in France, as a private in the 3rd Infantry in WWI. 
• Moved to Milwaukee in 1921, and to Whitefish Bay in 1928 where school had program for music, art, and gym.
• During the depression in 1930 Marge’s father lost his job at A.O.Smith resulting in difficult times. Marge explains “We moved 4 times in Milwaukee before my father was able to borrow money for a down payment for an old house. Then we lived in a mansion on Prospect Avenue, my father got a job as a caretaker there and in addition to his salary, we also got to live there.”
• Education BS in  Public Health Nursing (University of Minnesota) and MA in Educational Administration (UW-Milwaukee). 
• Army nurse in WWII, serving in the South Pacific.    
• Worked in public health nursing (Visiting Nurse Association) in Milwaukee for 25 years and advanced to Director
• Continued as a Director in Madison for another 2 years responsible for the Handicapped Children Program.
• Member of Swedish-American Historical Society of Wisconsin, Inc. (SAHSWI) for 38 years, served as Board member, Vice President, President, Historian, Julotta and Misommar committees and Founder and Coordinator of the Genealogy group

Marge is providing part of her heritage to the American Swedish Institute in Minneapolis. She is donating a collection of items relating to iron smithing, including rare iron muffin tins, a book including manufacturing and trade secrets of iron smithing written by her second cousin, and other items, which are included in exhibits by the Institute.