I am researching ancestors from the towns and villages of Kaposvar, Berzence (Perdocz puszta) and Gyekenyes. If you are researching these towns or surnames, please write.

Hi Liz,

How's it coming ?

I have new FYI's, if you want.
email is ok!
klara

Hello,

My name is Dan Butler. I am married to a woman from Kaposvar, Hungary. Her maiden name is Kiss. We frequently go to Kaposvar since we live in Germany and I work for the U.S. Military. If you are interested in any assistance, we would be happy to cooperate providing there are no expenses for us. We would like to assist in hopes of gaining your assistance sometime.

Sincerely,
Dan and Betti Butler

Hello Dan and Betti,

What a very kind offer of you. Thank you very much. I am at such a stumbling block in Kaposvar where I really don't know what my next move is at the moment. Wish you safe travels in the future.

Liz Thompson

I've just traced my Lelek family back to Kaposvar (1801). Please let me know if you still go there!

Yes, I spend my winters there with my Hungarian wife. How can I assist?

My grandfather, Andrew Lalack, Sr., was born in Pankota in 1896. The original spelling of his name is Andreas Lelek. (Some of the descendants changed it to Lelack, and then just my father's branch of the family spells it as Lalack). Andreas came to the U.S. in 1908 with his parents Josef Lelek and Elisabeth Schok Lelek. Josef's father (mother unknown) is Andreas Lelek who was baptized in Pankota on June 8, 1836. The parents of this Andreas are Franciscus/Ferencz Lelek and his wife Anna Schmidt. The baptismal records for Andreas show that his father Franciscus (or Ferencz) was born in Kaposvar about 1801. I haven't searched the Family History Library's microfilms for records yet, but that is the next step in my research. I would like to find Josef's military enlistment records - many are available, but I'm not sure where someone from Pankota would have enlisted. I'll probably look through Kaposvar military records for any of the Lelek family first. It would be great to get some pictures from Kaposvar when you are there, such as the Catholic church if there is one there. I'm not sure where any of the Lelek family that was in Hungary would have been buried ... if you happen to be at an old cemetery and spot a grave with that name, it would be great to get a picture. I would also be curious if there are any of the Lelek descendants still live in the area. I will let you know if I find out more when I see some of the microfilms from Kaposvar. Thanks.

Hello Patti,

I am back in Hungary after some unexpected delay. The winter is upon us here as is Christmas. I don't know if you are aware, but here in Hungary, "Baby Jesus" brings the gifts on Christmas Eve after a traditional dinner of fried carp! With the coming new year, I am expecting to do some research and have yours at the top of my list. I discussed it with my wife and she was surprised you had access to military records in Hungary. Can you tell me how that is? It would most likely break a brick wall for her family. She is familar with Pankota. As far as Kaposvar itself, it is very large. There is one section of the city cemetary that is very old and ill-kept. Another tradition, graves are only cared for by the descendants. If they show no interest, then they fall apart. Please let me know if you have found anything additional since last May's posting.
Merry Christmas.
dan butler

Thank you very much for your message. The military records I saw from Hungary were microfilms that I rented through the Family History Center affiliated with the Mormon church. The rentals are for three weeks, then they get returned to Salt Lake City, Utah. I still haven't figured out where my great-grandfather Josef Lelek would have served in the military. Familysearch.org should eventually have these records available to look at online, as they are digitizing all of their microfilmed records. I have heard that it will take another 4 or 5 years to get everything online. I keep checking back with familysearch.org to see what new records have been posted. We are opening our Christmas presents in the morning, although when I was young we opened them up on Christmas Eve. There are lights on most of the houses
in our neighborhood. If you happen to see anything with Lelek on it (headstones, etc) it would be great to get a picture, or to see any pictures of Kaposvar. Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.

Patti, here it is 4:45 am on Christmas morning... Our daughter had her traditional Christmas at her grandparents house and I am supposed to be sleeping to await her awakening for the traditional American Christmas morning at our house! I just spent the time since my earlier posting scouring my hard drives for some Kaposvar pictures to send to you post-haste. No luck. I have the city's opera house but there are 2 newly weds in front of it (my wife and I)! I will attach that although I'm sure it isn't of much interest to you. I promise some new photos before the new year! The town has changed since I first came in Jan of 1997. We've added a McDonalds. a shopping plaza and a shopping mall. Our Wal-Mart equivalent is Tesco. It arrived after our we moved to Italy in 1999. Sad to say, some of the main street businesses had gone and lay in disrepair. Just as it happens in America when a Wal-mart opens. We are expecting rain for the next 2 days and then snow, but I will get to main street and take some holiday pictures for you. Have a wonderful holiday!