A Look Back - My Parents’ Wedding
February 2nd, 2012In January, I was given this photograph by a cousin of my mom’s at a family party. These days when we gather together, we tend to swap what pictures we do have, and also try to guess, or hopefully know, who the faces belong to. In the case of this image from nearly 48 years ago, I know all but one face.
I like this photograph for so many reasons. First off, it gives us the viewer a candid look at the family portraits being taken that day, and secondly, for me, this photograph represents the who’s who of my lineage.
Starting from the left, first off is my grandfather (my dad’s dad), J. Herbert Quaas. He was born in 1902 and died essentially two years after this photograph was taken of pancreatic cancer. I wish that I had been able to meet him. He ran City Floral before my father and had emigrated from Germany in the early 1930s.
Second from the left is my grandmother, Gertrude Schumacher Quaas. She was also born around the turn of the century and emigrated to the U.S. after my grandfather. As I recall, they were married in Germany and then she had to wait a number of years before she could come across the pond. She also died in the 1960s so I missed the opportunity to know her as well.
Third from the left is my other grandfather (my mom’s dad), Rasmus (Bob) Laaback. He was born in 1908 in Norway and emigrated here in the 1930s. He was a jack of all trades. He was a skilled mechanic, creative mind, and a fella for whom bad luck seemed to follow. Perhaps that’s what happens when you’re born as the 13th child of 17. Who knows. I did have the pleasure of knowing him, although he died when I was just three years old in 1975.
Next, the bride, is my mother Ellen Laaback Quaas. When I posted this photograph on Facebook, a good friend of mine from growing up said, “I know you hear this pretty much any time you post a picture of her… but it’s amazing how much you and your mom look alike! Especially that gorgeous smile! 
” I love to hear things like that and I know that she and I came from the same mold.
The next gentleman is a mystery to me. Any information regarding who it is would be appreciated.
And then in the shadow at the back right of the photograph is my dad, Ralph, and his sister, Evie.
Anyhow, I love this photograph. Posed photographs are fine, BUT, sometimes those candid and unplanned moments can yield such wonderful images like this one that I now get to treasure.
Like Rick Steves says of traveling, “Keep traveling!,” I say, keep taking those photographs!
