John & Vernie Wintermeyer

John B. and Vernie Wintermeyer, 1950s

 I'm finding more and more that most families have at least one "background" kid--not necessarily a black sheep, but who maybe moved away, or didn't always have time to attend family stuff, or one who just grew away from the family set of values. Who knows?
I think grandma Lizzy's sister Vernie (Veronica) was in this position in the Mike Sand family (but not the only one).  At least in my experience, Vernie wasn't mentioned much, and was never there when the Sand nuns came home, for instance.  It's possible that her life away from Buckman was a lot better than life on the farm.  Certainly, this photo looks like she was content.  We know from her mom's obit  that Louisa spent her last days at Vernie's in St Cloud, and died there.
Maybe it's just that Lizzy and Vernie weren't close, huh?

These photos are from Jenny, too...and the one to the left is labeled "Henry Block and John Wintermeyer".  It looks like the same yard as above, with peonies in bloom.  Henry, of course, was Lena's husband, so those two couples connected, at least. (I think this ◄John was the Wintermeyer's son John J. born in 1905.  His sibs were Joseph, born in 1908, and Marie, born in 1920).

Aa a reward for making it this far, here's a mystery to ponder:

Jenny said this photo is marked "Grandma and Grandpa Sand", but it's not Mike and Louisa.  They never reached this age or this portliness, tho Mike always had a longer, fuller beard than this gentleman.  We're curious about who they actually were--maybe Block grandparents, or Hoheisel, or Wintermeyer?  

Thanks again, Jenny! ☺