A reunion in the works, almost a century old in the making, continues on Guam for descendants of Hermann Woitschek from Germany.
A glorious family reunion — one that solved mysteries, answered questions and made for many tearful embraces — continues Saturday at Ypao beach.
At the root of the reunion is the late Hermann Woitschek, who lived out his life in Germany before he died in 1968. But as a young man, Woitschek was once a medical assistant sent to assist the German administration established in Saipan. He arrived in 1899.
In short: Woitschek married a local woman, Soledad Cepeda, and they had a son Juan Cepeda. They eventually split, and Woitschek then married Antonia Palacios Cabrera, with whom he had three children: Asuncion Cabrera Blanco, Rosa Cabrera Tudela and August Cabrera. Woitschek was forced to leave his family behind when Germany recalled its nationals, whose Pacific presence was being threatened at the time by Japan.
In Germany, Woitschek remarried and had a son, Helmut, who had an only child, Erika Woitschek who became Erika Entenmann.
The reunion, held over the last two weeks, is the story of how the grandchildren and great-grandchildren of Hermann Woitschek. in Europe and in the Marianas, found each other.
Entenmann said she always knew her father had family somewhere in the Pacific, possibly near Papua New Guinea. Her grandfather had told her stories as a little girl, she said, and she yearned to reconnect with them some way. For years, she wondered, and then she started looking.
In October 2016, she came across an article from the Saipan Tribune, which mentioned a meeting commemorating the German administration a century before. It mentioned her grandfather, a daughter and granddaughter.
"It was so shocking. We had known all the time he has children somewhere by Papua New Guinea. And now I found her name and a place where I could find her," said Entenmann. "I began to search at many different places. Ancestry and other root pages. I researched in old books about this time. And the Internet!"
Entenmann said she sent more 100 inquires to different people, stating her last name and asking if they were related. Most said no, but tried to help. Entenmann is normally a shy person, but felt compelled to keep searching.
"It was so important to me. Because I knew now, the family was looking for information about grandpa, what happened and why he did not come back," said Entenmann. "I feel that they all have to think, they were not loved because he is leaving. I know I cannot change what happened, but if they know, they will not forget, they are a little bit lighter. And also give the chance to know what happened after he left the islands."
Finally, she made a connection with Cynthia Pangelinan, a great-granddaughter. Afterward, the floodgates opened and she reconnected with dozens of relatives, and a handful of her remaining first cousins, the grandchildren of her grandfather's first two wives.
Entenmann arrived on Saipan Dec. 7 and first hugged her cousin Sally Villanueva. The tears came and flowed and it would be a long time before they stopped.
"Unforgettable. Both of us we cried. It was so emotional," said Entenmann.
Woitschek's family in Saipan had searched just as long, even seeking the help of a German radio station, to no avail.
As Entenmann met more and more relatives, she realized that the great-grandchildren had similar features to her grandfather, and some had blue eyes, fair skinned, or were unusually tall.
"I was also impressed by how many identify with their origins. Some have tattooed their name, Boischit, That's how they wrote Woitschek," said Entenmann. "I was a little child, when grandpa tell me stories about his life here. Now I am here, I see with my own eyes where he lived for 17 years, and I saw the family, who missed him a lot.
"And I know he missed his children, too. To make the contact and put the things together, that makes me really happy."
Entenmann recently arrived on Guam to meet even more family. Ramona C. Siblang, one of Woitschek's great-granddaughters and the granddaughter of his firs-tborn, Juan Cepeda, is here organizing the reunion party at Gov. Joseph Flores Park, at Ypao beach.
"All my life I've been searching to find out more about my great-grandfather Hermann and longing to find my family in Germany. I was close to my grandfather Juan but I was so little when he passed away and could not find anyone who can give me answers," she said. "As a little girl I've spoken to my great-grandfather's other children Tan Rosa and Tan Chong but even they could not remember much except for his first name. It's been so heart warming and I'm filled with tears of joy to finally meet my auntie Erika and most especially to see so many pictures and learn so much more about my great-grandfather. I can now share the stories and the history to my children and grandchildren."
Entenmann and her daughter Eva leave Guam Sunday for four days in Palau before returning home.
"I know, that many of my relatives are living here, that is the reason I am here," said Entenmann. "I am normally not travelling around the world, and the heat is not so much for me!"