Robert's cremated remains were never taken after his death and are still available at Oregon State Hospital to anyone who is related. His closest living relatives are descendants of his half-siblings (children of his biological father).
Robert has gone by several surnames including Illk, Weisenfluh, and Kiermeyer.
Robert was born in Oregon (probably Portland) in 1903. His biological mother, Marie Kiermeyer, was born in 1885 in Bavaria, Germany although she sometimes claimed to be born in Portland. She immigrated to the US with her mother in 1891.
Robert's biological father, Joseph Illk, was a baker born in Bohemia in 1879. He and Marie were married in Multnomah County, Oregon in January 1903. Marie sued for divorce in January 1905 alleging he had deserted her in November 1903.
They both remarried. Marie (Kiermeyer) Illk married Andrew Weisenfluh in Portland on 8/2/1909. He was born in Switzerland in 1886 and immigrated to the US in 1905. Marie and Andrew had no children together. Joseph Illk married Mary Rohrbacher in 1909. They had at least 7 children together.
Robert was first named in documents as "Rupert Illk" in the census of 1910, living in Portland. He was a 6 year old "boarder," living with his mother, Marie, and her new husband, Andrew Weisenfluh in the home of Marie's mother, Katie Kiermeyer and Katie's husband John. John Kiermeyer immigrated to the US in 1886 and married Katie about 1891. It is possible he was not Marie's biological father but he will be referred to as Robert's grandfather to limit confusion.
On the 1910 census, it was indicated Robert was 6 and not attending school. Some 6 year olds in his neighborhood were in school and others were not. On 1/15/1910 Robert's maternal grandparents, John & Katie Kiermeyer, adopted him and changed his name from Robert Illk to John Kiermeyer, Jr. On 1/26/1918 Katie died of liver cancer. She was buried at River View Cemetery in Portland.
During the 1920 census, Robert was living on Taylor Ferry Road in southwest Portland with his grandfather/adoptive father, John Kiermeyer. Also in the home was Robert's birth mother, Marie Weisenfluh, and her husband Andrew. John owned a dairy farm and Andrew was working for him. In the census Robert was listed as "Robert Elk Kiermeier," the 17 year old Oregon-born "son" of John Kiermeyer. On the census it was reported Robert did not speak, read, write, attend school, or have a job. This indicates he had a rather severe disability.
Meanwhile Robert's birth father was living elsewhere in Portland with his wife Mary and three of their children. Their 7 children (Robert's half-siblings) were: Walter Joseph Illk (born in 1910), Alice Elizabeth Illk (1912), unnamed twin boy & girl born on 1/20/1915 and died within a day, Alfred F. Illk (1916), Joseph William Illk (1919), and Edward John Illk (1924).
Robert's father, Joseph Illk (age 46) died of a stroke on 10/30/1925. He was buried at Mount Calvary Cemetery a large Catholic cemetery in Portland. During the 1930 census Joseph's widow, Mary, was living on Tillamook Street in Portland with her 5 surviving children. Mary died on 10/3/1934 of stomach cancer at the age of 49. The children ranged in age from 10 to 24. Rather than being sent to an orphanage or to live with other relatives, the children stayed together. To support themselves, the oldest, Walter, worked as the superintendent of a bakery, and the younger boys became bakers.
Robert's grandfather John Kiermeyer died of heart problems on 2/9/1929. He was buried with his wife at River View Cemetery.
In the census of 1930, Robert was listed as "Robert Elk Weisenfluh," the 26 year old son of Andrew & Marie Weisenfluh. It was indicated Robert was able to speak English, but did not read or write, and was unemployed. They were still living on Taylor's Ferry Road where Andrew owned the dairy.
In the 1940 census, Robert was listed as "Robert Kiermeier," the 38 year old "step-son" of Andrew W. Weisenfluh. It was indicated Robert had never attended school and was not employed.
Andrew Weisenfluh died on 5/7/1949. At the time of the 1950 census, Robert and his mother were living in Clackamas, Oregon. He was going by the name "Bob L. Kiermaier." He was unable to work.
Marie (Kiermeyer) Weisenfluh died of acute heart failure on 4/3/1954. She was buried at River View Cemetery in Portland. At that point all of Robert's caregivers had passed away and he was clearly unable to live independently.
Sometime after 1950 Robert was admitted to an Oregon state institution in Salem, Oregon. It is very likely, but not confirmed, that he was a patient at the Oregon Fairview Home. The Fairview Home was originally the Oregon State Institution for the Feeble-Minded, a quasi-educational institution with educating people with developmental disabilities. In 1965 it was renamed Fairview Hospital and Training Center. It was closed in 2000.
He died at the state institution on 7/2/1970. Because his remains were not claimed his body was transported to the nearby Oregon State (Psychiatric) Hospital where he was cremated and where his ashes are still being held.
His 5 half-siblings survived him, but they were probably told little or nothing about Robert. His half-brother Joseph Illk died in 1972. Walter Illk died in 1974. Alfred died in 1989. Edward died in 1996 and Alice (Illk) Ingle died in 1997. The siblings known to have had children were Joseph, Edward, and Alice.
More information about the 3500 unclaimed cremains at OSH is available at http://www.oregon.gov/oha/amh/osh/pages/cremains.aspx A book by David Maisel and a documentary by Ondi Timoner & Robert James, both entitled "Library of Dust" also provide more information.
Robert has gone by several surnames including Illk, Weisenfluh, and Kiermeyer.
Robert was born in Oregon (probably Portland) in 1903. His biological mother, Marie Kiermeyer, was born in 1885 in Bavaria, Germany although she sometimes claimed to be born in Portland. She immigrated to the US with her mother in 1891.
Robert's biological father, Joseph Illk, was a baker born in Bohemia in 1879. He and Marie were married in Multnomah County, Oregon in January 1903. Marie sued for divorce in January 1905 alleging he had deserted her in November 1903.
They both remarried. Marie (Kiermeyer) Illk married Andrew Weisenfluh in Portland on 8/2/1909. He was born in Switzerland in 1886 and immigrated to the US in 1905. Marie and Andrew had no children together. Joseph Illk married Mary Rohrbacher in 1909. They had at least 7 children together.
Robert was first named in documents as "Rupert Illk" in the census of 1910, living in Portland. He was a 6 year old "boarder," living with his mother, Marie, and her new husband, Andrew Weisenfluh in the home of Marie's mother, Katie Kiermeyer and Katie's husband John. John Kiermeyer immigrated to the US in 1886 and married Katie about 1891. It is possible he was not Marie's biological father but he will be referred to as Robert's grandfather to limit confusion.
On the 1910 census, it was indicated Robert was 6 and not attending school. Some 6 year olds in his neighborhood were in school and others were not. On 1/15/1910 Robert's maternal grandparents, John & Katie Kiermeyer, adopted him and changed his name from Robert Illk to John Kiermeyer, Jr. On 1/26/1918 Katie died of liver cancer. She was buried at River View Cemetery in Portland.
During the 1920 census, Robert was living on Taylor Ferry Road in southwest Portland with his grandfather/adoptive father, John Kiermeyer. Also in the home was Robert's birth mother, Marie Weisenfluh, and her husband Andrew. John owned a dairy farm and Andrew was working for him. In the census Robert was listed as "Robert Elk Kiermeier," the 17 year old Oregon-born "son" of John Kiermeyer. On the census it was reported Robert did not speak, read, write, attend school, or have a job. This indicates he had a rather severe disability.
Meanwhile Robert's birth father was living elsewhere in Portland with his wife Mary and three of their children. Their 7 children (Robert's half-siblings) were: Walter Joseph Illk (born in 1910), Alice Elizabeth Illk (1912), unnamed twin boy & girl born on 1/20/1915 and died within a day, Alfred F. Illk (1916), Joseph William Illk (1919), and Edward John Illk (1924).
Robert's father, Joseph Illk (age 46) died of a stroke on 10/30/1925. He was buried at Mount Calvary Cemetery a large Catholic cemetery in Portland. During the 1930 census Joseph's widow, Mary, was living on Tillamook Street in Portland with her 5 surviving children. Mary died on 10/3/1934 of stomach cancer at the age of 49. The children ranged in age from 10 to 24. Rather than being sent to an orphanage or to live with other relatives, the children stayed together. To support themselves, the oldest, Walter, worked as the superintendent of a bakery, and the younger boys became bakers.
Robert's grandfather John Kiermeyer died of heart problems on 2/9/1929. He was buried with his wife at River View Cemetery.
In the census of 1930, Robert was listed as "Robert Elk Weisenfluh," the 26 year old son of Andrew & Marie Weisenfluh. It was indicated Robert was able to speak English, but did not read or write, and was unemployed. They were still living on Taylor's Ferry Road where Andrew owned the dairy.
In the 1940 census, Robert was listed as "Robert Kiermeier," the 38 year old "step-son" of Andrew W. Weisenfluh. It was indicated Robert had never attended school and was not employed.
Andrew Weisenfluh died on 5/7/1949. At the time of the 1950 census, Robert and his mother were living in Clackamas, Oregon. He was going by the name "Bob L. Kiermaier." He was unable to work.
Marie (Kiermeyer) Weisenfluh died of acute heart failure on 4/3/1954. She was buried at River View Cemetery in Portland. At that point all of Robert's caregivers had passed away and he was clearly unable to live independently.
Sometime after 1950 Robert was admitted to an Oregon state institution in Salem, Oregon. It is very likely, but not confirmed, that he was a patient at the Oregon Fairview Home. The Fairview Home was originally the Oregon State Institution for the Feeble-Minded, a quasi-educational institution with educating people with developmental disabilities. In 1965 it was renamed Fairview Hospital and Training Center. It was closed in 2000.
He died at the state institution on 7/2/1970. Because his remains were not claimed his body was transported to the nearby Oregon State (Psychiatric) Hospital where he was cremated and where his ashes are still being held.
His 5 half-siblings survived him, but they were probably told little or nothing about Robert. His half-brother Joseph Illk died in 1972. Walter Illk died in 1974. Alfred died in 1989. Edward died in 1996 and Alice (Illk) Ingle died in 1997. The siblings known to have had children were Joseph, Edward, and Alice.
More information about the 3500 unclaimed cremains at OSH is available at http://www.oregon.gov/oha/amh/osh/pages/cremains.aspx A book by David Maisel and a documentary by Ondi Timoner & Robert James, both entitled "Library of Dust" also provide more information.
Robert's cremated remains were never taken after his death and are still available at Oregon State Hospital to anyone who is related. His closest living relatives are descendants of his half-siblings (children of his biological father).
Robert has gone by several surnames including Illk, Weisenfluh, and Kiermeyer.
Robert was born in Oregon (probably Portland) in 1903. His biological mother, Marie Kiermeyer, was born in 1885 in Bavaria, Germany although she sometimes claimed to be born in Portland. She immigrated to the US with her mother in 1891.
Robert's biological father, Joseph Illk, was a baker born in Bohemia in 1879. He and Marie were married in Multnomah County, Oregon in January 1903. Marie sued for divorce in January 1905 alleging he had deserted her in November 1903.
They both remarried. Marie (Kiermeyer) Illk married Andrew Weisenfluh in Portland on 8/2/1909. He was born in Switzerland in 1886 and immigrated to the US in 1905. Marie and Andrew had no children together. Joseph Illk married Mary Rohrbacher in 1909. They had at least 7 children together.
Robert was first named in documents as "Rupert Illk" in the census of 1910, living in Portland. He was a 6 year old "boarder," living with his mother, Marie, and her new husband, Andrew Weisenfluh in the home of Marie's mother, Katie Kiermeyer and Katie's husband John. John Kiermeyer immigrated to the US in 1886 and married Katie about 1891. It is possible he was not Marie's biological father but he will be referred to as Robert's grandfather to limit confusion.
On the 1910 census, it was indicated Robert was 6 and not attending school. Some 6 year olds in his neighborhood were in school and others were not. On 1/15/1910 Robert's maternal grandparents, John & Katie Kiermeyer, adopted him and changed his name from Robert Illk to John Kiermeyer, Jr. On 1/26/1918 Katie died of liver cancer. She was buried at River View Cemetery in Portland.
During the 1920 census, Robert was living on Taylor Ferry Road in southwest Portland with his grandfather/adoptive father, John Kiermeyer. Also in the home was Robert's birth mother, Marie Weisenfluh, and her husband Andrew. John owned a dairy farm and Andrew was working for him. In the census Robert was listed as "Robert Elk Kiermeier," the 17 year old Oregon-born "son" of John Kiermeyer. On the census it was reported Robert did not speak, read, write, attend school, or have a job. This indicates he had a rather severe disability.
Meanwhile Robert's birth father was living elsewhere in Portland with his wife Mary and three of their children. Their 7 children (Robert's half-siblings) were: Walter Joseph Illk (born in 1910), Alice Elizabeth Illk (1912), unnamed twin boy & girl born on 1/20/1915 and died within a day, Alfred F. Illk (1916), Joseph William Illk (1919), and Edward John Illk (1924).
Robert's father, Joseph Illk (age 46) died of a stroke on 10/30/1925. He was buried at Mount Calvary Cemetery a large Catholic cemetery in Portland. During the 1930 census Joseph's widow, Mary, was living on Tillamook Street in Portland with her 5 surviving children. Mary died on 10/3/1934 of stomach cancer at the age of 49. The children ranged in age from 10 to 24. Rather than being sent to an orphanage or to live with other relatives, the children stayed together. To support themselves, the oldest, Walter, worked as the superintendent of a bakery, and the younger boys became bakers.
Robert's grandfather John Kiermeyer died of heart problems on 2/9/1929. He was buried with his wife at River View Cemetery.
In the census of 1930, Robert was listed as "Robert Elk Weisenfluh," the 26 year old son of Andrew & Marie Weisenfluh. It was indicated Robert was able to speak English, but did not read or write, and was unemployed. They were still living on Taylor's Ferry Road where Andrew owned the dairy.
In the 1940 census, Robert was listed as "Robert Kiermeier," the 38 year old "step-son" of Andrew W. Weisenfluh. It was indicated Robert had never attended school and was not employed.
Andrew Weisenfluh died on 5/7/1949. At the time of the 1950 census, Robert and his mother were living in Clackamas, Oregon. He was going by the name "Bob L. Kiermaier." He was unable to work.
Marie (Kiermeyer) Weisenfluh died of acute heart failure on 4/3/1954. She was buried at River View Cemetery in Portland. At that point all of Robert's caregivers had passed away and he was clearly unable to live independently.
Sometime after 1950 Robert was admitted to an Oregon state institution in Salem, Oregon. It is very likely, but not confirmed, that he was a patient at the Oregon Fairview Home. The Fairview Home was originally the Oregon State Institution for the Feeble-Minded, a quasi-educational institution with educating people with developmental disabilities. In 1965 it was renamed Fairview Hospital and Training Center. It was closed in 2000.
He died at the state institution on 7/2/1970. Because his remains were not claimed his body was transported to the nearby Oregon State (Psychiatric) Hospital where he was cremated and where his ashes are still being held.
His 5 half-siblings survived him, but they were probably told little or nothing about Robert. His half-brother Joseph Illk died in 1972. Walter Illk died in 1974. Alfred died in 1989. Edward died in 1996 and Alice (Illk) Ingle died in 1997. The siblings known to have had children were Joseph, Edward, and Alice.
More information about the 3500 unclaimed cremains at OSH is available at http://www.oregon.gov/oha/amh/osh/pages/cremains.aspx A book by David Maisel and a documentary by Ondi Timoner & Robert James, both entitled "Library of Dust" also provide more information.
Robert has gone by several surnames including Illk, Weisenfluh, and Kiermeyer.
Robert was born in Oregon (probably Portland) in 1903. His biological mother, Marie Kiermeyer, was born in 1885 in Bavaria, Germany although she sometimes claimed to be born in Portland. She immigrated to the US with her mother in 1891.
Robert's biological father, Joseph Illk, was a baker born in Bohemia in 1879. He and Marie were married in Multnomah County, Oregon in January 1903. Marie sued for divorce in January 1905 alleging he had deserted her in November 1903.
They both remarried. Marie (Kiermeyer) Illk married Andrew Weisenfluh in Portland on 8/2/1909. He was born in Switzerland in 1886 and immigrated to the US in 1905. Marie and Andrew had no children together. Joseph Illk married Mary Rohrbacher in 1909. They had at least 7 children together.
Robert was first named in documents as "Rupert Illk" in the census of 1910, living in Portland. He was a 6 year old "boarder," living with his mother, Marie, and her new husband, Andrew Weisenfluh in the home of Marie's mother, Katie Kiermeyer and Katie's husband John. John Kiermeyer immigrated to the US in 1886 and married Katie about 1891. It is possible he was not Marie's biological father but he will be referred to as Robert's grandfather to limit confusion.
On the 1910 census, it was indicated Robert was 6 and not attending school. Some 6 year olds in his neighborhood were in school and others were not. On 1/15/1910 Robert's maternal grandparents, John & Katie Kiermeyer, adopted him and changed his name from Robert Illk to John Kiermeyer, Jr. On 1/26/1918 Katie died of liver cancer. She was buried at River View Cemetery in Portland.
During the 1920 census, Robert was living on Taylor Ferry Road in southwest Portland with his grandfather/adoptive father, John Kiermeyer. Also in the home was Robert's birth mother, Marie Weisenfluh, and her husband Andrew. John owned a dairy farm and Andrew was working for him. In the census Robert was listed as "Robert Elk Kiermeier," the 17 year old Oregon-born "son" of John Kiermeyer. On the census it was reported Robert did not speak, read, write, attend school, or have a job. This indicates he had a rather severe disability.
Meanwhile Robert's birth father was living elsewhere in Portland with his wife Mary and three of their children. Their 7 children (Robert's half-siblings) were: Walter Joseph Illk (born in 1910), Alice Elizabeth Illk (1912), unnamed twin boy & girl born on 1/20/1915 and died within a day, Alfred F. Illk (1916), Joseph William Illk (1919), and Edward John Illk (1924).
Robert's father, Joseph Illk (age 46) died of a stroke on 10/30/1925. He was buried at Mount Calvary Cemetery a large Catholic cemetery in Portland. During the 1930 census Joseph's widow, Mary, was living on Tillamook Street in Portland with her 5 surviving children. Mary died on 10/3/1934 of stomach cancer at the age of 49. The children ranged in age from 10 to 24. Rather than being sent to an orphanage or to live with other relatives, the children stayed together. To support themselves, the oldest, Walter, worked as the superintendent of a bakery, and the younger boys became bakers.
Robert's grandfather John Kiermeyer died of heart problems on 2/9/1929. He was buried with his wife at River View Cemetery.
In the census of 1930, Robert was listed as "Robert Elk Weisenfluh," the 26 year old son of Andrew & Marie Weisenfluh. It was indicated Robert was able to speak English, but did not read or write, and was unemployed. They were still living on Taylor's Ferry Road where Andrew owned the dairy.
In the 1940 census, Robert was listed as "Robert Kiermeier," the 38 year old "step-son" of Andrew W. Weisenfluh. It was indicated Robert had never attended school and was not employed.
Andrew Weisenfluh died on 5/7/1949. At the time of the 1950 census, Robert and his mother were living in Clackamas, Oregon. He was going by the name "Bob L. Kiermaier." He was unable to work.
Marie (Kiermeyer) Weisenfluh died of acute heart failure on 4/3/1954. She was buried at River View Cemetery in Portland. At that point all of Robert's caregivers had passed away and he was clearly unable to live independently.
Sometime after 1950 Robert was admitted to an Oregon state institution in Salem, Oregon. It is very likely, but not confirmed, that he was a patient at the Oregon Fairview Home. The Fairview Home was originally the Oregon State Institution for the Feeble-Minded, a quasi-educational institution with educating people with developmental disabilities. In 1965 it was renamed Fairview Hospital and Training Center. It was closed in 2000.
He died at the state institution on 7/2/1970. Because his remains were not claimed his body was transported to the nearby Oregon State (Psychiatric) Hospital where he was cremated and where his ashes are still being held.
His 5 half-siblings survived him, but they were probably told little or nothing about Robert. His half-brother Joseph Illk died in 1972. Walter Illk died in 1974. Alfred died in 1989. Edward died in 1996 and Alice (Illk) Ingle died in 1997. The siblings known to have had children were Joseph, Edward, and Alice.
More information about the 3500 unclaimed cremains at OSH is available at http://www.oregon.gov/oha/amh/osh/pages/cremains.aspx A book by David Maisel and a documentary by Ondi Timoner & Robert James, both entitled "Library of Dust" also provide more information.
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