Iron Crosses are a distinctive feature of German-Russian cemeteries imported from Russia to the North American plains. This is the Krasna Cemetery, north of Fox Valley, SK. Four of my Dad's siblings are buried here. My Dad was baptised at the Krasna church.

This iron cross marks the grave of my grandmother Elizabeth Schafer, in St. Mary's Catholic Cemetery east of Richmound, SK.

The Iron Crosses have become a symbol to me of the transplanted culture of the Germans from Russia. Many features of the Rhineland German culture followed the migrants into South Russia and flourished there, with some adaptations, for over a hundred years, before making their way to the Great Plains of North America. This website traces the story of my Weiss family from the Rhineland to South Russia to Canada.

This is a work in progress, and genealogy information may be amended in the future. Some information in this website is the result of my logic and deduction, and not necessarily based on documentary evidence. I continue to research my family's history, and I will update and corroborate information as I find it. Please contact me to verify the currency of any data on my website.
December 24, 2005...