| |
|
|||||||||||||
|
|
|
|||||||||||||
| |
|
Dr. Miroslav Koudelka
Ancestry Research, Tours, Translation
Client Thoughts...
Wendy Jedlicka / Minneapolis, MN, USAI have nothing but great things to say about Mirek. So many in fact, I make him blush. As you may have read in the 'Start' section of this site, I had a 25 year search for my family home in Bohemia.
Mine is the typical story, the original immigrants only tell the briefest of histories to their children. Those kids in turn try to pass on their ancestral language and heritage to their kids who'll have "None of that peasant stuff. We're Americans!," leaving my generation with only the roots they made for themselves. We Americans are funny, we embrace whatever fractional bit of heritage suits us at the moment, but for the most part don't understand a sliver of what it really means to be, in my case Czech.
My father (a raging xenophobe) was horrified that I not only undertook to study German and Czech, but did so to do genealogical research, and hopefully, one day, find the rest of our family in Bohemia. Mirek for me was the final link in a long, long search. I found my villages from here eventually, but then what? I tried writing to the Archives in Trebon, but got very little help from them, and there are no relatives with my surname left in my ancestral village (we were actually 'newcomers' in 1755, we really come from 2 villages over). Mirek within a few weeks zoomed in and opened the past for me, found direct line (maternal) relatives, as well as the house my gr. grandfather was born in (still in the family, passed down through the women so the current owner has a different surname). It's fair to say Mirek has the keys to a time machine, your personal time machine.
Other researchers I've contacted aren't as effective, as reasonably priced (frankly I think we're taking advantage of him), honest, or as good a traveling companion. I can't think of a better person to have shared my moments of long lost family reunion with. He made the very good experience I had possible.
Since my first Ancestral Trip with Mirek, I've gone back on my own. My Czech language skills are really poor and my relatives speak no English or German, but we gimp by with my few words and a dictionary until we're all too tired to see straight. All thanks to Mirek.
If you'd like to see more of what I've discovered and see how far back I've gotten my pedigree chart to go, check out my research posted at Ancestry.com.
Robert Lempera / Oak Park, IL USA
I can't thank you enough for all of the interesting results you have sent to me. It has given me so much knowledge of the Lempera Family. I never expected to go back so far in history of the Lemperas as you have shown me. And to have real live relatives in Czech Republic is very exciting as well.
John Stasny / Austin, TX, USA
Appears in: Czech Family Histories, Volume II. Published by the Texas Czech Genealogical Society, 2005, pp. 917-918.
When I returned from my second fruitless trip, I knew that I was over my head and needed professional help if I expected to trace my ancestors in the Czech Republic. In February 1999, I found and commissioned Dr. Miroslav Koudelka to conduct the necessary genealogical research to trace all the branches of my family. Dr. Koudelka had come with the highest recommendations from a friend of mine who was also a client of his. After talking to her, I contacted Dr. Koudelka, gave him the information that I had obtained on my family, and he took over. Within a few months, Dr. Koudelka provided me with my first report. After that report, I began to dream again of meeting a Czech relative some day. Little did I know that a year later, he would be arranging for a reunion with the descendants of Josef Stasny (the younger brother of my great-grandfather, Jan Stasny).
Thanks to the diligent efforts of Dr. Koudelka, I was united with my Czech cousins in Vsetín, Moravia, during Easter 2000. Dr. Koudelka had located and arranged for thirty-nine descendants of Josef Stasny to meet with me, their American cousin. I was ecstatic. Following the reunion, my new relatives invited me to their homes. At each household we were greeted with Czech food, pastries, and a local drink, slivovica -- they openly shared family information and photographs with me.
The Stasny reunion was only the beginning of the most wonderful twenty-eight days of my life. Dr. Koudelka arranged a tour of the Czech Republic for me, my wife and my best friend of fifty years, Bill Hodon. Even though the trip was slanted toward ancestral discovery, Dr. Koudelka arranged the agenda in such a way that it became much more. Being a historian and genealogist, he provided us with insight into the Czech Lands that few people get. The entire trip was phenomenal. I am not overstating when I say that Dr. Koudelka opened a new door in my life.
Kristie Lamberg / Seabeck, WA, USA
Thank you very much for the detailed report, the photocopies and your suggestions for our visit. We are so excited to read and absorb all of the information in the report. You have found an amazing amount of data and I really appreciate it.
Marilyn / Nebraska, USA
Mirek, thank you soooo much for everything you found. When I started doing this research on my genealogy I NEVER thought we would get anything out of Bohemia. I can also see why when people from the USA think they can go over there and find those records that it would be next to impossible for them. Thank you so much for all of your help and for translating and helping us to understand what you found.
Joyce Faykus / Austin, TX, USA
Mirek, thank you for all the research you did for me. My trip would not have been so special if it would not have been for you. I really do appreciate all the work you did in finding my ancestors and my relatives. I was so surprised and excited to meet all of them. What absolutely wonderful families. I hope that I can make a return trip in the next few years and that you will be available to do further research for me and guide me. I guess I really need to brush up on my Czech. I could understand the language but they speak so rapidly that it was difficult for me to follow the conversations. Thank you for being there to interpret for me.
Thank you again Mirek for making my trip so memorable and reuniting me with my family that I did not know existed in the fatherland.
Marilyn / Nebraska, USA
Mirek, thank you soooo much for everything you found. When I started doing this research on my genealogy I NEVER thought we would get anything out of Bohemia. I can also see why when people from the USA think they can go over there and find those records that it would be next to impossible for them. Thank you so much for all of your help and for translating and helping us to understand what you found.
Petra / Prague, Czech Republic
I am absolutely excited and surprised! It is amazing to see all that history. Thank you for the great report! One can see very well that you love your job.The family history will be a birthday gift to my Dad for his round anniversary.
Karel Šípek / Liberec, Czech Republic
Many thanks for the CD with valuable documentation, it has arrived safe.It always gives me the shivers when I can look into the depth of time and see the dim characters of my ancestors there as if coming out of the mist. I admire your erudition allowing you to master ancient, sometimes disintegrating sheets. I will be very happy if you extend your search in any of the family lines and will be pleased if you provide me with the photocopies of the old records as well.
Once again, thank you and looking forward to another research report from you.
Lynn Trainor / Sunapee, NH, USA
Linda and I want to again thank you for the wonderful tour of the “old country” and for arranging the visits with Linda’s Czech relatives. This trip was wonderful, and it was everything that I wanted for Linda on our 50th wedding anniversary. Your suggestions were great for when and where to meet the relatives, and your facilitation and translations of the meetings was just what we needed and wanted. Our trip will be one that we will remember for the rest of our lives. And our trip has encouraged Linda to re-establish and commit to her ties with her Czech family.
Nancy Taylor / Austin, TX, USA
Wow! All I can say is WOW! You've done a splendid job!