The hidden impacts of WWII to frame Lion’s Remembrance Day Service in Northbrook

Jeff Green | Nov 08, 2019

The Land O’Lakes Lions Club will be hosting a Remembrance Day evening at their hall in Northbrook on Sunday evening. In addition to a ceremony, the Lions have invited Rose Merkler and her older sister Mitzi Mangold to share their memories of WWII.

The story will not be a pretty one. Rose is 83 and Mitzi is a few years older. Rose has lived locally since 1983 when she and her husband moved from Toronto to their cottage property on Skoottamatta Lake. Fifteen years ago they moved into Northbrook, where Rose still lives. Her husband died 10 years ago. Rose enjoys living a peaceful life in Canada, as she has for over 60 years.

But life wasn’t always easy for Rose and Mitzi. They were raised in Yugoslavia, but even though their family had been living in Yugoslavia since the 1600’s, they were of German descent. The was never a problem until the wart ended in 1945, but then it became a very big one. Rose was 8 years at the time.

“My father was told that since we were German speaking, we had to get out of Yugoslavia, and it is a good thing we did because there was an extermination of German speakers shortly after. The family moved to Austria, which also came under Soviet rule, and Rose’s memories of the time under the Soviets affects her to this day.

“I don’t watch any war movies, I can tell you that” she said. “The most horror for me was living under the Russian occupation in Austria. Most people over here, so long removed from it, have no idea what it was like.

Rose said that it was Lion Red Emond, who she plays Euchre with on Tuesday Nights, approached her and her sister about sharing their story at the Remembrance Day Service in Northbrook.

“I don’t know what kind of questions he will ask, but I’m glad that my sister will be there. I was so young and I don’t remember nearly as much as she does. Since she was older, she was more aware of what was going on, during and after the war