Saturday, January 6th, 2018
Oh baby!
Families celebrate the birth of 99th great-grandchild
By Tom Stankard
Photo by Tom Stankard/The Daily Standard
Rita Buschur, left, and Alma Schmitmeyer on Thursday hold their 99th great-grandchild, Isabelle Buschur of Maria Stein. She was born on Nov. 2.
Rita Buschur, 91, New Weston, and Alma Schmitmeyer, 89, St. Henry, didn't know each other very well while growing up but a friendship between the two blossomed following the wedding of their grandchildren, Ed Buschur and Lisa Schmitmeyer.
Now they share something even more precious - an addition to their respective families that marks each woman's 99th grandchild.
Buschur's grandson Ed Buschur and Schmitmeyer's granddaughter Lisa Schmitmeyer Buschur of Maria Stein are the the loving parents of Isabelle Marie Buschur, who was born Nov. 2 at Mercer County Community Hospital in Coldwater.
As parents, they both couldn't be happier to welcome Isabelle into the world, even though "there's no prize for being the 99th great-grandchild," Lisa Buschur pointed out.
Isabelle was also greeted at the hospital by her five brothers and sisters- Robby, 14; Nathan, 12; Alaina, 9; Andrew, 7; and Dylan, 3.
"It was exciting to watch them interact with their new new sister," Lisa Buschur said. "They are pretty excited to have a new sister."
Raising one more child shouldn't change their lives that much, Lisa Buschur noted.
"It won't be a whole lot different than having only five children," Lisa Buschur said. "There's never a dull moment and it's always busy in our house."
When asked how it feels to have so many great-grandchildren, Alma Schmitmeyer said she "didn't think I was going to get that old."
And the extended families of Rita Buschur and Alma Schmitmeyer continue to expand.
On Dec. 8, Alma Schmitmeyer welcomed her 100th great-grandchild, James Homan. He is Steve and Kristi Homan's first child. Having the 100th great grandchild was like winning the lottery, Steve Homan joked.
"Timing is everything, so it worked out really well," he added.
As a new father, Steve Homan said he's excited to be a parent, but admitted his lifestyle has completely changed.
"It went from going out to a complete halt," he said. "I can't just do what I want when I want anymore. It's pretty amazing how a kid that can't walk, talk or anything kind of controls your whole life."
They both plan to have "a lot more children" together in the future, Steve Homan pointed out.
Cedric Thieman is Rita Buschur's 100th great-grandchild. He was welcomed into the world by parents Justine and Lee Thieman of Greenville on Nov. 13.
"It's always such a blessing to hold your newborn child in your hands," Justine Thieman said.
Both Justine and Lee Thieman are excited that Everett, their first son, and Cedrick get to be part of a such a large extended family.
Rita Buschur and Alma Schmitmeyer expect to have many more great grandchildren, adding on to their large families.
"They all will be welcomed to the family," Alma Schmitmeyer said.
