[Congressional Record Volume 146, Number 84 (Wednesday, June 28, 2000)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E1137-E1138]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                     HONORING THE CERKVENIK FAMILY

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. JAMES L. OBERSTAR

                              of minnesota

                    in the house of representatives

                         Tuesday, June 27, 2000

  Mr. OBERSTAR. Mr. Speaker, I am very pleased to honor a remarkable 
family in my congressional district: the Cerkvenik family, who will 
celebrate their heritage on July 6th, 2000, with a gathering on the 
Mesabi Iron Range in Northeastern Minnesota. The Cerkvenik family had 
its beginnings in the Republic of Slovenia in northwestern Yugoslavia. 
As the people of Slovenia celebrate their ninth year of independence 
from Yugoslavia this week, it is an appropriate time to recognize the 
people of Slovenia and those of Slovene ancestry in the United States. 
I am delighted that the Cerkvenik family is preparing to honor their 
Slovene ancestral roots next week.
  Anton Cerkvenik was born in the small village of Vreme Britof on 
March 4, 1876, in a large pink stucco house, which his grandfather 
Joseph built in 1790. The family called it the House of Jelovsek. 
Joseph's daughter, Maria, married Matije Cerkvenik, son of Jacob, and 
from this union six children were born--a girl, Mary, and five boys, 
Matije, Franc, Joze, Pavel, and Anton. When Maria married Matija, the 
name of the house changed to the House of Cerkvenik. It held this 
distinction for over 100 years until Stanka Cerkvenik married and the 
name changed to that of her husband and the house then became known as 
the House of Milavec.
  Anton had a great love of adventure, which led him astray from his 
homeland to the coffee fields of Brazil. He later returned to the army 
in Yugoslavia and immigrated to the United States. From Ellis Island, 
he traveled to Mountain Iron, Minnesota, where he worked in the iron 
ore mines. He lived in a boarding house owned by John and Agnes 
Simonich who became his best friends and godparents to his children. He 
met and married Johanna Intihar at the Simonich boarding house. She 
came to the United States from Strajesce, near Cerknica, Slovenia, in 
1906. She was the daughter of Franc and Ursula Sevc Intihar who had 
five other children--John, Ursula, Niza, Mary, and Frank. Anton and 
Johanna had nine children, Anton, Mary, Ann, Florence, Frances, Frank, 
Amelia, Rose, and Edward.
  Anton built a house in the Costin location of Mountain Iron, where 
the family had a large

[[Page E1138]]

garden, farm, and animals. All helped pick blueberries, can garden 
vegetables, and put up wood for heat and cooking. Every child received 
a good education and graduated from Mountain Iron High School. Most 
went on to college to become professionals in their work, which ranged 
from teachers to nurses, and to become outstanding members of their 
communities. Ed and Frank served in World War II, as did Rose, a 
civilian radio instructor.
  The Cerkvenik family has a strong tradition of public service in 
northern Minnesota; sons Anton and Frank served the City of Mountain 
Iron as Clerk and Mayor; the next generation of Cerkveniks has also 
continued to serve the state of Minnesota and the country. Second 
generation members Paul worked in Congress at the Democratic Study 
Group; Peter served on the Mountain Iron City Council; Steve was 
elected to the School Board; and Gary and his wife Kim both worked in 
my congressional office. Gary was also elected to the St. Louis County 
Board and Kim ran for Lieutenant Governor of Minnesota.
  In addition to Kim, other spouses who have joined the Cerkvenik 
family have participated actively in politics and government, including 
Ann Mulholland who worked for the Democratic Congressional Campaign 
Committee and on Paul Simon's presidential campaign, and Kathleen 
Murray who has worked on Mayor Richard Daley's campaigns. On the Iron 
Range in Mountain Iron, Tony and his wife Mitzi opened a grocery store 
and meat market which has continued under Frank and his family. For 
nearly 40 years, Cerkvenik's Super Market has been known for great 
meats, good service, and a fair trade. Most importantly, it became a 
center of political and social life in Mountain Iron.
  Other descendants continue to make their unique marks on our country. 
One Cerkvenik family member, Barrett, graduated from West Point and 
helped negotiate the START treaty. Others are business owners, computer 
specialists, bus drivers, teachers, lawyers, designers, advertisers, 
civil servants, biologists, and mothers and fathers. Together, they are 
a proud Slovene family who have not forgotten their roots and heritage.
  Now there are four generations of Cerkvenik descendants in the United 
States of America. They are truly part of the unique fabric of lives 
and histories that make America the richest and most vibrant nation in 
the world. As they gather on Minnesota's Iron Range this July, I salute 
the Cerkvenik family for their invaluable contributions to this great 
land of ours.

                          ____________________