This is a photograph of Fr. Geselbracht and the Chen family as they show him the log that was purchased for the coffin for their grandmother. "Grandmother Chen was indeed pleased." Rev. Geselbracht was born in Austin, IL. In 1919, after returning from service with the U.S. army in WWI, he joined Maryknoll, and war ordained in 1927. He was assigned to Fushun, Manchuria, where he is said to have developed superb skill in the Mandarin language. Ill health forced him to return to the U.S. in 1935. He returned in 1937 and was interned by the Japanese in 1941, and repatriated on the refugee ship Gripsholm in 1943. He returned to Manchuria in 1946 and was forced to leave by the Communists in 1947 and was expelled from China in 1950. He worked briefly in Taiwan and for a few years in the Philippines, returning to the U.S. in 1958.
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