Johanna Frances Braun

This is probably her wedding photo, black was the commonly used color at this time. She would have been 25 years old here. She and John Pittrich were married November 20, 1866 in Jefferson City, Missouri.

I have had my greatest research success with her lines. She was born in Lautenbach-Zell in Alsace, part of modern day France. I have traced some of her lines back nine generations to the 1600s all in this one little village. Toni and I were able to visit it on our first trip to Europe a few years back.

Johanna Frances (Braun) Pittrich

January 3, 1843 - January 1, 1915

This painting was in a oval frame with curved glass. This was actually a process used at the time of taking a photograph and making it look like a portrait painting.

I last saw it hanging in the small bedroom above the garage at Grandma's house in Mission. I hope someone grabbed it and it is secure somewhere. I would really like to get a better photograph of it one day. If anyone knows where it is please let me know.

2026 EDIT: I changed her birth year to 1843. Her gravestone shows 1841 but other documents show 1843. 

Using AI, I was able to recreate the bubble glass and frame. Then put it Grandma Lillig's house, later Aunt Tootsies, including the 1950s wallpaper at 1211 Lowell Ave. in Kansas City, Kansas.

Here is her obituary from a German language newspaper published in St. Louis in 1915.

The text in this image is a German-language obituary for Johanna Pittrich, written in a traditional Fraktur typeface. Because the image is heavily pixelated and faded, a visual "cleanup" wouldn't make it much more readable than a clear transcription and translation.

Here is the transcription of the text and what it reveals about our family history:

Transcription (German)

Jefferson City. — Frau Johanna Pittrich, Gattin des John Pittrich, ist im Familienheim, No. 310 West Dunklin Str., nach vierwöchentlichem Kranksein an Bronchitis gestorben. Sie erreichte ein Alter von 74 Jahren und hinterläßt außer dem Gatten den Sohn Frank zu Lohman und die folgenden vier Töchter: Frau Lizzie Lillig zu Kansas City, Frau Johanna Günther zu West Plaines, Frau Arnold Diedel und Frau Minnie Beiter in Florida sowie Fräulein Tillie Pittrich dahier. Die Dahingeschiedene erblickte in Elsaß-Lothringen das Licht der Welt und kam als Kind von 8 Jahren mit ihren Eltern nach Amerika. Vor 48 Jahren verehelichte sich die Verstorbene mit Herrn John Pittrich. Die Familie bewohnte eine Farm bei Lohman bis vor zwei Jahren, als sie hierher zog.

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Translation (English)

Jefferson City. — Mrs. Johanna Pittrich, wife of John Pittrich, died at the family home, No. 310 West Dunklin St., after a four-week illness of bronchitis. She reached the age of 74 and leaves behind, in addition to her husband, her son Frank in Lohman and the following four daughters: Mrs. Lizzie Lillig in Kansas City, Mrs. Johanna Günther in West Plains, Mrs. Arnold Diedel, and Mrs. Minnie Beiter [sp] in Florida, as well as Miss Tillie Pittrich here. The deceased was born in Alsace-Lorraine and came to America with her parents as a child of 8 years. 48 years ago, the deceased married Mr. John Pittrich. The family lived on a farm near Lohman until two years ago, when they moved here.