I am the third son of parents Floyd Brause and Lucille Gulbranson of Minnesota (USA). My family moved to Anchorage, Alaska in 1959 and I now reside in Armagh, Northern Ireland, where I am a UK citizen.

My father's mother, Kathryn Arfsten, was born to Robert Arfsten and Johanna Niehaus, whose separately emigrated from North and East Frisia (modern Germany) in the 1870s and 80s, respectively. My father's father, Carl Brause, was adopted by Jacob Brause and Johanna Goerke, both who emigrated to Minnesota in 1882 from Westpreußen. (NB: My grandfather's genetic parents were confirmed to be Norwegian and Finnish in 2022.)

My mother's mother, Alma Carlsdotter, was born to Carl Andersson and wife Maja Gustafsdotter, both of whom emigrated to Minnesota from Skaraborgs län, Sverige, in 1884. My mother's father, John Gulbranson, was born to Johannes Gulbransson (Sverige emigration 1869) and wife Anna Johannesdotter (Sverige emigration 1874).

Although I was given the name, Jay, I may have been named after my 2x great-grandfather Jacob Brause. I took my name Jacob legally after returning to Europe. In 2023, I changed its spelling to Jakob to note my paternal grandfather's (genetic parents) Nordic heritage.

I now use Find-a-Grave to aid in confirming family records on both sides of the Atlantic. I have visited ancestral grave sites in Germany, Sweden, Norway and the USA. It's all been a a very good journey of discovery.

I am the third son of parents Floyd Brause and Lucille Gulbranson of Minnesota (USA). My family moved to Anchorage, Alaska in 1959 and I now reside in Armagh, Northern Ireland, where I am a UK citizen.

My father's mother, Kathryn Arfsten, was born to Robert Arfsten and Johanna Niehaus, whose separately emigrated from North and East Frisia (modern Germany) in the 1870s and 80s, respectively. My father's father, Carl Brause, was adopted by Jacob Brause and Johanna Goerke, both who emigrated to Minnesota in 1882 from Westpreußen. (NB: My grandfather's genetic parents were confirmed to be Norwegian and Finnish in 2022.)

My mother's mother, Alma Carlsdotter, was born to Carl Andersson and wife Maja Gustafsdotter, both of whom emigrated to Minnesota from Skaraborgs län, Sverige, in 1884. My mother's father, John Gulbranson, was born to Johannes Gulbransson (Sverige emigration 1869) and wife Anna Johannesdotter (Sverige emigration 1874).

Although I was given the name, Jay, I may have been named after my 2x great-grandfather Jacob Brause. I took my name Jacob legally after returning to Europe. In 2023, I changed its spelling to Jakob to note my paternal grandfather's (genetic parents) Nordic heritage.

I now use Find-a-Grave to aid in confirming family records on both sides of the Atlantic. I have visited ancestral grave sites in Germany, Sweden, Norway and the USA. It's all been a a very good journey of discovery.