Back in 1968 I asked my father a really simple question: What was your Grandfather Laberdee's first name? His not knowing the answer led to my unwavering interest in genealogy. After 25 years of sporadic research, I wrote the History of the Labadie/Labardee/Laberdee/ Laberdie/Laberdy Family (1702-1992). A copy of this booklet is in the Toledo-Lucas County Public Library, as well as in both the Detroit and Monroe County, MI, Historical Societies.

After finishing that book, due to other demands of life, I kept my interest in genealogy but took no more active steps to keep up with family genealogy; in fact, I was relieved that I no longer had to deal with it. Then I retired and discovered Find-A-Grave and Ancestry.com, neither of which existed (as far as I know) during my previous 25 years of research. What great tools THEY are to find your family roots.

I enjoy strolling through cemeteries looking for graves of not only my own family but any graves. It's like a challenge to myself to find them. If you are looking for a grave in my local cemeteries (Willow, North Oregon, Lake Township, St. Ignatius, St. John Lutheran), please feel free to ask me to try to locate it.

Back in 1968 I asked my father a really simple question: What was your Grandfather Laberdee's first name? His not knowing the answer led to my unwavering interest in genealogy. After 25 years of sporadic research, I wrote the History of the Labadie/Labardee/Laberdee/ Laberdie/Laberdy Family (1702-1992). A copy of this booklet is in the Toledo-Lucas County Public Library, as well as in both the Detroit and Monroe County, MI, Historical Societies.

After finishing that book, due to other demands of life, I kept my interest in genealogy but took no more active steps to keep up with family genealogy; in fact, I was relieved that I no longer had to deal with it. Then I retired and discovered Find-A-Grave and Ancestry.com, neither of which existed (as far as I know) during my previous 25 years of research. What great tools THEY are to find your family roots.

I enjoy strolling through cemeteries looking for graves of not only my own family but any graves. It's like a challenge to myself to find them. If you are looking for a grave in my local cemeteries (Willow, North Oregon, Lake Township, St. Ignatius, St. John Lutheran), please feel free to ask me to try to locate it.