A German Russian friend in Wuppertal, Germany by the name of Irma Merkel is looking to correspond with MERKEL and GRUNE descendants in America. Irma does not have any immediate family members who immigrated to the US, but she is interested in sharing information, family tree, photos, etc with her "cousins" here. All the MERKEL and GRUNE families I am aware of began their American life in Bellwood and Maywood before branching out to other cities and states. Irma grew up in Kupino (roughly between Novo Sibirsk and Omsk) where her parents and other villagers were exiled in 1941. You can write her in English, German or Russian. She will write you in German, but you can use Google Translate. Her email address: Irma.Merkel@gmx.de Thank you. Tim Weeder AHSGR Village Coordinator for Pauskoye