Erhard Wallner

Erhard Wallner was born on January 1, 1880, in Burghausen, Altotting, Bayern, Germany; he passed away on September 7, 1962 in Kings Beach Placer, California, USA Erhard was born at 3:00am on January 1, 1880, at the Royal Barracks at Burghausen. In a document #2282 (a form from the local police department) Erhard provided that he intended to live in Burghausen. He was going to a Non-Commissioned Officer school in Munich (München). He had no reports against him. He was going to go to school (jewelers school) in Nuremberg... At that time, in Germany, if you intended to change your address, even to move across the street, you had to fill out a form requesting permission to do so, then had a background investigation before permission would be granted (or denied). Erhard at an early age served in the Army and later trained to become a jeweler. He trained with a friend Max Kuhn. He was also an avid gymnast, and taught a women's gymnastics class. He met and married Babette (Betty) Stumvoll 14 Oct, 1904 in Nurnberg, Bayern, Germany. They were both 24 years old. They had five children (4 living)& in 1913 his friend Max Kuhn, (who had already moved to Reno, Nevada, United States) sponsored Erhard to come to Reno and work with him in the jewelry business. Erhard left behind his wife and four children intending to send them for them as soon as he had the money saved for their trip. In the meantime World War I had broke out and he was unable to bring his family to the States. His father wrote many letters asking him to return but Erhard decided against it as he felt it was too dangerous and they were safe in the area where they lived. Babette had two brothers and their families there, as well as Erhard's families were in the area. He bought a home on Center Street in Reno and 0n 18 September 1920 he was finally able to have his family come and join him. They later bought a home on 36 Martin Street in Reno and raised their family there. When the children left home they converted the home into apartments and later built a duplex in behind the main house. These he rented out. He always raised a very large beautiful garden, along with fruit trees, berry bushes, and grapes. Erhard worked for R. Herz & Bros. Jewelers (Located at the Hotel Golden) from the time he arrived in America until a he had a bad fall down the basement stairs as he prepared to go to work. He was 76 years old and was unable to return to work after this fall. They eventually sold the home in Reno, and moved to their cabin in Kings Beach, Lake Tahoe, California, where he passed away on the 7 September 1962 in the arms of his granddaughter.