The first Raab Valley Reunion (Raabtaler Heimattreffen) was held five years ago at the Austrian-Hungarian Veterans Society in Allentown, PA. Demand for tickets was so great that tickets were limited to those born in the Raab Valley.
The Raab Valley neighboring villages are Raabfidisch (Rábafüzes), Jakabháza (Jakobshof), Oberradling (Felsörönök) and Unterradling (Alsórönök). Felsö- and Alsórönök are now combined and simply called Rönök. These villages are located beside the Burgenland border in Vas Megye (county), Hungary. They remained with Hungary after the 1921 border settlement and have a history of strong ties with each other and Burgenland. Following World War II, most of the German-speaking inhabitants were expelled and resettled in Germany, with many continuing on to the U.S., Canada and Australia.
The Reunion Committee (Trudi and Rudi Schuster, Mitzi and Joe Heidenwolf, Terry and Robert Deutsch, Ferdinand Györy, Rudi Györy, Helen Trexler, Pauline and Frank Kahr, Bertha Kiehstaller, Willi Giedl, Anna and Joe Giedl, Cathy and Emil Schanta, Helen and Edi Frisch, Agnes and John Bodisch and Robert Strauch) arranged for the second reunion to be held at a larger venue, St. Joseph’s Church Hall in Limeport, PA. First, second and further generations could also attend. Some families had several generations present. Many of the 230-240 attendees live in the Lehigh Valley, but many travelled from Toronto, Chicago or its environs, Buffalo, Connecticut, New Jersey and Philadelphia.
Limeport resides in a valley geographically reminiscent of the Raab Valley. Both valleys have a flat, table-top topography and are surrounded by distant hills. The meandering country road approaching Limeport passes by cornfields, a cloister, historic fieldstone farmhouses; and red barns decorated with Pennsylvania German hex symbols.
Following a pleasant social hour, a fine dinner of pork schnitzel, bratwurst, mixed salad greens, complete with other fixings, including imported German grain mustard was served. Many attendees continued a tradition of donating home-baked nut, poppyseed and apricot strudels, kipfels and other familiar “Schnitten” (layered sheet pastries) and plates of these were placed on each table.
After dinner, the 17-member Hianz’nchor, which is based at the Coplay Sängerbund and directed by Robert Strauch, performed a traditional Raab Valley and Burgenland program, both in High German and the native Hianzisch dialect. Among the singers are several Raab Valley natives, as well as descendants and spouses of natives.
Especially poignant was the “Fidischer Bergen Lied”, written by Hubert Lutzenberger of Walleshausen (near Landsberg am Lech in Bavaria) for his wife, Gisela, née Urban, pre-expulsion resident of Raabfidisch. Sadly, Gisela died of cancer before ever hearing the song performed. The Hianz’nchor learned this song for the first Heimattreffen in 1999. The Lutzenbergers’ son visited Allentown two years ago when he attended the Reunion Committee’s Oktoberfest at the Austrian-Hungarian Veterans Society. This family has come full circle by building a vacation house in Raabfidisch.
“Auf der Alm, do gibt’s kein Sünd”, or “There’s no sin up on the high mountain pasture;” was sung, although one of the singers stated for accuracy’s sake, that the lyrics aren’t necessarily true. One wonders how he is so certain. A widely known song, the chorus sang the version learned from Burgenländer immigrants in Coplay, which is supposedly identical to the version sung in the Raab Valley villages before the post-war expulsion.
Anna Marie Schanta directed the audience in slapping their laps and clapping their hands along to the amusing “Kuckuck” song. Many audience members sang along with many of the older songs.
Robert Strauch accompanied the chorus on the button box accordian and also played several solos, including a Polka schnell (quick polka) called “Schöne Zeit” (Nice Time) and a Steirischer (Styrian) Landler, both once known in the Raab Valley. These were a tribute to the late musician and native of Jakobshof, Emil Schanta, Sr., who taught him these pieces. Soon thereafter, following in his family’s musical tradition, Emil Schanta, Jr. and his band, took the stage for the next 4 hours. They wore traditional area costumes and performed a lively repertoire. Emil is planning to record a CD in the next year. Both group leaders introduced selections with a short history of the compositions.
Two special guest soloists entertained. Theresa (Resi) Lederer Klucsarics, whose parents hailed from Oberradling and Raabfidisch, sang and yodeled favorits exquisitely. Felix Jurasits from Szentpéterfa/Prostrum, sang the popular “Az a szép”, a czardas about a fine girl with blue eyes, along with standard Hungarian songs from the 1920’s and 30’s.
During the Reunion display boards exhibited a Burgenland map, articles, postcards and photos of the Raab Valley, as well as Rönök’s St. Emmerich’s Church restoration and several pages copied from the St. Emmerich parish register.
Amongst the attendees were four Burgenland Bunch staff editors (Frank Teklits, Robert Strauch, Tom Glatz and Margaret Kaiser). The BB membership was represented by Hedy and Tony Reinisch, Judy and Tim Snyder, Frieda and Dennis Eberhardt as well as BB family members, Mary Teklits and Gerry Glatz and Mary Demchyk and other informal BB readers.
This event was a fine opportunity to chat with distant family members, friends and new acquaintances. Rememberances were shared and flavoured with our Raab Valley and Burgenland musical heritage. Many “Auf Wiedersehn’s” were heard gracing the closing of this spezial reunion.

By Margaret Kaiser with detail information from Robert Strauch