In the beginning of the last century, in a small town in West Hungary in Europe, a girl was born on November 22. 1906, the wife of Johann Horvath gave birth to a little girl. They named her Emma. She would be one of nine children the family eventually had.

After the war, 1914-18, this part of West Hungary was ceded by the population’s vote to Austria in 1920 and became the province of Burgenland. The town was named Welgersdorf.

No longer the vassals of the Hungarian land owners and there being no industries, the men and women had a rough time to find work and make a living. Thus in 1922, Emma Horvath, now 16 years old, was given the opportunity, and she immigrated to the United States, specifically to Chicago Illinois.

She soon found work as a domestic servant and stayed on for 7 years. In 1926 she met a former neighbour and classmate from Welgersdorf, Hans Klepits. Eventually a courtship developed and they were married on May 3rd, 1930.

A sister of Hans and her husband owned a restaurant on the northside of the city and planned on taking their family on an extended vacation to Austria. At the urging of Hans they sold the restaurant to Emma and him. With Emma’s cooking and Hans managing, the restaurant became profitable business. Upon the sister’s family return, Emma and Hans sold the place back to them.

Having a taste for the restaurant business, Emma and Hans soon bought a small tavern in a German neighborhood. Then moved on to a restaurant at 2407 Lincoln Ave. and still later to an other place at 2407 Halsted Street.

Then in 1937 the Klepits familiy was increased by the arrival of a little girl, which they named Marlene. She was their pride and joy.

By 1949, Hans saw an opportunity to extend his business and they bought a restaurant in the Chicago Loop, the "Wolf" restaurant at 115 N. Wells Street. This was a favorite place for lawyers and judges from the nearby courts and City Hall employees. It was a successful move for Hans, now known as Mr. John Klepits. But, during the summer, John had a near fatal automobile accident, which prevented him to work at the restaurant. Thus the chore fell on Emma and she had to operate two restaurants. They made a decision and sold the place on Halsted Street.

After being in Chicago for 29 years, Emma wanted time off and she and her daughter Marlene went to Austria, to Welgersdorf, Burgenland, Emma’s birthplace. Marlene during their stay acquired the "Hianz’n" dialect German, which she still knows to this day.

With a continued success, Emma and Hans operated the "Wolf" restaurant until 1960. Then the owner sold the building and the new owner wanted to change it to an office building and asked that the restaurant be closed.

In December 1960 the Klepits relocated and bought the "Wishing Well" restaurant at 3636 North Eltson. They operated the place, 7 days a week. Closed only on Christmas Day.

In June 1971, Marlene Klepits, daughter of John and Emma Klepits married Michael Kules in Chicago, Illinois.

Finally, in 1973, after being in the restaurant business for 43 years, John and Emma Klepits sold the „Wishing Well" restaurant and retired. Now they had time for a trip to Hawaii and visit the old homeland Burgenland, Austria.

In this year too, they greeted the arrival of their granddaughter Jennifer.

In 1977, Emma and Hans moved to North Central Park Ave to be near the daughter and granddaughter who lived there. But, in the following winters they were in the sunny Florida.

Then in 1985, Hans (John) Klepits passed away. Emma and Hans had been married 56 years.

Emma was a member of the Burgenländische Gemeinschaft, (Society) member of the Masonic Order of the Eastern Star, a member of the Tabor Seniors of Tabor Lutheran Church.

Emma Klepits, 93 years old, passed away on August 4th, 2000 at the Whitehall North Convalescent home in Chicago. A beloved matriach of an extended family with many nieces and nephews besides her own daughter Marlene, son-in-law Michael and granddaughter Jennifer she will be missed. They always enjoyed her culinary talents, her Hungarian Gulyasch, the Kaiserschmarren (the emporer’s pancakes), the various strudels and the nut crescents. A great talent is gone.

Walter Pomper, Chicago