Helen Oppenheimer, I wonder…as Helen Oppenheimer, a young 27 year old single “Jewish” girl as she made her way to the ship going to America for her journey to marry a Jewish attorney in New York, and then by chance, coincidence, fate or providence, meeting Ferdinand C. Weyland on the boat…or was it even before boarding… that her life would change drastically and alter the course of history?
I wonder…
Helen Oppenheimer was/is my wife Naomi’s grandmother!
Writing this post last Thanksgiving: 2022. One year to contemplate more of God’s grace and providence! Why did it take so long?
Doing an edit this evening after attending our churches Thanksgiving service. We had an open mike and people could come forward to tell what they are thankful for this Thanksgiving. We didn’t go up but the Spirit gave me some words to write now. We have gone through multiple crises all happening at the same time the past 5 months. My wife had numerous medical issues which I could do nothing about. She prayed for me and that is what got me through this time. So I am thankful and grateful for Helen her Jewish grandmother, which this article is all about. Without that providential meeting over 100 years ago, I would not be here and writing this. To God be the glory!
The Story Behind the Story
I can only imagine!
Helen Oppenheimer
Looking at my research and questions through the lenses of “Providence”, “Coincidence”, “Luck”, or “Chance.”
What really happened?
And why?
Helen’s Story, for His Glory!
My first goal was to find out about Helen Oppenheimer and her journey to America. Where did that journey begin? Really begin?
Ferdinand Weyland
Lots of research has revealed a lot about Ferd, almost nothing about Helen. What I found about Helen is all anecdotal.
Can’t even find a wedding picture, or an early picture of Helen. Only a picture of some 12 plus years after marriage.
Looking to see what God was doing in Helen’s life.
Was interested in what Helen did as a pastor’s wife in their church. Her ministry. Ferd and Helen were married 3 years after his ordination as a pastor. Seminary encouraged future pastors to wait until after ordination to marry. A long wait for Helen who was 7 years older than Ferd!
When I went to the Lutheran seminary to find out more about Helen and her life as a Lutheran minister’s wife and her ministry in their church, the staff person reminded me that Helen raised four children in a home in northern Wisconsin without indoor plumbing. All the while supporting and encouraging her husband as he traveled monthly to see and encourage some 30 pastors. And those four children and their future? Two became pastors, one was a college music professor and author and the third was my wife Naomi’s mother who became a teacher.
Also, what God was doing in Ferd’s life at the time of their meeting.
And I am not really sure where and when they met for the first time!
What was God up to?
Research just revealed more and more questions about both of their early lives before their meeting!
Also discovered that : Helen’s sister Emma also came to America some years later…became a nurse in Milwaukee…died at a young age…”Asleep in Jesus” on gravestone. I’m sure there is a story there!
All my research findings led to more about: God’s will, our free choices, chance and providence.
Helen’s spiritual life
Did Helen know or was aware of God’s ever presence, all powerful and all knowing character as she proceeded in her journey?
As she stepped onto the ship…that the old was gone, and the new was just beginning…
Both of them getting on the ship at the same time. 1907. What are the chances of that?
I wonder…
I can only imagine as Helen Oppenheimer embarked on the boat, that as she met or furthered her relationship with Ferd that her life would drastically change? Meeting on ship in 1907 and marrying Ferd in 1910.
And then, meeting or conversing with “Ferd” on the deck, among some 300 other 1st and 2nd class passengers…how that relationship began…or did she already know Ferd during his past year in Germany studying Semetic languages or was this her first encounter with Ferd? Something we will probably never know this side of Heaven. Apparently, no one asked these type of questions while people were still alive!
I can only imagine!
What kind of faith …in who or what did she have on her journey?
I wonder!
After marriage three years later…, the rest is history!
The Lutheran Seminary encouraged their students to wait until after ordination for marriage.
Ferdinand Weyland’s ordination picture.
Helen must have had a lot of faith to wait three years after meeting Ferd to get married!
Helen was seven years older than Ferd!
Must have been a long wait for Helen.
I wonder!
More questions…
“Ferd” a young 21 year old American man on the ship, returning to America after spending a year in Germany studying “Semitic” languages, that that relationship on the ship would result in her converting to Christianity and marriage to him 3 years later…
Some more thoughts!
Helen meeting Ferd on boat!
Ferd probably already knew he wanted to be a pastor.
Attended Dr. Martin Luther College…Pre Pastoral studies.
Decided to go to Germany for one year to study Semitic languages. His free will decision or someone elses? Who influenced him and how did he pay for that trip and his one year study at a university?
The timing of that and how that eventually led both of them to embark on the ship at the same time! The chances of that? .
Helen Oppenheimer: On the Ship
Ferd had an audience of some 300 people…His first congregation.
He was an American who knew the German Language very well.
I’m sure he wanted to talk to people on the boat!
Upper deck of some 300…could he also mingle with the other 1500 passengers?
Attraction to Helen or Helen to Ferd? Both
What did she see?
What did Ferd see?
I wonder…
Getting off the boat
Was there a strong liking to each other?
Helen was “engaged” to a Jewish lawyer in New York
Did Helen meet and see her intended husband?
Was he waiting for her after she went through registration?
Was Ferd waiting for her also?
Did the 2 men meet each other?
What happened next?
Defining Moments for Helen and Ferdinand
A lot of defining moments for everyone!
God working in both of them.
“Along with daily decisions, there are defining decisions. We only make a few defining decisions in life, and then we spend the rest of our lives managing them.” Mark Batterson. The Circle Maker. Something to pray about!
What did she know about her intended husband in New York? A Jewish attorney.
After meeting her intended husband, if she did, did she already have her mind made up about Ferd?
Did she know she had to wait another 3 years before marriage?
Did she know he was going to Seminary?
What happened after she arrived in Chicago to live with her uncle?
Helen’s and Ferd’s relationship and correspondence…
I wonder…
Was this a “coincidence”, “chance, or Providence?
I wonder…
As Oswald Chambers states : “The circumstances of a man’s life are ordained by God. In the life of a saint there is no chance. God by His providence brings you into circumstances that you cannot understand at all, but the Spirit of God understands. God brings you to places, among people, and into certain conditions to accomplish a definite purpose through the intercession of the Spirit in you.”
Theologian Dr. R.C. Sproul. “God’s sovereign providence stands over and above our actions. He works out His will through the actions of human wills, without violating the freedom of those human wills.”
“Many are the plans in a man’s heart, but it is the LORD’S purpose that prevails.” Proverbs 19:21
But don’t get hung up on planning…the LORD can intervene at any moment and you can change direction! Keep your ears open!
“You already know the ultimate destination of your journey: your entrance into heaven. So keep your focus on the path just before you, leaving outcomes up to Me” Nov 19th Devotion from Jesus Calling by Sarah Young.
Although “Helen Oppenheimer was as we are told, “Jewish”. What was her spiritual background?
I Wonder!
Some of the anecdotal comments in my research findings say that she “converted”. I always ask for definitions when I hear words that can have different meanings to different people, based on their spiritual background.
Footnote at bottom: Letter to Helen. That if she was alive on this earth, I would like to send to her.
God works in mysterious ways.
What was going on in “Helen’s mind as she even began that “Journey back in Germany”?
And when did that “Journey” really begin?
I wonder!
Takeaway!
Were Ferd and Helen aware of God’s all powerful, all knowing and being ever presence in their lives and especially as they were on their journey to America?
At the end of her journey…did Helen hear…”Well done, good and faithful servant?”
I believe she did!
Was God involved in the details of Helen and Ferd’s life?
Be sure to read my letter to Helen!
Helen Oppenheimer Weyland: Personal Letter. What I am Thankful for.
As I write this letter, this Thanksgiving day, Nov. 24, 2022, I have a feeling that you are aware of what I am doing. Tracing our family heritage back to my wife’s Jewish roots…after all these years…43 years of marriage to my wife Naomi Koerwitz Dassow, one of your granddaughters, who is proud of her “Jewish Roots”.
We have heard about you, but do not know very much…other than you met your husband Ferdinand Weyland on a ship when you immigrated to America…going to meet your intended Jewish husband in New York. Must have been quite an experience meeting “Ferd” and the time you spent on the ship and getting to know him and eventually “converting” as Jewish people say of the experience. I hope and pray it was not just a new “religious” set of beliefs but a real personal connecting with God through his son, Jesus Christ, your long awaited Messiah. I am excited to getting to know you a little after all these years through my research and then actually getting to meet you face to face in Heaven! Because of you, I have a wife who also loves the LORD and is proud of her Jewish roots and knows more of the Old Testament than a lot of Jewish people we have known…
The Bible says , …that we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus who prays for us. As I mentioned earlier I have a feeling you know what I am doing…I know I am on unchartered water here in writing this, but I truly believe the Holy Spirit is guiding me. Getting excited as I have about 50 questions I would like to ask you, and hope to know a little about you before we actually meet, but don’t know if…this is really important.
We know your life was not always easy as a Jewish young lady coming to America, leaving your family, friends and Jewish religious beliefs, and marrying a Lutheran pastor, living in Northern Wisconsin and somewhere becoming a real believer in Jesus. We know your sister Emma also immigrated to America and became a believer in Jesus, as her tombstone says, “Asleep in Jesus”. I’m sure you had a good relationship with her and that she was a real help and inspiration to you…
You helped raise and should be- are proud of your 2 sons who became pastors and the other son who was a college music professor and a daughter who was a Christian school teacher, Helen Weyland who was Naomi’s mother.
Looking forward to that grand meeting in Heaven. Not only with you, but your daughter, Helen Weyland Koerwitz, my wife, Naomi’s mother, whom I also have never met but looking forward to!
See you soon!
Richard Dassow.
My prayer for my viewers.
Would appreciate your thoughts, wisdom and feedback on this post!
Let’s start a discussion!
Interesting Richard. I enjoyed the read. As an Activity Director the majority if my life, I have loved the life stories the residents would tell. They looking back if not while living their days understood how God worked. I too could see his desire for us to live a good life in general and how one turn to the right, a sudden decision to do something or the change of mind made all the difference in quality of life. I believe we do allow his spirit to influence our days whether we realize it or not. Free will has many layers.
I very much enjoyed this story. God works in amazing ways! Thank you!