THE STORY BEHIND FRIEDENSWALD · MERRILL, WISCONSIN

Three Friedenswalds, One Unexpected Connection: The Story Behind Our Name

What’s in a name? Sometimes a whole lot more than you ever imagined!

When Bob and I were looking for a name for our little piece of paradise near Merrill, Wisconsin, we wanted something meaningful. We both have German heritage, and I also have Norwegian and Swedish roots. We explored words from those languages, hoping to find something that captured the peaceful, wooded setting we’d fallen in love with.

We kept coming back to the German words for peace and forest. Friedenswald. Peaceful Woods. It just felt right. And let’s face it, some words simply sound better in German!

Little did we know that choosing that name would eventually connect us to two other Friedenswalds, some fascinating Mennonite history, and a couple of unexpected new friends!

Wait! There’s Another Friedenswald?

Sometime after naming our property, Bob did a Google search for Friedenswald. Imagine his surprise when he discovered Camp Friedenswald in southern Michigan!

The camp was established in 1950 and has roots in the Mennonite Church. That made the discovery especially interesting because Bob and I both come from Mennonite backgrounds. Bob eventually had the opportunity to visit the camp, where he discovered another funny little coincidence.

The closest intersection included a road called Eby Road. Eby just happens to be his grandmother’s maiden name!

As Bob put it, with that information and five dollars, you could get yourself a Happy Meal at McDonald’s!

But the coincidences weren’t finished. While researching an upcoming trip to Missouri, Bob discovered yet another Friedenswald on Google Maps, less than 10 miles from where we planned to stay.

Naturally, he decided we needed to find it. And naturally, I had a few questions about this plan!

A Village Called Friedenswald?

Now, I love an adventure as much as anyone, but I wasn’t quite as enthusiastic about this one.

As we drove closer to our destination, it became clear that this was not your typical village. There were no streets lined with houses and businesses. In fact, it looked an awful lot like someone’s private driveway! But there it was—a sign that said “Village of Friedenswald.”

Bob thought we should drive in and knock on the door.

I was thinking, Are we seriously going to knock on a stranger’s door just because their place has the same name as ours?

Apparently, we were!

Bob got out, and I decided the vehicle was a perfectly good place to wait and see how this played out.

He knocked on the door and was greeted by Dave and Dana Krehbiel. After explaining that we had also named our property Friedenswald, they welcomed him and he waved me in as well!

So much for my plan to stay out of it!

What followed was an hour and a half of fascinating conversation. We learned that Dave and Dana were the people behind this tiny incorporated Missouri village. Dave was chairman of the board of trustees, while Dana was the village clerk and another trustee.

And to think, I almost missed the whole thing because I was hesitant to knock on the door!

An Unexpected Family Connection

Then came the biggest surprise.

Dave told us that he had named his Missouri property after Camp Friedenswald in Michigan. And his aunt was the person who had named Camp Friedenswald back in 1950!

According to Dave, his aunt had simply put two German words together because she thought they fit. Exactly what we’d done when naming our own property!

And Dave also shared our Mennonite heritage. What are the chances?

Dana shared another interesting fact. She told us that her great-great-grandfather founded Dallas, Texas, and that his cabin was still preserved there.

Dave wondered whether his little Missouri village might someday become another Dallas. Bob and I both thought that would be a shame!

Their beautiful 60-acre property overlooking the Lake of the Ozarks was so peaceful. Turning it into a bustling city would take away the very thing that made the name Friedenswald so fitting.

Besides, can you imagine changing the name from Peaceful Woods to something like Bustling Metropolis? It just doesn’t have the same ring to it!

A Few Treasures and One Very Unusual Tree!

Before we left, Dave and Dana gave us two coffee mugs featuring a picture of Friedenswald, Missouri, along with a cookbook. What thoughtful gifts!

Those treasures have since found a home in our Upper Barn Retreat here in Wisconsin, where our guests can enjoy them, too. I love that we have a little piece of another Friedenswald to share with the people who visit ours.

But apparently, our adventure wasn’t quite over.

As we were preparing to leave, Dave and Dana asked whether we’d like to see their “potty tree.”

Now, I can’t say I’ve ever had a potty tree on my sightseeing itinerary, but by this point, why not?

Off we went for another walk through the woods to see this unusual attraction. And yes, we even have a picture to prove it!

We left that day with wonderful memories, a few treasured gifts, and two new friends. And to think, it all started because Bob insisted on knocking on a stranger’s door.

I suppose I’ll have to give him credit for that one!

Three Places, One Special Name

We had discovered three very different places that shared one meaningful name: Camp Friedenswald in Michigan, with its Mennonite history; the Village of Friedenswald in Missouri, home to our new friends; and our own Friedenswald Peace Forest in Wisconsin.

When we named our property, we weren’t thinking about vacation rentals or meeting people in other states who shared that name. We simply wanted a name that reflected what we felt when we came here.

Peace. Rest. The beauty of the woods.

Over time, our family getaway has grown into something we now love sharing with guests through our Upper Barn Retreat and two cozy glamping cabins.

And perhaps that’s what I love most about this story. A name we chose because it spoke to our hearts became an unexpected connection to our heritage, to new friendships, and now to the many people who visit our little Peace Forest.

Sometimes the most memorable adventures are the ones we never planned.

And sometimes, they begin with a husband who insists on knocking on a stranger’s door and a wife who’d rather stay in the vehicle!

Until next time,

Laura & Bob