Fritz and the Family Cane

In July 2026, Mary Jean, Virgil and Linda went to visit with Fritz and Barb in Verona.  Mary Jean related this story about the visit:

“Fritz brought out a most unusual cane and told us what he was told of its history. 

Lawrence Haag was father to our Grampa Albert Haag.  Fritz said he thinks it was Lawrence Haag’s dad and his wife (John and Rosina Maria Haag) who walked in the woods in Baden, Germany.  He saw a limb on a tree with an unusual growth, found it very interesting.  He thought about it the next day, went back, and cut it off the tree.  When home, he nailed the branch/limb to the side of his barn to dry and possibly forgot about it for a time.  Eventually, his wife needed a cane.  He checked it out and measured the limb for her to use.  When they moved to the United States, they brought it along.  It was kept in the family and Fritz said his Gramma Christina needed and used it too.  It was eventually given to Albert and Mary Haag, but thy never used it, as far as Fritz knows.  Gramma kept it in her closet.  When their Mt. Horeb house was cleaned out to go on the market, Fritz and his brothers found the cane.  They were ready to burn it, but Fritz took it and felt that it was an heirloom and treasures it.”