Walter Rauscher (July 9, 1919 – December 1974) was born in Ošelín, Czechoslovakia to Oskar and Clementine (Schnurmacher) Rauscher. The family owned a general store in town and lived in the quarters above it. Oskar died in June 1936, leaving the business to his wife. Walter’s uncle, Leo Schnurmacher, was the Honorary Consul of Czechoslovakia in Manila, Philippines. In 1938, Leo connected Walter, who had been studying in Pilsen, with Marcel Blum, the president of Levy & Blum Inc. The company offered Walter a position in Manila and financial assistance for relocating. On December 8, 1938, Walter secured a visa along with thirteen other Jewish refugees in the third wave of the Open Doors immigration initiative. He left for Manila from Marseille, France on February 3, 1939 aboard the Aramis SS ship. Later that year, Walter’s mother Clementine, sister Irma, her husband Leo Eisner, their daughter Hanna, and Leo’s brother, Artur Eisner, found refuge in Manila. Walter worked for Levy & Blum, Inc. and the family lived together in Leo Schnurmacher’s diplomatic residence. The family left the Philippines for the United States on the SS President Taft arriving in San Francisco in October 7, 1940. They were sponsored by the Americans, Henry and Camilla Beck, from Cicero, IL. Walter Rauscher settled in Chicago, married Elaine Kraus in 1947, and had two sons, Russell (1950-1995) and Eric (1953-). Irma Rauscher (October 16, 1913-June 3, 1999) married Leo Eisner (1905-1984). They lived in Vimperk (Winterberg), Czechoslovakia and had two children, Hana (March 26, 1937-September 6, 2011) and Steve (April 19, 1948-July 24, 2020). In late 1939, they were able to relocate to Manila with Irma's mother, Clementine, and Leo's brother, Artur. They lived with Irma's brother, Walter Rauscher, in Manila. The family left the Philippines for the United States on the SS President Taft arriving in San Francisco in October 7, 1940. They were sponsored by the Americans, Henry and Camilla Beck, from Cicero, IL. The Eisners changed their last name to Eaton in 1946. They owned a collectable stamps store called Liberty Stamp Shop Inc. in Chicago, IL. Leo Eisner (1905-1984) was married to Irma Rauscher. They lived in Vimperk (Winterberg), Czechoslovakia and had two children, Hana and Steve. They found refuge in Manila in late 1939 and immigrated to the United States in 1940. The family changed their name to Eaton in 1946. Leo’s parents owned a wholesale business in Vimperk and were forced to hand over their business to the Nazis. They were deported to Theresienstadt and then on transport C to Lodz on October 26, 1941; mother Franciszka did not survive the transport and father Berthold was murdered in the ghetto. The Eisner’s Czech store manager, Mr. Koci, saved much of the business documentation, which the family later used as evidence for their restitution case. Hana Miriam Eisner (March 23, 1937-September 2011), later Hannah Eaton (last name adopted in the United States) or Hannah Deitch (married name) Clementine Schnurmacher (August 15, 1895-June 9, 1972) was married to Oskar Rauscher. They had two children, Irma (b. 1913) and Walter (b. 1919). The family owned a general store in Ošelín, Czechoslovakia and lived in the quarters above it. Oskar died in June 1936, leaving the business to his wife. Clementine found refuge in Manila in 1939 and immigrated to the United States in 1940.
Walter with his sister Irma Rauscher Eisner and their mother Clementine Schnurmacher walk towards the camera in Ošelín around 1937-1938. Walter opens a car door with Czechoslovak license plate. Irma’s husband, Leo Eisner, embraces her. Headstone for Oskar Rauscher in the Jewish cemetery in Stříbro [Mies]: “Oskar Rauscher Aus Oschelin” with the dates March 17, 1887 to June 4, 1936. Walter eats kumquat from tree. Irma with nurse holding baby girl, Hana Miriam Eisner (later Hanna Eaton, born March 23, 1937). Several family members across generations hold baby Hanna and smile at the camera in the garden of the Rauscher family home. Walter stands in a doorway with two men. They smoke cigarettes. Friends and family pose for the camera. A young boy unloads a wagon. CUs, baby Hanna with relatives. 01:03:43 The boy poses in front of the Oskar Rauscher general store, with Persil advertisement. Walter sits on a nearby bench with a small lap dog named Flucky. More closeups of baby Hanna, drinking from a bottle. Irma, Clementine, and unknown woman walk towards the camera in front of their store in Ošelín. Hana, now a toddler, sits on a horse in front of the Eisner family home in Ošelín, and waves at the camera. She practices walking on the sidewalk, and smiles while eating. “Kodak” End 01:05:21
Prewar Jewish family in Ošelín, Czechoslovakia