SCHÜRCH
Family Association of North America

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The Next Symposium - Schürch Migration from Switzerland to Northwestern USA 

 

By Donna (Schuerch) Love

 

 Saturday, November 1, 2025 at 5 pm ET, 4 pm CT, 3 pm MT and 2 pm PT​​

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Donna (Schuerch) Love will present the story of her great-grandparents, Johannes and Magdalene Schürch, who immigrated with their family of 12 children to the United States from Wasen, Switzerland in 1884. She shares her family history in both Wasen and South Dakota and how her grandfather, John Albert Schuerch came to settle in Valley Junction, Oregon and build many Swiss style buildings in the area. Donna is a children's nature book author from Missoula, MT. To see Donna's books visit Donna's website at donnalove.co. 

Please mark November 1st on your calendars now.

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Introduction 

This video series, relatively new on YouTube, is developed and produced by SFANA (Schürch Family Association of North America).  The focus of the series is the emigration of the Schürch family from Switzerland to North America and their movement across the North American continent.  Follow the genealogical story of the Schürch family, its origin in Switzerland, and the long and sometimes arduous journey to and in America as well as their later movements within the United States and Canada.  If your family includes any of the many spellings of Schürch, you may gain some insight into your own history.  Learn about Mennonite history and how the persecution of the Anabaptists effected the emigration of Schürchs from their Swiss homeland. 

 

Symposium #1 - “Schϋrchs to California”

“Schürch to California” highlights Schürch families who left the east and their reasons for traveling to an unknown territory.

 

Symposium #2 - “Schϋrch Symposium 101 - Coming to America”

“Schürch 101” outlines some Mennonite history and how it compelled many of its followers to leave their Swiss homeland. The video shows some of the hazards faced by the early Schürchs.  There is also a brief explanation of the Schϋrch Family Code and how it is used to track the Schürch linage based on the date of arrival of an individual to America.

 

Symposium #3 - “Schϋrch Symposium 102 

 Crossing and Building America” 

 Establishing New Roots    

“Schürch 101” details the “why” and “how” many of our ancestors left their homelands and immigrated to America.  “Schürch 102” starts with the initial Schürch settlements and follows where the next two generations of the American born Schürchs traveled.  “Schürch 102” continues to use and expand on the family coding system.  Interspersed within this video is a new concept which highlights by name and code some of the more recent and notable family members.  This marks the introduction to a new branch of the Symposium Series fittingly named “Notable Schürchs”.  

Symposium #4 - “Schϋrch Symposium - Notable Schϋrch Series” 

               Dr. Lisa Schirch         

The fourth in the Schϋrch Symposium series is an exciting introduction to a new sub-category of the Schϋrch Symposium called “Notable Schϋrchs”.  Our introductory Notable Schϋrch, Dr. Lisa Schirch, is the Starmann Chair in Peace Studies at the University of Notre Dame’s Kroc Institute for International Peace Studies.  Dr Schirch explains how social media platforms can influence opinions about and even change the direction of critical world situations.

 

Symposium #5 - “Schϋrch Symposium - Notable Schϋrch Series”  

  Jerry Sherk 

The fifth in the Schϋrch Symposium series is an exciting continuation of the new subcategory of the Schϋrch Symposium called “Notable Schϋrchs”.  Our second Notable Schϋrch, Jerry Sherk was an All-American wrestler at Oklahoma State University, he was drafted in the second round of the 1970 NFL draft and was named to the League’s Pro Bowl four consecutive years.  After his 12-season career, Jerry took up sports photography. His work appeared in numerous newspapers as well as Sports Illustrated and Pro! Magazine. In the early 1990s, Jerry earned a master’s degree in counseling psychology and formed Mentoring Management Systems. For 25 years, MMS has been a leader in supporting youth and adult mentoring programs across California and the U.S.   Jerry shares memories from the gridiron, show us some of his photography, and provides his perspectives on mentoring vulnerable populations today. 

These videos and future Symposium releases are placed into one or more play lists on YouTube.  In an attempt to create a chronological pattern, the order the videos appear in the playlist is changed.  This creates a feeling of advancing in time with the Schurchs as you watch each video.  In the future, the Notable Schurch may have a separate play list.  

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Symposium #6 – Not currently available on-line

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Symposium #7 – “With Tenacity and Fortitude, WE ARE HOME”

    The story of Amos and Candace Sherk

Symposium #7 describes the story of the Amos and Candace Sherk family and their arduous journey from Sherkston, Ontario to the Peace River valley in Alberta. In 1909, the trip took 6 days by rail to Edmonton and another 83 days by bull team drawn wagon. Watch their group as they travel west and then north to settle in what is now known as Beaverlodge, Alberta, Canada.

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To see the previous symposia, click on this link:  https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLiS3CNfUlAeITjo09Y0aJ2DeNtlLgCCbG 

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To view the entire Symposium series, the recommended order of viewing is:

Symposium #2 - “Symposium 101 - Coming to America”

Symposium #3 - “Schϋrch Symposium 102 – Crossing and Building America” - Establishing New Roots

Symposium # - “Schürchs to California”

Symposium #7 - “With Tenacity and Fortitude, WE ARE HOME - The story of Amos and Candace Sherk” - Crossing and Building Canada

Symposium #4 - “Schϋrch Symposium - Notable Schurch Series” - Dr. Lisa Schirch 

Symposium #5 - “Schϋrch Symposium - Notable Schurch Series” - Jerry Sherk 

Symposium #6 – Not currently available on-line

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