Gordon Balza &
Hazel Mooren
Gordon BALZA was born on May 14th, 1916 in the town of Humboldt, Brown county, Wisconsin the fifth son of Theophile Antoine Joseph BALZA and Mathilda FINENDAEL. After graduating from eighth grade Gordon went to work for Lieght's Transfer and Storage where he worked for most of his life.
Hazel MOOREN was born in DePere, Brown county Wisconsin, on March 16th, 1916. Her parents were Peter MOOREN and Christine VANDYKE.
Gordon Balza married Hazel MOOREN in 1937, and raised three children:
- Patricia BALZA who married Daniel PUYLEART and bore two children before her untimely death (obituary).
- Janice K. BALZA who was murdered while hiking on the Appalachian Trail (story).
- Sandy who married Daniel PUYLEART after Patricia's death and bore three children (Janice, Patricia and Sheila).
Gordon divorced Hazel Mooren and married Mavis (Gilmme) Brandenberg in 1974.
Gordon Balza died in January of 1981 (obituary).
Hazel Mooren was employed by the Riemer Meat Products Company for 19 years. Hazel Balza died in Green Bay on February 28th, 1988 (obituary).
Memories:
BALZA Ancestry 
The surname BALZA is a derivation (Belzer, Balzac, Balzer,
etc.) of the ancient name "BALTHAZAR" (one of the
three wise men). The country of origin for this Balza
family is Belgium more specifically Sart-Walhain in Namur
Province where we've traced our earliest known ancestors.
At this time the earliest known family group with the Balza
surname is Jean Joseph BALZA
who married Marie Therese
BRABANT. Very little is known about this family - it is
still a subject for on-going research (Jean Joseph Balza Sr.
Family History). They had at least one son Jean Joseph Balza (1804 -
1889) who married Virginie BERO
(1807 - 1872) and they where blessed with eight children (Jean Joseph Balza Family
History). The youngest of these was Antoine BALZA (1845 - 1927)
who married Marie Antoinette
FLAHAUT (1845 - 1927). Antoine and Antoinette had six
children while living in Belgium. They and five of their six
children immigrated to Duval, Door County Wisconsin in 1880 and
became U.S. Citizens. They had four more children in Duval (Antoine Balza Family History).
Their sixth foreign born child was Theophile Antoine Joseph BALZA
(1878 - 1941) who first married Mathilda
FINENDAEL (1882 - 1917). Theophile and Mathilda had 6
children (Theophile Joseph Balza Family History) the fifth child
a son was Gordon BALZA (1916
- ?) whose family described above.
FINENDAEL Ancestry
The oldest known FINENDEAL ancestor is Henry FINENDAEL ( 1850 - ?)
who married Adolphina MONFORT
(1850 - ?). Henry and Adolphina had six children. Their
third child was Mathilda
FINENDAEL (1882 - 1917) who married Theophile Antoine Joseph BALZA
(1878 - 1941). Mathilda and Theophile had 6 children
together (Theophile Balza
Family History). Their fifth child was Gordon BALZA (1916 - ?) whose
family history is detailed above.
MOOREN Ancestry
Peter MOOREN ( ) married Christine VANDYKE ( )and had five children one of whom was Hazel MOOREN (1916 - 1988) and who is described above.
VANDYKE Ancestry
Christine VANDYKE married Peter MOOREN and had five children, one of whom was Hazel MOOREN who's family is described above.
Last updated: January 13th, 2000
Copyright 2000, Richard M. Balza
To make reproductions, corrections or obtain more information
contact: Richard M. Balza