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Otfried Steben and his wife Burgi live in Bad Doberan, North Germany. They were very excited to meet Ian & Margaret Stehbens from Australia when they arrived in the nearby port of Rostok on a beautiful spring day, May 2005. Their marvellous week spent together included travelling to Warin, Blücher, Besitz and Boizenburg to discover our ancestral origins. They met 13 members of the Blücher clan of Stebens. Together they explored the astounding world heritage listed münster in Bad Doberan, discovered Gross Timkenberg (another Stebens heritage site near Blücher), and were enthralled by an organ recital in the münster. The giving and receiving of hospitality, sharing in a common search through historical records for missing links in our family history, and exploring the colourful landscape of Mecklenburg together built strong bonds of love that began to recover the intervening 215 years of family separation. Otfried and Burgi have 2 sons, Harm and Jörn Steben. Jörn travelled home from his IT employment in Stuttgart to be part of this reunion. Pictured are Otfried Steben, Burgi Gartzke Steben, Jörn Steben; Otfried & Burgi Steben with Margaret Stehbens; Townscape of Bad Doberan in spring near the Steben's home. [LINEAGE: Jörn Steben s/o Burgi Gartzke & Otfried Steben s/o Werner H F Steben s/o Herman C Steben s/o Karl F W Steben s/o Christian Wrage (b.1825) s/o Marie Sophie nee Wrage of Warin & Johann Steben(s) who is believed to be from Blücher.] (PHOTOS: courtesy Ian Stehbens)
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