2026 Multicultural Festival

The Painovich Family Story: Serbian Family Eli and Sophia Bogic Painovich

From Croatia to America

Eli Louis Painovich, an ethnic Serb born in 1874 in Smiljan, a small village in Croatia. Eli’s family was neighbors to Nikola Tesla, a physicist, eccentric electrical engineer, and great inventor of alternating current, the Tesla coil, and many other inventions. He was a recluse and the son of a priest with an IQ of 180-310. Eli had been previously married to a Catholic woman and had a son. Serbs were forbidden to marry Catholics because thousands of Serbs were beheaded and/or their homes were burned by Catholics. Eli’s home was among those burned down. Sophia Bogich was born an ethnic Serb in 1880 in Gospic, Croatia, where her family lived. As a young woman, she met Eli and married him in 1906. The new couple travelled to America to start a new life, never again to see their families. 

Labor, Family, and Resilience

The Painovich’s landed in Canada and initially settled in Hibbing, Minnesota, where the world’s largest open-pit iron ore mine was, and needed laborers. Eli worked as a pit foreman and helped Sophia, who was the cook for 50 miners and a midwife. They all lived in tent camps. Eli and Sophia had their first five children within 5 years while in Hibbing:  Mary in 1907, Louis (1908-2000), an infant who was born and died in 1909, Mildred (1910-2002), and Mike (1911-1990). After Mike was born, they moved for a short time to Keokuk, Iowa to work on the dam. There were tent camps there for the worker’s families, but soon bunkhouses were built to house 16 men only in each. The Panovich’s then went to Hannibal, Missouri and then south Des Moines where Eli worked for Hawkeye Cement (later his son, Louis, will retire from there as well). Sophia and the children were so happy because the company provided a home, and they had never lived in one before. While there their sixth child, Dan, was born in 1914. They were pulled from Des Moines to Fulton, Illinois, a railroading town, to live near their relatives. While there, the family grew by three more children: Dorothy (1915-1917) who died at 2 from the Spanish Flu epidemic; Violet (1918, and Nick in (1920-1999). 

Life on 10th Street

Continuing to work for the railroad, they returned to West Des Moines, then a railroading town called Valley Junction where they spent the rest of their lives at 119 – 10^th Street. Eli worked at Portland Cement and did other odd jobs. The 10^th and last child, Bessie, was born in 1922. The kids all finished grade school except Violet who finished after 10^th grade. Louis said they had only two sets of clothes if they were lucky and sometimes did not even have shoes. Eli and Sophia bought a house on Canary Street (now 10^th St.) in a new housing development for $1,100 where they could garden and raise livestock within the city limits. All the houses in that new addition were painted yellow.

Holding the Family Together

However, now Sophia Painovich’s life is drastically different. Widowed at 52 with eight children between the ages of 10-23, Sophia was worried about their survival. Sophia was studying to get her citizenship, but to no avail she did not have the money. It was known that one of the people helping absconded with her money. She had a sister, Mildred Loncar, whose family lived a block away, but they also had a big family. The closest Serbian Orthodox Church was St. Nicholas in Omaha, Nebraska which was too far for her family to go live. She began to take in borders, did some bootlegging and whatever else was possible. They did not have running water, heating, or plumbing yet. Louis, being the oldest son, would go out at night hunting for wood to bring home for the potbellied stove and cook stove. Some of the kids were old enough to find jobs but had to surrender most of their earnings to help with bills. Because Sophia had not become a citizen, it was not until the 1950s while in her 70s that she was able to get a small pension from the state. As the kids grew and married, they continued to help her in whatever way was necessary. 

Tradition, Family and Celebration

Sophia was a simple, strong woman who did not need much in her life to be happy. She loved to crochet (show my apron, pin cushion) house dresses and full aprons, play cards, watch boxing on TV, and visit the Serbian Church. She also looked forward to our annual Serbian Christmas on January 7th and other ethnic celebrations which brought many Serbs together. As the oldest son, Louis was expected to prepare and roast the hogs or lambs for most of his life. Not just on holiday, but weekly they usually roasted each Sunday so people could take home meat for dinner. This was such a common cultural event, the Des Moines Register featured Louis in a picture roasting a hog. Traditionally families went from house to house to wish each other a bountiful year (and place grain in the corners of each home). There was singing, kolo dancing, mandolin music, wonderful ethnic dishes… plus a little slivovitsa (plum or apricot brandy) that made hair grow on your chest. 

In Honor of Sophia

In closing, daughter Mary Ann reflects, “My SHEro is my paternal grandmother, Sophia, whom I greatly admired because of the rocky path her life took as an immigrant in a new world… and one who needed little materialism to be happy! As I think of Sophia and the path her life took, it reminds me of a framed poem that hung on the wall of our home when I grew up that speaks to the value of being a MOTHER.”

No painter’s brush nor poet’s pen

In justice to her fame

Has ever reached half high enough

To write a mother’s name. 

~author unknown

The Leon-Negrete Family

The Leon family has deep roots in Valley Junction, tracing back over a century to León, Guanajuato, Mexico. Nicanor “Nick” Leon, born in 1897, and Feliciana Perez, born in 1899, knew each other in their hometown before Feliciana’s family immigrated to Iowa. Determined to join her, Nick arrived in Iowa City with his brother, Ausencio (1895 – 1932), who became a professional interpreter for many local Mexican families and is buried in Jordan Cemetery, a reminder of their early years.

Nick and Feliciana were married at Visitation Catholic Church in October 1919 and initially lived in Iowa City before settling in Valley Junction. Their first home, located at what would later be renamed 429 Washington Street, was where all seven of their children – Canuto, Lupe, Catalina (“Katie”), Antonio (“Tony”), Trinidad, Barney, and Timothea (“Timmy”)– were born. Nick built this uniquely progressive home with indoor plumbing, a rarity at the time, while the neighborhood generally relied on outhouses and well water. Their household was vibrant, filled with the sounds of Spanish and the aromas of home-cooked meals. 

Raising a Family in Valley Junction

Nick worked as a painter for the Rock Island Railroad and later contributed to local businesses, while Feliciana was a nurturing mother and midwife. The family eventually moved to 132 3rd Street, where Nick and Feliciana spent the rest of their lives.

The Leon children became active members of the Valley Junction community. Canuto and Barney worked for Midwest Concrete, participating in projects such as the construction of Mercy Hospital in Des Moines and creating concrete planters still standing today. Trinidad served as a beloved mailman, while Kaite and Lupe worked in food service at local schools. The family legacy continued as Lupe’s son, Richard Murillo, Blue Sky Diner and Nacho Mamma’s restaurants. Tony manage insurance office, and Timmy worked as a teacher and principal. Other Leon grandchildren followed in their footsteps, often graduating from Valley High School or Dowling Catholic.

Raising a Family in Valley Junction

Katie married Frank Negrete, a WWII Marine Corps Veteran, in 1947. They raised three daughters– Annette (“Annie”), Kathy, and Antonia (“Toni”)– in Valley Junction’s vibrant Mexican American community, surrounded by family and friends. The neighborhood was alive with activity, from playing at their cousins’ homes to walking to the original Sacred Heart Church, where family events took place. The children eagerly awaited trains at the tracks, hoping to catch conductors tossing them coins, fueling their imaginations of distant lands. 

Summers were filled with softball games at Legion Park, where Frank pitched for the Mexican Eagles for four decades, earning a spot in the Des Moines Softball Hall of Fame, while Katie sold tacos at the concession stand. Life in Valley Junction was simple yet rich, with familiar small business owners and cherished memories of Green River sodas, train sounds, and strong community ties. 

Rooted in Values

Annie graduated from Valley High School in 1967 and became a nurse at Mercy Hospital for 45 years. Kathy attended beauty school, then worked for the Iowa Lottery while raising two children. Toni became a court reporter and later an employee at Meredeith Corporation, caring for her grandparents in their final years. 

From their beginnings across the tracks to decades of service, worship, and community, the Leon and Negrete family’s legacy remains integral to Valley Junction. 

The Jones, Bell, and Rhodes Family Story: Life Behind the White Picket Fence

Mother Lula Bell

Lawrence died years later, and Lula married John Bell. They settled in the 100 block of 11th Street, a modest neighborhood where front porches served as living rooms and news traveled faster than the postman. Lula– known to everyone as Mother Lula Bell – was more than just a neighbor. She became a counselor to young married couples, offering advice over steaming cups of coffee. Many came to her not only for guidance on raising children, but also for gentle, firm reminders about the importance of mutual respect in marriage.

Making a Home on 11th Street

Aurelia marreid Gene Rhodes, and together they built their home at 111 11st Street, using lumber salvaged from the Fort Dodge Army barracks. Aurelia was a housewife in the truest sense – keeping a warm home and welcoming space for family and friends – while Gene found work with a prominent trucking company. His employment ended abruptly when the company discovered he was Black. Underterred, Gene took a job at the U.S. Post Office and later served in the U.S. Army during World War II.

The Next Generation

Aurelia and Gene raised one daughter, a nurse, and later adopted two grandchildren – Penelope “Penny” Brewton and Cordelia Allen – who both graduated from Valley High School. Pennt broke new ground as the school’s first Black wrestling cheerleader, a proud milestone for both the family and the community. Subtle racism stuck Penny in the tiger mascot suit sitting on the wrestling mat next to the white cheerleaders in their pleated skirts. Penny remembers having to wear her costume to school, toting the head and holding the tail as she walked through the school halls. Aurelia also found time to volunteer alongside Phyllis and Marilyn Lepara in the local schools and at the West Des Moines Opportunity Center, extending the family’s tradition of service. Cordelia died in March 1996.

Three Households, One Fence

Musette, Lula’s other daughter, Jackie, had one daughter of her own and worked as a window dresser at Miller Wohl’s department store – an artful job that blended creativity with style. 

The three households shared more than blood; they shared a white picket fence on the east side of 11th Street. It was a symbolic and literal boundary – welcoming, but only to those trusted to cross it. Sundays were devoted to St. Paul AME Church in Des Moines, where faith was not just a practice but a guiding principle. 

Like many Black families of their generation, they encountered racism in most places – but not in Valley Junction. Here, they marveled at how the community worked together toward shared goals. The neighborhood was tight-knit, protective, and proud.

Family memories are stitched together with humor and warmth. Penny still laughs when recalling the day she thought she was getting wieners for lunch – only to find a bowl of Wheaties waiting for her instead.  

Her Story Lives On

The home at 111 11th Street still stands, holding the echoes of shared meals, laughter, and Sunday bests. Today, Penny lives in Cordova, Tennessee, with her husband Larry, their daughter Stacey, and her grandson Mason – carrying forward the same values of faith, family, and resilience that Lula Bell once shared over coffee on her porch. 

The Gibson Family Story

Dedicated Hands and Loving Hearts

The family made thier home at 417 8th Street. Junior had come to West Des Moines seeking greater work opportunities and after trying a few jobs, he opened Gibson Standard Service station at 13th and Grand (now Northern Lights Pizza). Over the years, Junior worked for the Iowa DOT, keeping roads clean and safe, and in retirement drove a school bus for West Des Moines and a delivery van for UnityPoint Hospital. Joan was a homemaker while the children were young, later working at Dahl’s on Prospect, Larsen Cleaners on 5th Street, and at the new West Park Care Center when it opened. She became a beloved coworker there – always ready with a laugh, especially during those early weekend shifts.

Neighborhood Memories and Lifelong Friendships

Growing up in Valley Junction meant being part of a close-knit neighborhood, where doors were left unlocked and conversations happened at the clotheslines or around buring barrels. Kids rode their bikes downtown to Coast-to-Coast, Vandenburg Drug Store, Stilwell Grocery, Ben Franklin, Jacobsons, and Silvers. Like many families with only one car, the Gibsons often rode the city bus into downtown Des Moines to shop. Shellie remembers Phenix Elementary fondly, especially walking home with friends like Billy Rodriguez and Schuyler Herndon, and the excitement of football games at the old stadium, where the whole community would walk together to and from the game. 

Shellie’s dog, Lucky, was her constant companion – so much so that neighbors knew to find Lucky if they were looking for her. She formed lifelong friendships, and she and her closest friends still call themselves “The Valley Junction Golden Girls” (Shannon, Carolyn, Marilyn, and Shellie). 

Buzz and Steve 

Daivd “Buzz” graduated from Valley in 1970, and his wife is Sherry Neufeld, who graduated in 1969. They married on December 14, 1968. They have 3 children, 11 grandchildren, and 7 soon-to-be 8, great-grandchildren. Buzz served in the Army from 1981-2005 and retired as Sergeant First Class. His service caused them to live all over the world, stationed at Ft Sill, Oklahoma; William O. Darby Kaserne in Furth, Germany; and Schofield Barracks on Oahu, Hawaii. They retired to Edmond, Oklahoma, where one of their children and grandchildren live, and stay busy volunteering for their church.

Steve graduated from Valley in 1972 and married Linda Barnett in 1974. They have 2 daughters, 6 grandchildren, and 2 great-grandchildren. Steve lives in Kimberling City, Missouri, and retired after 36 yeras as a union truck driver.

Generations Built at 13th and Locust

In 1981, Shellie met her future husband, Rick Gamble, who was from “the Des Moines side of West Des Moines” and shared many mutual friends. Rick spent decades managing West Grand Conoco adn Drake Texaco before semi-retiring; Shellie also semi-retired after years with UnityPoint. The couple bough their home at 13th and Locust in 1988, where they raised their tow children. Their children have given them three grandchildren.

Life in the Little Pink House on the Corner

Life on Maple Street

Paul set up shop at 515 Maple, opening each morning with the scent of aftershave and the steady buzz of clippers. While he served customers, his youngest started kindergarten, Rex entered Junior high, and Gwen joined a couple of years later. Eventually, all three would graduate from Valley High School. Once the children were settled in school, Judy began working at KRNT, catching the bus right from their corner. 

The Smiths quickly wove themselves into the fabric of Valley Junction life. Paul kept his barbership running until retirement, sometimes moving to a different storefront but never leaving the district. He developed strong ties with fellow business owners, while the children became regulars at neighborhood shops. Rex even worked at Stilwell’s grovery store through high school.

Challenges and Changing Times

The family faced challenges. The economy’s ups and downs hit Paul’s shop hard, and in the 1970s, long hair came into style, cutting into barbering profits. To supplement the household income, Paul began selling antiques and musical instruments from the back of his shop, even giving guitar lessons. For Rex, the challenge was that social living below Vine Street in the 1960’s carried a stigma in West Des Moines. But by the time his younger sister came of age, that judgment had eased. She remembers classmates being surprised that their house was small or that they had only one car, but she also remembers the gift of growing up in a neighborhood that was racially and culturally diverse, a perspective she carries with gratitude to this day.