Joanie Schirm always knew there was more to her family history than what she had learned from her parents. When they passed away, she made a remarkable discovery in an old desk. It was a discovery that sent her on the adventure of a lifetime and caught her up in a world of survival, loss and suffering during World War II.

To learn more about Joanie and her upcoming book visit JoanieSchirm.com.

Joanie has become an expert on genealogical research and encourages everyone to start digging into their past. “We baby boomers are getting to the place in our lives where this craze for genealogy is going to get bigger and bigger,” said Schirm. “My message is do it while you can. There are so many questions I wish I could ask my parents.”