John Lewandowski, Lena's grandfather, was born October 25, 1828 in Nikolaiken, Poland. Anna Pawlikowski was born on July 12, 1832 also in Poland. The exact location of her birth has not yet been found. On February 18, 1862, they were married in the Catholic Church at Schonweise, Poland (now Krasna Laka). The couple resided in Nikolaiken, Poland (now Mikolajki), about 6 km away. It is known that they had 4 children, all born in Poland. Franz was born in December of 1862, followed by Rosalia on March 17, 1865, who would become Lena's mother. Third child, Antonie, was born on May 2, 1868. All three were born in Nikolaiken. A fourth child, Apolonia was born in 1872, probably also in Nikolaiken, but I have not been able to find her birth record to confirm it.

The Lewandowski family immigrated from Poland to the United States in January of 1884. Daughter Antonie is not shown on the family's passenger list, and she may have died in Poland. The family initially settled in Savannah, Georgia, where it appears that Franz worked in a bakery. They stayed in Savannah for at least 2 years. The Savannah City Directories of 1885 and 1886 show the Lewandowski's residing at 7 York Street in Savannah.

Eventually the family moved to Menasha, Wisconsin. Son Franz married Martha Donischewski in Menasha on May 3, 1892. The rest of the family are listed in the 1893 Menasha City Directory, residing on 5th Street. Rosalia married Mike Jankowski on May 26, 1896 in Menasha, and Appolonia married Joe Danowski around 1904 - also in Menasha.

The family bible states that John Lewandowski died on March 18, 1902, but his place of burial remains unknown. Anna Pawlikowski Lewandowski died on December 16, 1903 in Menasha. She is buried in St. John's Cemetery.