German man makes repeat visits to New Ulm, brings handball team with him

By FRITZ BUSCH

Journal Staff Writer

NEW ULM -- A German musician who played the drums with the band Stadtkapelle of Badwimpfen at the 1989 Heritagefest is visiting New Ulm for the ninth time in 15 years.

This time, percussionist Steffen Ramsperger got a little help from his friends -- the German handball team he coaches -- before coming to New Ulm this time.

Ramsperger stayed with the Kathy and Tom Virnig family of New Ulm on his earlier visits to New Ulm. Two years ago, the Virnigs visited Germany while on the Wendinger Brothers polka band tour. They visited Ramsperger and his handball team and invited all of them to come to New Ulm.

Virnig said the trip to Germany was very relaxing and educational.

"People were very nice," Virnig said. "Neither my wife or I speak any German but people were very helpful."

Six months later, Ramsperger called the Virnigs to see if they were serious about the offer and learned that it was real. He's quite taken by New Ulm, visiting it six times on vacation and three times for Heritagefest.

Last Christmas, he visited the Virnigs to set up the host families and area trip itinerary.

Ramsperger and his handball team reached New Ulm June 1 and will remain here through June 12. They're staying with Mary Ann and Tim Wonn, Mary Lou and Brian Serbus, Konnie and Jim Bartels, Anne and John Makepeace, and Jackie and Tom Farasyn, all of New Ulm.

"Everybody is great," said Ramsperger, who is an electronic engineer for an Audi automobile plant.

Uli Muenzmay, who is part of the German entourage, works in customer care for a German Telecom firm, particularly enjoyed New Ulm's coffee shops.

"We like the town and the lady at the museum (Mary Fellegy) who speaks really good German," Muenzmay said.

The group toured Schell's Brewery and stopped at the Cornerstone Coffeehouse. They will also visit the Lower Sioux Agency Historical Site, Harkin Store, Fort Ridgely State Park, Mall of America and Valley Fair amusement park before leaving.

German handball is a cross between basketball and soccer. Players dribble the ball toward a soccer-like net. Wednesday night, the Germans played softball for the first time. They admitted they weren't very good at playing softball but enjoyed it.