My father's father, a brother to Anna Catharine Wilhelmine came to America first to Ill then Ark.  He died when my father was only 7years of age.  There was not much contact, in fact I believe none, after he died.  My Grandmother was left with 4 boys to raise all under 9.  We have later found out that a sister came to Ohio and they were in contact, but again not after he died.  After WWII we recieved letters from relatives in Germany asking for help, food clothing etc.  That was 38 years after my Grandfather died.  Those letter stayed stored then and after my grandmother died I was given the letters as I was interested in Genealogy.  Another 30 years had passed by the time I wrote letters to each of the addresses.   Luck was on my side.  I recieved replies from all of them.  So the contact with the German branch was finally made.  After contacting them I found that One brother, my Grandfather, and two sisters came to America, and two sisters and one brother stayed in Germany.  They had the name of the sister in Ohio and I managed to find descendants of her. But no one has come up with the married name of the other sister.