Anybody Hungry?

     C'mon now! Really! The Kornerman is wondering how many of our viewers have had coney's for lunch recently? Haven't our recent editions spurred just a little lean toward that delicious entree?
     To many of us, it's always been a favorite. The Kornerman is especially fond of the chili dog with "the works", and lathered with lots of good mustard, especially the kind with horseradish added.
     Editor's Note: Coney discussion overblown? Perhaps, and there's even more this week. So, right now it's a very popular Korner subject. But, as the Kornerman has always proclaimed, "It is you, the viewers, who guide this ship.....completely. If you don't like current subjects featured, there's a simple answer. YOU email the Korner with what YOU want discussed."
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     Larry Jackson, BHS-57, wrote, "my contribution to the ongoing saga of coney restaurants in Boone took place the summer of 1956 when I was a rising senior and working for a local contractor, Bob Clarke. He had gotten the job of installing a tile ceiling in the Coney Island at the southeast corner of Eighth and Keeler. I was assigned to help one of the carpenters do the job. The original ceiling was a 14 foot tin affair and we had to install framework below that to accomodate the more modern look. There was no AC and being it was July in Boone, you can imagine how hot it was. We were on the job for about two weeks, during which time I figured out a college education was in my future because hard labor was the pits. We finished the job on a Friday afternoon and to celebrate, the owner, who I believe was, Pete Canakes?, offered us a beer. That sounded real good to me, even though my experience with beer at that time was, not lying, non-existent. So, he set two frosty bottles of Bud in front of us, I took a swallow, and almost tossed my cookies. I could not imagine how anyone could like something that tasted that vile. So, my partner had two beers that hot afternoon and I had a Pepsi! I must confess a year or so later, after a little time in the Air Force, a Bud now and then was, in fact, for me. And, not that it is germane to the issue of coneys, but do you recall Mary Canakes? I think she was the daughter of Pete's and drop-dead gorgeous. Thanks again for keeping us all up to date on things in Boone."
     The Kornerman thinks Larry just has Canakes and Kokanakis switched around. The Coney Island at Eighth and Keeler was operated by the Kokanakis family I believe......Mary, after her husband's death. I believe there were three, maybe four Kokanakis girls and, yes, they were all very attractive young ladies. Helen, BHS-44, married a Jack Osler, there was Georgia, BHS-49, Martha, BHS-54, and Nikki, BHS-65. I know Nikki lives in Ames and is the wife of Boone native, Mike Wittmer, BHS-65.
     The Canakes family had a restaurant on Boone's northside near12th and Story.
     P.S. Heavens......again, many, many thanks to Jerry Manriquez and his terrific website which provides so much information on BHS and BSH grads, their respective class years and even their spouses, in some cases. The Kornerman has come more and more dependent on info from that site and it certainly adds another layer of info for our viewers to absorb. Don't you agree?
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     Here's Richard Longworth's, BHS-53, take.......
     "Having spent so much time at Danny's restaurant in my high school years, I feel compelled to weigh in on these memories of the town's Greek-owned restaurants, including the Coney Island places. The restaurant at Eighth and Keeler was, indeed, a Coney place run for many years by Pete Kokanakis and his family. I believe the correct spelling is.....Kokinakis, not Kokanakis. As I recall, Pete and Mary had several children and their daughter, Martha, was in the BHS class of '54, one year behind us. I don't remember much about Jimmy Douroumis Coney place, but my father liked Jimmy and his Coneys and often went there. Again, a spelling question: was it Douroumis or, as I recall my father saying, Dourimis? Which brings us to Danny's, a favorite hangout. It was a small place, attached to the house next door. Not a Coney Island place though. Apart from burgers and fries, Danny also put up a very good steak. He and his wife were lovely people, very tolerant of the kids who hung out there and kept up a general racket around the pinball place in the front, by the door. They also had several children, including Dean, whom you've mentioned, and their daughter, Helen, a couple years older. In later years, after I'd left Boone, I'd go see Danny when I came home for Christmas, and he'd pull out a bottle of homemade onion wine for a celebratory drink. At least, he said it was onion wine and it tasted like it, I'm afraid."
     The Kornerman says, "again, thanks to Jerry's website........."
     Douroumes......there's Frances, 1938, George, 1943 and Douroumis.....there's Patricia, BSH-60, Paul, BSH-65, and Jo Ellen.
     Canakes......there's Louis, 1930, Peter, 1931, Cordelia, 1933, Catherine, 1935, Lucy, 1939, Thomas, 1941, Helen, 1943, Isabel, 1946, and Dean, 1954.
     The Kornerman is assuming they are BHS grads unless designated BSH/ Sacred Heart. More than one family? Can't tell you. The spelling of the names? Again, I guess we don't know right now which is right.
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     Kathy Wheelock added, "The Coney Island on the corner where Edward Jones is now located was owned and operated by Pete and Mary Kokanakis. After Pete died, Mary ran it alone for many years. They had really great coneys."
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     Two deaths reported since the Korner's earlier release. Tony Magnani, 81, Boone and JoAnn King, 91, Boone, formerly of Ogden.
     Boone Area Deaths: Carl Staley, Des Moines. Born in Boone. Parents were Clifford and Helen Staley. Longtime service veteran and postal worker. Buried in Boone..........Dorothy Roorda, 85, Madrid and formerly of Monroe. Among survivors is a daughter, Becky Roorda of Madrid.............
Beverly Jane Love, 88, Clive. BHS-1945. Born in Boone. Parents were Harry and Ruby Anderson. Longtime employee of Northwestern Bell/U.S. West........... Beverly Couchman, 88, Ames. Lived in several Iowa communities including a time in Boone............Georgia Crouse, 93, Boone. Bookkeeper and an Avon representative. Boone area survivors include sons, Tim and Bill..............Jim Phipps, 83, Pilot Mound. Pilot High-49. Worked at Gypsum company in Fort Dodge over 40 years and also farmed with his brother, Vern. Boone area survivors include his wife, Twila Sue Phipps, daughter Ginger Jones and son, Weslie Phipps all of Pilot Mound. Also, sons Randie and Lindie Phipps both of Boxholm...........Florfrilla Fern Christensen, 99, Ogden. Born in and attended school in Woodward before graduating from OHS-1932. Farmed with her husband, Paul, near Ogden. Boone Area survivors include sons, Roger and Rex of Ogden...........Ruth Anderson, 92, Dayton. Dayton-41.  She and husband Bob farmed for a time near Stratford................Shirley Bakley, 86, Ogden. She and husband Don farmed near Boxholm but moved to Ogden in 2001.
     Word received of the death of Norma Paris of Boone. She passed away Tuesday.
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