About that Robbery

     Last time we wrote about the Kornerman's grocery store memories........my folks store on 17th street and the very small neighborhood store before that, that got them started. That smaller building was eventually moved and was still a grocery, Rinehart's, but in a different part of town.
     Greg Moore, BHS-70, wrote, "My granny Moore lived at 409 Benton and it was always a thrill to go down to Rinehart's and spend a quarter for a fist full of candy and junk. Pop in glass bottles for a dime, bubble gum cigars, wax bottles, or even a Witch Whistle. Maybe all of these and more. Could a candy store survive in Boone today? Thanks Mo, keep it going."
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     We also heard from Jon Welin, BHS-70, who from Seminole, FL can still savor some great memories from his Boone days. Jon wrote, "as always, I enjoy the Korner. The March 23 edition brought back some memories of the robbery that took place at the 515 17th street store. You might recall that my maternal grandmother, Maerie Welin Thompson, lived around the corner from that store at 1716 Carroll and my sister and I were often there with her. Of course, we made the trip to that store for candy and sodas when we visited her. I remember we were terribly frightened when we heard about that robbery and I will never forget when that happened. Didn't your dad lose the tip of a finger in that shooting? Can you share whether they ever caught the guy who did it and what the aftermath of that was. I'm glad you're doing well, feeling well, and most importantly, continuing to write and bring back all of the great memories of the great place I call "home.""
     Jon added, "I'd love to hear more about that robbery. I guess it was such a shock to me as a kid because Boone always seemed like such a safe place growing up. You just couldn't have guessed a holdup like that could happen. I'm sure there were burglaries and similar crimes going on but you never heard about robberies with guns involved. Please tell us the rest of the story."
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     Here goes. The year was 1960 and the Kornerman had just returned from military service a year or so previous. I was attending a movie at the Rialto and got a summons to report home right away.
     My folks Superette Grocery faced 17th street and our house faced Crawford. It was probably 25 yards or less from the back door of the store to the back door of the house. Closing time was 8 p.m. and dad backed out of the back door of the store with a few items in his hands, including the day's receipt's. The robber came up behind. My dad had always said he would never contest such a happening but would simply yield. However, when he turned to hand the money bag to the guy, the robber panicked, thinking dad was turning to swing at him. That's when the shooting started.
     With no other alternative, dad wrestled with the guy, they eventually hit the ground with my dad on the bottom, the robber on top and the gun in between. To escape, the robber then pulled the trigger several times, hitting dad three times. The robber was then able to flee.
     Yes, dad was hit in a finger. One bullet skipped from one area to another in the front of the stomach  and the most serious wound went from one side to just under one arm. It traveled through much of his interior body........fortunately just missing his heart and I remember Dr. Greco saying, "we really didn't know what we were facing.......was it a knife wound, a bullet wound........we just started surgery at one end and followed the path and repaired as we went."
     The good news was that my dad eventually recovered for another 44 years of good life.
     The robber was a male neighbor who was eventually caught and charged. He did serve some time but was later paroled to the Cedar Rapids area.
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     Boone Connected Deaths: June Nyman, 95, Ankeny. Former resident of Boone as her husband, Ken Nyman, operated an insurance agency here. After Ken passed, June moved to the Des Moines area. Boone area survivors include her two sons, Garrett of Cottage Grove, OR. and Mike of Ankeny, as well as daughter, Marcia of Ankeny. Garrett and Mike are BHS grads, early 60's...........Lois Crouthamel...........Joy Councilman, 76, Las Vegas. OHS-59...........Rebecca Greco, 61, Minneapolis, MN. WDM Valley grad. Worked in architecture.............Earl Hansen,85, Waterloo/Cedar Falls. Boone resident from 1964-97. Was an auto mechanic for 40 years. Served Boone in that capacity, Hansen Auto Repair, for 23 years. Spent his retirement years in Jefferson. Boone area survivor is a son, Rev. Lyle Hansen, of Boone.........Neil (Buck) Grabau, 66, Boone. His parents were Otto and Adeline Grabau. Grew up on a farm. South Hamilton High grad. Worked 40 years at 3M in Ames. Boone area survivors include his wife, Linda, son Paul, brothers Karl (Doc) and Forrest Grabau, and cousin Karla Walters all of Boone.
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     Worldwide Korner headquarters are located at 710 Aldrich, Boone, Iowa 50036-4703. Phone number is 515-432-1530. To email your stories/memories/comments/support........
kelleyskorner1@gmail.com.