A 150 Year Celebration

     Boone's First Presbyterian Church is having a big 150th celebration this weekend and Korner viewer, Jim Harken, will "come home" to enjoy the festivities.
     The Kornerman was a bit worried about Jim, a BHS grad, when he forsake our beautiful city and state for a move to Arizona. But, eventually, he came to his better senses and came back to Iowa. He now lives in the Des Moines area, but works in Ames as a County Services Project Manager for Iowa State University.
     Jim's parents are well known in Boone. His dad, Richard, was a longtime pastor at First Presbyterian and his mom was a longtime Boone teacher prior to their retirement. They still have close ties to Boone but now reside "closer to Jim's family" in that suburb down south.
     Jim wrote, "I plan to be in old Boone-town Sunday. They have a special service lined up with a catered meal after. Should be a great day of memories with all of our Boone church family."
     He added, "We moved to Boone in 1985 and the Harken's lived there until the folks retired a couple years ago when they moved to the Des Moines area. Twenty-five of those 30 years, dad was the pastor of First Presbyterian. Lots of good memories of Boone for all of those years. I remember when the church was painted a kind of pumpkin orange color and they spent a summer scraping off that old paint and allowing for the red brick to show through like it does now.When I was in junior high and high school, one of my summer jobs was mowing the lawn for the church. It also turned me into being a tourist guide for Boone, as many people from outside of town would stop to ask directions to either the Boone and Scenic Valley or the Mamie Eisenhower birthplace. I can't forget you Mo, or Boone.....way too many memories with both. Keep up the good work my friend."
     The Kornerman would be remiss if I didn't remind viewers that you may remember Jim as the guy who has acted as spokesperson (M.C.) for the Municipal Band Festival each summer here for many years.
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     Diane Lewis wrote about Iowa Ghost Towns. She wrote, "I've been reading your blog since my daughter brought it to my attention. I share your birthday but not the year. I was born in 1947. I graduated with the class of 1965 from BHS and have kept in contact with a few close friends. I wanted to pass a site on to you. It may bring up some memories for a few people. I wish I had paid more attention to my parents, uncles, aunts and grandma Coe."
     The Kornerman did pull up the site........http://www.iowaghosttowns.com/index.html........and, yes, did find it interesting. A little history of each town. Don't know if any of our older, small towns in the Boone area would qualify as ghost towns but there certainly are some almost forgotten small towns in the area that would, no doubt, provide lots of great history of "days gone by."
     Thanks Diane.
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     While we're in a thanking mood, Korner appreciation goes to good buddy Dick Musser, who very generously remembered us and our efforts this week. He certainly enjoys the twice-a-week editions and is anxious for them to continue.
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     Classmate Dick Longworth, BHS-53, was kind enough to send us an obituary that appeared recently in the Chicago Tribune.......one he thought some Korner viewers would find interesting.
     Boone native Donald Josephson, a BHS grad, passed away at age 75 in late February in Wheaton, IL. He was an associate professor of math at Wheaton College for 27 years.
     Although he pursued a career in math, he was also always interested in music and played the violin for many years in Wheaton's orchestra. After earning a master's degree in math from the University of Michigan, he taught at Freeport Community College in Freeport, IL. That was followed with a short tenure as a teacher at Mercer University in Macon,GA. and then a teaching assignment at the University of Oklahoma while he earned his doctorate.
     Many of Don's colleagues were very complimentary regarding his service to Wheaton College and its students. A classroom in the college Math and Science building is now known as the Donald A. Josephson Mathematics Project Room.
     Donald is survived by his wife, three daughters and his sister, Ruth Josephson Porikos, also a BHS grad.
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     Boone Connected Deaths: Ramona McNair, 83, Boone........Carmella Irvine, 88, Boone. Moved to Boone in 2009. Boone area survivors include her daughters, Catherine Long, Carmella Edberg and Mary Irvine, all of Boone..........Garrett (Bud) Erickson, 86, Littleton, CO. Born in Ogden. He, his wife, Deloris Laidley Erickson, and family moved to Colorado in 1958. Bud owned several gas stations, a flower shop, a car wash and a liquor store...........Arvid Huffman, 85, Boone. BHS-48. Worked at the Fort Dodge, Des Moines Southern Railroad and then for many years at Boone State Bank. Was a Vice President and head cashier. Boone area survivors include his wife, Catherine (Katie) and sons, Charles, David and Brian, all of Boone. He is also survived by his brother, Buck, and daughters, Dorene Buckingham and Denise Walters, all of  Boone and his sister, JoAnn Townsend of Ogden.........Marvin Stumpenhorst, 85, Ogden. OHS-47. He and his wife, Ruth, farmed south of Ogden. Boone area survivors include his son, Mark, of Stratford and daughter, Jo Ellen Nissen, of Pilot Mound, his sister, Eldora Heineman, and brother-in-law, Dean Youngren, both of Ogden and sisters-in-law, Mary Lou Corson, Faye Grems and Marion Rogers all of Boone.
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     Worldwide Korner headquarters are located at 710 Aldrich, Boone, Iowa 50036-4703. Phone number is 5 15-432-1530. To email your stories/memories/comments/support........
kelleyskorner1@gmail.com.