Sunday, May 31, 2020
Saturday, May 30, 2020
THANK YOU'S AND A CONFESSION
Gretchen Caldwell Otis, BHS-52, passed away recently and this is probably a few days late.
Since her illness took a negative turn, the Kornerman's incoming phone calls have taken a "hit" but Gretchen's very unique legacy will remain......always.
Call it a hobby.....or, in Gretchen's case, much more than that. But, she spent hours and phone calls on end providing or seeking information on current or former Boone residents.......for "your" information more likely than hers.
Whether she was locating a missing Boone graduate for a reunion reminder or seeking death and funeral information on a "long lost" Boone native, her effort was unrelenting.
When she was "on a case," time was not a factor and I knew her news was "the latest" or in dire need of further study.
Through the years, she and I, the Kornerman, exchanged that type of information on a pretty regular basis. Her call might be early morn, high noon or late at night but you knew it was important.
She dug deep....contacting a second cousin at, perhaps, an out-of-state location, seeking info on a first cousin that was a BHS grad, now located, in who knows where. Her grit surely produced a tremendous success rate but I would guess she also had some hefty phone bills on occasion.
Gretchen apparently loved the challenge and not just me, but many others, here and wherever, were grateful recipients of valuable information she was able to provide. I'm not sure she's replaceable.
I speak for many, Gretchen. Thank you, now RIP.
K-----K
If you are reading this, you realize that we have started our DAILY Boone Connected Deaths project. In addition to our regular Wednesday/Saturday more complete listings, we are now, as soon as we learn officially of new deaths, posting those.......regardless of what day it is. Then, we follow later with added details on the following Wednesday or Saturday. Its a service we just felt was badly needed under current media restrictions.
Vern Modeland, BHS-50, had this comment, "the idea you share seems like a winner IF you don't wear yourself out doing it. Sometimes, that's the danger of seeing a need and filling it."
Wanda Lingren added, "I want to thank you so much for putting in the names of the people that passed away every day. I am one of those who found out too late that someone had passed."
On another recent Korner mention she answered, "that trailor you saw near Pilot Mound, I believe, belongs to Lorna Lingren Scott and her husband. They have a carnival that is called Scott Amusements. Since they are not allowed to have carnivals at this time, I think they are doing the best they can by, at least, selling their cotton candy and foods at "home.""
K-----K
Well, its time for a confession......time to "come clean."
Just like many others, during this pandemic time of semi-isolation, the Kornerman has spent an inordinate amount of time scanning the internet.
A favorite place to browse is Jerry Manriquez, BSH-57, fabulous website. Within that site, is a Bumble B's link......you know, our BHS school newspaper.
Some folks who have sent Bumble B's to Jerry deserve some credit. They include Ron Eppert, UC-71; Kae Nelson Schmickley, BHS-56; Ron Schmickley and Judy Brown Patterson, both BHS-54; Sally Shaler Harwood, BHS-55; Nancy Westfall Gurrola, BHS-60, and Scott Linn, BHS-74.
As a result, the following years of Bumble B's are available for viewing.....1922-24; 1950-60 and 1973-74.
As I, the Kornerman, was perusing some of those pages, I found myself smiling, laughing and enjoying the many memories that evolved.
That got me to thinking.......there are many others, these days, who need a smile and some good memories to help them ease their way through this "delicate" period of time. As a result, I decided to launch another Korner project.
I saw many names of people I am familiar with and who are still in this area so, at random, when I would see something interesting about someone, I would scan the items, usually more than one, clip them, put them in an envelope and mail the items to them with the hope it would draw a smile and produce a memory or two.
I did provide some identification.......I did put the Kornerman's home address on each envelope.
My classmate, Jo Morris Martin, BHS-53, figured out I was the culprit and wrote, "you really know how to make an 85-year old feel young again. Thanks for the clippings. Those were the "good old days."
I did send a few to some out-of-towners. Janaan Munson Kennedy, BHS-54, of Barrington, IL emailed, "thanks for the note. Takes me back to my typing class with Miss Ealy. I continue to enjoy your bi-weekly reporting on the happenings and stories of days gone by, very much appreciated." I sent Tom Peterson, BHS-67, a nice piece about his deceased brother, Merrill Peterson, BHS-55, and Tom said he would pass it along to Merrill's children.
Karen Mustapha Langmade, BHS-58, emailed a "thank you" and classmate Richard Longworth, BHS-53, emailed, "thanks for sending the note on my one moment of athletic glory (he won a state table tennis championship). Quite an irony, I was one of the very least athletic members of our class but may have been the only one to win a state title."
The items sent covered a variety of subjects from outstanding athletic play to participation in music, drama or homeroom events.....honor roll honorees etc. etc.
I finally quit......my eyes started telling me I was looking at the computer too much each day plus the fact, it was getting to be an expensive project at 50-cents a lick. I didn't keep track but I imagine I ended up sending maybe 30 or more envelopes. It was fun for me and I hope all those who received them did smile and stop to think about those old, less complicated days.
K-----K
BOONE CONNECTED DEATHS: Dr. Richard Byerly, 81, Creston. BHS-56. Was a coach/teacher/Athletic Director at Gilbert while earning his PhD from Iowa State University. Started work for DMACC in 1970 and eventually became the President of Southwestern Community College in Creston. Was an Iowa state legislator from 1973-83. Survivors include his wife, Christi, two daughters and six sons..........Robert Nichols, 88, rural Ogden. Married Marion Roberts in 1967 and the couple moved to the Ogden area. He was a carpenter/mason and worked at Iowa State University for many years prior to retirement in 1995. Survivors include his wife, Marion, three sons, including Troy Nichols of Ogden and Brett Nichols of Boone. Two sisters also survive.........Ben Powers, 30. Survivors include his father, Brad Powers, of Arvada, CO., his mother, Barb Majoros, of Boone and two sisters, Becky Schwanz of Madrid and Brittany Powers of Boone.......Frances Frey, 84, Madrid. Born in Zookspur. Married Robert Frey in 1953. Was a farm wife. Survivors include her son, Robert Frey of Madrid, a daughter, three brothers, two sisters and two sisters-in-law........VaDonna Leaf, 91, Webster City. Born on a farm near Stanhope. Stanhope HS-47. Married Paul Leaf in 1952. The couple farmed near Stratford and operated the Bell's Mill sorghum mill. In 1990, moved to Webster City. She was a free lance writer/author and a speaker. Four children survive, including a son, Chris Leaf, of Boone.........Helen Robertson, 84, Reno, NV.
K-----K
Worldwide Korner headquarters are located at 928 South Jackson, Boone, Iowa 50036-4932. Phone number is 515-432-1530. To email your stories/memories/comments....
kelleyskorner1@gmail.com.
Since her illness took a negative turn, the Kornerman's incoming phone calls have taken a "hit" but Gretchen's very unique legacy will remain......always.
Call it a hobby.....or, in Gretchen's case, much more than that. But, she spent hours and phone calls on end providing or seeking information on current or former Boone residents.......for "your" information more likely than hers.
Whether she was locating a missing Boone graduate for a reunion reminder or seeking death and funeral information on a "long lost" Boone native, her effort was unrelenting.
When she was "on a case," time was not a factor and I knew her news was "the latest" or in dire need of further study.
Through the years, she and I, the Kornerman, exchanged that type of information on a pretty regular basis. Her call might be early morn, high noon or late at night but you knew it was important.
She dug deep....contacting a second cousin at, perhaps, an out-of-state location, seeking info on a first cousin that was a BHS grad, now located, in who knows where. Her grit surely produced a tremendous success rate but I would guess she also had some hefty phone bills on occasion.
Gretchen apparently loved the challenge and not just me, but many others, here and wherever, were grateful recipients of valuable information she was able to provide. I'm not sure she's replaceable.
I speak for many, Gretchen. Thank you, now RIP.
K-----K
If you are reading this, you realize that we have started our DAILY Boone Connected Deaths project. In addition to our regular Wednesday/Saturday more complete listings, we are now, as soon as we learn officially of new deaths, posting those.......regardless of what day it is. Then, we follow later with added details on the following Wednesday or Saturday. Its a service we just felt was badly needed under current media restrictions.
Vern Modeland, BHS-50, had this comment, "the idea you share seems like a winner IF you don't wear yourself out doing it. Sometimes, that's the danger of seeing a need and filling it."
Wanda Lingren added, "I want to thank you so much for putting in the names of the people that passed away every day. I am one of those who found out too late that someone had passed."
On another recent Korner mention she answered, "that trailor you saw near Pilot Mound, I believe, belongs to Lorna Lingren Scott and her husband. They have a carnival that is called Scott Amusements. Since they are not allowed to have carnivals at this time, I think they are doing the best they can by, at least, selling their cotton candy and foods at "home.""
K-----K
Well, its time for a confession......time to "come clean."
Just like many others, during this pandemic time of semi-isolation, the Kornerman has spent an inordinate amount of time scanning the internet.
A favorite place to browse is Jerry Manriquez, BSH-57, fabulous website. Within that site, is a Bumble B's link......you know, our BHS school newspaper.
Some folks who have sent Bumble B's to Jerry deserve some credit. They include Ron Eppert, UC-71; Kae Nelson Schmickley, BHS-56; Ron Schmickley and Judy Brown Patterson, both BHS-54; Sally Shaler Harwood, BHS-55; Nancy Westfall Gurrola, BHS-60, and Scott Linn, BHS-74.
As a result, the following years of Bumble B's are available for viewing.....1922-24; 1950-60 and 1973-74.
As I, the Kornerman, was perusing some of those pages, I found myself smiling, laughing and enjoying the many memories that evolved.
That got me to thinking.......there are many others, these days, who need a smile and some good memories to help them ease their way through this "delicate" period of time. As a result, I decided to launch another Korner project.
I saw many names of people I am familiar with and who are still in this area so, at random, when I would see something interesting about someone, I would scan the items, usually more than one, clip them, put them in an envelope and mail the items to them with the hope it would draw a smile and produce a memory or two.
I did provide some identification.......I did put the Kornerman's home address on each envelope.
My classmate, Jo Morris Martin, BHS-53, figured out I was the culprit and wrote, "you really know how to make an 85-year old feel young again. Thanks for the clippings. Those were the "good old days."
I did send a few to some out-of-towners. Janaan Munson Kennedy, BHS-54, of Barrington, IL emailed, "thanks for the note. Takes me back to my typing class with Miss Ealy. I continue to enjoy your bi-weekly reporting on the happenings and stories of days gone by, very much appreciated." I sent Tom Peterson, BHS-67, a nice piece about his deceased brother, Merrill Peterson, BHS-55, and Tom said he would pass it along to Merrill's children.
Karen Mustapha Langmade, BHS-58, emailed a "thank you" and classmate Richard Longworth, BHS-53, emailed, "thanks for sending the note on my one moment of athletic glory (he won a state table tennis championship). Quite an irony, I was one of the very least athletic members of our class but may have been the only one to win a state title."
The items sent covered a variety of subjects from outstanding athletic play to participation in music, drama or homeroom events.....honor roll honorees etc. etc.
I finally quit......my eyes started telling me I was looking at the computer too much each day plus the fact, it was getting to be an expensive project at 50-cents a lick. I didn't keep track but I imagine I ended up sending maybe 30 or more envelopes. It was fun for me and I hope all those who received them did smile and stop to think about those old, less complicated days.
K-----K
BOONE CONNECTED DEATHS: Dr. Richard Byerly, 81, Creston. BHS-56. Was a coach/teacher/Athletic Director at Gilbert while earning his PhD from Iowa State University. Started work for DMACC in 1970 and eventually became the President of Southwestern Community College in Creston. Was an Iowa state legislator from 1973-83. Survivors include his wife, Christi, two daughters and six sons..........Robert Nichols, 88, rural Ogden. Married Marion Roberts in 1967 and the couple moved to the Ogden area. He was a carpenter/mason and worked at Iowa State University for many years prior to retirement in 1995. Survivors include his wife, Marion, three sons, including Troy Nichols of Ogden and Brett Nichols of Boone. Two sisters also survive.........Ben Powers, 30. Survivors include his father, Brad Powers, of Arvada, CO., his mother, Barb Majoros, of Boone and two sisters, Becky Schwanz of Madrid and Brittany Powers of Boone.......Frances Frey, 84, Madrid. Born in Zookspur. Married Robert Frey in 1953. Was a farm wife. Survivors include her son, Robert Frey of Madrid, a daughter, three brothers, two sisters and two sisters-in-law........VaDonna Leaf, 91, Webster City. Born on a farm near Stanhope. Stanhope HS-47. Married Paul Leaf in 1952. The couple farmed near Stratford and operated the Bell's Mill sorghum mill. In 1990, moved to Webster City. She was a free lance writer/author and a speaker. Four children survive, including a son, Chris Leaf, of Boone.........Helen Robertson, 84, Reno, NV.
K-----K
Worldwide Korner headquarters are located at 928 South Jackson, Boone, Iowa 50036-4932. Phone number is 515-432-1530. To email your stories/memories/comments....
kelleyskorner1@gmail.com.
Thursday, May 28, 2020
BOONE CONNECTED DEATH
Dr. Richard Byerly, 81, Creston. BHS-56. Burial in Boone, Linwood, 3:30 p.m. Saturday
Wednesday, May 27, 2020
KEN ALDAG, MEL MURKEN CHECK IN
Received a note from a good old northsider, Ken Aldag, BHS-54, with confirmation news regarding his buddy, Ev Hickman. Ken wrote, "there has been some question about Ev working for KWBG. Ev did work there during his senior year at BHS-53/54, announcing, reading the news and DJing. He arranged for the high school speech classes to, occasionally, produce and present shows on the station. When he graduated and started at Drake University, he would still come back to KWBG to DJ, etc. on Sundays. I was going to Boone J.C. that year and would meet him at the station and help select records and catch up on our lives. In May of 1955, Ev got his first job at WHO and his KWBG days ended. As we all know, he had a 40+ year career there. I had a recent communication with his daughter, Marianne. Due to COVID-19, the memorial service planned in Boone for next month has been postponed. The family may wait until next year when, hopefully, things will be back to something resembling normality.
K-----K
Just had a call from old buddy, Mel Murken, BHS-59, who lives in retirement in Rippey.
That little community is about 150 years old and they had a big celebration planned for next month. Unfortunately, now it has been postponed. It will be held June 5, 2021, instead.
Mel, a real baseball man, had been working for many months to make an old-timer's baseball game a key part of the celebration.
Obviously, he's disappointed but as I told him, "now, we just have to live another year" to participate in that.
K-----K
I know I bring this up quite often and the reason is.......a majority of Korner viewers are no longer in the Boone area and, in fact, most are out-of-state. Whereas those of us who live in central Iowa are well aware of the tremendous growth of the Des Moines suburbs, many KK followers would not be familiar with this surge.
This info was contained in a recent Des Moines Register article and talks about increases since 2010.
Waukee is the city's fastest growing city of more than 20,000 population with a growth of 74-percent and an actual count of almost 25,000 residents.
Ankeny grew nearly 48-percent with a current population of 67,355, which is almost more than the 67,899 who live in West Des Moines.
Johnston grew nearly 31-percent, 22,582, and West Des Moines grew by 20-percent.
A little further away, Grimes now has a population of 14,804 and Bondurant is up to 6,958.
Quite a change in the last 10 years.
K-----K
On the Don Williams Park road, we got about a mile south of the east-west Pilot Mound road and noticed a business in a farmyard there......one of those trailer-types you see at celebrations hawking funnel cakes, corn dogs, popcorn etc. AND, they were busy......a line of cars waiting for their order.
Have no clue as to their operational hours or how they let people know what those hours are. Interesting.
K-----K
A reminder: Make it a habit to take a look at our Korner blog EVERY DAY as we institute our new policy of placing known and official deaths on the blog immediately, rather than holding them until Wednesday or Saturday.
We are doing this to, more quickly inform viewers of area residents who have passed.
K-----K
BOONE CONNECTED DEATHS: Mike Duncan, 63, Fraser. Born in Boone. Grand HS-76. Married Melody Sebring in 1979. Worked as an auto body repairman for over 35 years prior to retirement in 2016 due to illness. Served on the Fraser council and Grand school board. Survivors include his wife, Melody, of Fraser, daughter, Jessica Hicks of Pilot Mound, son, Joshua Duncan of Fraser, his mother, Mary Duncan, of Boone, a sister, a brother, Bobby Duncan, of Boone and a sister-in-law........Jane Norris, 85, Marshalltown. She married David Norris in 1956 and the couple lived in Boone in 1959. She was a news correspondent for newspapers in Des Moines, Cedar Rapids, Waterloo and Dubuque. Her husband and two adult children survive........Larry Bell, BHS-66.
K-----K
Worldwide Korner headquarters are located at 928 South Jackson, Boone, Iowa 50036-4932. Phone number is 515-432-1530. Leave a message. To email your stories/memories/comments..... kelleykorner1@gmail.com.
K-----K
Just had a call from old buddy, Mel Murken, BHS-59, who lives in retirement in Rippey.
That little community is about 150 years old and they had a big celebration planned for next month. Unfortunately, now it has been postponed. It will be held June 5, 2021, instead.
Mel, a real baseball man, had been working for many months to make an old-timer's baseball game a key part of the celebration.
Obviously, he's disappointed but as I told him, "now, we just have to live another year" to participate in that.
K-----K
I know I bring this up quite often and the reason is.......a majority of Korner viewers are no longer in the Boone area and, in fact, most are out-of-state. Whereas those of us who live in central Iowa are well aware of the tremendous growth of the Des Moines suburbs, many KK followers would not be familiar with this surge.
This info was contained in a recent Des Moines Register article and talks about increases since 2010.
Waukee is the city's fastest growing city of more than 20,000 population with a growth of 74-percent and an actual count of almost 25,000 residents.
Ankeny grew nearly 48-percent with a current population of 67,355, which is almost more than the 67,899 who live in West Des Moines.
Johnston grew nearly 31-percent, 22,582, and West Des Moines grew by 20-percent.
A little further away, Grimes now has a population of 14,804 and Bondurant is up to 6,958.
Quite a change in the last 10 years.
K-----K
On the Don Williams Park road, we got about a mile south of the east-west Pilot Mound road and noticed a business in a farmyard there......one of those trailer-types you see at celebrations hawking funnel cakes, corn dogs, popcorn etc. AND, they were busy......a line of cars waiting for their order.
Have no clue as to their operational hours or how they let people know what those hours are. Interesting.
K-----K
A reminder: Make it a habit to take a look at our Korner blog EVERY DAY as we institute our new policy of placing known and official deaths on the blog immediately, rather than holding them until Wednesday or Saturday.
We are doing this to, more quickly inform viewers of area residents who have passed.
K-----K
BOONE CONNECTED DEATHS: Mike Duncan, 63, Fraser. Born in Boone. Grand HS-76. Married Melody Sebring in 1979. Worked as an auto body repairman for over 35 years prior to retirement in 2016 due to illness. Served on the Fraser council and Grand school board. Survivors include his wife, Melody, of Fraser, daughter, Jessica Hicks of Pilot Mound, son, Joshua Duncan of Fraser, his mother, Mary Duncan, of Boone, a sister, a brother, Bobby Duncan, of Boone and a sister-in-law........Jane Norris, 85, Marshalltown. She married David Norris in 1956 and the couple lived in Boone in 1959. She was a news correspondent for newspapers in Des Moines, Cedar Rapids, Waterloo and Dubuque. Her husband and two adult children survive........Larry Bell, BHS-66.
K-----K
Worldwide Korner headquarters are located at 928 South Jackson, Boone, Iowa 50036-4932. Phone number is 515-432-1530. Leave a message. To email your stories/memories/comments..... kelleykorner1@gmail.com.
Tuesday, May 26, 2020
BOONE CONNECTED DEATHS
Jane Norris, 85, Marshalltown. She and her husband, Dave, lived in Boone in 1959.
Monday, May 25, 2020
Saturday, May 23, 2020
SOME NEW NEWS
BREAKING NEWS: (1) Crazy! Eighty-five years of age and the Kornerman has decided to EXPAND our service.
Here's the skinny. Ever since we started the Korner blog 10 years ago, we've provided Wednesday and Saturday offerings, which included Boone connected deaths that we had as of press time.
I've decided, under more declining media coverage, that simply isn't good enough.
I've been hearing too many sad stories about local deaths being learned too late or not heard about at all.
Somebody recently complained, "we had no idea of her death, she was in our card club recently and none of us knew about her passing until, even her service had been held."
It seems, sometimes, everybody in town knows of a certain death but it is never announced on KWBG. The newspaper, the Boone News,? is another story.......a once-a-week publication that may, or may not, show certain deaths but even then, they may be six or seven days late. Its a sad dilemma for our community.
Here's what I've decided to do. Whenever we can officially learn of a death, it will appear on Kelley's Korner......WHATEVER DAY THAT IS.
In other words, to feel more up-to-date about local deaths, check our Korner blog every day, not just Wednesday and Saturday. If we have info to provide, we will provide it.......on any day of the week. If we have no such information, we'll either go dark or make a note of it on the blog site.
My hope is, that even though our Korner viewership is limited, those people who are familiar with it, will have quicker and more up-to-date information on local deaths than is now available.
We'll start a new, closer look on Monday, even Memorial Day. Check us out every day and pass the word.
K-----K
BREAKING NEWS: (2) Boone High School has hired a new varsity football coach. That hasn't appeared in the Boone News? yet either.
Chad Klein, a native of Audubon, will become a teacher/coach at BHS after serving his entire 21 years in education at Carroll Kuemper High School.
Klein earned a degree from the University of Northern Iowa in 1998 and earned extra credit at DMACC in 2011. He currently serves as Activities Director and varsity football coach at Kuemper.
Becoming the head varsity coach in 2012, he led the Knights to eight consecutive playoff appearances, a semifinal round berth in 2012 and the 2A state championship in 2013.
He was twice selected the District Coach of the Year, also earned a Regional Coach of the Year honor and was selected as a Shrine Bowl Assistant Coach in 2015.
Klein's wife, Kim, is an English teacher at Carroll High and the couple have four children.
Olivia, 18, is a freshman at Simpson college involved in track and cross country. Logan, 18, is a freshman at Iowa State studying Industrial Design. Easton, 15, is a high school sophomore involved in band and athletics and Piper, 11, is a sixth grader involved in dance and gymnastics.
K-----K
Max Moore, BHS-46, sent a picture of a Kelly's Korner sports bar in Placentia, CA. There are numerous Kelley or Kelly's Korners all over this country. There's even an unincorporated community, Kelly's Korner, Washington. Then too, we've noted a Kelly's Korner orchid supplier in Milford, NH; a Korner bar and grill in Buffalo, NY; a place to improve hearing loss and a clothing outlet in Atoka, TN. among many others.
K-----K
BOONE CONNECTED DEATHS: George Maybee Jr., 91, Iowa Falls. Formerly of Boone. He grew up in Illinois and started a job with the railroad in 1951. He retired in Boone in 1989 as Assistant Vice President and Division Manager of the Central Division of the Chicago and Northwestern Railroad. Married Mary Jane Kreuscher, and after railroad retirement, served as Mayor of Boone from 1989-2003. Survivors include his wife, Mary, and adult children, Debra Andres,
Kathleen Sandholm, Michael and Tim Maybee.........Gretchen Caldwell Otis, 86, Boone. BHS-52. Earned a nursing degree from Iowa Lutheran Hospital in 1955. Was married twice and divorced twice. Survivors include a son, David Otis, of Ogden and a daughter, Teresa "Terri" Otis........Tracy Ann Carris-Christensen, 59, Boone. Stratford HS. Worked for HyVee for 18 years before retiring in 2018. Married Keith Carris in 2019. Survivors include her husband, a son, Cameron Olson, and two sisters, Christy Christensen of Boone and Julia Eichman.........Tala May Fierle, 80, Ankeny. Born in New York and attended Juilliard School of Music for piano. She and Bob Cramer met at Parsons College and married in 1965. They divorced in 1973 and Tala and son, Reynolds Cramer, moved to New York. She married Otto Brehm and Robert Fierle and both preceded her in death. Reynolds came back to Iowa several years ago to work for Fareway. Tala moved back to Iowa in 2019 to be closer to Reynolds, his children Ashley and Zach, from a marriage to Kori, and Benny from his marriage to Sheila.........Cecelia "Cece" Paris, 77, Westhaven. Formerly of Fraser. She grew up in LeHigh, became a CNA and worked at Westhaven and the former Ledges Manor. Married Ray Paris in 1959. Five adult children survive, Jeff and Mike Paris of Fraser, Nancy Habrich and Tammy Walker of Boone and Joel Paris of Ogden. Two sisters also survive, Georgia Perkovich of Boone and Teresa O'Brion...........James Lawton, 82, Boxholm. Married Lila Mae Oakes in 1958 and she preceded him in death. Was a farmer, truck driver, veterinarian and minister. Two of his three daughters, Lora Lee Lawton and Lisa Lynn Lawton, survive........Kim Renee Bailey, 62, LeMars..........Russell Dalton, 86, Madrid. Born in Madrid. Married Wanda Faye Rose in 1950. Worked in the family business, R.W. Dalton and sons general contractors. Four adult children survive, Randy and Rhonda Dalton of Madrid, Rusty Dalton and Debra Svaleson........Thomas Gibbons, 90, Altoona. Born in Madrid. MHS-49. Was a U.S. Navy vet. Married Angelina Righi and the couple established their home in Madrid. Worked for Bridgestone Firestone for 38 years before retirement. Survivors include four adult children, Mark Gibbons, Lezlie Lundy, Suzanne Nestrud and Peggy Sweeney and a brother, Floyd, of Madrid.
K-----K
Worldwide Korner headquarters are located at 928 South Jackson, Boone, Iowa 50036-4932. Phone number is 515-432-1530. Leave a message. To email your stories/memories/comments.......
Kelleyskorner1@gmail.com.
Here's the skinny. Ever since we started the Korner blog 10 years ago, we've provided Wednesday and Saturday offerings, which included Boone connected deaths that we had as of press time.
I've decided, under more declining media coverage, that simply isn't good enough.
I've been hearing too many sad stories about local deaths being learned too late or not heard about at all.
Somebody recently complained, "we had no idea of her death, she was in our card club recently and none of us knew about her passing until, even her service had been held."
It seems, sometimes, everybody in town knows of a certain death but it is never announced on KWBG. The newspaper, the Boone News,? is another story.......a once-a-week publication that may, or may not, show certain deaths but even then, they may be six or seven days late. Its a sad dilemma for our community.
Here's what I've decided to do. Whenever we can officially learn of a death, it will appear on Kelley's Korner......WHATEVER DAY THAT IS.
In other words, to feel more up-to-date about local deaths, check our Korner blog every day, not just Wednesday and Saturday. If we have info to provide, we will provide it.......on any day of the week. If we have no such information, we'll either go dark or make a note of it on the blog site.
My hope is, that even though our Korner viewership is limited, those people who are familiar with it, will have quicker and more up-to-date information on local deaths than is now available.
We'll start a new, closer look on Monday, even Memorial Day. Check us out every day and pass the word.
K-----K
BREAKING NEWS: (2) Boone High School has hired a new varsity football coach. That hasn't appeared in the Boone News? yet either.
Chad Klein, a native of Audubon, will become a teacher/coach at BHS after serving his entire 21 years in education at Carroll Kuemper High School.
Klein earned a degree from the University of Northern Iowa in 1998 and earned extra credit at DMACC in 2011. He currently serves as Activities Director and varsity football coach at Kuemper.
Becoming the head varsity coach in 2012, he led the Knights to eight consecutive playoff appearances, a semifinal round berth in 2012 and the 2A state championship in 2013.
He was twice selected the District Coach of the Year, also earned a Regional Coach of the Year honor and was selected as a Shrine Bowl Assistant Coach in 2015.
Klein's wife, Kim, is an English teacher at Carroll High and the couple have four children.
Olivia, 18, is a freshman at Simpson college involved in track and cross country. Logan, 18, is a freshman at Iowa State studying Industrial Design. Easton, 15, is a high school sophomore involved in band and athletics and Piper, 11, is a sixth grader involved in dance and gymnastics.
K-----K
Max Moore, BHS-46, sent a picture of a Kelly's Korner sports bar in Placentia, CA. There are numerous Kelley or Kelly's Korners all over this country. There's even an unincorporated community, Kelly's Korner, Washington. Then too, we've noted a Kelly's Korner orchid supplier in Milford, NH; a Korner bar and grill in Buffalo, NY; a place to improve hearing loss and a clothing outlet in Atoka, TN. among many others.
K-----K
BOONE CONNECTED DEATHS: George Maybee Jr., 91, Iowa Falls. Formerly of Boone. He grew up in Illinois and started a job with the railroad in 1951. He retired in Boone in 1989 as Assistant Vice President and Division Manager of the Central Division of the Chicago and Northwestern Railroad. Married Mary Jane Kreuscher, and after railroad retirement, served as Mayor of Boone from 1989-2003. Survivors include his wife, Mary, and adult children, Debra Andres,
Kathleen Sandholm, Michael and Tim Maybee.........Gretchen Caldwell Otis, 86, Boone. BHS-52. Earned a nursing degree from Iowa Lutheran Hospital in 1955. Was married twice and divorced twice. Survivors include a son, David Otis, of Ogden and a daughter, Teresa "Terri" Otis........Tracy Ann Carris-Christensen, 59, Boone. Stratford HS. Worked for HyVee for 18 years before retiring in 2018. Married Keith Carris in 2019. Survivors include her husband, a son, Cameron Olson, and two sisters, Christy Christensen of Boone and Julia Eichman.........Tala May Fierle, 80, Ankeny. Born in New York and attended Juilliard School of Music for piano. She and Bob Cramer met at Parsons College and married in 1965. They divorced in 1973 and Tala and son, Reynolds Cramer, moved to New York. She married Otto Brehm and Robert Fierle and both preceded her in death. Reynolds came back to Iowa several years ago to work for Fareway. Tala moved back to Iowa in 2019 to be closer to Reynolds, his children Ashley and Zach, from a marriage to Kori, and Benny from his marriage to Sheila.........Cecelia "Cece" Paris, 77, Westhaven. Formerly of Fraser. She grew up in LeHigh, became a CNA and worked at Westhaven and the former Ledges Manor. Married Ray Paris in 1959. Five adult children survive, Jeff and Mike Paris of Fraser, Nancy Habrich and Tammy Walker of Boone and Joel Paris of Ogden. Two sisters also survive, Georgia Perkovich of Boone and Teresa O'Brion...........James Lawton, 82, Boxholm. Married Lila Mae Oakes in 1958 and she preceded him in death. Was a farmer, truck driver, veterinarian and minister. Two of his three daughters, Lora Lee Lawton and Lisa Lynn Lawton, survive........Kim Renee Bailey, 62, LeMars..........Russell Dalton, 86, Madrid. Born in Madrid. Married Wanda Faye Rose in 1950. Worked in the family business, R.W. Dalton and sons general contractors. Four adult children survive, Randy and Rhonda Dalton of Madrid, Rusty Dalton and Debra Svaleson........Thomas Gibbons, 90, Altoona. Born in Madrid. MHS-49. Was a U.S. Navy vet. Married Angelina Righi and the couple established their home in Madrid. Worked for Bridgestone Firestone for 38 years before retirement. Survivors include four adult children, Mark Gibbons, Lezlie Lundy, Suzanne Nestrud and Peggy Sweeney and a brother, Floyd, of Madrid.
K-----K
Worldwide Korner headquarters are located at 928 South Jackson, Boone, Iowa 50036-4932. Phone number is 515-432-1530. Leave a message. To email your stories/memories/comments.......
Kelleyskorner1@gmail.com.
Wednesday, May 20, 2020
WORKING AT BOYD'S
Tom Matt, BSH-60, and his daughter, Marcia Matt Hughes, BHS-80, have shared some Boyd's Dairy work experiences this week.
Tom wrote, "the recent comments about Boyd's sure brings memories of my time there. I was a north-sider so I and, my twin brother, Jim, BSH-59, worked at north side Boyd's for Dick Farley, BHS-42. Jim worked there ahead of me from 1957-58. I worked there from 1958-59. I was closing at work at 11 p.m., in February, 1959, the night the music died. The news came over the little brown radio sitting on the shelf of an open window to the back room. Buddy Holly had died in a plane crash near Clear Lake. I remember walking home that night in a snow storm here. Dick Farley was a wonderful boss. I was 15 when I started for 50 cents an hour and as Dick said, "all the ice cream you want to eat here. No taking it out!" Dick taught me to count back change to customers and say, "Thank You" to the customer as you gave them the change. He said counting change is "as easy as 3, 2, 1," nothing to it, and he was right and you better not miss the "Thank You" either. Our daughter, Marcia, was hired in 1977, again by Dick Farley. She worked for $4.00 an hour and you still could eat all the ice cream you wanted but Marcia didn't really like ice cream. The experience of working at Boyd's was a wonderful lesson and lots of fun. Jim Boyd, BHS-36, and Dick Farley were outstanding men. The lady named Ruth at the south side Boyd's was Ruth Johnson. At the north side store, there was a lady named Isabel Klute. They both knew the ropes and kept us "youngin's" going in the right direction. Wonderful women and fun to be around."
Here were some of Marcia's memories of Boyd's.
I'm not a big fan of ice cream but loved sampling flavors going into the ice creams. Peanut butter and bubble gum flavors were my favorites.
It was always special to be allowed back where the magic happened, where the ice cream was made.
The malt machine was a nemesis. It got away and sprayed me many times.
The milk cooler was never fun to stock because it was so cold but, depending on who I worked with, it became fun. Mike Scheuerman, BHS-79, was a hoot to work with. He was sharp as a tack in knowing what needed to be done and he was just fun. He liked to ride on the milk bottle belt and pop out to scare people.
The summer nights of the Y camp bus visits (Mondays) are never to be forgotten. NON STOP scooping and malt making for hours.
I was working at Boyd's when I heard about Elvis' death, August 16, 1977.
A certain family member and former Boyd's employee sometimes stopped in for a malt. I could give him my freebies because I didn't eat much ice cream myself.
K-----K
The Kornerman has been doing lots of scanning of the internet during this pandemic time and I came across Boone Community School District enrollment figures for grades 7-12 back in good old 1951. I was surprised to think that those numbers seemed to me fairly close to what the current figures are, almost 70 years later.
Here were the 1951 enrollment figures.....7th grade - 225, 8th - 208, 9th - 178, 10th - 158, 11th -132 and 12th - 134 for a total of 1,035.
Here are the current figures.......7th - 137, 8th - 151, 9th - 148, 10th - 158, 11th - 169 and 12th - 192 for a total 955. Fairly close......80 fewer today.
K-----K
The Kornerman is not an avid race fan but golly, I thought it was sure great to hear that rumble of the cars racing at the Boone Speedway, minus stand spectators, last Saturday night. Welcome back.
One thing I am tired of hearing is, "Liberty, Liberty, Liberty" and that car siren that goes with it. I imagine those car insurance advertising people know what they're doing. Apparently, overall, it pays dividends BUT isn't there such a thing as "overdoing something" and, thus, losing credence?
K-----K
BOONE CONNECTED DEATHS: Gretchen Otis, 86, Boone. BHS-52............Dale Burge, 89, rural Boone. After growing up in Nebraska and attending radio school in Omaha, Dale moved to Boone and was one of the KWBG originals, helping set up the station in 1950. He served in the U.S. Navy but returned to Boone and to KWBG in 1952. He was an engineer and also did some announcing, primarily in the evening, after attending Iowa State classes during the day. He had a popular DJ, after-school program, "the Boone Buggy Ride," which also featured a "friend" "Skeeter" that always got blamed for any mistakes that were made. Dale married June Fredregill in 1953 and earned a degree in Electrical Engineering from ISU in 1958. The family moved to Seattle where Dale worked for Boeing. In 1961, the family moved to Las Vegas where Dale worked on some secret government projects. While in Vegas, he earned a Masters Degree in Aerospace Management from USC. The family returned to Boone in 1974, purchasing a farm in rural Boone County. In 1996, he retired from the National Animal Disease Center in Ames. Survivors include his wife, June, two daughters, Connie and Jeannie, and sons, Mike and Brian Burge............Cecelia Paris, 78, Boone.........John Lample Cunningham, 47, Boone. Born in Boone. Earned a degree in Criminal Justice from a Louisiana College. Survivors include a son, Brandon, his mother, Debora Williams Cunningham Runge, and his father, John Cunningham, three sisters, two brothers, three step-sisters and a step-brother.........Mary Louise "Kitty" Rolfes, 90, Des Moines. She married Aloysius "Al" Rolfes, a WWII veteran who continued military service as a member of the Iowa National Guard. The family lived in several Iowa communities, including Boone.
K-----K
Worldwide Korner headquarters are located at 928 South Jackson, Boone, Iowa 50036-4932. Phone number is 515-432-1530. To email your stories/memories/comments......
kelleyskorner1@gmail.com.
Tom wrote, "the recent comments about Boyd's sure brings memories of my time there. I was a north-sider so I and, my twin brother, Jim, BSH-59, worked at north side Boyd's for Dick Farley, BHS-42. Jim worked there ahead of me from 1957-58. I worked there from 1958-59. I was closing at work at 11 p.m., in February, 1959, the night the music died. The news came over the little brown radio sitting on the shelf of an open window to the back room. Buddy Holly had died in a plane crash near Clear Lake. I remember walking home that night in a snow storm here. Dick Farley was a wonderful boss. I was 15 when I started for 50 cents an hour and as Dick said, "all the ice cream you want to eat here. No taking it out!" Dick taught me to count back change to customers and say, "Thank You" to the customer as you gave them the change. He said counting change is "as easy as 3, 2, 1," nothing to it, and he was right and you better not miss the "Thank You" either. Our daughter, Marcia, was hired in 1977, again by Dick Farley. She worked for $4.00 an hour and you still could eat all the ice cream you wanted but Marcia didn't really like ice cream. The experience of working at Boyd's was a wonderful lesson and lots of fun. Jim Boyd, BHS-36, and Dick Farley were outstanding men. The lady named Ruth at the south side Boyd's was Ruth Johnson. At the north side store, there was a lady named Isabel Klute. They both knew the ropes and kept us "youngin's" going in the right direction. Wonderful women and fun to be around."
Here were some of Marcia's memories of Boyd's.
I'm not a big fan of ice cream but loved sampling flavors going into the ice creams. Peanut butter and bubble gum flavors were my favorites.
It was always special to be allowed back where the magic happened, where the ice cream was made.
The malt machine was a nemesis. It got away and sprayed me many times.
The milk cooler was never fun to stock because it was so cold but, depending on who I worked with, it became fun. Mike Scheuerman, BHS-79, was a hoot to work with. He was sharp as a tack in knowing what needed to be done and he was just fun. He liked to ride on the milk bottle belt and pop out to scare people.
The summer nights of the Y camp bus visits (Mondays) are never to be forgotten. NON STOP scooping and malt making for hours.
I was working at Boyd's when I heard about Elvis' death, August 16, 1977.
A certain family member and former Boyd's employee sometimes stopped in for a malt. I could give him my freebies because I didn't eat much ice cream myself.
K-----K
The Kornerman has been doing lots of scanning of the internet during this pandemic time and I came across Boone Community School District enrollment figures for grades 7-12 back in good old 1951. I was surprised to think that those numbers seemed to me fairly close to what the current figures are, almost 70 years later.
Here were the 1951 enrollment figures.....7th grade - 225, 8th - 208, 9th - 178, 10th - 158, 11th -132 and 12th - 134 for a total of 1,035.
Here are the current figures.......7th - 137, 8th - 151, 9th - 148, 10th - 158, 11th - 169 and 12th - 192 for a total 955. Fairly close......80 fewer today.
K-----K
The Kornerman is not an avid race fan but golly, I thought it was sure great to hear that rumble of the cars racing at the Boone Speedway, minus stand spectators, last Saturday night. Welcome back.
One thing I am tired of hearing is, "Liberty, Liberty, Liberty" and that car siren that goes with it. I imagine those car insurance advertising people know what they're doing. Apparently, overall, it pays dividends BUT isn't there such a thing as "overdoing something" and, thus, losing credence?
K-----K
BOONE CONNECTED DEATHS: Gretchen Otis, 86, Boone. BHS-52............Dale Burge, 89, rural Boone. After growing up in Nebraska and attending radio school in Omaha, Dale moved to Boone and was one of the KWBG originals, helping set up the station in 1950. He served in the U.S. Navy but returned to Boone and to KWBG in 1952. He was an engineer and also did some announcing, primarily in the evening, after attending Iowa State classes during the day. He had a popular DJ, after-school program, "the Boone Buggy Ride," which also featured a "friend" "Skeeter" that always got blamed for any mistakes that were made. Dale married June Fredregill in 1953 and earned a degree in Electrical Engineering from ISU in 1958. The family moved to Seattle where Dale worked for Boeing. In 1961, the family moved to Las Vegas where Dale worked on some secret government projects. While in Vegas, he earned a Masters Degree in Aerospace Management from USC. The family returned to Boone in 1974, purchasing a farm in rural Boone County. In 1996, he retired from the National Animal Disease Center in Ames. Survivors include his wife, June, two daughters, Connie and Jeannie, and sons, Mike and Brian Burge............Cecelia Paris, 78, Boone.........John Lample Cunningham, 47, Boone. Born in Boone. Earned a degree in Criminal Justice from a Louisiana College. Survivors include a son, Brandon, his mother, Debora Williams Cunningham Runge, and his father, John Cunningham, three sisters, two brothers, three step-sisters and a step-brother.........Mary Louise "Kitty" Rolfes, 90, Des Moines. She married Aloysius "Al" Rolfes, a WWII veteran who continued military service as a member of the Iowa National Guard. The family lived in several Iowa communities, including Boone.
K-----K
Worldwide Korner headquarters are located at 928 South Jackson, Boone, Iowa 50036-4932. Phone number is 515-432-1530. To email your stories/memories/comments......
kelleyskorner1@gmail.com.
Saturday, May 16, 2020
SO............GOOD
In the last edition, Tony Crandell, BHS-59, wrote about personally being offered "all the Pepsi's and bananas" he could consume while working for a West Boone grocer. Tony said he quickly took advantage of the offer but soon lost his desire for those items.
Mark Campbell, BHS-67, has responded. He wrote, "when I was hired at Boyd's Dairy in June of 1965, Jim Boyd told me I could eat as much ice cream as I wanted. "You'll get sick of it soon enough. Just remember, no bananas or nuts, but everything else is fine." In two months, I gained 15 pounds. I worked with my buddy, the late Bill Wiebe, BHS-66, who had a great sense of humor. I loved working with Bill. He called me Brutus and I called him Caesar, why, I do not know. Boyd's had a horseshoe-shaped counter at the far end of the store. Bill and I, during slow times, would concoct an ice cream dish of some sort. It might be a hot fudge sundae, a turtle sundae (excluding pecans), a shake or simply a cone. One slow Sunday afternoon we were gorging ourselves with yet, another malt when a customer came in to purchase a gallon of milk. Bill and I were just finishing up our malts as the customer approached the cash register. We spoke simultaneously, "be right with you" as we stuffed the last bit of malted milk in our mouths. That still embarrasses me. I still recall the marvelous ice cream and sherbets. I've never found a place that makes cranberry or rhubarb sherbet. The closest I've found has to be at Whitey's in the Quad Cities. I loved working with LaVerne Anderson and an older lady named Ruth. Delightful people."
K-----K
(1) Never in a million years could I have imagined I would go to a bank teller wearing a mask and asking for money. (2) When this quarantine is over, let's not tell some people. (3) Someone was in a long line at 7:45 a.m. at the grocery store that opened at 8 a.m. for seniors only. A young man came from the parking lot and tried to cut at the front of the line, but an older lady beat him back with her cane. He returned and again, tried to cut in, but an older man punched him in the gut, then kicked him in the groin. As he approached the line a third time he said, "if you don't let me unlock that door, you'll never get in."
K-----K
BOONE CONNECTED DEATHS: Shirley Mestdagh LeMaster, 84, Boone. Born in Boone. BHS-54. Had lived at the Eastern Star Home since 2015. Married Raymond LeMaster in 1958. They later divorced. Shirley worked for the Boone County Tax Service, a Boone law firm and was Assistant to the Director of Nursing at the Boone County Hospital until 2001. Survivors include a son, Jeff, of Minnesota, two daughters, Robin Gogerty of Madrid and Koreen Rayl of Ankeny. A brother, Darrell Mestdagh of Urbandale also survives..........Paul Olson, 27, Grimes. Born in Boone. His parents are Raymond and Rebecca Olson of the Madrid area. Ames HS-2010. Survivors are his parents, a brother, Joseph Olson of Nevada, and a sister, Emily Olson of Ames...........Randy Tilley, 64, Granger. Born in Boone. BHS-75. Worked for his dad in an insurance agency until Parkinson's Disease forced him to quit working. Survivors include his children, Patrick Tilley of Ames, Louis Leaf of Boone and Brandice Summers.Three siblings also survive, including Sharon Engnell of Boone. Randy's brother, Ron Tilley, had just passed away two weeks ago........Janet Veale Buck, 94, Boone. Born in Boone. BHS-43. Married William Buck in 1945. She was a typist for the FBI in 1943 but returned to Boone when her mother passed away. She then moved to San Diego in 1958, retired, and moved back to Boone in 2016. While in San Diego, she earned a teaching degree at San Diego University and taught elementary grades until her retirement in 1990. Survivors include her sister-in-law, Barb Brainard Veale of Boone, and a brother, Joe Veale..........Wilma Elsberry Brown, 90, Boone. Born in Boone. BHS-47. Married Cecil Brown in 1950 and he passed away in 1970. Worked for 45 years for Boone County Abstract, retiring in 1992. Survivors are a son, Ron Brown, and a sister-in-law, Margaret Yvonne Elsberry, both of Boone. A sister also survives..........John Lampe Cunningham, 47...........Chester Crook, 76, Mountain Home, Ark. Formerly of Boone. Worked at John Deere in Des Moines until retirement. Three sons survive........Betty Jane Perry, 96, Denver. Born in Boone. Boxholm HS-40. Boone Junior College. Worked at Fisher's Shoe Store before moving to Denver. Married Arnie Knutsen and he passed away in 1982. Married Robert Perry and he died in 2002. In Denver, Betty worked as a secretary/bookkeeper and in real estate. Boone survivors are brothers, Donald and Harold Kline both of Boone. A daughter also survives.
K-----K
Worldwide Korner headquarters are located at 928 South Jackson, Boone, Iowa 50036-4932. Phone number is 515-432-1530. Leave a message. To email your stories/memories/comments....
kelleyskorner1@gmail.com.
Mark Campbell, BHS-67, has responded. He wrote, "when I was hired at Boyd's Dairy in June of 1965, Jim Boyd told me I could eat as much ice cream as I wanted. "You'll get sick of it soon enough. Just remember, no bananas or nuts, but everything else is fine." In two months, I gained 15 pounds. I worked with my buddy, the late Bill Wiebe, BHS-66, who had a great sense of humor. I loved working with Bill. He called me Brutus and I called him Caesar, why, I do not know. Boyd's had a horseshoe-shaped counter at the far end of the store. Bill and I, during slow times, would concoct an ice cream dish of some sort. It might be a hot fudge sundae, a turtle sundae (excluding pecans), a shake or simply a cone. One slow Sunday afternoon we were gorging ourselves with yet, another malt when a customer came in to purchase a gallon of milk. Bill and I were just finishing up our malts as the customer approached the cash register. We spoke simultaneously, "be right with you" as we stuffed the last bit of malted milk in our mouths. That still embarrasses me. I still recall the marvelous ice cream and sherbets. I've never found a place that makes cranberry or rhubarb sherbet. The closest I've found has to be at Whitey's in the Quad Cities. I loved working with LaVerne Anderson and an older lady named Ruth. Delightful people."
K-----K
(1) Never in a million years could I have imagined I would go to a bank teller wearing a mask and asking for money. (2) When this quarantine is over, let's not tell some people. (3) Someone was in a long line at 7:45 a.m. at the grocery store that opened at 8 a.m. for seniors only. A young man came from the parking lot and tried to cut at the front of the line, but an older lady beat him back with her cane. He returned and again, tried to cut in, but an older man punched him in the gut, then kicked him in the groin. As he approached the line a third time he said, "if you don't let me unlock that door, you'll never get in."
K-----K
BOONE CONNECTED DEATHS: Shirley Mestdagh LeMaster, 84, Boone. Born in Boone. BHS-54. Had lived at the Eastern Star Home since 2015. Married Raymond LeMaster in 1958. They later divorced. Shirley worked for the Boone County Tax Service, a Boone law firm and was Assistant to the Director of Nursing at the Boone County Hospital until 2001. Survivors include a son, Jeff, of Minnesota, two daughters, Robin Gogerty of Madrid and Koreen Rayl of Ankeny. A brother, Darrell Mestdagh of Urbandale also survives..........Paul Olson, 27, Grimes. Born in Boone. His parents are Raymond and Rebecca Olson of the Madrid area. Ames HS-2010. Survivors are his parents, a brother, Joseph Olson of Nevada, and a sister, Emily Olson of Ames...........Randy Tilley, 64, Granger. Born in Boone. BHS-75. Worked for his dad in an insurance agency until Parkinson's Disease forced him to quit working. Survivors include his children, Patrick Tilley of Ames, Louis Leaf of Boone and Brandice Summers.Three siblings also survive, including Sharon Engnell of Boone. Randy's brother, Ron Tilley, had just passed away two weeks ago........Janet Veale Buck, 94, Boone. Born in Boone. BHS-43. Married William Buck in 1945. She was a typist for the FBI in 1943 but returned to Boone when her mother passed away. She then moved to San Diego in 1958, retired, and moved back to Boone in 2016. While in San Diego, she earned a teaching degree at San Diego University and taught elementary grades until her retirement in 1990. Survivors include her sister-in-law, Barb Brainard Veale of Boone, and a brother, Joe Veale..........Wilma Elsberry Brown, 90, Boone. Born in Boone. BHS-47. Married Cecil Brown in 1950 and he passed away in 1970. Worked for 45 years for Boone County Abstract, retiring in 1992. Survivors are a son, Ron Brown, and a sister-in-law, Margaret Yvonne Elsberry, both of Boone. A sister also survives..........John Lampe Cunningham, 47...........Chester Crook, 76, Mountain Home, Ark. Formerly of Boone. Worked at John Deere in Des Moines until retirement. Three sons survive........Betty Jane Perry, 96, Denver. Born in Boone. Boxholm HS-40. Boone Junior College. Worked at Fisher's Shoe Store before moving to Denver. Married Arnie Knutsen and he passed away in 1982. Married Robert Perry and he died in 2002. In Denver, Betty worked as a secretary/bookkeeper and in real estate. Boone survivors are brothers, Donald and Harold Kline both of Boone. A daughter also survives.
K-----K
Worldwide Korner headquarters are located at 928 South Jackson, Boone, Iowa 50036-4932. Phone number is 515-432-1530. Leave a message. To email your stories/memories/comments....
kelleyskorner1@gmail.com.
Wednesday, May 13, 2020
THIS '64 GRAD HAD NO FEAR
BREAKING NEWS: The committee making plans for the 1965 BHS class reunion have made a decision. That reunion was scheduled for July 31/August 1, 2020. However, due to the current unstable national situation, its been decided to postpone the event for one year.
Instead of having the reunion this late July/early August, the event will be planned for August 6-7, 2021.
K-----K
A great video has been making the rounds. It shows a couple dancing, she's 91 and he's 94, but that's just part of the story.
In the video, even at their advanced age, their dancing style is reflective of the way it was being done those many years ago when they were much younger, with all the various twists and turns and "throw arounds" of those times on display.
Referring to it, John Hinz, BHS-64, wrote, "this video illustrates that "young at heart" can survive for a very long time. It really is heart warming."
John went on, "But in this period of having way too much time on my hands, I find that dancing couple taking my drifting mind back in time to our innocent Friday nights at the Y, for our encounters with the opposite sex at the legendary GRID dances. Based on the wall hanging, inactivity of far too many of us, GRID was more of a social meeting than a dance.....after waiting far too long for the guys to ask them to dance, many of the gals would dance with other gals. That clearly was a lack of initiative that plagued many of us guys for years. But, not so for one brave young man in the class of 1964. One of us was a dancing fool! He was a better athlete than dancer but looking back, it was clear he never believed that. He made many trips across that dance floor over the years to the girls side, throwing caution to the wind, and taking the possibility of rejection in front of his peers without fear. At times, he appeared reckless, in the face of adversity, by targeting the talent available in the classes of 1965, 1966 and 1967. Even without the aide of H.L. Cunningham's slide rule, most of us knew his odds of being humiliated were simply too high!! Yet, that dancing fool just kept making that long walk across the very long floor......never to be rejected. His string of victories may still stand in Boone. So, who could that aggressive young daredevil be? Who in the class of 1964 could it be!! A logical choice could be Jude Rolfes, who had no fears. Another great choice would be Steve Roeder, who was suave, debonaire, and had a self described wonderful profile. Nope....Steve was likely a distant second behind that legendary dancing fool. That special guy was described as being, "slow, but honest". Looking back, he was honest but clearly now, slow! I only wish that receiver was as quick on the football field as he was at GRID. Yes, it is everyone's all-time favorite, Dick Musser, who is the dancing fool of the class of 1964. The guy who resembled mild-mannered Clark Kent during all those Friday nights!! Our very own Superman!! Hats off to you Buddy! May you still be dancing at 94!"
Connie Mondt Cross wrote, "thank you John. Your description of Dick was great. However, I never danced with a girl at Grid."
K-----K
Tony Crandell, BHS-59, wrote, "I would be remiss if I didn't tell you my favorite Vern Whitmer story. My first day working at Whitmer's Jack Spratt store in 1952 in West Boone, Vern waved his arm around and said, "what is your favorite thing that I sell here in the store?" I said, "Pepsi and bananas." Vern replied, "I don't want to see you walk past the produce counter without grabbing a banana on me. Eat all you want. Oh, and always keep a bottle of Pepsi open in the back room. Don't take the Pepsi out of the cooler because it costs money to run that cooler but there is no heat in the back room and the Pepsi will be cool enough to drink." "I thought I had died and gone to heaven. Well, by the end of the second week, I was sick of both bananas and Pepsi. It took years for me to ever want a banana again and to this day, 50 years later, I still don't care for Pepsi. Vern's pop and banana inventory shrinkage went to zero all the time I worked there. Vern was an excellent boss and a very smart man."
The Kornerman says, "I've always wondered about those numerous young people that had the pleasure of working at Boyd's Dairy. I don't know what the rules on employee ice cream consumption there was but if it was pretty lenient, like Tony's situation, the story may have been similar. And if so, do those folks still enjoy ice cream to this day?"
Personally, my dad owned the Superette grocery on the north side and I certainly took advantage of the Lady Borden ice cream that was always available. I've often admitted, not many days went by that I didn't enjoy a pint of that smooth dish. By the way, although I haven't made it a part of my daily menu as I've advanced in years, I've never lost my appetite for some good ice cream and I still thoroughly enjoy it......usually with a few additives.
K-----K
BOONE CONNECTED DEATHS: Donna Marie Barkmeier, 65, Boone. Stratford HS. Worked in construction and food services before working with her husband, Kim, in Barkmeier Auto Repair. Survivors include her husband, her mother, a son, two daughters and five siblings, a boy and four girls........Rebecca Mayse, 72, Pilot Mound. Born in Boone. Grew up in rural Ogden. OHS. Also earned an arts degree from DMACC. Married John Mayse in 1965 and they later divorced. She served on the Pilot Mound City Council for eight years and worked at CDS prior to retirement. Survivors include a son, John Mayse, of Boone, daughters Kathi Mayse of Ogden and Marcia Mayse of Pilot Mound, a sister and a brother, Joel Berg, of Pilot Mound........Joan Crispin Tripp, 90, Ames. Born in Boone County. Attended Napier and Luther schools. Married Henry Tripp in 1947. She served in food service at Napier and United Community schools for a total of 34 years prior to retirement. Survivors include a daughter and two sons, Robert and Marvin Tripp, both of Ames..........Barbara Coxe, 88, Dayton. Born in rural Boone County. Boxholm HS-49. Was a cosmetologist. Married John Skoglund and they had three sons and two daughters. John passed away in 1969. Married Dr. John Coxe in 1973 and he passed away in 2015. Step children includ five boys and a girl. Six siblings, three boys and three girls also survive........Norma "Deany" Bergman-Jacobsen, 83, Stratford. Born in Stratford. Married Donald Kidd in 1957. He is deceased. She worked as a cook and survivors include a son and a daughter........Donald Rhead, 90, Ames. Worked at Bourns and for DMACC..........Jim Lawton. Has an Ogden connection.
K-----K
Worldwide Korner headquarters are located at 928 South Jackson, Boone, Iowa 50036-4932. Phone number is 515-432-1530. Leave a message.To email your stories/memories/comments....
kelleyskorner1@gmail.com.
Instead of having the reunion this late July/early August, the event will be planned for August 6-7, 2021.
K-----K
A great video has been making the rounds. It shows a couple dancing, she's 91 and he's 94, but that's just part of the story.
In the video, even at their advanced age, their dancing style is reflective of the way it was being done those many years ago when they were much younger, with all the various twists and turns and "throw arounds" of those times on display.
Referring to it, John Hinz, BHS-64, wrote, "this video illustrates that "young at heart" can survive for a very long time. It really is heart warming."
John went on, "But in this period of having way too much time on my hands, I find that dancing couple taking my drifting mind back in time to our innocent Friday nights at the Y, for our encounters with the opposite sex at the legendary GRID dances. Based on the wall hanging, inactivity of far too many of us, GRID was more of a social meeting than a dance.....after waiting far too long for the guys to ask them to dance, many of the gals would dance with other gals. That clearly was a lack of initiative that plagued many of us guys for years. But, not so for one brave young man in the class of 1964. One of us was a dancing fool! He was a better athlete than dancer but looking back, it was clear he never believed that. He made many trips across that dance floor over the years to the girls side, throwing caution to the wind, and taking the possibility of rejection in front of his peers without fear. At times, he appeared reckless, in the face of adversity, by targeting the talent available in the classes of 1965, 1966 and 1967. Even without the aide of H.L. Cunningham's slide rule, most of us knew his odds of being humiliated were simply too high!! Yet, that dancing fool just kept making that long walk across the very long floor......never to be rejected. His string of victories may still stand in Boone. So, who could that aggressive young daredevil be? Who in the class of 1964 could it be!! A logical choice could be Jude Rolfes, who had no fears. Another great choice would be Steve Roeder, who was suave, debonaire, and had a self described wonderful profile. Nope....Steve was likely a distant second behind that legendary dancing fool. That special guy was described as being, "slow, but honest". Looking back, he was honest but clearly now, slow! I only wish that receiver was as quick on the football field as he was at GRID. Yes, it is everyone's all-time favorite, Dick Musser, who is the dancing fool of the class of 1964. The guy who resembled mild-mannered Clark Kent during all those Friday nights!! Our very own Superman!! Hats off to you Buddy! May you still be dancing at 94!"
Connie Mondt Cross wrote, "thank you John. Your description of Dick was great. However, I never danced with a girl at Grid."
K-----K
Tony Crandell, BHS-59, wrote, "I would be remiss if I didn't tell you my favorite Vern Whitmer story. My first day working at Whitmer's Jack Spratt store in 1952 in West Boone, Vern waved his arm around and said, "what is your favorite thing that I sell here in the store?" I said, "Pepsi and bananas." Vern replied, "I don't want to see you walk past the produce counter without grabbing a banana on me. Eat all you want. Oh, and always keep a bottle of Pepsi open in the back room. Don't take the Pepsi out of the cooler because it costs money to run that cooler but there is no heat in the back room and the Pepsi will be cool enough to drink." "I thought I had died and gone to heaven. Well, by the end of the second week, I was sick of both bananas and Pepsi. It took years for me to ever want a banana again and to this day, 50 years later, I still don't care for Pepsi. Vern's pop and banana inventory shrinkage went to zero all the time I worked there. Vern was an excellent boss and a very smart man."
The Kornerman says, "I've always wondered about those numerous young people that had the pleasure of working at Boyd's Dairy. I don't know what the rules on employee ice cream consumption there was but if it was pretty lenient, like Tony's situation, the story may have been similar. And if so, do those folks still enjoy ice cream to this day?"
Personally, my dad owned the Superette grocery on the north side and I certainly took advantage of the Lady Borden ice cream that was always available. I've often admitted, not many days went by that I didn't enjoy a pint of that smooth dish. By the way, although I haven't made it a part of my daily menu as I've advanced in years, I've never lost my appetite for some good ice cream and I still thoroughly enjoy it......usually with a few additives.
K-----K
BOONE CONNECTED DEATHS: Donna Marie Barkmeier, 65, Boone. Stratford HS. Worked in construction and food services before working with her husband, Kim, in Barkmeier Auto Repair. Survivors include her husband, her mother, a son, two daughters and five siblings, a boy and four girls........Rebecca Mayse, 72, Pilot Mound. Born in Boone. Grew up in rural Ogden. OHS. Also earned an arts degree from DMACC. Married John Mayse in 1965 and they later divorced. She served on the Pilot Mound City Council for eight years and worked at CDS prior to retirement. Survivors include a son, John Mayse, of Boone, daughters Kathi Mayse of Ogden and Marcia Mayse of Pilot Mound, a sister and a brother, Joel Berg, of Pilot Mound........Joan Crispin Tripp, 90, Ames. Born in Boone County. Attended Napier and Luther schools. Married Henry Tripp in 1947. She served in food service at Napier and United Community schools for a total of 34 years prior to retirement. Survivors include a daughter and two sons, Robert and Marvin Tripp, both of Ames..........Barbara Coxe, 88, Dayton. Born in rural Boone County. Boxholm HS-49. Was a cosmetologist. Married John Skoglund and they had three sons and two daughters. John passed away in 1969. Married Dr. John Coxe in 1973 and he passed away in 2015. Step children includ five boys and a girl. Six siblings, three boys and three girls also survive........Norma "Deany" Bergman-Jacobsen, 83, Stratford. Born in Stratford. Married Donald Kidd in 1957. He is deceased. She worked as a cook and survivors include a son and a daughter........Donald Rhead, 90, Ames. Worked at Bourns and for DMACC..........Jim Lawton. Has an Ogden connection.
K-----K
Worldwide Korner headquarters are located at 928 South Jackson, Boone, Iowa 50036-4932. Phone number is 515-432-1530. Leave a message.To email your stories/memories/comments....
kelleyskorner1@gmail.com.
Saturday, May 9, 2020
MR CUNNINGHAM
The Kornerman has a long history of getting the Tilley boys mixed up and yes, I did it again, and I'm truly sorry. It hurts. In the last edition, I had listed Randy Tilley as a Boone connected death. Actually, it was Randy's brother, Ron Tilley, who had passed. Lester Ross, BHS-67, pointed out this confused, terrible error. Thank you Lester and again, I apologize for this egregious error.
K-----K
Repeating what Ron Hopkins, BSH-59, had written some time back. "the TV's of the early 50's were not, particularly, reliable. In such cases, a repairman from 10 or 20 miles away was called. It seemed the Philco could always be revitalized by replacing one of the many tubes. I think the repairman always came in the evenings (probably had another day job) and only charged a few dollars."
In answer to those comments, John Kueck, BHS-61, wrote, "it reminded me of Hal Cunningham, the infamous BHS physics and electronics instructor, who also repaired TV's. He told my class, amusingly, about going to a home because the TV had no picture and all he had to do was plug the TV into the outlet to repair it. He had this unique chuckle that followed that story. Students of Hal will recall that laugh, which was exhibited often, as he stumped students or told stories. Once, Mr. Cunningham came to our home and while in the back of the TV with it plugged in, he got a big shock from the high voltage flyback circuit. He jerked his arm back and his watch flew off, carried across the room and landed behind our piano. To my knowledge, he did not repeat that story to his students."
John also had a comment on recent Drake Relays talk. "my wife, Sue and I, and, sometimes, our kids, joined friends and attended the Drake Relays for about 10 years straight in the 90's. After too long of a lapse, we and our friends had tickets and room reservations for this year before the events were postponed."
K-----K
Dreaming of better things to come......here are the area high school football schedules for this fall.
BOONE: 8/28 vs Creston/Orient-Macksburg: 9/4 at Bondurant-Farrar: 9/11 Alleman, North Polk: 9/18 at Nevada: 9/25 Humboldt: 10/2 at Mason City: 10/9 at Gilbert: 10/16 Huxley, Ballard and 10/23 at Webster City.
OGDEN: 8/28 at Northwest Webster: 9/4 Woodward-Granger: 9/11 at Fort Dodge St Edmond: 9/18 Jewell, South Hamilton: 9/25 at Earlham: 10/2 Greenfield/Nodaway Valley: 10/9 Woodward Academy: 10/16 at Corydon/Wayne and 10/23 Madrid.
MADRID: 8/28 at Woodward-Granger: 9/4 Jewell/South Hamilton: 9/11 at Stuart/West Central Valley: 9/18 Fort Dodge St. Edmond: 9/25 At Greenfield, Nodaway Valley: 10/2 Corydon/Wayne: 10/9 Earlham: 10/16 At Woodward Academy: 10/23 At Ogden.
The Kornerman says, "A couple things in the schedules attracted my attention. It looked a bit "out of kilter" for Boone matching up against Mason City. I guess I have always considered Mason City would have one of the bigger high schools, attendancewise, in the state. Actually, I guess Mason has taken a population "hit' like many other Iowa communities. The top 40 high schools, attendancewise, are assigned to Class 4-A and Mason City is one school short, the 41st largest, with 816 students in grades 9-11. Boone is 41st with 482. There are 54 schools assigned to Class 3-A and they are divided into 9 districts of 6 schools each for district purposes. Three non-district games fill out their nine-game schedules."
"The other thing that caught my eye is that Ogden and Madrid will finally be district competitors. They have played each other, previously, but never as district opponents."
K-----K
We're all looking for something to keep us busy in our spare time during this pandemic aren't we?
Here's a suggestion. I've started looking at old BHS "Bumble Bees". Talk about memories. They are available on Jerry Manriquez fabulous website.
I just finished one that I got a kick out of. KWBG radio started operations on March 2, 1950 and the Bumble B I'm looking at is labeled, "November 16, 1950."
There is a short story in there about some students doing some announcing on KWBG and talk about star power. Listed are Dick Bridges, Kay Honohan, Mary Ellen Dowd and Dale Burge.
Dick Bridges, BHS-49, and Dale Burge both became involved in radio work at KWBG and beyond.
Kay Honohan, BHS-51, of course, is the mother-in-law of Hollywood's Harrison Ford and Mary Ellen Dowd, BHS-51, had a 50 year career as a Broadway (Cabaret etc.) and film star.
K-----K
BOONE CONNECTED DEATHS: Kelly Kupke, 43, Boone. Her parents are Tom Kupke and Launie Sorem. BHS-95, Additional education at ISU and DePaul University. Married Phil Irwin but they divorced and remain friends. Worked at Wells Fargo. Survivors include her parents, a half-brother, Bryan Boyd, of Boone; a step-brother and step-sister; her grandmother, Patty Mallas, of Boone; an aunt and two brothers, John and Andy Mallas..........Les Meadows, 68, Ames. Born in Boone. BHS-70. Worked for the railroad in Clinton, Cedar Rapids and Boone. In retirement was a van driver for an auto dealer. Served in the Iowa National Guard. Married Dawn Morello in 1973. They lived in Boone, Cedar Rapids and then, Ames. Survivors include his wife, and son, Jim, of Ames, four brothers and two sisters.......Elsie May Griswold, 91, Nauvoo, IL.........Rebeckah Morriss, 61, Dayton. Worked for a time at Tri-Lite Windows in Boone........Helen Ritland, 99, Story City. Married Earl Ritland in 1944. Worked at ISU until retirement. Survivors include a daughter, Nancy Moeller, of Boone, two sons, three grandsons including two of Boone and a grand daughter of Boone.......Harry Hagedorn, 88, Joplin, MO. Born in Boone but raised on a farm in the Jefferson area........Bekki Blackford Kirkland, 49, Ogden. Survivors include her husband, Eldon, a step-son, son, her parents and two sisters.
K-----K
Worldwide Korner headquarters are located at 928 South Jackson, Boone, Iowa 50036-4932. Phone number is 515-432-1530. To email your stories/memories/comments.....
kelleyskorner1@gmail.com.
K-----K
Repeating what Ron Hopkins, BSH-59, had written some time back. "the TV's of the early 50's were not, particularly, reliable. In such cases, a repairman from 10 or 20 miles away was called. It seemed the Philco could always be revitalized by replacing one of the many tubes. I think the repairman always came in the evenings (probably had another day job) and only charged a few dollars."
In answer to those comments, John Kueck, BHS-61, wrote, "it reminded me of Hal Cunningham, the infamous BHS physics and electronics instructor, who also repaired TV's. He told my class, amusingly, about going to a home because the TV had no picture and all he had to do was plug the TV into the outlet to repair it. He had this unique chuckle that followed that story. Students of Hal will recall that laugh, which was exhibited often, as he stumped students or told stories. Once, Mr. Cunningham came to our home and while in the back of the TV with it plugged in, he got a big shock from the high voltage flyback circuit. He jerked his arm back and his watch flew off, carried across the room and landed behind our piano. To my knowledge, he did not repeat that story to his students."
John also had a comment on recent Drake Relays talk. "my wife, Sue and I, and, sometimes, our kids, joined friends and attended the Drake Relays for about 10 years straight in the 90's. After too long of a lapse, we and our friends had tickets and room reservations for this year before the events were postponed."
K-----K
Dreaming of better things to come......here are the area high school football schedules for this fall.
BOONE: 8/28 vs Creston/Orient-Macksburg: 9/4 at Bondurant-Farrar: 9/11 Alleman, North Polk: 9/18 at Nevada: 9/25 Humboldt: 10/2 at Mason City: 10/9 at Gilbert: 10/16 Huxley, Ballard and 10/23 at Webster City.
OGDEN: 8/28 at Northwest Webster: 9/4 Woodward-Granger: 9/11 at Fort Dodge St Edmond: 9/18 Jewell, South Hamilton: 9/25 at Earlham: 10/2 Greenfield/Nodaway Valley: 10/9 Woodward Academy: 10/16 at Corydon/Wayne and 10/23 Madrid.
MADRID: 8/28 at Woodward-Granger: 9/4 Jewell/South Hamilton: 9/11 at Stuart/West Central Valley: 9/18 Fort Dodge St. Edmond: 9/25 At Greenfield, Nodaway Valley: 10/2 Corydon/Wayne: 10/9 Earlham: 10/16 At Woodward Academy: 10/23 At Ogden.
The Kornerman says, "A couple things in the schedules attracted my attention. It looked a bit "out of kilter" for Boone matching up against Mason City. I guess I have always considered Mason City would have one of the bigger high schools, attendancewise, in the state. Actually, I guess Mason has taken a population "hit' like many other Iowa communities. The top 40 high schools, attendancewise, are assigned to Class 4-A and Mason City is one school short, the 41st largest, with 816 students in grades 9-11. Boone is 41st with 482. There are 54 schools assigned to Class 3-A and they are divided into 9 districts of 6 schools each for district purposes. Three non-district games fill out their nine-game schedules."
"The other thing that caught my eye is that Ogden and Madrid will finally be district competitors. They have played each other, previously, but never as district opponents."
K-----K
We're all looking for something to keep us busy in our spare time during this pandemic aren't we?
Here's a suggestion. I've started looking at old BHS "Bumble Bees". Talk about memories. They are available on Jerry Manriquez fabulous website.
I just finished one that I got a kick out of. KWBG radio started operations on March 2, 1950 and the Bumble B I'm looking at is labeled, "November 16, 1950."
There is a short story in there about some students doing some announcing on KWBG and talk about star power. Listed are Dick Bridges, Kay Honohan, Mary Ellen Dowd and Dale Burge.
Dick Bridges, BHS-49, and Dale Burge both became involved in radio work at KWBG and beyond.
Kay Honohan, BHS-51, of course, is the mother-in-law of Hollywood's Harrison Ford and Mary Ellen Dowd, BHS-51, had a 50 year career as a Broadway (Cabaret etc.) and film star.
K-----K
BOONE CONNECTED DEATHS: Kelly Kupke, 43, Boone. Her parents are Tom Kupke and Launie Sorem. BHS-95, Additional education at ISU and DePaul University. Married Phil Irwin but they divorced and remain friends. Worked at Wells Fargo. Survivors include her parents, a half-brother, Bryan Boyd, of Boone; a step-brother and step-sister; her grandmother, Patty Mallas, of Boone; an aunt and two brothers, John and Andy Mallas..........Les Meadows, 68, Ames. Born in Boone. BHS-70. Worked for the railroad in Clinton, Cedar Rapids and Boone. In retirement was a van driver for an auto dealer. Served in the Iowa National Guard. Married Dawn Morello in 1973. They lived in Boone, Cedar Rapids and then, Ames. Survivors include his wife, and son, Jim, of Ames, four brothers and two sisters.......Elsie May Griswold, 91, Nauvoo, IL.........Rebeckah Morriss, 61, Dayton. Worked for a time at Tri-Lite Windows in Boone........Helen Ritland, 99, Story City. Married Earl Ritland in 1944. Worked at ISU until retirement. Survivors include a daughter, Nancy Moeller, of Boone, two sons, three grandsons including two of Boone and a grand daughter of Boone.......Harry Hagedorn, 88, Joplin, MO. Born in Boone but raised on a farm in the Jefferson area........Bekki Blackford Kirkland, 49, Ogden. Survivors include her husband, Eldon, a step-son, son, her parents and two sisters.
K-----K
Worldwide Korner headquarters are located at 928 South Jackson, Boone, Iowa 50036-4932. Phone number is 515-432-1530. To email your stories/memories/comments.....
kelleyskorner1@gmail.com.
Wednesday, May 6, 2020
NATIONAL ATTENTION
The Kornerman is always excited to learn about "one of our own" being involved in something positive gaining national attention.
Barb Buechler Fosdick, BHS-67, tipped us off about her '67 "best friend" being involved in a Christian movie, "Virginia's Calling."
When asked about this adventure, Linda Rasmussen Nieman (Don) explained, "this project has been my passion and my life for the last year and a half. I've been volunteering more than full-time, and loving every minute of it. It started when I told my friend, Barry Lyons, that I'd organize a fundraising event for the film project, and before I knew it, I was co-producer, co-director and co-writer. Filmmaking turned out to be a totally unexpected, yet perfect, fit for my skill sets."
Here's how a preview describes the film, "a self-described "God-and-country conservative" and "momma bear," Virginia is also a natural teacher, a gifted leader, and a committed homeschooler. She thinks climate change doesn't involve me. Environmentalists are "left-wing nuts." Then, her home floods in a hurricane. In less than three years, Virginia goes from devastated homeowner raging against God to environmental educator and local authority on flood control. Today, Virginia is more devoted than ever to her faith and her family. And she is still conservative to the bone. But now, she expresses these commitments in new ways."
The film, "Virginia's Calling" has been selected for this year's International Christian Environmental Film Festival and is due for release soon.
K-----K
Gary Knox, UC-58, wrote, "your West Boone memories triggered several for me. My first real date was a blind date with a West Boone girl the summer before my sophomore year. She was younger than me and it was her first date also. My older neighbor had been dating her sister and talked me into double dating with them. We went to the Boone Drive-in, were both scared stiff, sat far apart and hardly said a word the entire night. I never saw her again but I went to the Boone yearbook website and found her picture and noted that she had passed away. I remember, as a senior, my future wife and I went to the Boone Drive-in."
Gary added, "the other memory was of a used clothing store in West Boone on the north side of old Highway 30 downtown West Boone. Our family wasn't well-to-do. My mother took my sisters and me there for clothes when we were in elementary school. Once, I got a like new, reversible light corduroy jacket. I was so proud of that jacket I loved wearing it to church and school. When I outgrew that jacket, my mother gave it to my cousin to wear and when mom died, we found that jacket in her cedar chest. When I was a freshman, I was going to sing a solo for state music contest. My Jordan vocal music teacher wanted to give me experience singing my two songs in front of strangers. The Spanish American War Veterans met in the courthouse and she arranged for me to sing for them. It was a room on the first floor. The men were quite elderly of course, yet, so dignified and they politely listened and applauded. And, of course, I took my driver's license test at the courthouse. We had to drive with a patrolman after we took the written test. Being a farm kid, I'd been driving tractors since age nine or 10 so it was a piece of cake. All I had to do was drive around the block and parallel park the car. I passed. I doubt anyone would be very interested in my West Boone memories but thought you might enjoy them."
The Kornerman says, "hey, that's what we're all about......stories and memories and your recall prompted some memories I have of the very things you were writing about. I wonder whatever happened to that old green sweater, adorned by the big red "B," I had earned in some BHS sport?"
K-----K
In the last edition, we had posed five West Boone business names and asked for idents.
Tony Crandell apologized with an answer, "this probably isn't fair since all of them were on my paper route. Art Anderson had Anderson Hardware; Nancy Nicol operated Nancy's Cafe; Forest Thompson had Thompson Drug; Vern Whitmer had Whitmer's Jack Spratt grocery and Allie Kirkman was a dirt excavator and plumber. Allie and Claude Howard were the first two dirt excavator's in Boone. Both Allie and Claude had Shield Bantam machines which were invented and manufactured in Waverly in 1942. The Army bought a lot of them in WWII. Claude also lived in West Boone for a time. I think the term "Backhoe" originated with the Shield Bantam design."
The Kornerman says, "here we go......now, Tony's reply has produced some more of the Kornerman's memories. I remember that my dad and his Superette grocery and Vern Whitmer were among many suburban Boone grocers trying to compete with the "big boys." So, my dad and Vern combined forces for the purpose of ordering more items together than they would individually. That "volume buying" cut down the cost a bit for each. Then too, I have these memories of Forest Thompson. Wasn't he a councilman at one time? Also, I believe Forest had married Mary Ellen's Dowd's mother and they raised Mary Ellen, BHS-51, and her sister, Patricia Dowd, BHS-48 in Boone. Mary Ellen has been Boone's gift to Broadway. In fact, M'el Dowd was a stage, musical, theatre, film actress and singer whose career spanned over 50 years. A highlight had to be a prominent role, as Morgan le Fay, in the famed production of Camelot on Broadway. Patricia passed away in 2003 and M'el died in 2012.
Please tell me if I'm wrong on any of this.
K-----K
BOONE CONNECTED DEATHS: Ron Tilley, 70, Granger/Boone. Born in Boone. BHS-68. Joined his dad working at Tilley Insurance in 1968 and in 1985, moved to Johnson and Sons Real Estate, where he worked until retirement in 2016. Married Lynn Ann Behling in 1988. Was a Boone Little League coach for 43 years. Survivors include his wife, Lynn, and daughter, Amanda, as well as two sisters, including Sharon Engnell of Boone and a brother, Randy..........Joyce Abbott, 87, Creston. Survivors include a sister, Alice Shannon, of Boone.........Helen Osborn, 94, Des Moines/Fraser. Her parents were Viola and Peter Tabor. Helen retired from the Des Moines Public School District and moved with her husband, Hugh, to Fraser. The couple spent 59 years together. Survivors include two sons, a daughter-in-law, two brothers and two sisters.
K-----K
Worldwide Korner headquarters are located at 928 South Jackson, Boone, Iowa 50036-4932. Phone number is 515-432-1530. Leave a message. To email your stories/memories/comments.....
kelleyskorner1@gmail.com.
Barb Buechler Fosdick, BHS-67, tipped us off about her '67 "best friend" being involved in a Christian movie, "Virginia's Calling."
When asked about this adventure, Linda Rasmussen Nieman (Don) explained, "this project has been my passion and my life for the last year and a half. I've been volunteering more than full-time, and loving every minute of it. It started when I told my friend, Barry Lyons, that I'd organize a fundraising event for the film project, and before I knew it, I was co-producer, co-director and co-writer. Filmmaking turned out to be a totally unexpected, yet perfect, fit for my skill sets."
Here's how a preview describes the film, "a self-described "God-and-country conservative" and "momma bear," Virginia is also a natural teacher, a gifted leader, and a committed homeschooler. She thinks climate change doesn't involve me. Environmentalists are "left-wing nuts." Then, her home floods in a hurricane. In less than three years, Virginia goes from devastated homeowner raging against God to environmental educator and local authority on flood control. Today, Virginia is more devoted than ever to her faith and her family. And she is still conservative to the bone. But now, she expresses these commitments in new ways."
The film, "Virginia's Calling" has been selected for this year's International Christian Environmental Film Festival and is due for release soon.
K-----K
Gary Knox, UC-58, wrote, "your West Boone memories triggered several for me. My first real date was a blind date with a West Boone girl the summer before my sophomore year. She was younger than me and it was her first date also. My older neighbor had been dating her sister and talked me into double dating with them. We went to the Boone Drive-in, were both scared stiff, sat far apart and hardly said a word the entire night. I never saw her again but I went to the Boone yearbook website and found her picture and noted that she had passed away. I remember, as a senior, my future wife and I went to the Boone Drive-in."
Gary added, "the other memory was of a used clothing store in West Boone on the north side of old Highway 30 downtown West Boone. Our family wasn't well-to-do. My mother took my sisters and me there for clothes when we were in elementary school. Once, I got a like new, reversible light corduroy jacket. I was so proud of that jacket I loved wearing it to church and school. When I outgrew that jacket, my mother gave it to my cousin to wear and when mom died, we found that jacket in her cedar chest. When I was a freshman, I was going to sing a solo for state music contest. My Jordan vocal music teacher wanted to give me experience singing my two songs in front of strangers. The Spanish American War Veterans met in the courthouse and she arranged for me to sing for them. It was a room on the first floor. The men were quite elderly of course, yet, so dignified and they politely listened and applauded. And, of course, I took my driver's license test at the courthouse. We had to drive with a patrolman after we took the written test. Being a farm kid, I'd been driving tractors since age nine or 10 so it was a piece of cake. All I had to do was drive around the block and parallel park the car. I passed. I doubt anyone would be very interested in my West Boone memories but thought you might enjoy them."
The Kornerman says, "hey, that's what we're all about......stories and memories and your recall prompted some memories I have of the very things you were writing about. I wonder whatever happened to that old green sweater, adorned by the big red "B," I had earned in some BHS sport?"
K-----K
In the last edition, we had posed five West Boone business names and asked for idents.
Tony Crandell apologized with an answer, "this probably isn't fair since all of them were on my paper route. Art Anderson had Anderson Hardware; Nancy Nicol operated Nancy's Cafe; Forest Thompson had Thompson Drug; Vern Whitmer had Whitmer's Jack Spratt grocery and Allie Kirkman was a dirt excavator and plumber. Allie and Claude Howard were the first two dirt excavator's in Boone. Both Allie and Claude had Shield Bantam machines which were invented and manufactured in Waverly in 1942. The Army bought a lot of them in WWII. Claude also lived in West Boone for a time. I think the term "Backhoe" originated with the Shield Bantam design."
The Kornerman says, "here we go......now, Tony's reply has produced some more of the Kornerman's memories. I remember that my dad and his Superette grocery and Vern Whitmer were among many suburban Boone grocers trying to compete with the "big boys." So, my dad and Vern combined forces for the purpose of ordering more items together than they would individually. That "volume buying" cut down the cost a bit for each. Then too, I have these memories of Forest Thompson. Wasn't he a councilman at one time? Also, I believe Forest had married Mary Ellen's Dowd's mother and they raised Mary Ellen, BHS-51, and her sister, Patricia Dowd, BHS-48 in Boone. Mary Ellen has been Boone's gift to Broadway. In fact, M'el Dowd was a stage, musical, theatre, film actress and singer whose career spanned over 50 years. A highlight had to be a prominent role, as Morgan le Fay, in the famed production of Camelot on Broadway. Patricia passed away in 2003 and M'el died in 2012.
Please tell me if I'm wrong on any of this.
K-----K
BOONE CONNECTED DEATHS: Ron Tilley, 70, Granger/Boone. Born in Boone. BHS-68. Joined his dad working at Tilley Insurance in 1968 and in 1985, moved to Johnson and Sons Real Estate, where he worked until retirement in 2016. Married Lynn Ann Behling in 1988. Was a Boone Little League coach for 43 years. Survivors include his wife, Lynn, and daughter, Amanda, as well as two sisters, including Sharon Engnell of Boone and a brother, Randy..........Joyce Abbott, 87, Creston. Survivors include a sister, Alice Shannon, of Boone.........Helen Osborn, 94, Des Moines/Fraser. Her parents were Viola and Peter Tabor. Helen retired from the Des Moines Public School District and moved with her husband, Hugh, to Fraser. The couple spent 59 years together. Survivors include two sons, a daughter-in-law, two brothers and two sisters.
K-----K
Worldwide Korner headquarters are located at 928 South Jackson, Boone, Iowa 50036-4932. Phone number is 515-432-1530. Leave a message. To email your stories/memories/comments.....
kelleyskorner1@gmail.com.
Saturday, May 2, 2020
HAPPINESS IS......
When someone reaches 90-years of age, they deserve special recognition.
Vern Moorman, BHS-47, is celebrating 90 this very day, Saturday, May 2, and friends and family are asked to meet at Lincoln school at 1 p.m. for a drive-by celebration. The COVID-19 ruined any plans for an open house.
Michael Sundall, a son-in-law, asked the Korner to give a "shout-out." The Kornerman hopes many friends will show up, some in their special "older" vehicles.
K-----K
The Kornerman sees that two areas in Iowa are rated among the top seven in the entire U.S.A. by a Milken Institute study that determines the best places in this country for "retiring and aging well."
More of that shortly.
Along that same line, but locally, a recent release from the Boone County Chamber of Commerce, Convention and Visitors Bureau and the Economic Growth Corporation boasts great news about the city of Boone's increasing development.
The report says that, since the start of 2018, the city has seen 90 building permit applications for new housing, the most in a two-year span since the 1970's. Many of these applications are for neighborhood development and not just single-family units. One of those neighborhoods will be a Destiny Homes project constructing 17 homes on a former trailer home site targeting young families and first-time home buyers with prices ranging from $200K to $240K.
Remember the old Garfield Elementary site? Eight new home sites will be available there and numerous town homes have sprung up along the Cedar Pointe Golf course, formerly the Boone Golf and Country Club.
In the county, Madrid is moving ahead with a recently approved Tiger Run subdivision which will include 37 single-family lots with home prices in the $200K range.
K-----K
Meantime, that Milken study rated the Des Moines/West Des Moines area fifth best and the Council Bluffs/Omaha area seventh best in the entire U.S.A.
Specificially, it said that those areas were rated highly on community engagement, health care and employment, with both living and housing costs less than the national average.
A national leader in geriatric health services, a wide range of primary care specialists are available. Medical and long term care is reasonably priced, programs for older adults are well funded and the areas feature plenty of volunteering opportunities.
The downside listed was that public transportation is limited and the rates of obesity, drinking and alzheimer's disease are quite high.....unfortunately.
This was all part of a study that determined the best 50 cities where Americans are flocking to for retirement.
K-----K
The Kornerman keeps thinking......."well, old Vern, BHS-50, he's getting up there....about 88......I should be able to slip a few things by him."
NO WAY!
In his latest scolding, he wrote, "two instances of noun-verb dis-agreement in your recent column. Can you go back and spot them? My English teacher would have had me writing them over and over way back when."
I replied, "when that was being discussed, I was probably making paper airplanes or "juicing up" spit balls. I haven't got a clue."
Vern came back, "the noun-verb things I caught, 'cause Mrs. Taylor made us get them right or else, were; (1) the Iowa Department of Social Services have their offices these days......Department HAS.
(2) Schultz Laboratories are coming back home. It's Schultz Laboratories IS."
"But, like I say, I'm from the oldest of the Old School. Today's writers and readers apparently wouldn't even know there were such things as nouns and verbs by the way they do it. The AP (Associated Press) style book and Chicago Book of Style must be mouldering in the basements of any places they still call home. Ah, but once an editor, always one. It's the hazard of writing for readers who, "incidentally, love your work and the memories it brings back.") Have a good 'un and keep on keeping on for those of us who are your regulars each Wednesday and weekend."
K-----K
BOONE CONNECTED DEATHS: Steve Vinson, 79, Boone. Stratford HS-59. Was in the Iowa National Guard for six years while his civilian job was barbering with Arlo Dorenbush. He married Sylvia Truman in 1965 but she passed away in 1984. The couple lived in Granger until 1980 when they moved into a home in Boone that Steve and a friend had constructed. Steve re-enlisted in the National Guard in 1973 and was fulltime until his retirement in 2001. Survivors include a son, Michael of Roland, and his sister, Susanne Carlson of Stratford.........Mary Anderson, 98, Boone. Was a teacher at a one-room country school near Somers, junior highs in Rinard and Dayton and first and second grade at Lanyon. Married Raymond Anderson in 1946. They lived near Lanyon and then, on a farm near Boone from 1956-1992 when they moved to Boone. Survivors include a son, Greg, of Boone, two daughters, including Rochelle Williams of Boone, two sisters and a brother-in-law..........Eleanor Jipp, 97, Boone. Born in Luther. Luther HS-39. Married Charles Richard Jipp in 1942. She was a dental assistant and then had a long career in banking until her retirement. Survivors include a son-in-law, Richard Silver, of Boone, a daughter-in-law, and six siblings, four sisters and two brothers........Larry Hedlund, 82, Boone. Born in Boone. Was a truck driver. His wife, Carol, of Boone and two sons survive.........Marilyn Loudon Arndorfer, 69, Clear Lake. BHS-68. She married William "Butch" Stark in 1969. He passed in 2000 and she married Thomas Arndorfer in 2006. She worked at ISU and then for the Clear Lake school district. She also worked at Unisys, Rockwell FRC and retired from Opportunity Village in Clear Lake. Survivors include her dad, Wally (Mary Wirtz) Loudon of Boone, her husband and four adult children, two sons and two daughters.
K-----K
Worldwide Korner headquarters are located at 928 South Jackson, Boone, Iowa 50036-4932. Phone number is 515-432-1530. To email your stories/memories/comments.....
kelleyskorner1@gmail.com.
Vern Moorman, BHS-47, is celebrating 90 this very day, Saturday, May 2, and friends and family are asked to meet at Lincoln school at 1 p.m. for a drive-by celebration. The COVID-19 ruined any plans for an open house.
Michael Sundall, a son-in-law, asked the Korner to give a "shout-out." The Kornerman hopes many friends will show up, some in their special "older" vehicles.
K-----K
The Kornerman sees that two areas in Iowa are rated among the top seven in the entire U.S.A. by a Milken Institute study that determines the best places in this country for "retiring and aging well."
More of that shortly.
Along that same line, but locally, a recent release from the Boone County Chamber of Commerce, Convention and Visitors Bureau and the Economic Growth Corporation boasts great news about the city of Boone's increasing development.
The report says that, since the start of 2018, the city has seen 90 building permit applications for new housing, the most in a two-year span since the 1970's. Many of these applications are for neighborhood development and not just single-family units. One of those neighborhoods will be a Destiny Homes project constructing 17 homes on a former trailer home site targeting young families and first-time home buyers with prices ranging from $200K to $240K.
Remember the old Garfield Elementary site? Eight new home sites will be available there and numerous town homes have sprung up along the Cedar Pointe Golf course, formerly the Boone Golf and Country Club.
In the county, Madrid is moving ahead with a recently approved Tiger Run subdivision which will include 37 single-family lots with home prices in the $200K range.
K-----K
Meantime, that Milken study rated the Des Moines/West Des Moines area fifth best and the Council Bluffs/Omaha area seventh best in the entire U.S.A.
Specificially, it said that those areas were rated highly on community engagement, health care and employment, with both living and housing costs less than the national average.
A national leader in geriatric health services, a wide range of primary care specialists are available. Medical and long term care is reasonably priced, programs for older adults are well funded and the areas feature plenty of volunteering opportunities.
The downside listed was that public transportation is limited and the rates of obesity, drinking and alzheimer's disease are quite high.....unfortunately.
This was all part of a study that determined the best 50 cities where Americans are flocking to for retirement.
K-----K
The Kornerman keeps thinking......."well, old Vern, BHS-50, he's getting up there....about 88......I should be able to slip a few things by him."
NO WAY!
In his latest scolding, he wrote, "two instances of noun-verb dis-agreement in your recent column. Can you go back and spot them? My English teacher would have had me writing them over and over way back when."
I replied, "when that was being discussed, I was probably making paper airplanes or "juicing up" spit balls. I haven't got a clue."
Vern came back, "the noun-verb things I caught, 'cause Mrs. Taylor made us get them right or else, were; (1) the Iowa Department of Social Services have their offices these days......Department HAS.
(2) Schultz Laboratories are coming back home. It's Schultz Laboratories IS."
"But, like I say, I'm from the oldest of the Old School. Today's writers and readers apparently wouldn't even know there were such things as nouns and verbs by the way they do it. The AP (Associated Press) style book and Chicago Book of Style must be mouldering in the basements of any places they still call home. Ah, but once an editor, always one. It's the hazard of writing for readers who, "incidentally, love your work and the memories it brings back.") Have a good 'un and keep on keeping on for those of us who are your regulars each Wednesday and weekend."
K-----K
BOONE CONNECTED DEATHS: Steve Vinson, 79, Boone. Stratford HS-59. Was in the Iowa National Guard for six years while his civilian job was barbering with Arlo Dorenbush. He married Sylvia Truman in 1965 but she passed away in 1984. The couple lived in Granger until 1980 when they moved into a home in Boone that Steve and a friend had constructed. Steve re-enlisted in the National Guard in 1973 and was fulltime until his retirement in 2001. Survivors include a son, Michael of Roland, and his sister, Susanne Carlson of Stratford.........Mary Anderson, 98, Boone. Was a teacher at a one-room country school near Somers, junior highs in Rinard and Dayton and first and second grade at Lanyon. Married Raymond Anderson in 1946. They lived near Lanyon and then, on a farm near Boone from 1956-1992 when they moved to Boone. Survivors include a son, Greg, of Boone, two daughters, including Rochelle Williams of Boone, two sisters and a brother-in-law..........Eleanor Jipp, 97, Boone. Born in Luther. Luther HS-39. Married Charles Richard Jipp in 1942. She was a dental assistant and then had a long career in banking until her retirement. Survivors include a son-in-law, Richard Silver, of Boone, a daughter-in-law, and six siblings, four sisters and two brothers........Larry Hedlund, 82, Boone. Born in Boone. Was a truck driver. His wife, Carol, of Boone and two sons survive.........Marilyn Loudon Arndorfer, 69, Clear Lake. BHS-68. She married William "Butch" Stark in 1969. He passed in 2000 and she married Thomas Arndorfer in 2006. She worked at ISU and then for the Clear Lake school district. She also worked at Unisys, Rockwell FRC and retired from Opportunity Village in Clear Lake. Survivors include her dad, Wally (Mary Wirtz) Loudon of Boone, her husband and four adult children, two sons and two daughters.
K-----K
Worldwide Korner headquarters are located at 928 South Jackson, Boone, Iowa 50036-4932. Phone number is 515-432-1530. To email your stories/memories/comments.....
kelleyskorner1@gmail.com.
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