IT JUST HAPPENED?

     Whichever direction this dilemma takes won't, much, alter Jim Grabau's continuing retirement.
     He's just begun offering the public his second effort as an author. Nice!
     On the other hand, that journey may just fade to a graceful and satisfying end.
     At this time, he simply doesn't know.
     "I've always enjoyed reading and remembering various events of my life but I never had any preconceived notion of putting those thoughts to print," he said.
     But, it did happen. Eventually, his notes became the basis for a memoir,"That Reminds Me of a Story," book number one.
     Then, a love of history and a love of family provided the impetus for current book, number two, "Higley."
     Its the story of Jim's father-in-law, U.S. Navy Lieutenant Robert H. Higley, a Silver Star and Distinguished Flying Cross recipient and Torpedo Bomber pilot, who's entire crew vanished, never to be found, during combat against Japanese surface forces at Rabaul, New Britain in November of 1943.
     Ironically, Jim had never met his father-in-law AND, in fact, Jim's wife, Nancy, hadn't either. She was in her mother's womb, at the time of Robert's disappearance. Virginia Adam was 21 years old, with a one-year old and Nancy "on the way."
     Jim said, "I wrote this book for two reasons. To honor Lt.Higley and all other veterans for their service and, especially, for those veterans who gave their lives so we can still live in a free country. Then too, I'm thanking him for the gift of his daughter, my wife of 52 years."
     Jim's book notes that famous Iowan, Nile Kinnick, of University of Iowa football fame, shared a lot of service similarities with Lt. Higley. In addition, its mentioned that Higley flew the famed Grumman TBF Avenger that President George Herbert Walker Bush and Boone resident Warren "Bud" Kruck also piloted with extreme courage and  great success. All four are now deceased.
     Readers interested in the World War II years will find interesting and detailed material about Higley's emergence from early flight training to combat situations, as well as enjoying lots of Grabau family history with numerous photo inclusion.
     Jim Grabau, BHS-63, was a Toreador swimmer and sang in vocal groups. He graduated from Boone Junior College and concluded his collegiate work at Texas Christian University in Fort Worth, TX.
    TCU? Why?
    "I knew some Boone people, Dick Hamilton, BHS-58, and Sue Caldwell, BHS-62, spoke highly of the school and my best friend, Frederick "Fritz" Westfall, BHS-63, had transferred from ISU to TCU." Grabau said. "I was interested in psychology followed, perhaps, by lawyership but finally ended up with a BA in psychology and a minor in biology."
     The Texas weather was nice and the degree satisfying but he'd say, without question, "the most important thing that ever happened to me" was meeting Nancy at TCU.
     "Several times we seemed to be at the airport at the same time and, finally, I ask her if she would  join me in getting something to eat. We were married in 1968 and came to Boone in that same year."
     Ray and Nettie Grabau began R.H. Grabau Construction in 1946 and Jim always knew there would be an opportunity to join his dad's business. He did just that, 42 years, from '68 until retirement in January of 2011. Nancy had found work as an elementary teacher in Boone and retired after 30 years of service to the local school district.
     Grabau construction started on a small scale, mainly doing masonry and carpentry work, but, as time passed, the company started sub-contracting and expanding to "outside" areas with several additional employees. "It became a very satisfying work career," Jim said.
     Jim's sister, Emily, BHS-59, passed away in 2019. Her husband, Dr. Alan Munson, of Ames survives. The Kornerman recalls "Buddy" Munson as the Toreador quarterback in '58.
     Jim and Nancy have a daughter, Alison Pomeranz, BHS-89, and son, Ryan, BHS-91. Alison was a Toreador swimmer and tennis player while I remember Ryan as a small but very tough running back for the BHS football team. He was also a tennis standout with second and fourth place finishes in state singles play. An injury hampered what may have been state championship finishes.
     Both Alison and Ryan are married with grandkids that bring Jim and Nancy great joy.
     Ryan works for Visa. He and his wife, Andrea Fontanini Grabau, BHS-93, live in Elmhurst, IL while Alison and her husband, Dr. Ben Pomeranz, are residents of Dexter, Michigan, which is close to her husband's work at Ann Arbor.
    Jim was scheduled to be interviewed about his book on WHO-TV news segments yesterday (Tuesday) and they may still appear on the channel 13 website. KWBG News Director Jim Turbes interviewed Jim on his "Talk to the Expert" program last Monday morning.
    "Higley" is available at the Boone Book Shoppe, can be ordered online by going to Xlibris Boone Store and Jim hopes to have a book signing in the fall. He's pledged $2.00 of each sale to "Wounded Warriors."
    More books coming? If the author, himself, doesn't know, how would I, the Kornerman, know?
    EDITOR'S NOTE: There are many things the Kornerman misses in our local newspaper coverage.
    Perhaps topping that list are personal stories about the citizens of our community, like the one you just read. Stories of individuals, their families, their background, their businesses, their "up's,' perhaps their "downs," but, primarily, just their daily lives as our friends and neighbors in small town Central Iowa.
    I, the Kornerman, have always enjoyed that type of writing and, oftentimes, I'm amazed to find out "amazing things" that I never dreamed were part of an individual's life. Hobbies, dreams, ambitions, interesting things that you never knew about them until you asked.
    Jim Grabau grew up in Boone and Nancy has also been here over 50 years but maybe, just maybe, you, who have known them for years, now know them for more than just a "hello." And that's what personal stories are all about. I wish we were offered more.
K-----K
    BOONE CONNECTED DEATHS: Cleo Davidson, 88, Boone. Born in Arkansas and grew up in Colorado. Married Earskin Davidson in 1965 and the couple came to Boone in 1983. Survivors include her husband, two sons and a daughter, Yvonne Tucker, of Boone..........Irma Lee Newton, 92,  An Eastern Star resident the last 12 years. Married Owen Newton in 1946. Lived in Winterset and then Ogden where she worked in the OHS hot lunch program for 29 years prior to retirement. Owen passed away in 1990. Survivors include three sons and two sisters, including Leah Wallace of Boone...........Anselma "Bunny" Hermann, Boone but formerly of Huxley. Married Kenneth Herman Sr. in 1947. Worked at Hach Chemical in Ames 34 years. Survivors include a daughter, Randa Drake, of Madrid and sons, Gene and Kenneth, of Huxley. A son, Terry, of Slater, passed away recently. Survivors also include a sister, two brothers and a sister-in-law.
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.