Well, I've done it! I've put it off long enough.
I mean......let's face facts......I've had a wonderful 91 plus years and hope to move on to 92 in March and even beyond that.
But, I've never wanted the thought of leaving this world with remaining relatives trying to piece together my life's story.......
As a result, I've finally addressed those concerns, one less task facing their imput.
There are some things I'm especially proud of and I don't want them diminished. I'm hopeful this will make things easier for survivors who would face a helter-skelter task of trying to put something together at a last minute.
Then too, I guess I'm urging Korner viewers to follow the same script. Time does pass and, especially those older folks, must think about the inevitable too. A previously written obituary should make things much easier on those survivors.
So, think about it.
K-----K
Gary Richard Grosnickle (1936-2026).
In all our years, I never heard a word about that Richard part.
Another great friend gone. The Kelley family moved to Boone as their lone son, that's me, was set for entrance into seventh grade, and, somehow, Gros and I connected in those earliest days. Who ever thought this would become a lifelong, almost 80 year friendship?
We were classmates, BHS-53, we were both north siders and both Crawford Street residents.
Yes, sports probably had the most to do with our togetherness. We were avid participants in whatever sports were provided in those days. If you saw Gros, you probably saw me and reverse.
I was always awed by his many achievements. I don't think I've ever known a tougher competitor. I always cited something I witnessed at the very older (two times ago) YMCA where, in those days, was a somewhat limited place to spend our spare time.
Various contests were always made available and I'm sure Gros had never devoted much time to table tennis until a tournament in that event was set up. He breezed to the championship. Apparently had the skill set to quickly master such competition against many who had spent hours devouring that skill.
Of course, at Boone High School, there was football, basketball and track and then, don't forget, at 13 years of age, the only baseball available was the Junior Legion variety which leaned toward 17 or 18 year olds. Gary was an exceptional athlete in all those sports AND, he took up golf in his later years and, of course, performed well at that as well.
To make a long story shorter, Gary became an excellent young baseball catcher, good enough to sign a professional contract with the St. Louis Cardinals organization. He gave it a good shot....playing a few years in the minor leagues at Ardmore, OK., Paducah, KY. and a couple other places before he became a victim of a complete Cardinal "cleansing" of all of their upcoming prospects. Thus, he gave his pro ideas up, coming home, to Boone, Iowa, where he grew up.
Perhaps the most important thing I ever did for my partner was to take credit for urging him to pursue what became a lifelong marriage.
Gary had indicated he had his mind set on a young lady but needed a "push" in that direction which I happily provided. I'll never forget it. We were in downtown Boone one evening and I talked him into calling Delores McNaughton, BHS-52, from one of those outside telephones that always seemed available.
He hesitated but followed up and, eventually, I was honored to be the Best Man at the wedding that, eventually, followed.
The couple remained in Boone for some time but then, a permanent move was made to Bella Vista, Ar. and our long friendship became more limited to the traditional holiday cards, a note or two now and then and some phone calls every so often.
Those Boone times were good times....actually, great times.....never to be forgotten, especially with so many of them being closely involved with Gary RICHARD Grosnickle.
K-----K
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