Chris

Most of what I post here is of memories... There are the genealogy and regional posts too, but they usually connect to a memory of someplace or someone. In my last post, I talked about my horse, Bibsey, being the first "friend" that I lost. It got me thinking of others who have crossed my path to where I am today. Memories of them are frozen in my mind, taking me to a time we shared or an impact they made on my life.

Chris Schnepf was a classmate from my school days, elementary through high school. We were both involved in the same classes, band, class plays, swing choir, and ran with the same crowd. School activities keep you close to your high school friends, as your life follows the same path. Favorite memories with him include and revolve around; jazz band practices, band trips, chorus, bus trips, speech club, a trip to Des Moines for BB tournaments, campouts, drive-in movies, taco bell trips late at night, rides home, parties,... It seemed we were always on the go back then. Laughter was a key to our friendship, whether it was going somewhere, getting into or staying out of trouble, I still smile when I think of him.

Sitting in Kerkvliet’s Corner in Larchwood with Chris and Ann talking about our future, we exchanged autographs with each other, for that day when we’d become famous and could cash in on selling each other’s autograph. I’m sure I have their autographs in a scrapbook around here somewhere. (I keep lots of those kind of mementos.)

That day was not to come for Chris, he collided with a train near his family home, derailing five engines and seven cars, the fall of 1977, before starting his Sophomore year of college. I remember the last time I saw him as he honked from his truck, driving by the park in Larchwood where I was playing tennis. Friends gathered to attend his visitation as a group, his family reserved a place in the church behind them for his classmates and friends at his funeral. I still think of him from time to time, imagining him watching down on all his friends and family from heaven.

I was going to write about others who’ve “crossed my path” but I think one is enough for this post. Make sure your friends and family know what you mean to them. Hold onto your memories.

The Good Ole Days

Looking at old photos, it's always fun to reminisce about the days gone by. Back in the 80's, when I started my teaching career in Farnhamville, IA, I formed friendships that continue to this day. We were a close knit group who worked and socialized together. The Cedar Valley School District consolidated with Prairie School District to form Prairie Valley in 1989 which led to my move to Denver.

As the yearbook adviser at Cedar Valley, I had to learn to operate a darkroom and became friends with and got help from a photographer in Fort Dodge, IA. He set up a temporary photo studio in another teachers garage during the annual Old Settlers Days in Farny, along with costumes and props. We were the "guinea pigs" for them getting set up on an August day back in 1987. Summer was coming to a close and we were about to start on another school year. Our friendship was evident by the smiles on our faces. Oh, the "Good Ole Days...".

L to R: Rita, Lori, Diane, Sarah, Sharon and Marge.

Long Time Friend

On the 4th of July I went to Inwood, IA, a neighboring town and home to the Kock family and my friend Roxane was home visiting her family as I was. She now lives in New Mexico with her husband and two sons and teaches Family and Consumer Science to H.S. students.
We were classmates, in band, chorus, class plays, went on to attend the same college and both chose to become teachers.
Left: Here we are around 1972 in a photo booth on a band trip I think.

Right: On the 4th.
The morning was a rainy one that even delayed the parade, but we weathered it just fine. It was great to see her and her family and pick up as if we saw each other last week.

We also got together with some other classmates from the class of 76 and enjoyed our time reminiscing, catching up and just plain laughing. That evening Roxane came up to Larchwood to see my parents, as I had reconnected with hers, that's what friends do.

Among the Angels

“And Jesus said unto him, Verily I say unto thee, Today shalt thou be with Me in paradise.” Luke 23:43
Embraced by God, my friend, JoAnn Butler, was welcomed to into Heaven early this morning. She is free of the pain and struggles she had here on earth during her battle with cancer the last two and a half years. Her husband and three adult children were with her as she peacefully passed away at home.
In 2007 a group of teachers at school walked in the Cancer Relay for Life walk in Waverly, IA, honoring Jo.
L to R: Carrie, Dawn, Jo B., Diane, Alicia, Jo D., and Jamie in our “Team Butler Cleaning up Cancer” t-shirts and aprons.
I met Jo when she interviewed me for my job here at Denver 20 years ago. She was my middle school principal for 19 years and is being remembered by many students, Denver staff members and friends.

Death leaves a heartache no one can heal, love leaves a memory no one can steal. ~From a headstone in Ireland

New Banner Title

As you may have noticed, I made a new title banner for my blog. Identifying the scenes/photos from left to right: Dad on his pony Jack, Ljung church in Sweden where many of my ancestors attended church, Mom in a rocker around the time of her adoption, the clock face is from my wall clock, the Johnson kids in their hooded sweatshirts on the farm, the Johnson family home in rural Larchwood, IA, on top is the Swanson ancestral home - Fallhemmet in Ljung Östergötland, Sweden, and some hollyhocks I watercolored on the right edge. The background is a painting of Yosemite National Park I painted as a gift for my brother Steve. I used Photoshop Elements to combine the shots. My students will be doing a project similar to this so I always need practice. I even made one today as a surprise, for my friend Carol. Her Blog is titled Choose Joy. We graduated from High School together and are both currently art teachers.We were dismissed from school at 11 a.m. this morning due to snow and blizzard warnings, the wind is to come up tonight so who knows what the morning will bring. We've already lost 3 days due to weather, soon we'll be going into June!

Prayer Request

A high school classmate of mine is in need of prayers and I couldn't think of a better way to get the added prayers out, than to post this on my blog. Cathie's husband Chris, had bleeding on his brain suddenly start a week ago and he has been in the hospital this past week dealing with complications due to his situation. Two days ago they were planning to move him by ambulance to a hospital ( in Santa Barbara, CA) that specifies in brain injuries, but yesterday those plans were put on hold due to the emergency created by the wild fires and the dry Santa Anna winds threatening the area.
Cathie's parents passed away around 30 years ago, at 20 yrs old or so she dropped out of college and took on the role of raising 6 younger siblings. She's a special person and has found that special person in her life as well in Chris. Please add Chris and Cathie to your prayers. Thank you.

11/16 update: Saturday Chris had surgery to remove a blood clot in his brain. He is currently in ICU and sedated to keep the swelling down.
11/17 update: Chris is still sedated, Cathie was told it may be 3-5 days more of this to allow things to heal in their own time. They are keeping him stable. It's the waiting that is tough.
11/19 update: He is not responding after being taken off the sedation medicine and now has a fever so there is infection someplace. The pressure hasn't changed and they have taken him off other medicines as well. Today they took a series of test to see what the brain function was, but Cathie doesn't have the results yet. I'm afraid there are difficult days ahead. Please keep them in your prayers.
11/20 update: After multiple tests it was determined Chris is not going to wake from this trauma to his brain. Life support was pulled from him today and he is dealing with a staff infection as well. Cathie said she knows his spirit has passed and now the family is praying that his physical body will follow. His heart is strong so they are unsure how long this will take.
11/22: Chris passed away peacefully early this morning.

Grandview Covenant Kids

There's always activity surrounding a church. Grandview Covenant Church is my community and connects me with friends I grew up with and formed a history with. Grandview was built on the highest point in Lyon County, therefore the name. Below are a few views of the kids at Grandview back in the 60's. It's hard to believe this is more than 40 years ago, but many of these kids have kids older than we were then and a few grandchildren as well! These people were my first friends, some relatives, neighbors,... they've become family.

Pastor David Sems was our Pastor from 1965-67, and here are some photos he took of the kids at Grandview. (Hi Dave, I know you'll be reading this, how's your blog coming?) The front steps of the church was always the gathering place for photos, I lined up there after our confirmation to receive congratulations from family and friends. These are Bible School shots, back in the day when a sack lunch was just that. No coolers.
We'd open the double doors to let in cool breezes on hot Sundays before the days of air conditioning. The back door lead down the stairs the back way to the bathrooms and kitchen, an addition they built in my youth. I barely remember the old pump down in the kitchen and the cellar door that used to be there that led outside. I love the one in the top left corner above showing our old outhouse. There used to be a larger one there before this building.

There were always kids tables for eating at. One table was low to the ground, it's still in use - think of all the kids who have sat at that over the years. Simplier times...

Bible School group in 1964. Rev. Paul Nelson was the Pastor at this time. We played lots of games in the church yard, baseball and kick ball were favorites. Way back in the distance of this photo is our church cemetery. The Sioux River and the Iowa/South Dakota border is beyond that.

Train up a child in the way he should go; even when he is old he will not depart from it. -Proverbs 22:6

As you can tell, I love reminising about the old days. Friends and family, do you recognize any of the faces here? I have more old photos scanned than the newer ones. I should get at that task and scan even more than I have, but I'll leave that for another day.

Art Teachers - Carol & Diane

The essence of all art is to have pleasure in giving pleasure. - Baryshnikov

We've been to slumber parties, on band trips, were both sopranos in swing choir, involved in class plays, sat in the same classrooms and even walked together at graduation, but who'd have guessed all those years ago that Carol and I would both become art teachers.
Carol and I are now both bloggers. We started our blogs the same day this summer and have connected again after all these years, sharing our ups and downs, art and activites, memories and moments in our lives via our blogs. She's only an e-mail away. Carol gave me kudos on her blog today so I'm returning the recognition right back at her. S. Freud said, "When inspiration does not come to me, I go halfway to meet it." Thanks Carol for meeting me halfway.
Art teachers are great collaborators, we search for that impromptu opportunity that sparks a light in someones eye, allowing students to search for different approaches, we're easily inspired and hope to be inspiring to others.

Photos: Carol and I in junior high, high school and a couple reunion photos since then in the mix too.

The job of the artist is always to deepen the mystery. - Sir Francis Bacon

The Class of 76

My school years have passed by faster than I care to admit at times. I went to school in Larchwood, Alvord and the "new" rural West Lyon Community school with an Inwood, IA, address. Graduating in 1976, our Bicentennial year, we were the red, white and blue class.
My class has a reunion every five years over the 4th of July weekend, but we keep in touch via e-mails, a class web site and when a few of us are able to meet up. These people are life long friends, the best kind. When we get together it's as if the years melt away.
The web site we have is easy to keep up and helps keep us informed on what's going on in each others lives. Take a look at our site, http://classreport.org/usa/ia/inwood/wlhs/1976/, and decide to make one for your class. It's available for any class in any state (free), give it a try!

A few views from my school years...

Left: The kindergarten bunnies in Larchwood, IA.

Right: Roxane and Diane in a photo booth.

Left: A slumber party at Tami's in 1971.

Right: Another slumber party, this time at Diane's in 1972.

Left: Lori and Diane at Countdown 1974.

Right: 1974 Junior Class Play, Rest Assured. I was a poor peasant.

Left: I was lucky to go on three big band trips. Here is a group of us at Crazy Horse Monument in the Black Hills in 1976.


The most beautiful discovery true friends make is that they can grow separately without growing apart.
~E. Foley

Carl

Sorrow reaches our hearts this morning as news of the passing of a neighbor and friend, Carl Dieters, reaches us. Mom and Dad were at the Dieters home last night so we knew the end was near. Our Sympathy and God's Blessings to Tracy and family.

Right: Dad and Carl visiting with John Deer.





Below: Tracy and Carl on the bench in front of Grandview Covenant Church, 2007.

College Friends

Thirty year plus friendships are the best. I went to the University of Northern Iowa in Cedar Falls to college. I have kept friendships from those days with a group that is near and dear to me. Over the years since going our own way, we have tried to get together each year to relive those crazy days and make new memories.

Left: At the Casino Belle on the Mississippi River at Dubuque, IA in 1991.

We've been there for each other through marriages, births, loss of parents and sibblings, divorce, moving, job changes and the ups and downs of life. Imagine the diversity of different occupations, lifestyles, and family, yet the 30 years seem to fade when we get together. With a little variety in the numbers in our group, we've traveled to different locations in Iowa, Minnesota, Illinois, North Dakota and Nebraska to reconnect.

Right: 1992 Reunion

This weekend we met in Clear Lake, IA for the weekend. It was the perfect time for me, right before a new school year starts. Coming from three different directions we arrived within an hour of each other and the relaxation and quality time together began.

The girls, Beth, Janine and I headed to Garner, IA to Country Threads, a quilt shop. I've proclaimed myself sewing disfunctional (my mom and sister were the sewers in my family so I didn't need to sew) so while the two quilters chose materials and patterns, I found other crafts to add to my collection of "things to do". Advertures in cloth that I plan to take will involve weaving material and mini punch craft. Stay tuned for the results...

Right: Beth, Janine and Diane at Country Threads in Garner, IA

Time spent watching the Olympics, gazing over the lake as the sun set, time with extended family and friends and of course eating (when on vacation rules go by the wayside) filled the time until we headed to the historical Surf Ballroom. On stage was Deuces Wild! Dueling Pianos. I have to admit when Janine first told me we were going to Dueling Pianos I envisioned two Liberace style pianos on stage and two men would play duets of classical music. I told her this proved we were really getting old (we all turned 50 this year). I was so wrong. My first trip to the Surf was filled with fun as this duo managed to entertain all ages from kids to seniors in the crowd. Singing, dancing, audience participation and great music kept our attention for hours.

Above: The 2008 Group; Diane, Beth, Dave, Janine and Mike.
When we get together the years of separation melt away and it's like we're still roommates. These people matter to me, I matter to them, what more can you ask for?