It is such a joy when people we think of as hometown folks bring honor and glory back home.
Needless to say, when I heard Hunter Pence was going to be playing in the baseball playoffs, and later recognizing the parts that he played on winning some of the games that took him and his team on to the World Series, I have been glued to the television set and all the baseball games.
His teammates give him credit for being a real spark plug for the team, but baseball is his game and he has lived it just about 24-7 since he was a little boy. Hunter’s dad, Howard, stayed with him and his big brother, Howie, through countless little league games as these two young boys grew up.
Incidentally, a couple of those little league players, including Hunter, that Howard watched played baseball for many years, went on to play for the Houston Astros.
Maybe that is part of Howard’s legacy that he passed on to Hunter in a big way.
My family has retold the story many times of how I went to school and said that I was related to Harmon Killebrew. My sister, Kaye, did the same thing.
My nephew also went to show and tell at school and said that he, too, was related to an important baseball player: Babe Ruth. Actually, it was my grandma Schember who was related to the late Connie Mack whose name was originally McGillicuddy.
Look it up. It was something my grandmother Schember was very proud of.
Years later, the story once again came to life as the post office where Kaye works in Arizona was the post office that Harmon Killebrew came to get his mail. Kaye met him often and one day, she finally got up enough nerve to tell him the school story.
He got a big kick out of it and said he was proud to have known the late Connie Mack well.
And now, I can boast and tell you that I’m related to another famous baseball player from my Grandpa Richard’s side of the family, Hunter Pence. My Grandpa Hanson and Hunter’s great grandfather, Hans Peterson, were related.
The men were cousins and good friends. They carpentered together for years.
The Petersons were into baseball. In fact, my Grandma Hanson use to tell how Chris Peterson, a former Geneva resident, as a small child came with his mother, Helen, to see my Grandma Hanson and her new baby. (which I think was my mother)
Chris found a baseball bat and was playing with it. Not too much later, something happened and the bat shattered the glass head on my Aunt Helyn’s doll.
And now, his nephew, Hunter, is shattering records and bringing fame to our community by being a member of the San Francisco Giants, 2012 World Series Champion baseball team.
I, too, can proudly say that I am related to Hunter because my Great grandpa, Chris Christensen, who used to be the school custodian here in Geneva, was a half brother to Soren Christensen. Christensen was a blacksmith in Clarks Grove and married Nellie, who was another relative of Hunter’s, which is too complicated to explain now.
Sometimes you have to dig deep to find and remember the family associations, but not this time, because Hunter’s great grandparents, Hans and Helen Peterson and Mark and Gina Peterson, were also good friends of the family.
Needless to say, watching the 2012 World Series has been exciting for me and many others here in our area. Do you suppose that my granddaughters will go to school and share during show and tell that they are related to one of the players of the 2012 World Series championship team, Hunter Pence?
Pride doesn't stop here and one doesn't have to be a relative to be proud.
I am proud of little 10-year-old Emma Esplan, of Ellendale, who has collected over 500 pairs of shoes for the people of Haiti.
I am also proud of T.J. Schiltz, in his winning runs. Fame doesn't come without talent and endless energy behind it.
I am proud of our school band, athletic teams, and cheerleaders. It takes dedication to achieve those things.
They don't happen overnight or by sitting on a couch watching television. Winning isn't everything; it is how you play the game.
Isn't it great to pick up the paper, or hear in the news of the good things that people do that are positive?
Please take the time to acknowledge great accomplishments and the goodness of others.
Some of our Star Eagle readers have commented they like to read about events such as family and school reunions, birthdays and anniversaries, and birth and wedding announcements.
In order to read about these important things, we need our faithful readers to pass along the information to us. If you have news, please contact me via e-mail, This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.; by postal mail, P.O. Box 192, Geneva, MN 56035 or telephone, 507-256-4405.
Birthdays and Anniversaries:
• Thursday, November 1st: Dakota Wangsness, Garrett Wangsness, Troy Hagen, Mike Reistad, Jamie & Sergio Hernandez.
• Friday, November 2nd: Gary Dummer, Karen Osmundson, Tracy Farr Simon, Janis Klinger, Troy Sommers, Dan Nord, Sylvia Janet Baker.
• Saturday, November 3rd: Nakayla Joy Butler, Preston Dean Shaunce, his 3rd; Brian Muri, Paula Degan Conroy, Jennifer Misgen, Lois Conklin, Tim Hanson, Aaron Sargent, Sydney McCamish, Quinn Sebastian Briedenbach, Angie & Josh Lair.
• Sunday, November 4th: Jeff Carlson, Brant Hemingway, Stuart Vangen, Grant Neitzell, Scott Anderson, Andrew Farr.
• Monday, November 5th: Faith Jennie Tweeten, Preslie Jean Tweeten, Hope Ann Tweeten, Alyssa Hagen, Kerri Newgard d'Eustachip, David Wayne, Mavis Langlie, Chad Braaten, Allison Hanson, Allison Jensen, Skyla Kundtson.
• Tuesday, November 6th: Brody Richards, Makota Grahm Misgen, Mary Ann Lund, Dylan Paul Moen, Jon Beck, David Hagen, Doug Klemmensen, Lauren Jo Draayer, Chad Ayers, Toni Roberts, Taylor Roberts, Ed & Fern Possin, Kellie & Ryan Benning.
• Wednesday, November 7th: Solveig Adelaine Mattson, her 2nd birthday; Ava Leigh Wangsness, her third birthday; Alymra Seath, Jolee Johnson, Travis Diederrich, Linda Dobberstein, Scott Olson, Mark Sundwall.
Make your special day a day you'll never forget, filled with smiles, good cheer and laughter!
