The NRHEG boys’ and girls’ golf teams competed twice last week.

On Tuesday, the boys lost 168-190 to JWP while the girls defeated an incomplete JWP squad.

Scoring for the boys: Jake Langlie 43, Kelson Titus 47, Macoy Schwierjohann 49, Nick Shultz 51. Nathan Schmitz of JWP was the medalist with a 39.

Is spring really here? Spring is like Christmas, full of "presents" that bring us anticipation and happiness. Driving down the road brings the gift of observation.

Geneva Park...

The beautiful day brought a number of young people to the Geneva Park. That park seems to frequently have children enjoying the great outdoors, playing on the many swings, monkey bars and slide.

On Tuesday afternoon the children of Vicki and Kory Kress were among children that were having a great time playing in the park.

First Farmer In The Fields...

En route to New Richland, I observed the first farmer that I had seen out in the field preparing for spring planting.

Mike and Gretchen Supulla always seem to be in the fields, which might have something to do with the soil content on their farm. Driving back to Geneva I observed that the tractor could not be seen, so I thought I would stop to have a chat with Mike. Surprise but no surprise I learned that the farmer driving the tractor in the field was Gretchen, who was just finishing up working up the soil on 105 acres of the 1000 acres that the Supullas own and farm near the New Richland Golf Course.

While visiting with Mike I observed a number of Panther golfers on the driving range at the club — a sure sign of spring. It made me think of how fortunate we are to have such facilities close by for golf advocates. 

Ellendale Park and Flower Garden...

While passing through Ellendale on Tuesday afternoon, I noticed those ever-faithful ladies, Gail Skroch and Cynthia Nelson, busy working in the little park in mid-town Ellendale, just east of the Ellendale Cafe. Like a tranquil bit of love on earth, this grand park offers everyone a place to sit and meditate or enjoy the labor of these workers in presenting beauty and enjoyable entertainment to anyone who partakes of its beauty. What a welcome sight to anyone passing through town.

In talking with the ladies I learned that in June, a "wagon train" will make its way through Ellendale. How can they not notice how much the town means to us when they see the efforts made to make it beautiful? Not to be overlooked, the mini-garden behind the bank building and the tribute to our servicemen and women by the community building.

Lerberg’s Foods...

The sign outside that Ross Sletten had in front of Lerberg’s Grocery advertised onion sets and seed potatoes. A reminder that what we can grow ourselves is always at its freshest and it is time to plant!

Clair Clausen...

As always I observed Claire Clausen on her dedicated walk/run; a reminder what a commitment she has always made to enhance her health. The number of years and how many miles Claire has logged might take her around the world many times and all within a few miles from home.

I feel guilty that I haven't yet been able to recommit to those daily walks I used to take 31 years ago.  I do find my love for our paper and the ability to share good news, good people, good times and the amazing worth of our small towns and the big value they provide me in getting "out and about" and getting some exercise.

New Look for Ellendale Businesses...

Have you noticed how many businesses in Ellendale have updates? Jim Johnson, who has his barber shop in downtown Ellendale in the old Security State Bank building on the north side of main street, recently had K & C Construction of Morristown install new energy efficient windows and a new front door.

K & C then moved from that location across the street to the First National Bank in Ellendale and did repairs and updates for a more attractive exterior. In talking with Kenneth Stenzel from K & C, he said the crew removed a two-foot strip of wood, as well as the blue belt of aluminum that had been around the top portion of the bank and replaced it with brick that matched the rest of the building. 

K & C’s next project is removing an old, unused chimney on the Union Creamery. Obviously this crew does good work and keeps busy.

Tree Stumps...

Meanwhile, our own Rollie Johnson of Ellendale has been grinding out stumps from various properties in Geneva and elsewhere when he isn't busy hauling fuel for Love’s. I believe he said he had demolished some 80 large stumps already this year. Rollie said, "You find them, we grind them."

What a difference these updates make in our great little towns.

The recent rains, along with the appearance of green grass and buds on the trees are starting to make everything look clean and new.

One negative note...

I also observed the handiwork of those inconsiderate people who throw their trash out their car windows or their cigarette butts on the ground once they have finished.  Others work hard cleaning up their mess but shouldn't have to. How hard is it to keep a bag in the vehicles to collect trash to stash, or place that cigarette butt in the proper place?

Think you have to travel around the world when you have so many, many sights and scenes right out your own windows?

I spent an afternoon just enjoying my hometown surrounding. That's why I live here!

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. Also if you have an idea for a story that you think would be of interest to our readers, please contact me. 

If you have birthdays and anniversaries you would like include, or news to share 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.

This week’s birthdays and anniversaries include:

• Thursday, May 1st: Carter Levi Titus, Jim Hanson, Shirley Pichner Helgeson, Christopher "Critter" Johnson, his 12th; Luke Dobberstein, Gene Budach, Sandi Otto Glenn, Richard Helmers, Sue Kasper Anderson, Tim Kasper, Norma Long, Cari Jensen, Thomas Van Riper, Veronica & Jim Graif, Heidi & Ryan Baldwin

• Friday, May 2nd: Shayna Kress and Tyler Kress, their 4th; Jack Benjamin Owen, his 5th; Diane Smith, Ted Radke, Jill Goodnature Kubicek, Bonnie Shaunce, Stephanie Corey, DeWayne Farr, Nolin Joe Simmons, his 9th; Joshua Nicholas Paulsen, his 11th; Roger Anderson, Gerald & Mildred Flugum, Dean & Carolyn Wangen

• Saturday, May 3rd: Jase Dean Knudson, his 5th; Cassidy Worrell, Fern Possin, Justin Robertson, Dale Dulas, Wayne Dobberstein, Anthony Brandt, Merle Bartness Leah (Ruth) & William (Bill) Scott, their 4th

• Sunday, May 4th: Joyce Wayne, Angie Worrell Aaseth, Daniel Knudson, Kenneth Schumacher, Charles Wangsness, Keith Miller, Shirley Draayer Anderson, Dean Heskett, Thad Tuttle, Leslie Ray Farr, her 11th; Jessica Marcus, Julia Elizabeth Rye, her 6th, Brooklyn Cecila Strand, her 9th, Melonie Butler, Lexi Jo Brandstad, her 12th

• Monday, May 5th:  Mckenzie Lynn Jensen, her 13th; Alexis Janning, his 13th; Jeff Draayer, Shirley Jensen, Melody Krenke, Ron Langlie, Ryan Larson, Shirley Swearingen, Amber Obermoller, Dennis Sauke, Martin Whelan, John & Lucille Nechanicky, Tim & Jolene Sorenson, Kevin & Annie Avery

• Monday, May 6th: Caleb Scott Harpel, his 14th; Brad Borchert, Tracy Haddy, Cheryl Nelson, Iris Jensen, Brandon Wallace, Bill Vavra, Tim Wilker, Jennifer & Michael Vetsch, their 14th, Bill & Judith Hatch, Everett & Marian Camp

• Tuesday, May 7th: Brody Hanson, Brian Jensen, John Snyder, Nancy Swearingen Grant, Brian Johnson, Heidi & Jason Owen, their 9th, Bryan & Diane Brighton, Heidi (Crabtree) & Jason Owen, their 9th

• Wednesday, May 8th: Grace Carol Jean Riskedahl, her 2nd; Olivia Kay Smith, her 8th; Kristina Follien, Marguerite Christensen Nelson, Ronald Wangsness, Elizabeth Bremer, Sandy Neubauer

Wishing you sunshine and flowers and many, wonderful days ahead.

Now that the area lakes are free of ice the next thing on my wish list might just involve some sort of “magic” air freshener or maybe even a giant shop vac that could be used to rid Albert Lea Lake of all the dead fish. To say that it takes your breath away would be an understatement; especially when the wind is from the right (wrong) direction. Oh well, with any luck at all it will only take another week or two to rid the area of that toxic dead fish smell. Ahhh – the smell of spring is in the air!

The folks from the DNR were spotted depositing fish in Pickerel Lake earlier this week. I’d have to say it means that they are starting over, hopefully not totally from scratch. I really haven’t seen any dead fish along the shore of that lake but then I haven’t taken the time to investigate it too closely. I’d like to believe that the lake wasn’t a total loss and that some of the fish actually made it through the winter. At least Fountain Lake survived the hard winter that old mother nature seems determined to drag out for as long as possible.

Fountain Lake can be a good lake to fish early in the season but like so many area lakes as summer progresses the watercraft numbers also increase. Spending a relaxing day of fishing on the lake may become a little more difficult as summer progresses. I believe that the best time to fish many of these area lakes is early morning or late evening. Early morning will probably be best because most folks that ride jet skis or water ski don’t usually hit the lake at the crack of dawn. I look at it as peaceful co-existence because a lot of fishermen, like me, enjoy fishing in the early morning; so they can have their time and I can have mine.

I don’t know how many other lakes in our area have had a freeze but I have heard that Reed’s Lake by Elysian didn’t have a fish kill. This was my favorite opening day lake for many years and I would take the boys there almost every year until it became way too crowded. That was when I switched to Fountain and eventually I began spending every opening weekend attending the Governor’s opener.

If you are looking for an opening day lake I wouldn’t look past St. Olaf or Beaver Lakes which are close by and can offer some pretty good fishing. St. Olaf can be good for northern and panfish while Beaver may offer some good early season walleye action and later on the bass fishing can also be pretty good.

I will be attending the Governor’s Opener again this year and this year’s event will be held in the Brainerd area on Gull Lake. I have never fished Gull Lake so I am looking forward to yet another first time event. Each year I always look forward to visiting new areas of the state while attending the Governor’s fishing event. The Governor’s Fishing opener is actually more about promoting a certain area of the state and Minnesota Tourism in general than it is about fishing.

This year’s event is being held in one of the more popular vacation areas of the state. Brainerd is reasonably close to the Twin Cities so with the busy lifestyles of today’s world driving a couple of hours for a weekend of fun on the water can seem pretty appealing.

For many years I had heard about the Whitefish Chain of lakes in that area so one year we decided to check it out. My wife Jean and I along with the two boys joined our friends Kenny and Georgette and their two kids for a week of fishing and camping. I soon found out that my little 14-ft. car topper boat looked totally out of place alongside all of those big cruisers that seemed to take pleasure in making us look like a crappie bobber bouncing on the high seas.

I can remember this one guy in particular who seemed to take great pleasure in trying to rock our boat. He was an older guy with a super-tan and he had two young bikini clad women laughing with him as he kept circling our boat in his big cruiser all the while raising his drink in his hand. After he had gone around for the second time and we were trying to keep the boat from swamping I reached for my giant “Husky Devil” Daredeville spoon which I was hoping to bounce off his tanned forehead. Luckily for one of us he must have had enough fun so he turned and took off for another part of the lake to impress someone else no doubt. An experience like this can sour a guy on ever returning to a certain area of the state for a “fun filled” vacation. I will just have to keep reminding myself about the “one bad apple” ism.

I have never really been one for fishing in crowds anyway so that probably explains why I like fishing those quiet little lakes in our part of northern Minnesota. There are many times when I will be the only boat on the lake so I only have the wildlife to share a sunset with. Now that’s what I’m talking about!

Until next time; check the old tackle box; re-string your reels and plan on spending some time fishing one of our great Minnesota lakes.

Please remember to keep our troops in your thoughts and prayers because they are the reason we are able to enjoy all the freedoms that we have today. 

Echoes from the Loafers’ Club Meeting

I'm in a great mood. Do you want to know why?

Who cares?

Now I’m in a lousy mood. Do you want to know why?

Driving by the Bruces

I have two wonderful neighbors — both named Bruce — who live across the road from each other. Whenever I pass their driveways, thoughts occur to me, such as: if it hasn’t been done, someone should make Easter candy that consists solely of chocolate bunny ears.

Ask Al

• "Do you ever procrastinate?" Let me get back to you on that.

• "Should chicken be eaten with the fingers?" No, the fingers should be eaten separately.

• "Are or is pants plural or singular?" It is singular at the top and they are plural at the bottom.

• "My husband says he can determine the age of a horse by examining his teeth. Is that true?" No, he should examine the horse's teeth.

• "My dream car was a Pontiac GTO. What does the GTO stand for?" Gas Tires Oil.

The cafe chronicles

I like tater tot hotdish with peas in it. That statement is akin to telling someone that I have diarrhea. It’s important to me, but nobody else cares about it.

I ate my hotdish while he sounded as if he were on a speakerphone. Those seated at the table of infinite knowledge listened whether they wanted to or not. It wasn’t a miracle like all the ladies on "The View" listening would be, but it was close.

He was espousing his views on cable TV. He said that he gets only one channel and it was named, "Why am I watching this channel?"

A day in the life

I was wearing Crocs.

That’s my way of telling the world that I’d given up.

I nibbled at the edges of the day, eating a bagel smeared with honey walnut cream cheese.

I was reading the sports section of a newspaper.

I’ve retired from all sports, but still enjoy reading a bit about them on occasion. I don’t miss the sprained ankles and have learned that an athlete’s joints age with a vengeance.

I was squinting like Dirty Harry. It wasn’t for comedy effect. I was attempting to read the baseball box scores in the paper. The minuscule box scores were printed in faded ink.

Alongside the box scores, a columnist wrote about the New York Yankees star shortstop Derek Jeter getting old.

Big deal. He was Derek Jeter before he got old. He could eat lightning and pass thunder.

Jeter is retiring.

Many of us play sports too long. That’s all right. It teaches us that it’s OK to be bad at some things.

Shopping shenanigans 

I was in an office supply store. I’d purchased a printer for a few dollars less than nothing. It seemed like a good deal at the time. Now I’m hooked. My printer is addicted to ink. I go to the store to interact with my printer’s drug dealer when my printer needs a hit of ink.

While there, I looked at office chairs. One had memory foam. I asked if I’d get my money back if the chair forgot me. That store had many items for sale, but I bought nothing but the required ink. William Blake said, "The road to excess leads to the palace of wisdom."

Later, I stopped at a supermarket. I’m not a good shopper. I try to leave the shopping to grownups, but I wanted to see if I had the courage to flourish in a hostile world by visiting two stores in one day. I bought one item in the store. It didn't have a "one item or fewer" lane and the "12 items or less" lane wasn't open.

The cashier rang up my lonely purchase. She asked, "Paper or plastic?"

I responded, "Nothing for me. Some of us know how to shop."

Ophidiophobia

Ophidiophobia is the fear of snakes. It’s a common ailment. One that I’m thankful I don’t have. I don’t know if Jackie Graveman of Albert Lea has this affliction, but when she lived in Hartland, she walked to her job at the bank. In warm weather, she took a shortcut through a grassy vacant lot until she saw the first snake. From then on, she walked on pavement.

Did you know?

Omphaloskepsis is the contemplation of one's navel as part of a mystical exercise.

Nature notes

"How do birds find feeders?" They are drawn to feeders because they see the seed, see or hear birds feeding, have learned to search for bird feeders, or are inquisitive and investigate new things.

Meeting adjourned

Kindness is the noblest weapon to conquer with.

Who are:

Pat Ahern, Duane Aitchison, Paul Arnfelt, Arlen Brekke, David Broskoff, Dom Buckingham, David Christensen, Jim Cornelius, Chuck Crabtree, Clair Dahl, Gene DenHerder, Carroll Evans, Terry Fogel, Paul Groth, Dennis Grunwald, Whitey Hagen, Paul Hanson, Elvern Holland, Don Ingram, Ed Jensen, Jim Johnson, Lloyd Kaplan, Ralph Keyes, Bill Kottke, Lonny Klemmensen, Jim Korman, Joe LaFrance, Gene Larson, Jerome Lee, Andy Lerberg, Andy Mucha, Marty Nelson, Russ Nelson, Bill Newell, Max Pecht, LeRoy Sommers, Wayne Sommers, Mark Sorenson, Robert Swearingen, Roger Swearingen, Jerry Thompson, Warren Torgerson, Greg Wayne, Roger Wayne, Rodney White, Jim Worrell, and Roger Worrell?

They are part of the 50 sophisticated, sad, AARP qualified men with ties to the Ellendale-Geneva area. If you noticed you are qualified but not mentioned, it’s because you are one of the two names to add to the 48 names mentioned, making 50 in total.

Why are all 50 sad? See the answer at the end of this column.

On May 2, 2013 an S.O.S. flag was flying on the flagpole at the Ellendale Post Office. The three-day snowfall was almost 18 inches. It most certainly qualified for the nautical “Mayday” per the U.S. Navy. (The snowfall total was the most ever recorded for this area in the month of May.)

May 14, 2013 (10 days after the S.O.S. flag) was the earliest date ever of triple-digit temperature, the high being 102. Was the S.O.S. flag flown on the flagpole at the Ellendale Post Office? Nope, the pole was too hot to touch! (At the end of the day, there was still a snow bank by the Post Office from the May 2 snowfall!) The Weather Bureau has decided it was our one day of summer, as it was the warmest day of 2013. The snowfall total of May 2 was thus part of the winter of 2013 as it occurred before the one day of summer in 2013.

“There’s hope in butter sales, cause butter sales are up in Hope,” per the Minneapolis Star Tribune front page, April 14, 2014. The article contained pictures of Jay Logan, plant manager, Cody Blouin, and owner Victor Mrotz along with statistics of increased sales and why. For example, Hope Creamery went from 30,000 lbs. of butter in 2001 to 300,000 lbs. per the year currently. Wow!

The Hope newspaper article brought back memories. As a young boy (many moons ago) I would ride along with Grandpa McFarland when he took milk from his Guernsey cows into the creamery at Hope to sell and then buy groceries at the grocery store next to the hardware store in Hope. It was fun, plus I usually got a treat. Sometimes he would get frozen far animal meat out of the locker at the creamery where for a fee you could leave meat from a critter after butchering it yourself.

The Star Tribune article also mentioned that Victor Mrotz farmed. That also brought back memories, as Grandpa McFarland’s seven brothers farmed and one brother was the gun-toting cop in Ellendale. One of the brothers owned the farm where Victor now farms. Rural area history is so interesting.

And now, the answer as to why 50 sophisticated, AARP qualified men are sad. None of them received a May basket! Maybe you could ease the sadness of at least one of them with a belated May basket.

By the way, I qualify, but I’m not sad, as Genie gave me a May basket! Thanks, Genie.

———

Bob is a retired AAL (Aid Association for Lutherans) agent, currently working on his master’s degree in Volunteering. His wife, Genie, is a retired RN, currently working on her doctor’s degree in Volunteering. They have two children, Deb in North Carolina, and Dan in Vermont. Bob says if you enjoy his column, let him know. If you don’t enjoy it, keep on reading, it can get worse. Words of wisdom: There is always room for God.

Having noticed the Weather Eye has continued to perform like a Kelvinator, the scurs are trying to turn it down to warm up. Or is it up to cool down? Therein lies the problem. Will they have it figured out by press time? Starting Wednesday, cloudy with a good chance of rain and snow showers. Highs in the mid-40’s and lows in the upper 30’s. Thursday, cloudy with a good chance of a shower. Highs in the upper 40’s and lows in the upper 30’s. Mostly cloudy with a slight chance of a shower for Friday. Highs in the low 50’s and lows around 40. Saturday, partly sunny with a slight chance of a shower or thunderstorm and continuing the warming trend. Highs in the upper 50’s and lows in the upper 30’s. For Sunday, partly sunny with a slight chance of a shower. Highs in the low 50’s and lows in the upper 40’s. Monday, continued partly sunny with highs near 55 and lows falling to the mid-30’s. Mostly cloudy again on Tuesday with a chance of rain, again. Highs in the mid-60’s and lows in the upper 30’s. The normal high for May1st is 64 and the normal low is 42. The sun will rise before 6 a.m. on May 6th. The scurs will have long since devoured the contents of their super-sized May Basket by then.

Another disappointing week of field work for most. Some corn went in the ground, but it was generally the exception and not the rule. Rainfall earlier in the week varied widely across much of the area, with those to the west of Bugtussle receiving lesser amounts. Coupled with what were likely drier soils last fall, it allowed some limited progress to be made. Conditions as one travelled east were a different story. Rainfall on Thursday a.m. served to rub salt in the wound and the rains on Sunday stopped everyone in their tracks. We need not only for the rains to subside, we also need temperatures to warm up. We have experienced another month of below-normal temps and the pattern of well-below-normal temperatures that started last November continues. Pasture and hay growth reflects the effect of those cold temperatures, something those whose forage supply is tight are hoping changes soon.

Gardening at the ranch has been close but that’s about it. Every time we’ve had a minute to put in something, seems like a shower shows up and puts a damper on it, literally. Tracking rainfall as is my wont, I know with a fair degree of certainty when conditions are fit to plant. One has to keep that in perspective out here where the wind never stops blowing. I have to take solace in seeing how perennials are doing in the meantime. For instance, the lily of the valley planting we made from rhizomes collected at Mom’s place has emerged. The shoots are tough to see at first as the sheaths covering them are about the same color as the soil. One literally has to use the Braille method to find them at this stage. 

Removing the remainder of the tree wrap on the windbreak and wildlife planting made for a worthwhile diversion on Saturday. Most of the trees made it through with flying colors although there were a few arborvitae the deer/bunnies had devastated. That’s OK, it’s a wildlife planting and that’s what wildlife does. Speaking of wildlife at my brother’s behest, I’d brought my waders along so when I was finished with the tree wrap, the wood duck houses could be checked for signs of activity. 

When I first drove up on the dry land nesting box, I could see telltale signs of duck breast fuzz stuck to the side of it. I slowly opened the observation door and could see the hen on the nest facing away from me. I carefully closed the door and left her alone so she didn’t break any eggs fleeing my intrusion. I donned my waders and motored back to the other duck house. This one was in the water, hence the waders. I opened the door on the house as stealthily as I could. This hen wasn’t having any of it and when my face got closer to peer into the house, she emerged in a hurry, almost taking my head off! With my cat-like reflexes, however, I was able to dodge the feathered missile and after seeing one egg in the nest, closed the door and moved on. 

Driving around the other side of the pond with the Gator, two long black necks emerged from the matted cattails like a couple of periscopes. Apparently the wetland was also home to a pair of Canada geese. I quickly vacated their space as I was an uninvited guest in their private little world. I had no intention of trying to figure out where they might be nesting. Once out of the wetland, my stomach was growling and I needed nourishment. I crossed the road to grab the mail and a pair of Huns flew off in the direction of the CRP I had just come from. It’s spring and whole lotta lovin’ goin’ on I thought to myself as I turned up the driveway to the house.

After church on Sunday Mrs. Cheviot and I travelled to Owatonna to plant our vine crop transplants. We stopped at Perkin’s as it had been a while since we’d dined there. We were almost ready to order when I happened to gaze at the Over 55 menu. Smaller portions yet much cheaper. Hmmm. The gears were at once turning in my melon when I had an epiphany: No longer would I need to use my fake ID to lie about my age. I could also get rid of the wig with the little bald patch on top. I could also ditch that goop from China I’d been spreading on my muzzle to give it that salt and pepper look. The possibilities were endless, I thought, as I ordered off the Over 55 menu, this time legally. I had come of age.

See you next week…real good then.

This past week, my grandma turned 88. I can always remember Grandma’s age easily since my sister Kim was born on Grandma’s 50th birthday!

Grandma Ann Hacker is the last surviving grandparent that either Michelle or I have, and she’s special in so many ways. We don’t tend to appreciate our grandparents until we start losing them. When we’re young, our grandparents are these people that seem to live in a time warp from some long distant past. We don’t always understand everything they say or do.

It’s always a little bizarre to think that Grandma was born in the 1920s and lived through the Great Depression and World War II. Those were major events in my American History class!

I’ve always known my grandma to be a hard-working lady who always seems to be on the move. She and Grandpa Tony lived on a farm outside of Lafayette, Minnesota, and I remember many trips over there for a meal, some visiting, and later in the afternoon, “a little lunch.” To this day, it feels like a treat to visit with Grandma!

Grandma always seemed to be bustling around a lot when we’d visit, a little like Martha from the New Testament stories with Jesus. I’m convinced one of the reasons she’s lived such a long life is her constant activity. Too many people retire and become sedentary, but Grandma has never really “retired” from life.  The busier she is, the happier she is!

I think part of my enjoyment of cooking comes from seeing how much love and effort Grandma  puts into the food she prepares. Plus, I think we have all experienced the “Grandma effect” with our cooking. I can follow whatever recipe she gives me to a tee, but I can never seem to duplicate the taste of Grandma’s cooking.

My absolute favorite dish from Grandma is her homemade sauerkraut and dumplings. Put those in a crockpot with some pork and you’ve got a dish made for a final meal on death row! Add a slice of her smear kuchen (a German coffee cake), and the meal is complete. Grandma used to make this up for me when I’d come home from college for a visit. There would always be enough leftovers for me to take back to Winona too!

Grandma was there for me when I started driving. Grandpa passed away when I was 16, and she let me have his old 1966 Ford pick-up as my first vehicle. Red paint, three on the tree, and a self-installed tape deck were all I needed to get around! When I headed off to college, I survived for a bit without a vehicle until she sold me her car so I could get to work and back easier, plus make some more trips home to New Ulm. Finally, when I got my job in New Richland, she loaned me the money to get a Grand Prix and make an attempt to drive a snazzy-looking car.

Michelle and I have enjoyed the opportunity to stay at Grandma’s house in past years when we travel home for Pumpkinfest in October. The kids go to my parents’ house, and we get to spend quality time in Lafayette. It’s very relaxing, catching up on things with Grandma and enjoying some excellent reruns on TV like Everybody Loves Raymond or The Cosby Show.

Hopefully one of these years the Twins will still be playing meaningful baseball, and we can watch a playoff game together. Grandma can always tell me more about the Twins current predicaments than I know myself. One of my best memories with Grandma was seeing a game during the inaugural season at Target Field. I believe that was her first time ever seeing the Twins in person, and it was a beautiful day to spend with family.

Grandma is the last living sibling out of 16 in her family. Most of them lived long lives, including some over 100 years! I keep telling Grandma that we expect her to be around for many years to come. She’s had some health issues over the years, but seems to keep bouncing back stronger than ever. Remember when I said we don’t always appreciate our grandparents until we’re older? I fully expect that my own children will reach that age with their remaining great-grandma still around! I love you, Grandma!

Word of the Week: This week’s word is impecunious, which means having little or no money, as in, “Grandma lived through a time when her family was impecunious, suffering through the Great Depression, which has made her value every dollar.” Impress your friends and confuse your enemies!

Funeral services for Marilyn Schroader, 73, of Hartland, will be held at 2 p.m. Monday, May 5, 2014 at Hartland Evangelical Lutheran Church. Rev. Shawn Stafford will officiate. Interment will be at Hartland Combined Cemetery South. Visitation will be from 3 to 5 p.m. Sunday, May 4, 2014 at Bayview/Freeborn Funeral Home and one hour prior to the service at the church.  Online condolences are welcome at www.bayviewfuneral.com 

Marilyn died Wednesday, April 30, 2014 at St. Mary’s Hospital in Rochester. 

Funeral services for Joan K. Baynes will be held at 11 a.m. Friday, May 9, 2014 at All Saints Catholic Church, New Richland.  Father Raul Silva will officiate.  Visitation will be held from 4-7 p.m. Thursday, May 8, 2014 at Friedrich Funeral Home, New Richland, and again one hour prior to the service at the church. Interment will be at Calvary Cemetery. Online condolences are welcome at www.bonnerupfuneralservice.com.

Joanie passed away on Tuesday, April 29, 2014 at Mayo Clinic Health System, Albert Lea.  She was 77 years old.

Funeral services for Helyn M. Langlie, age 94 of Ellendale, MN,  will be held on Wednesday, April 30, 2014 at 10:30 a.m. at First Lutheran Church, Ellendale. Pastor Richard Sliper will officiate. Burial will be at First Lutheran Cemetery. Visitation will be today from 4 to 7 p.m. at First Lutheran Church in Ellendale. Online condolences are welcome at www.bayviewfuneral.com.

Helyn died on Saturday, April 26, 2014 at Thorne-Crest Retirement Center.