The Front Page

Off the Edge of the World?

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Written by Keith Friday, 14 May 2010 19:34

Readers of The Lime Springs Page could easily wonder if I have fallen off the edge of the world.

I have not. But I have been busy.

For one thing, I have pretty much completed adding a page to limesprings.com which will be used to reserve and schedule use of the Community Center. Only a very small number of people will be permitted to actually make reservations, but everyone will be able to view the calendar.

This should be a very useful tool for the "folks back home."

I'm also working on a similar page for use in scheduling the Council Chambers, the conference room adjacent to the City Clerk's office. I need a good picture of the room and a bit more work before it is ready for public use.

We've been working on a personal project for the last couple of weeks which has taken quite a bit of time and all of my mental energy, leaving little for such things as The Lime Springs Page.

Right now, we are taking a couple of days off. Currently, we are enjoying Harlene's hospitality in Mankato. It's nice to kick back and not have to "do anything" for a couple of days. But I did fix her screen door! And we enjoyed her grandson Zander, just recently two, who entertained us well.

You've probably heard that very young children can learn sign language. His mother taught him some, and it really does work! It is amazing what he knows. But we think kids "don't know anything" simply because they can't communicate with us. But, interestingly, they can communicate with sign language!

I also visited the Mankato Airport today. They are discussing an interesting flight training program with the Chinese. If it comes to pass (nothing happens very quickly when dealing with China), many (hundreds?) Chinese would learn to fly here in Mankato. I spoke with the HR manager and expressed interest in participating in some manner. I believe that my three dozen trips to China, experience working with the Chinese engineers at airplane factories, my activity as an active flight instructor, and my understanding of he basics of the Chinese language could be a great asset to the program.

We'll see.

Tomorrow, we'll go to Owatonna to help celebrate Molly's second birthday. We're eager to see what new words she's learned since we saw her at Easter. Surely she should be able to say, "Grandpa!" now, wouldn't you think?

After the party, we'll return to Cedar Rapids, use Sunday to become refreshed, then tackle the new week with renewed vigor on Monday.

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David's Funeral

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Written by Donna Thursday, 29 April 2010 08:33


Thanks to Donna Ihns, The Lime Springs Page is able to share details of David Atzen's funeral on Tuesday. She wrote:

Again, before the colors fade.

I drove early yesterday morning to Waterloo, taking Dave's Aunt Phoebe Klomp.  We got there early and sat in the parking lot of Ascension Church with the sun shining brightly and surrounded by blooming lilacs and a green park.  We watched as Dave was carried into the church accompanied by many beautiful flowers, which he loved so much.  The casket was wood.

I understand that Keith Williams was at the visitation on Monday evening and that it was a huge crowd, testimony to the many friends Dave had made it his life.  The obit is online, with picture, if you check Waterloo courier.

People I could see on Tuesday that you would recognize (and there might have been others I couldn't see as the church was full) were LaVerne & Carol Greenfield, Dave & Ruthie Fritcher, Keith & Ellen Klomp; Nancy asked me to sit with the family so Verna Jean and I sat side by side and somehow managed to duet on the dear familiar hymns as we used to at St Paul's: I Know That My Redeemer Lives, God Be With You Till We Meet Again, and My Faith Looks Up To Thee.  The church is a new one, very modern in style indoors.

All four of Dave's daughters were there and I believe all of the children & grandchildren: 12 of the former and 18 of the latter; it tugged at the heartstrings to see so many boys with that particular carriage of the head & neck that so looked like Dave.  I got to talk with Denise, Zoa & Tasha; somehow missed talking to Kathy.

Verna is just as beautiful as ever.  I was chatting with Denise when the Greenfields came in; I said, "Oh, there's Dave's high school coach!" and she said, "You're kidding!"; I suppose we all seem as old as we are.  Which is a slander for LaVerne, who certainly looks at least as young as any of us.

The minister appeared to have enjoyed knowing Dave; he mentioned his love of debate.  I would have liked to ask him how he felt about Truman/MacArthur.

Following the service a luncheon was served in the basement but I had to hurry back to LS as the Pleasant Hill Cemetery annual meeting was at 2:00.

Dave's grave is in the section farthest east, fairly close to the road. The family was leaving at 1:00 to make the drive to LS for the burial, which I had to miss, but those who met at Jim & Judy Miller's house afterwards for a Class of '57 reunion to celebrate having Verna Jean & Jim with us, were Jan & Bill Prochaska, Wailana Barker, Karen & Wendell Westphal, and, joining us, Dick & Janice Miller.  As always, when 57s get together it is a joyous occasion.  Hugs, jokes coming thick & fast, and over it all the haunting feeling of the loss of Dave and the realization that we must "Cling very close to each other tonight."

Dave had had so many health problems these last years and he had faced them bravely; I think he was ready to move on, but I'm not sure we were ready to say farewell.

We will miss that smile.

 

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Nancy Comments on Controversial Arizona Law

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Written by Keith Sunday, 25 April 2010 14:49

A new article by Nancy addresses the just-enacted Arizona law which makes it illegal to be in Arizona if you are and illegal alien.

Surely we will here more about this law but I'm glad that we have something about it right here on The Lime Springs Page within hours of its becoming law.

Pop right on over to Nancy's Notes and read it!

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Obituary: David Atzen

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Written by Keith Saturday, 24 April 2010 13:52

As noted earlier, David Atzen passed away yesterday (April 23) in Waterloo. Here's his obituary: http://hosting-tributes-24472.tributes.com/show/David-Atzen-88357725

Our families have been friends "forever." Our mothers were life-long friends. That friendship started, I believe, when they both attended the country school located next to the Saetersdal Church.

They each began their families about the same time, with the Atzens having David about a month before I was born. That month must have made a big difference, because he was always taller than I was.

When my folks retired and moved to town in 1974 or thereabouts, they built a house almost across the street from the Atzen home. Margaret and my mother used to "look after each other." I remember that my mother was very sad when Margaret died because they had been friends for so many decades.

The last time we saw David was a few years ago. We were on the way to MN via Lime Springs and stopped at a convenience store in New Hampton. Dave had also stopped there, so we had a good visit. I do remember that he had a spiffy looking Ford pickup, King Ranch version! The obituary doesn't mention it, but Dave's career was that of a truck driver.

 

 

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A Ghost from the Past

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Written by Keith Friday, 23 April 2010 20:38

Photo of door to Dr. Buresh's office

 

I don't need to tell Lime Springers where this picture was taken!

I parked my car not far from this door. The name on the door jumped out at me like a ghost from the past.

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