News from Ramona
By JESSICA GILBERT
Ramona correspondent
When Henry Schubert's sons, Gary and Keith of Colorado, suggested creating a party in honor of their dad's 90th birthday, Hank wasn't so sure he could survive all the hoopla. "And besides, that's an awful lot of work," said Hank, trying to minimize everybody's stress.
But Keith and Gary lobbied and persevered. While Keith's wife, Vicki, created the invitations, Gary's wife, Carol, planned the menu and we booked the parish hall and ordered birthday cakes.
"This was the best birthday party of my life," proclaimed Henry Schubert at the end of the afternoon Sunday as his birthday event drew to a close.
Around noon on Sunday cars started arriving at the Lutheran parish hall. As traffic in town picked up, one of the kids in town rode by on his bike and wanted to know the occasion. When I said, "It's my uncle Hank's birthday party," the young lad asked, "Can I come too? I know Hank!"
I smiled and replied, "Honey, if everybody who knew Hank came to this party, the entire town of Ramona and the surrounding area would be coming for lunch. The parish hall couldn't hold them all!"
Heinrich Hans Herman Schubert has lived his entire life within a four-mile radius. He was born on March 22, 1914, and lived just west of Ramona on the Schubert farm until he and his wife, Gertrude, moved into Ramona in 1954, and took up residency on C Street. Because of his longevity in this community, Hank is the resident historian.
Hank's granddaughter, Kristina, who was the only grandchild who could attend his party, decorated the parish hall with balloons and historical tidbits about 1914. His son, Keith, created a large collage of photographs, which was the focal point of the party, sparking lots of stories and memories for Hank's guests.
After a yummy Sunday dinner prepared entirely by his children, under Carol's direction, the guests were invited to tell stories about Hank.
Now Hank was no angel when he was a kid. Most of the stories revolved around pranks he pulled — from throwing matches down into the outhouse hole and nearly burning it down, to telling his sisters that if they put their tongue on a freezing cold pipe in the winter time they'd "hear the angels sing."
Hank's sister, Martha Ehrhardt, recalled at Easter how she and her sister Frieda, would carefully make nests in the lilac bush in front of their farm house, expecting the Easter bunny to leave eggs in those nests.
What disappointment when little Martha and Frieda ran to their nests on Easter morning. When their tiny hands reached to grab the colored eggs they found rotten ones in the nests instead. Hank had been as busy as the Easter bunny!
There were so many mischievous stories that Orvell Brunner felt compelled to tip the scale. "When I was about four years old I was invited to spend a half-day at the Fairfield country school," said Orvell. "I had to walk from my home to the school and I got about one-quarter mile from Fairfield when there in front of me, lying on the road, was a snake! It was dead, but I was still petrified."
The kids from Fairfield were watching Orvell approach the school and knew something was wrong. "Hank walked down the road and took my hand and walked me the rest of the way so I wouldn't be afraid."
Three pastors attended the party: Rev Gene Hicks (Gertie's cousin) from Herington, Rev. Alex Pridgin, pastor at St. Paul's in Herington, and Rev. Robert Graf from Sedalia, Mo., who was pastor at St. Paul's east of Ramona for 26 years, and confirmed the Schuberts' two sons.
"It was a wonderful party," said Naomi Fike, who attended with her son Steve and his wife, Maureen of Walton. "I got to see lots of folks I haven't seen in a long time — like Dorothy (Schubert Riffel) and her girls." Al and Darlene Sondergard, other life-long Ramona residents, joined Hank's celebration, too.
A highlight of Hank's party was when his daughter-in-law, Vicki, read a poem she composed especially for Hank's 90th birthday. The verses highlighted benchmark moments in Hank's life: getting married, having two sons and receiving "daughters" when his sons said "I do," grandchildren, and now the impending arrival of a brand new generation.
The closing line of the poem was most touching: "So now look back at where you've been, at all you've said and done. Look into the faces of those you love and hear God's words, 'Well done!'"
In April, Hank will assume a brand new role in life — being a great-grandparent! Hank's oldest grandchild, Kimberly, and her husband, Adam Glueckert, of Colorado, will be having their first child in about three weeks.
Hank was blessed to have three of his sisters at his party — Anna Schimming of Herington, Martha Ehrhardt of Ramona, and Frieda Struebing of Wichita. These four siblings are the remaining children of A.G. and Auguste Schubert.
Representing Hank's youngest brother Art, was Art's wife, Anne from Hutchinson. Representing his older sister, Clara, was Clara's daughter, Georgia, from Lawrence.
By the end of Hank's birthday party he was wearing a sporty new black fedora hat, presented to him by his niece, Becky Peoples of Haysville. The reason for this particular gift is that the theme for this year's Schubert reunion in June is Italian, and since Hank is the reigning male in our family, he's been appointed the "Godfather."
Aunt Gertie swears he'll be the "good kind" of godfather — law-abiding and saintly.
There was another 90th birthday this last weekend — George Meyer celebrated Saturday in Tampa. The "Birthday Boys" — Hank and George — not only both turned 90, they were both born in March and were baptized on the same day at the North Tampa Lutheran Church.
I arrived at George Meyer's birthday party at the same time as George's older brother, Tony Meyer, who recently turned 92. "I want you to take a picture of the tallest people at this party," commanded Tony as we walked in.
It wasn't hard to pick them out of the crowd. Tony, George, and Madeline Gabriel, George's oldest daughter, stood like giant redwoods among a forest of scrub oak. "Madeline's taller than I am," pronounced Tony, who's 6'5". "She's even taller than her dad!"
"What does this feel like to be the center of so much attention?" I asked George. "I feel like I should burst out singing 'Rhinestone Cowboy,'" he said with a twinkle in his eye. "I've gotten so many cards — I'm still trying to figure who sent some of them!"
And then one of the youngest guests came up to George to sit on his knee and get a hug. "This is Noah — he's the only person here who's older than I am," joked George.
It took me a moment to catch onto the joke — it was obvious that this five-year-old wasn't a peer of George's — and then I got it
As I watched George mingle with the throng of guests, I surmised that what keeps him 90 years young is his sense of humor and a heart full of love.
Fred and Marguerite Utech and Erich Utech, all of Ramona, were some of the party guests. "We lived right across the road from the Meyer farm," said Fred. The Utechs had 11 children and the Meyers had 12 — no shortage of playmates.
"George grew up straight west of us, and Warren and I have known George all our lives. We also share a pasture fence," laughed Paula Fike.
Paula and Warren were heading to another birthday event right after George's party. "Our great-granddaughter is turning eight," said Paula. Sesely Omli, daughter of Susie and Tom, was surrounded by grandparents for her big birthday supper.
The Fikes ended up attending a trio of birthday parties over the weekend. "Hank's party on Sunday was the third one of the weekend," said Paula.
Fred and Marguerite Utech have been celebrating a birthday — another great-grandchild! It's another little girl for their granddaughter, Jolene, and her husband, Neil Albrecht of Salina.
Morgan Sue Albrecht was born on March 14. "We were all at the hospital, along with Junior and Jeanetta, when she was born," said Fred. "We haven't gotten to baby-sit yet, but we did go up and see her Sunday evening. Jan and her sons, Jorge and Jake from Hillsboro, went with us."
Ramona's population just soared this month when another new family moved into town. The Thompsons, who moved to Kansas from California last summer, have been talking to their Oregon relatives and they decided to move to Kansas, too.
"Know any houses for sale or rent?" queried Jim Thompson. "We can't have 16 people living in this house!" Jim and Terri's family has been living in two or three rooms of the old Beisel home on B Street as they do major remodeling. There wasn't room for more.
So Terri's brother, Ron Nelson and his wife, Staci, along with their children, Angelina 17, Brendon 9, and Aaron 2, are going to rent Bert Schneider's home on C Street. Holly Lawless bought that house from Bert's family last year, and thought she'd live here in Ramona, but now she's decided to rent the house instead.
Ron Nelson is a trucker and is continuing his work in Oregon until August. His wife and family are already here in Ramona establishing new roots.
Meanwhile, the Thompsons decided to buy a second home in Ramona owned by Reign and Marlene Anduss — the house on the east corner of 4th and D. "We just needed more room while we're remodeling the house on B," said Jim. "And when we finish and move in, I'll use the house on D Street as my place of business." Jim plans to open a computer shop in Ramona where he'll build, upgrade, and repair computers.
Tracy and Yvonne Brunner spent Feb. 26 to March 14 on an agricultural trip to South America. They joined 15 other travelers from the U.S. and toured Brazil, Argentina, and Uruguay.
I asked Tracy to give his impressions of each country and here's what he said:
Uruguay is about twice the size of Kansas and has five million people and 10 million cattle.
Brazil has very friendly people and the country is forward looking.
Argentina, a culture that's highly influenced by the French, is very bound by tradition, formality, and a strong caste system, which holds them back and causes a lot of economic problems.
The women of South America intrigued Yvonne. "The women dress the same whether they're 16 or 86," said Yvonne. "There's a sophistication about the older women that's especially intriguing. They really take good care of themselves."
Tracy says he is planning a "picture show" at the parish hall in the near future, showcasing the best of nearly 500 pictures and seven hours of video.
And that's the news from Ramona where it's comforting to return from a trip and find that a traffic jam is still two parked cars and a dog in the road.
