Ramona: Clinton Hanschu comes home one last time
By JESSICA GILBERT
Ramona correspondent
(785) 965-2621
Ramona is blessed with several town "sentinels" — gentlemen who get in their pickups and drive around town in the early morning or near dusk, just to make sure everything is where it's supposed to be. Clinton Hanschu was one of those men — even when he was so ill he had to reside at Kenwood View Nursing Home in Salina so he could have full-time life-support dialysis.
Clinton's children brought him home to Ramona occasionally, for a day or a weekend, when his health allowed, and when he still was able to drive he'd get in his pickup and cruise Ramona's streets to check on the property he still owned in town. When he couldn't drive any longer, his wife, Frances often was seen being his chauffeur. It was a sad, yet comforting site, because seeing him slowly proceed down the street was like seeing a flicker of the past — when Clinton was vital and stronger and could tinker with his tractors, tend his cattle on the south end of town, or mend a fence on one of his properties.
Clinton came home one last time March 4. In the last month he'd been near death several times, and in the hospital on a couple of occasions, but miraculously he'd make a little progress and managed to hang on. But Clinton and his family seemed to know that his time of departure was imminent so despite his illness, they loaded him in the car and drove to Ramona.
"We had a lovely time together on the weekend," said Clinton's daughter, Sharyn Mueller of Olathe. "He sat in his favorite chair, and seemed pleased to be surrounded by his grandchildren, and he enjoyed the company of Treasure (the Hanschus' little dog, that he jokingly called 'his girlfriend'). We made some happy memories together one last time."
When Clinton returned to the nursing home he seemed to be at peace. He died March 7 at age 84. When I spoke with Frances and her daughter, Sharyn, the next day, they related the touching moments of Clinton's last hours.
"I was alone in the room with him," said Frances, "and he took my hand. You know he had some fingers missing and so it was hard for him to hang on, but he just grasped my hand so hard that it almost hurt. Then he pulled me toward him and he kissed me, and told me that he loved me."
Sharyn grabbed her digital camera and showed me pictures she'd taken in Clinton's final hours. One of the most touching was the close up of Clinton's hand (with those two fingers missing that he lost with a Skilsaw) holding onto his wife's hand — they were mates for more than 60 years.
Sharyn was with her father when he died right after midnight early Tuesday morning. "It was as though I could feel his spirit just lifting from his body. I sensed something was happening and I told him it was OK for him to go and that heaven was waiting and I told him that I loved him, and then he was gone. It was a very meaningful moment for me," she said with tears in her eyes.
Trinity Lutheran Church was brimming with friends and family March 10 as they came to say goodbye to Clinton, and to comfort the family. Clinton was baptized in this church in 1955 and was a member of the congregation until his death.
Clinton was part of Ramona's history. He graduated from Ramona High School in 1940 and was known to most folks as "Peanuts." Although he disappeared for a year or more and lived in California, he soon returned to Kansas to farm.
He and Frances made Ramona their home for all their married life. I met Clinton in 1990, when my sister and I first started returning here in the summer, and attempting to restore our little house on Main Street. By that time, Clinton wasn't farming any longer, and Frances was a fixture on Main Street as she presided over Hanschu's Market.
When we'd arrive each summer, our first stop, after seeing relatives, was to go to the grocery store and stock up on supplies. Clinton was often there, keeping his wife company or chatting with some of the good ol' boys who had stopped for a morning cup of coffee.
We always think of Clinton when we stand on the front porch of our little house. When Pat bought the house she summed it up as: "I think it's do-able — all it needs is a new roof, new foundation, plumbing, electrical, and shore up the front porch."
It was the porch project that brought Clinton into our lives. The north end of the porch was sagging precariously and as Pat and I stood with our "toy tools" evaluating the situation, Clinton Hanschu drove by, and decided to stop. "I don't mean to give you advice," began Clinton. And then he paused without proceeding to give the advice until we coaxed him on. "Well, you know, sometimes people don't want your advice." And then he grinned sheepishly, "And sometimes your advice isn't right."
When I told this story to Clinton's son, Randy, on the day of the funeral, Randy smiled and said, "Oh, yes. Dad always had advice on everything."
Many of Ramona's heritage families were part of the congregation the day of the funeral: the Fikes, Brunners, Eskeldsons, Sondergards, Deines, Stenzels, and of course, many representatives from various branches of the Hanschu family. I think of all these names as the foundation blocks upon which this town is grounded.
Two men connected to Ramona, Rick Hanschu and Greg Stenzel, were part of the entourage that escorted Clinton to his final resting place in Lewis Cemetery.
Tony Meyer also attended Clinton Hanschu's funeral. Tony is Ramona's oldest resident and turned 94 on March 3. I told Tony that Pat and I were taking him to dinner for his birthday, but what Tony didn't know was that several of his friends and relatives were going to meet us at Granny's Little Grill, (the new restaurant in Tampa, where Butch's Diner used to be).
Waiting for Tony's arrival were nephew Dennis Meyer and his mother Alma, niece Cyndy Bentz, longtime friend Edna Mueller (all from Tampa), Jim and Karen Socolofsky from Marion (Jim does Tony's home repair projects), and Kathy Werth and Don Matkins from Ramona.
When he sat down at the head of the table he was a bit overwhelmed. "I talked to several of you today," said Tony, "and none of you mentioned anything about this party." Pat, who's heard many of Tony's life stories, prompted him to tell some of the better ones, and we wagered on Tony's favorite sport (some said bowling, others basketball, but golf was the favorite) to his favorite food (lobster — from a man who still has cattle).
The day after Tony's birthday, Pat and I took him to Salina for a concert by the Salina Crossroads Barbershop Chorus. Our front row seats gave us a bird's eye view of the entire performance.
Maurice Stroda, another longtime resident, and part of Ramona's business community for many years, has been in and out of the hospital during the past five weeks. Maurice used to run Ramona's only gas station and repair shop. A month or more ago Maurice underwent amputation of his leg, and then because his heart was beating too slowly and his circulation not up to par, a pacemaker was installed. Maurice is now residing in Marion at Marion Manor while doing rehab.
According to Maurice's daughter, Jane Staatz, if all goes well there's a possibility Maurice will get a fitting for an artificial leg, so he can be more mobile.
"We took his dog over to see him today," said Maurice's son, Art Stroda. "He hadn't seen Pugly Junior, or PJ, in more than five weeks. He loved the visit!"
If you want to send encouragement to Maurice, you can write him at Marion Manor, 1500 E. Lawrence St., Marion 66861.
On March 2, Pat and I had a charming dinner at the Harvey House Museum in Florence. What made the evening so delightful was the fact that we didn't have to plan it! Our friend, Kay Navrat of Marion, cooked up the idea of inviting 20 friends to gather for dinner at the Harvey House.
Prior to dinner we all introduced ourselves and told something about our passions. What fun to hear 20 women talk about what makes them glad to be alive. Passionate pursuits ranged from antiques to rejuvenating old homes and as eclectic as, "I'm passionate about my pajamas!"
I've wanted to form a "Fascinating Women's Club" but never got around to it. So I was delighted when my friend, Kay, tried the idea and I got to be a guest!
The Harvey House is a slice of history that's most intriguing. As our server explained, "Most people think of McDonald's or Dairy Queen as the founders of the fast food industry, but in truth, Fred Harvey was the man who invented fast food."
Ramona's city maintenance man, Don Matkins, turned 50 March 15. Kathy Werth and Paula Morgan planned a surprise for Don. Kathy figured if Paula made Don's birthday cake and delivered it to Cardie Oil in Tampa (where Don works), Don would never suspect that a party was in the making. So Don's birthday celebration lasted all day long as friends, co-workers, and customers stopped to enjoy cake and ice cream in Don's honor.
And that's the news from Ramona where a traffic jam is two parked cars and a dog in the road.
