Relatives help Schubert celebrate birthday
By JESSICA GILBERT
Ramona correspondent
Someone who attended my father's memorial service this weekend commented to me that they didn't realize Dad had been so ill because I didn't say much about it in my weekly newspaper column.
I did that purposefully. We have a family creed to focus on all of life's good moments. I didn't want my column to be consumed with death and dying. And yet I realize that when you experience a death in the family, it does seem to consume your life for a while and everything else around you seems insignificant. The usual deadlines don't seem so important any more, the normal business is delayed, and my weekly columns were considerably shorter because I didn't have time to call everybody.
This is the first death in my immediate family — outside of grandparents, aunts, and uncles, who died when I was a child. I had never gone through this experience before and as "first-timers" Pat and I were determined to make the events surrounding our father's death a positive and life-enforcing event.
And indeed it was. There were moments and sensations that will be treasured memories all my life.
Like looking out into the audience gathered at the Rosebank church on Saturday and seeing one of dad's nurses — Marianne Prine of Ramona — in the audience. I had hoped Marianne could be there since she had been such a loving support to my parents during Dad's final days, but I thought she might have to work. I found out later that Marianne adjusted her schedule and went to work at 4:30 in the morning so she could attend Dad's service. We were very touched by her love.
Seeing the faces of our friends from Ramona, many of them never even got to meet Dad, but they were there to lovingly support us. Even our plumber and friend, Scott Stroda, who had worked on all our houses, including my parents', and also at Naomi's this past week, was in the audience. I figured he'd be crawling under somebody's house fixing a plumbing emergency, but he was there.
I was moved by the love and generosity of the ladies from Trinity Lutheran Church in Ramona — Treva Schneider, Marge Hanschu, Orvell Brunner, Yvonne Brunner, and Paula Fike — who gave up their Saturday morning to tend the meal we'd prepared for all our guests. I even saw Lauren Brunner in the kitchen helping stir the gravy while the ladies scurried to serve everybody.
The Rev. Jack Harris, who came from Oregon to preach at Dad's service, put his ministry into practical form as he stood in the Lutheran parish hall with Pat, me, and Tooltime Tim and peeled potatoes, set up tables, and put out the silverware. He ministered in more ways than one.
Pat and I have always said the Midwest is the place to die because folks here really show their love and support. We've been stunned at the cards and gifts. Sometimes Mom, Pat, and I each have received individual cards from the same person.
And the flowers — well, I never realized what solace they provide until Dad's death. Mom has flowers surrounding her at the house and they fill a void as she adjusts to Dad's absence.
Looking into the eyes of our cousins, aunts, and uncles as Pat and I stood on the platform to sing on Saturday, just upheld us. "It was a beautiful service," said our aunt Naomi. "I cried a lot, but it was beautiful."
After listening to the life sketch Pat wrote about Dad's life, I said to a cousin, "We should all go and sit a spell with Pat and talk about our lives so that when our time comes to depart the earth, she'll have all the important stuff in her computer and then she can write the final chapter, insert the date we died, and our lives will be captured in her beautiful words."
There were times we felt like a printing company as Pat created the announcement of Dad's death, then a unique program for the memorial service. And now folks are writing and asking for copies of his life sketch. While we were printing all of that in Salina last Thursday, we also were printing the Ramona News, the town newsletter we write. (The up-side of all this mailing is that the Ramona Post Office will show a surge in revenue during March.)
Pat's oldest daughter, Patrice, arrived in Ramona on Friday for her grandfather's funeral. The last time she was here was when she was four years old and it was the funeral of her great-grandpa Schubert. Patrice's husband, Greg, about to retire from the Navy, arrived in full uniform to escort our mother down the isle at Dad's memorial.
Following the service, we all gathered at the Lutheran parish hall for lunch. Mom had baked 15 loaves of bread, made several cashew nut loaves (while it was made for the vegetarians in the crowd, there were many meat eaters who were brave and tried it and liked it enough to ask Mom for her recipe) and she made cakes for dessert to go along with Marlene's yummy pies from the Ramona Café.
As I cleaned the parish hall after all the guests had left, I kept blessing all the families who have attended the Lutheran church in Ramona over the years, and their amazing generosity as they keep the parish hall in tip-top shape inside and out, and their benevolent spirit as they share it with everyone in this community. There is no rental fee that could adequately compensate them.
Later Saturday afternoon, we migrated from the parish hall to Naomi Fike's home to look at some old slides my dad had taken over the years. Naomi and my dad were siblings and all of Naomi's children attended the memorial service and luncheon with her.
We crowded on couches, sprawled on the carpet, and darkened the room as we went in search of our past. "Did you remember we had matching shirts?" said Joe to Steve, as we looked at ourselves as kiddies. "Oh, look at Virginia in that picture! It's obvious she didn't want to have her picture taken!" And we laughed and teased and made a bushel of more memories to add to our abundant stash.
On Sunday afternoon, we got Dad's cherished John Deere tractor out of the garage and both my niece Patrice and Greg took a spin around the streets of Ramona. Later in the evening, we taught them 10-point Pitch, which we call the official game of Ramona. Before Greg and Patrice left for home, they went to Hank and Gertie Schubert's to play with the "pros" and see how well they actually learned the game. Hank still prevailed as champion, but Greg wasn't far behind.
In all the frenzy of recent weeks there have been some folks come into town that I forgot to mention in my column. On the weekend of March 22, BJ Riddle, his wife Phyllis, and his mom Miriam Riddle cruised into Ramona. BJ stopped by our office at the bank to deliver some prized childhood toys, which he contributed for the next exhibit at the Dirt Gambler's Museum.
When he arrived he was wearing his John Deere cap and was carrying the little toy tractor he played with as an 11-year-old. "I bought these toys in Herington at the John Deere Dealership in 1964," said BJ. "I actually traded in my little Ford tractor for these and they gave me 1/2 price off on the tractor and baler."
These and other toys will be part of the next exhibit at the Dirt Gambler's Museum on Memorial weekend. "Our goal is to have different exhibits at the museum for the major holidays," said Pat Wick. "On Memorial weekend it will be 'Kids and Their Toys,' and for the 4th of July, we'll feature 'Weddings'."
Tony Meyer turned 91 in March and I was so occupied with caring for my dad that Tony's birthday came and went and we, his neighbors, didn't even celebrate. But I discovered on Sunday, when I was delivering the Ramona Newsletter, that many of Tony's friends didn't forget his important day.
"Do you know that when I went to church the whole congregation sang 'Happy Birthday' to me," said Tony with amazement in his voice.
The latest issue of the Ramona News hit the streets Sunday afternoon. Our whole family got into the act with Mom folding and stuffing, while some of us went out to make deliveries.
"This is like what your dad and I used to do in his early ministry — stuff and fold church bulletins and flyers for evangelistic meetings," said Mom.
When it came to delivery, Tool Time Tim drove his truck and our neighbor girl Emily Staatz jumped on the back of the truck with me as Tim slowly drove us up and down the streets. My niece's husband Greg even got into the act. "I might as well do something," he said as he hopped on the back of the truck with us.
This issue of the Ramona News was sponsored by Kathy Werth, Ramona's postmaster, and her fiance Nick Elmore, along with Ed Grill of Montana, who lived briefly in Ramona as a youngster and was born here.
When we arrived at Nick and Kathy's on Sunday there was a heap of boxes right outside the door, several cars in the driveway, and evidence of construction on the north side of their house.
Nick's and Kathy's families had gathered to help them begin the building process for Nick's mechanic shop, while Kathy was inside the house unloading boxes and still unpacking from their recent move.
"My family and Nick's family are going to be the ones who get this shop up and going," said Kathy. "It's an on-going process that we hope will be completed by June." Helping in this family affair were Nick's parents Jack and Gayle Elmore, Nick's brother John, his wife Denise, and their kids Sandra and Hope, all from Salina. Kathy's dad Jack Emig added his expertise to the work force. He lives in Solomon.
Adding to the excitement, Kathy's daughter Jennifer had a guest over to watch movies. Shaina Makovec also joined the family Friday night for a barbecue.
Nick's mechanic shop will be a fine addition to the Ramona community. He plans to offer service and repairs on vehicles of all types — cars, trucks, motorcycles, farm machinery — along with offering more common services like fixing flats — even for lawnmowers. Nick also does electrical and plumbing projects — he's an all-around handy guy to know.
There are two other couples who have recently made Ramona their new home — Bob and Rita Brady and Kim and Daniel Young and their son Nathan.
The Bradys recently moved from Peabody into the house once owned by Rosie Chartier, just south of the railroad tracks. "Once more I'm living on the wrong side of the tracks," joked Bob. The Bradys chose Ramona because it was a small town and a quiet place where they could honestly hear the birds sing!
Bob Brady just happens to be a childhood buddy of Reign Anduss (who owns the Ramona Café and recently bought a home in Ramona, too). "We were both raised by our grandparents, who happened to be neighbors," explained Bob. So the boys met in first grade and have been friends ever since.
The Youngs moved into the trailer house on 5th Street, formerly owned by Dan Martin. Daniel Young recently retired from the military and is looking for work in the area in the field of law enforcement. Kim Young works as a nurse in Hillsboro. Dan and his son Nathan are often seen walking down the street together, exploring Ramona, and playing in the park. "We love this little town," said Dan, "and figure it's a great place to raise a child."
Warren and Paula Fike spent their Sunday afternoon visiting Warren's aunt, Viola Wilson, who resides in the Lutheran Home in Herington. Viola is a sister to Warren's mom, and she'll be 99 April 7. "She holds the family record for longevity, as far as I know," said Paula. Both of Viola's children are no longer living, and her grandkids live far away, so Warren and Paula attempt to provide the family connection we all cherish.
Don and Norma Bird picked up their granddaughters, Jenny and Rachel, Sunday afternoon and went to Salina to visit Joe Chump in the Salina hospital. Joe is an uncle of Jenny and Rachel. After lunch, the foursome went to Red Lobster for dinner.
Norma, who wants her granddaughters to produce some great-grandkids, decided she'd supply a little inspiration. "I took the girls to Dillards and walked them past the baby department where they have all those beautiful spring clothes," laughed Norma. "I'll admit it — I want those girls to have babies!" But the girls were shielding themselves from temptation. Jenny even walked by those pretty outfits with her eyes closed.
The Sondergards are expecting another great-grandbaby in their family. "It's a little boy," said Darlene, "but he's not supposed to arrive for another seven weeks." This new little arrival was sparking some excitement this last weekend when he threatened to arrive early. "My granddaughter Jamey Dalke had to be rushed to the hospital by ambulance," said Darlene. "She's at the neo-natal unit in Wichita. She's doing fine and will stay there until the baby is born. They're trying to make sure the baby stays put."
This is Jamey and Matt's second child — the first was a little girl. As for names, they've been discussing it. Matt is a KU fan and Jamey is a K-State fan. "The daddy says the baby's going to be named Roy Williams, after the coach at KU," said Darlene, laughing, "but Mommy says 'no way'!"
Darlene spent a 13-hour day Tuesday helping voters celebrate their liberty to choose elected officials. Helping with this rather long ordeal were Carol Spohn of Tampa and Irene Beames of Ramona. "Oh it can be sorta fun," admits Darlene, "despite the long hours. You get to see folks you haven't seen in a while and visit a little."
And that's the news from Ramona where we cherish our freedom, and a traffic jam is two parked cars and a dog in the road.
Upcoming Ramona Events:
April 3: Spring Fling trip to Salina, sponsored by the Ramona Senior Center.
April 13: Game Night, 5 p.m., at the Ramona Senior Center. Bring snack foods.
May 1: "Copa Cabana" at Crown Uptown Theatre, Wichita, sponsored by the Ramona Senior Center.
May 10: May Tea Party, 2 p.m., at the Lutheran parish hall, Ramona. Hosted by The California Sisters. $10/person, paid in advance.
May 26: Memorial Day Celebration sponsored by the Ramona Improvement Committee.
