NAME: Janice L. Winterstein Oden (Jan)
ADDRESS: 528 N 6th
Sterling, KS 67579
PHONE #: 620-278-2668
Cell # 620-204-0278
MARITAL STATUS: Widowed
HIGHLIGHTS OF YOUR LIFE: Left Clear Lake at the beginning of my Freshmen year and moved to Kansas. Graduated from Liberal High School in 1956 and from Emporia State University in 1959 with a BS in Business Education. Married Bud the day after graduation. I have a picture in my album of Bob Mead at the wedding in Liberal, KS. How's that for coincidence? We hadn't seen each other for years.
After college I worked for KS Power and Light in Topeka, KS for 2 years. Bud was an itinerate driver's ed teacher and doing all the electrical work so he decided to go back to school to get his electrical engineering degree. I picked up an elementary certificate and taught 2nd grade in Manhattan, KS for 3 years and 1st grade in Lyons, KS 1 year.
Bud's father had some health problems so he came back to Sterling to work on the family farm. I stayed in Manhattan a year to complete my teaching contract and then moved to Sterling. In 1965 we had our 1st son, Art. He is now married and living in Las Vegas working as an occupational therapist with his wife Aileen and daughter Paige. They are expecting another one in April of 2007.
In 1966 we moved to the farm permanently. This city girl learned to drive tractors, combines, 13 speed trucks, 3-wheeler, 4- wheelers, motorcycles, and anything else that would move. I became the chief shot-giver to all the cattle. When Bud got sick with cancer I couldn't give him a shot though. We raised wheat, corn, soybeans, milo, alfalfa, sunflowers, steers, heifers, and now have a cow/calf herd. During the early years I earned my pilots license. While learning the instructor and I would land in the alfalfa field across from the farm and then my husband would have his lesson. This way we could get some work done and not make the 10 mile trip to the airport.
My third son (Jon) and I are raising buffalo for sale. We have several places in Wichita we take meat to about every two weeks. He also has had several buffalo hunts. There is a web site if you are interested. http://www.bluestembuffalo.com
Jon and his wife Heather have four children JJ, Jacob, Cody and Caitlin. My second son Todd is also a farmer near Sterling and his wife is a para-educator with autistic kids. They have three children Guy, Jill, Brett. I finally got a girl (Sue) but she preferred to drive the combine to working in the house and she hated shopping. She got her comeuppance when she had a daughter. Alexis likes to shop, change her clothes several times a day and is really not into sports which Sue was. Sue's husband (Dave) is an electrician in Salina, KS. They also have a son, Daniel who is all boy. Sue is a 7th and 8th grade science teacher in Salina.
After 17 years of raising a family I went back to teaching in 1985. I taught 2nd, 3rd, 4th and was a para-educator for the next 4 years. Following that they talked me into being the special ed teacher in the high school. This meant getting another certificate. When I stared there I had 8 students in grades 9-12. The year I left, in 2002, I had 22 students and 4 paras working for me.
In 1992 Bud was diagnosed with cancer of the bone. He had his right leg amputated above the knee at that time. It didn't slow him down any, he still climbed 30 ft. bins and drove the tractor and semi. He passed away in 1998. This was about the time Jerry started contacting everyone he'd gone to school with. You '56ers have been great to let me come back and join in all the Rumbles and reunions. I've had a great time.
For those of you that remember my parents, my dad passed away in 1991 and Mom in 1998. '98 was a busy year. Sue got married in July, Bud passed away in August, ten days later I had a new grandson, in October I had another grandson and Mom passed away in November.
RETIREMENT FUN: Since retiring I've been traveling as much as possible and when I can talk someone into going with me. I've been to Ft. Lauderdale, Williamsburg, Eastern Caribbean, Western Caribbean, Puerto Vallarta, Mexico, Branson, MO, Hawaii, and as many of the Rumbles and reunions that I can make. I still have a couple of trips I'd definitely like to make before slowing down( Alaska, Australia and New Zealand) I'm game for any destination.
MEMORIES FROM YOUR SCHOOL DAYS: I remember going to the beach almost everyday during the summer. I never really thought of Clear Lake as a resort town until I started coming back to the reunions. Some of the good memories are the slumber parties. The Fourth of July is a great memory of marching with the high school band and being a twirler. I also thought I was hot stuff when I got to play with the community band in the park before being in high school. I really enjoyed the summer I came back after leaving and staying with Rosemary. We coerced her mother into making us strapless dresses so we'd look elegant to go the Surf. Everyone was so nice and helpful when I got polio. It was really hard for me to leave and I'm sure I didn't make it very pleasant for my parents.
TYPE OF MUSIC AND ACTIVITIES YOU NOW ENJOY: I love to dance but the polio is slowing me down. ( It couldn't be old age) Traveling is a great pasttime. Right now I'm back to going to all kinds of sports activities involving my grandkids. With 7 of them living in the same town and 2 just an hour away I make it to most of their activities. I like most music except hard rock. I suppose my favorite now is elevator music.
Favorite song from the 50s. Mr Sandman
