Life Since 1963:
Fall of 1963 I started work at the Clear Lake Shop N Save Grocery. Worked there two years.
Married Jack Follmuth of Mason City, September 12, 1965. Jack's draft notice came while we were on our honeymoon and Jack left for the army October 4, 1965. I was able to go to Fort Leonardwood, Missouri to see Jack over Thanksgiving. Jack was home after basic training over Christmas for 2 weeks. Jack also took his advanced training at Leonardwood. I went down to see him for a weekend in March, 1966. That was the last time we saw each other until Jack was discharge in September, 1967. With Jack having been sent to Germany we had only 45 days together the first two years of marriage.
While Jack was in the army I lived with my parents. March of 1966 their house burned down. Lost were all Jack and my wedding presents. Very little of anything was saved from the fire. My parents moved in a small trailer house on to their farm so I moved to a small house in Swaledale until Jack came home in September, 1967. I worked a couple of part time jobs during those two years. Before son John was born I did live with a sister in Iowa Falls. Jack and I thank God for family assistance those two years. Since 1968 we have lived in Mason City.
Jack and I had three sons. John in 1966, Ed in 1968 and Jeff in 1970.
I was a stay at home Mom until Jeff was 4 years old. I then went to work at the Odd Fellows nursing home as a cook. Worked there five years and then ran the South Federal Maid Rite for a year. Left there and went to work at the Mason City High School Cafeteria as cook. Two years later I was named manager of the cafeteria. Worked there for 26 years before retirement in 2005.
Jack also retired in 2005 with thirty seven years at Lehigh Cement.
Our three sons married and have given us eight grandchildren. Three grandsons and 5 granddaughters. We also have a great grandson, Austin.
Retirement has not been very kind to us. I have been diagnosed with Fibra Myalgia (polymyagia rhematica). This makes it very painful to get around. My heart went out of rhythm during our 40th wedding anniversary party in 2005. My heart went back into rhythm without medication and with no other apparent problems.
Hobbies and activities:
Being involved in the activities of our grandchildren and having them for "overnighters", watching great grandson (Austin), sewing, time out with friends, cooking for family and church functions and shopping and lunch out with daughters-in-law, friends, and granddaughters and grandsons. Until the gas price increases I loved day road trips. Been known to go to Minneapolis and Des Moines the same day.
Though slowed down by aches and pains I still force myself out as much as possible. Hate chilly weather, over air conditioned stores and restaurants. Cold really makes the joints ache. All "warm" areas of the country have too many tornados, hurricanes, floods, blizzards, earthquakes, etc. Why move when we have them here, too. I can always stay home and turn up the heat to counter the cold.
