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Jeanne,

I grew up hearing about Lake Amy Belle quite often, because my maternal grandfather and some other relatives owned several properties there. Mom seemed to love the place while she was in her teens, but for some reason, we never visited there while she was alive. We made contact with some of her cousins and wound up driving out there a few years ago when we were on our annual Wisconsin visit (as we are now). There isn't much public access to the lake, but I saw a group on a pier and asked them if we could take pictures from their pier. Naturally, they were curious about my motives and I explained that my mom's family had ties there. When I told them the family name was Kufaul, they told us we needed to visit Mrs. Betty Kindem, because she was a local historian and lived in my great-grandfather's home! She was one of the most gracious ladies we've ever met and gave me links to some cousins I didn't know I had! She and her late husband, a retired minister, had added a kitchen that blended well with the rest of the home. It was a small, cozy home and we enjoyed seeing some early pictures of it. The Richfield Historical Society had published a book about the lake and Betty and her husband were instrumental in doing the research. We bought a copy of the book and really enjoyed the chapter about the Kufahl era. Betty also took us to meet the family who bought my grandfather’s home. It was severely damaged in a wind storm, so they tore it down and built a new year-round home on the site. They had a picture of the original house hanging near the fireplace and he showed us the view from the front porch, which is positioned like the original had been.

Eventually, Betty had to move closer to her sons in Washington State. She sold the home to a lady who wanted to preserve it. A few months later, the buyer changed her mind and decided she'd tear it down. The Richfield Historical Society finally convinced her to let them take it and remove it from the property. They’ve moved it to their park not far from Holy Hill. The last time we visited the park, the house was still on a corner of the lot and boarded up. They were already restoring a water-driven mill and didn’t have the funds or time to start on the house restoration. We won’t have time this trip to visit that area, but our daughter and granddaughter have both made visits there in the past couple of weeks.

The trees in the area have been turning beautifully. We entered Wisconsin in Hudson, the home of Mary’s brother. We drove across the state from there, through Wautoma, and down to Waukesha on Sunday. It’s been cool and windy, with a couple of fairly heavy rain events. First hard freeze is due tonight. Our granddaughter will be married on Saturday and the weather will be lousy in their honor. It was in the 80’s at home today and the 50’s here. Heading home on Monday. The Souther, the better!

10/15/20 09:02 PM

#2950

Bill,

What an extraordinary and interesting story. Thank you so much for sharing it!
I spent 32 years of my life teaching elementary music in the Germantown Public Schools, retiring in 1999. One of the schools that was always part of my schedule was Amy Belle Elementary, so I'm quite familiar with the area. The pictures that I posted were taken by a friend who, with his wife, built their own log cabin at the lake. Both he and his wife were also employees of the school district, and they both are now retired.

My friends' log "cabin"

10/18/20 01:53 PM

#2951

I won't have an opportunity to get out to Holy Hill before the color is blown away, but fortunately a dear friend shared this photo that she recently took.

10/21/20 11:18 AM

#2952

Jeanie - That is just awesome!!! Yup, that's what I miss. It reminds me that Roger Sthrelow once took me out rabbit hunting on a day that looked just like this. It was the first time I ever fired a shotgun. With my first shot I got a terrified little bunny. That's the last time I fired a shotgun! But I'll never forget that beaufitful autumn day. Nor will I forget that smell in our neighborhood of burning leaves after raking them into huge pills and diving into them! And having to re-rake them again!

10/21/20 11:41 AM

#2953

For those of you who may be feeling like me ... tired, depressed, frustrated ... with this isolation and constant bombardment of bad news, here's some reason to not feel so alone.

Since the inception of this website in May of 2012, we've had a total of close to 140,000 "hits"! That's people looking at the website, whether for a reason or accidentally. These are people just peeking in to see what's going on. That's 45 people visiting the website daily!

And we're averaging 8 to 10 SIGN-INS per day. That's people who with malice aforethought, went to the trouble of putting in their name and password. They all have to be classmates to be able to sign in. And you'd be surprised at the names of these sign-ins ... people I'll bet you haven't thought of in decades.

None of these statistics include the activity on FaceBook. I have no information about the number of "hits" or "likes" from there since not joining is one of my protests about social media! I belong to none of them.

So friends, we're here. And we must care otherwise we wouldn't be coming back. You're not as alone as you may sometimes feel.

10/22/20 04:28 AM

#2954

(Editor's note: See "Recent Passings" for more information.)

I'm not sure how to post this, but don't see any provisions on the "Recent Passings" or the "In Memory" for posting there. I'll let Garry figure it out and post it properly.

I just received a note from my ex-wife about the passing of Jacqueline (Jackie) H. Naumann.

August 18, 1944 - August 19, 2020

From Sharon:

"She made her 76th birthday and the next day, she died.

She needed a new liver, but the doctor said she wouldn't make it through the operation. That was in August. She only was supposed to live into October sometime, but she only made a week-and-a-half."

Obituary: (nee Neist) Passed to Eternal Life Wednesday, August 19, 2020, age 76 years. Beloved wife of the late Ralph. Dear mother of Mark (Cindy) Naumann and Lynette J. Naumann. Loving grandmother of Taylor, Rebecca and Grace Naumann. Sister of Mary Ann Stahl. Sister-in-law of Richard (Ellen) Naumann. Also survived by nieces, nephews, other relatives and many friends. Visitation Tuesday, August 25, 2020 at Bevsek-Verbick Funeral Home – West Allis 4PM until time of Funeral Service at 6PM. Private interment Graceland Cemetery. Member of Wilson Senior Center and Unity Church adult activities. In lieu of flowers, memorials to the family appreciated.

https://www.bvfh.net/obituaries/Jacqueline-H-Naumann?obId=17997000

10/22/20 05:34 AM

#2955

Does anyone remember Jackie's sister, Mary Ann Stahl? We used to be close to Ralph and Jackie, but I don't remember her sister at all. My older brother's best friend was Roger Stahl and he used to hang out with us a lot, including weeks with us at our cottage. He was raised by his grandparents and I know he had at least one sister, but don't know of any kinship to Jackie. When I saw the name in the obit it made me wonder.

10/24/20 11:15 AM

#2956

One more photo from Amy Belle Lake in Hubertus.

10/25/20 02:01 PM

#2957

Jeanne,

Love the new photo! Won't be long and there will be ice in the picture. Just ran across the name of the family who invited us in to see the view my grandfather had from the back porch. Charles Wendelberger and family were extremely gracious and we enjoyed visiting them that time. Does the name ring any bells for you? I think that cousin of mine died in 2002 or 2003, so it would have been in that time frame. He said he'd retired, so he'd probably be in his 80's now.

10/25/20 03:08 PM

#2958

Bill,

No, that name is not familiar to me. But it wouldn't surprise me if some relatives with a different surname might have been students of mine. After all, 32 years brought a multitude of kids into my sphere. Of all the Germantown schools in which I taught, Amy Belle was my absolute favorite, it was in my schedule every one of those 32 years, and was the school which I walked out of for the last time in June, 1999.

10/25/20 07:54 PM

#2959

10/25/20 09:32 PM

#2960

Terri Levenhagen (Hoornstra)

10/26/20 12:51 PM

#2961

Lauren Dieterich

Jeanne, Your pictures bring back memories of the 5 years that I lived in Erin. I worked third shift during those years, in the far North side of Milwaukee. As long as it wasn't cloudy, the last half of my morning drive, in the Fall, from Hwy 41 to Hwy 83. Was always spectacular. I knew every back road along Holy Hill Road; so, I never went the same way 2 days in a row. I miss living in Erin; but, I don't miss the winters. I lived in Southern New Mexico for 6 years; and, this summer was my fourth summer in Bullhead City, AZ ( across the Colorado River from where Nevada comes to a point ) For about 30 days, this summer, we were hotter than Death Valley. Jim, your cartoon is interesting. I have COPD, still stage 1, The majority of my symptoms are the same as COVID 19. The biggest difference is that you don't have a fever with COPD. I've had 2 COVID 19 tests in the last 6 weeks and I am taking another test, today. The tests are free, with my insurance. As long as the tests are free, I will take one every couple of weeks. I get the results the second day after Fed-Exing the sample. The first 2 were negative.

10/26/20 01:26 PM

#2962

It's been awhile since I posted, but I've been enjoying reading everyone else's! Garry, I guess I've been one of those who likes to check in with the Custer site regularly. Jeanne and others, I love the beautiful Fall photos, and always get a chuckle out of the COVID jokes. Lauren, I wish you all the best in your effort to escape the virus. As to Fall here in LA, I have always enjoyed my walks - some of our trees are also deciduous and change color, and my neighborhood has creative people who put up Disneyland-quality Halloween decorations. But just as the air cleared from the fires, I sprained my ankle, so am still housebound. Oh, and now there's another fire southwest of us, and the air looks murky again. At least we are enjoying the refreshment of much cooler air! I was sorry to hear about Jackie Naumann - I enjoyed talking to her at both reunions.

10/26/20 02:23 PM

#2963

Terri Levenhagen (Hoornstra)

Oh sure Terri, I bet you "sprained" your ankle just so you could have that cute little guy bounce around on your lap more often. Awwwww, poor Grandma.

10/26/20 10:49 PM

#2964

Well, yes,- baby sitting has become baby SITTING! But missing fun things, like the pumpkin patch. And we have a cruiser and crawler now, so can't chase him down!

11/02/20 04:28 PM

#2965

Should anyone NOT want to watch election coverage - try ESPN2 if you can get it -

Pogopalooza 2020: The World Championship of Pogo

(Not this Pogo)

11/03/20 07:20 PM

#2966

Fair warning, I had cataract surgery in one eye yesterday and can already see 8930% better. The font size on the website may be getting smaller. So I'll watch test patterns as we used to do in the '50's if that's all that's available, but probably not election results. Who knew the world with bright colors and crisp objects was still out there? (How many of our grandkids know the thrill of reading the Sunday morning comics or the Green Sheet with Pogo in them anyway?) Not sure I want the other eye done as scheduled for next week. I am a little leary of mirrors now. There's a much older looking guy peering back at me! I may be in the wrong house.

11/03/20 08:48 PM

#2967

Nancy Davison (Boerger)

Garry, with my second cataract removed just days ago, I agree with your newfound delight about everything crisp and colorful. That's the good news. The bad news is that several tiny cobwebs have miraculously appeared in our house almost overnight. It has been an interesting experience. Amazing to learn that the history of treating cataracts goes back to 5 B.C. Pretty primitive, though.

11/04/20 11:47 AM

#2968

Lauren Dieterich

Garry and Nancy, It's interesting that you both mention cararact surgery. A year ago, my eye Doctor told me that I had cararacts; but, that they weren't ready. I see him next Friday. I wonder if Friday the 13th on a Friday means anything. ( Churchy La Femme ) I have noticed that my glasses are always dirty, now.

11/04/20 12:21 PM

#2969

John Gilbert

Gary, had my cataracts removed 2 years ago. When I went for my yearly eye exam, after the tests she said "based on the test results you shouldn't driving." I asked . . . where is it written by the DOT that based on certin tests results you shouldn't drive? Well, there are none. So had the cataracts removed and WOW, never realized there were other cars on the road. Best thing ever done.

11/04/20 03:47 PM

#2970

John, I drove to my son's place an hour outside of Yosemite 2 weeks ago. If it hadn't been for my wife reading the various signs I would still be driving around! And Nan, I see the cobwebs too but I dare not mention them to the old lady who apparently lives here. Don't know when she replaced my wife!

11/04/20 05:49 PM

#2971

Nancy Davison (Boerger)

Careful, Garry - she may replace YOU.

11/05/20 05:25 PM

#2972

11/10/20 07:50 PM

#2973