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This message forum is an ongoing discussion about anything and just about everything ... within reason.  One thing our class was good at was having opinions.  Almost 70 years of life experience certainly qualifies us as experts on most everything!   Ask a question ... give an opinion ... share some insights ... it's our web site, it's our forum.  That said, it's probably not a good idea to get into arguments about politics, religion, and the like.  While we're experts on everything, we also have a wide range of values and beliefs. This site belongs to all of us ... the whole range ... and we are not here to isolate, alienate, or subjugate anybody.  Of course insults, humiliation, sophomoric barraggadocio, and demented humor is expected behavior among some of us less mature people.
 

William Nelson

Another of your friends, Ken Rabas, lived about 3-houses to the north of us. My favorite memory of that time and his family was on the night my dad brought home our little 17' Airstream travel trailer. The Rabas family came over to see it and all eight of us spent hours in it that night talking about all sorts of stuff. It was obviously cramped, but we all enjoyed that evening together. His dad, his older brother, and I all worked for Globe-Union/Centralab, but in different locations for a few years. We try to visit Ken's family whenever we're up that way. 

William Nelson

Gary,

I've never been in the Smith Park wading pool and deny any such actions. We did our wading in Lake Poygan, which is big enough that you'd never notice!

Jim Cejka

What's in a name? that which we call a rose
By any other name would smell as sweet...
~William Shakespeare, Romeo and Juliet, c.1594  [II, 2, Juliet]

And Garry - I plead not guilty. When you're in water that's barely knee deep, such activity would be too obvious.

And Garry - Alex and I made a deal years ago that I'd give up golf so people wouldn't confuse us.

Barbara Blair (Brenzel)

You guys are "too much"!!  Please keep it up!

Barb

Jim Cejka

Garry,

I can offer further proof of my Innocence. Looking at a Google map aerial view of Smith Park, that pool is apparently still there. Should you wish to go and do a DNA sample, I'm sure I'll be absolved. 

(Although reading the Milwaukee news lately, I wouldn't go there with less than a squad of Marines.) 

Lauren Dieterich

I remember reading that the Smith Park pool was going to be replaced with a real swimming pool. That was at least 10 years ago. The last time that I was in Smith Park, the swimming pool turned into a splash pad without running water. The old pool was almost completely filled with concrete, that slpoes from the original edge to about 6 inches in the middle. There was water in it; but, it might have been from rain. If you stood in the very center of the pool, you'd get, maybe your ankles wet. Right now, I'd be surprised if there is anything left of the playground.

Garry Sellers

Jim - In case you didn't follow along, Alex Cejka did win the British Senior Open played in Wales in a playoff in rain and 40 mph gale force winds.  While the other contestants were wearing parkas, stocking caps, and hiding from the wind behind their caddies, Alex was wearing a short-sleeve shirt!  Just goes to show you, Cejkas are comfortable with bluster and generating their own hot air!  The German beat poor Irishman Paddington Harrington, who, if I'm not mistaken, is a bear!  Paddington could have won if he hadn't spent time looking for a den in which to hibernate.

Jim Cejka

Jim Cejka

Alex always checks with me for some pointers when things get a little rough.

Garry Sellers

Jeanne Zinser (Gottschalk)

Garry,

Water Tower & St. Mary's Hospital 

https://viewaukee.com/north-point-water-tower/

Garry Sellers

Yeah - That's right Jeanne. I knew most people would know what it is but I think what engineering function it actually served is fascinating and why the external structure.  Also, has anybody you know ever been inside or to the top of it?  I never knew any of it until I happened across a similar article.  And the original St Mary's moved.  (Why do old photos like this look so stark?  Hadn't trees been invented in the 1800's?)

Jim Cejka

I think St. Mary's kind of outgrew that building.

Jim Cejka

So, how many of us celebrated, or how many missed, World Lazy Day, August 10?

(I can claim some history with that - I believe it came about in response to my studying habits during final exams.)

Jim Cejka

Garry,

Caring is easy - doing something about any of those, or the zillion other special days (except Grandparents Day), . . . I pass..

Jim Cejka

Suggested attire for the next Custer gathering? 

Jim Cejka

My current hairstyle allows the wind to pass through without obstruction. 

Jean Vick (Lovy)

Hi....I am Jean Lovy Vick.  I would like to come to the social on September 30th with my husband.  Does anyone need to know this ahead of the date or can we just show up.  Thank you.

Jeanne Zinser (Gottschalk)

Hey, Jean!

I can help out with the RSVP. Send an email to custer_alumni@charter.net
Add your name & guest names that are attending. Hope to see you on the 30th!

Garry Sellers

Jim Cejka

Oh Boy. Do I feel old. . . .

I was doing a crossword puzzle today and a series of the clues referred to the host and panel members of "I've Got A Secret" - and I remembered them all! 

And, the host also had a surplus of "r"s in his name. 

John Gilbert

Gary - I did see the article on Mr. Kranz. I'm not sure if I had him as a teacher or not. The only person I remember from Browning is Mr. Werschnick (not sure if i spelled his name correctly). He was the principle at Browning. 

I can only remember one other teacher, and it very well could have been Mr. Kranz. Didn't Kranz also teach physical education? The phy'ed teacher we had was built well, flat top hair cut and I could see this guy playing foorball.

Was not able to attend this weekends swarey at the Machine Shed. I'm sure there will be some great photos and interesting comments.

Later:

JG

Garry Sellers

John -  That would describe Mr. Kranz but it also could be Mr Fricke, who, as I remember, had a flattop but was shorter and not as muscular.  The two of them seemed to be buddies.  For a full course recounting of teachers in which classroom, contact Pat McCarthy.  She rattled off every teacher in which room on the second floor to me.  And speaking to Pat a week ago, her husband, General Russ McCarthy, is now 93 and going through a very tough patch.  She could use your kind thoughts and prayers right about now.

John Ruhland

Speaking of athletic type teachers we can't forget Mr. Bill Bagemihl (not sure of the spelling)

Jim Cejka

How appropriate - 

Some (a lot?) of us went on to colleges and got degrees because that's what our parents wanted us to do. They didn't have the chance and we made them proud. But what about those degrees? If you knew you wanted to be a teacher, pharmacist, or engineer, yeah, but what about the degree for degree's sake?

After the service I got my degree. Took whatever sounded interesting and fitted into my schedule for a couple of years, then the GI Bill looked to run out so I looked through the catalogue and figured a B.S. in zoology was the degree I was closest to, so that's what I got. Like the cartoon, what do you do with a degree in zoology, certainly none of the jobs I've had. But then, kids and grandkids. That degree that would never be used now makes me a great grandpa to go to the zoo with. I can even proudly tell them "That's not a gopher, that's Ictidomys tridecemlineatus.

A belated, but finally good feeling.