Correction leads to interesting biography

Someone anonymously corrected information at this blog about the Milwaukee Brewers/Braves and when I checked it out I came across a very detailed biography of Nelson Potter, Sr. with a number of quotes and anecdotes from our classmate Nelson "Tom" Potter. You'll enjoy reading this. If you grew up in MM, you remember all the Potters.

Minnie Burke, mother of Donna

When I was a little girl living on Hitt Street across from the Burke 66 station, I adored Mrs. Burke. Always smiling, always teasing, and always an encouraging word. A role model for all working women and business women.

MINNIE E. BURKE, 89 MOUNT MORRIS - Minnie E. Burke, 89, of Mount Morris died Tuesday, June 23, 2009, in Pinecrest Manor Nursing Home, Mount Morris. Born Oct. 28, 1919, in Mount Morris Township, daughter of John H. Diehl and Elizabeth (Rambough) Diehl. Graduate of Mount Morris High School, class of 1937. Married Vernon E. Burke on Aug. 20, 1938, in Clayton County, Iowa; he died Dec. 1, 1975. Along with her husband, she managed and operated Burke's 66 Service. After her husband's death, she worked as a returns clerk at Kable News Co. in Mount Morris. Life member of the Women of the Moose, Mount Morris Moose VFW Auxiliary and American Legion Auxiliary. Survivors include daughters, Donna (Richard) Satterfield of Fort Collins, Colo., Denise (William) Walsh of Durand; sons, Steve (Barb) Burke and Stan (Angie) Burke of Mount Morris; nine grandchildren; 27 great-grand-children; four great-great-grandchildren; sisters, Lois Mongan of Mount Morris, Rose Egland of California, Betty Martinson of Malta, Marcia Hill of Rochelle; sister-in-law, Ada Diehl of Mount Morris; and special friend, Phyllis Brown of Mount Morris. Predeceased by husband; brother, Don Diehl; and granddaughter, Sherri Lynne. Service at 11 a.m. Saturday, June 27, in Finch Funeral Home, 405 E. Hitt St., Mount Morris. Burial in Oakwood Cemetery in Mount Morris. Visitation from 6 to 8 p.m. Friday, June 26, in the funeral home. Memorials to Pinecrest Manor of Ogle County Hospice.

Our sympathy to the Coddington family

The step-mother of our classmate Bob, Elvira Marcella Coddington, 91, of Mount Morris died Thursday, June 4, 2009, in Rockford Memorial Hospital, Rockford. Born Sept. 17, 1917, in Benedict, N.D., the daughter of William and Martha (Umbach) Krebsbach. Graduated from Belvidere High School, Class of 1936. Married Bert Coddington on Aug. 28, 1948, in Belvidere; he died Feb. 6, 1995. Lived in Mount Morris since 1948, coming from Belvidere. She was employed as an accounting clerk in the accounts receivable department at McGregor Magazine Agency for 38 years, retiring in May 1987. Attended Trinity Lutheran Church. Member of Women of the Moose Chapter 485 and Mount Morris Senior Center. Survivors include stepson, Robert Coddington of Mount Morris; stepdaughters, Shirley Hackbarth of Jacksonville, Fla., and Donna (Tim) Sassaman of Hot Springs, Ark.; seven grandchildren; 10 great-grandchildren; three great-great-grandchildren; brother, Ardell Krebsbach of Belvidere. Predeceased also by parents; and brothers, Arvine, Arbay, Arley and Arzell Krebsbach. Service will be at 11 a.m. Wednesday, June 10, in Finch Funeral Home, 405 E. Hitt St., with Frank Lay officiating. Burial in Plainview Cemetery. Visitation from 7 to 9 p.m. Tuesday, June 9, in the funeral home, with Women of the Moose Service at 8:30 p.m. Memorials to Moose charities.

Frances Babler, mother of classmate

Frances Eliza Babler, 95, of Mount Morris died Sunday, Nov. 23, 2008, at home with her family around her. Born to George and Alice (Good) Lawver on Aug. 13, 1913, in Cadiz Township, Green County, Wis. On June 16, 1937, Frances married Myron Babler of Orangeville. Myron and Frances had four children together. The couple farmed east of Freeport until 1954, at which time they purchased the family farm in Mount Morris. Frances graduated from Monroe High School as valedictorian of her class and also graduated from Normal Teachers College in Monroe. Wis. She taught school at Cadiz and Enterprise schools in Browntown, Wis. for five years at which time she married. Frances was an instructor for Stephenson and Ogle County Home Bureau, was also a 4-H leader in both counties. Frances received Christ as her personal savior in 1952, and served Him through her community and church, The Evangelical Free Church of Mount Morris. Survivors include children, Mrs. Ronald (Mary Jane) Crowell of Peoria, Myron (Rosalie) Babler of Malakoff, Texas, Charles (Ruth) Babler of Mount Morris and Alice Babler; grandchildren, Pamela Crowell-Morely, TJ Crowell, Patrick Crowell, Desiree Babler-Lamb, Todd Babler, Terrence Babler, Sabrina Babler-Carver, Gary LaBorde, Bill LaBorde, Jared Babler, Benjamin Babler, Megan Babler; great-grand-children, Emma Morley, Addison Morely, Grace Crowell, Caroline Crowell, Jeremiah Crowell, Greyson Lamb, Houston Lamb, Georgia Lamb, Luke Babler, Alexa Babler, Breanne Carver, Luke Carver, Erin LaBorde, Connor LaBorde, Haley LaBorde, Brycellyn LaBorde and Jerram LaBorde; sisters, Nellie Berget, Mable Yeagle and Catherine Gissing. Predeceased by parents; husband; two sisters; five brothers; and precious grandson, Christopher Crowell. Service at 11 a.m. Wednesday, Nov. 26, in Evangelical Free Church of Mount Morris, 102 S. Seminary, Pastor Larry Jamison will be officiating with a luncheon immediately after. Burial at 2:30 p.m. in Chapel Hill Cemetery in Freeport. Visitation from 4 to 7 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 25, in Finch Funeral Home, 405 E. Hitt St., Mount Morris. Memorial has been established for the Village of Progress, Oregon.

From RRStar.com 11/25/08

Dorothy Yoder

DOROTHY M. YODER, 98 MOUNT MORRIS - Dorothy M. Yoder, 98, of Mount Morris died Monday, Oct. 20, 2008, in Pinecrest Manor Nursing Home. Born March 26, 1910, in Rockvale Township, Ogle County, daughter of Daniel R. and Helen M. (Stouffer) Samsel. Graduate of Mount Morris High School, Class of 1928, and also attended Mount Morris College and DeKalb Normal Teacher's College. Married the late A. Allen Yoder on Sept. 2, 1932. She was a homemaker and a lifelong resident of Mount Morris. Member of Disciples United Methodist Church, Mount Morris, and Ogle County Historical Society. Survivors include, son, Frederic A. (Louise) Yoder of Babbitt, Minn.; daughter, Sara A. (William) Davidson of Greenville; five grandchildren; and eight great-grandchildren. Predeceased also by parents; sisters, Bernice Hohnadel and Lois Noonkesser; and brothers, Ralph, Maurice, Emmert, Paul and Carl Samsel. Service at 1 p.m. Monday, Oct. 27, in Disciples United Methodist Church, Mount Morris, with visitation from noon to time of service; the Rev. Lora Zink, pastor, Disciples United Methodist Church will officiate. Burial in Plainview Cemetery in Mount Morris. Memorials to Ogle County Hospice, Disciples United Methodist Church or Mount Morris Public Library. Arrangements by Finch Funeral Home.

Zickuhr Reunion

Our classmate Dick and his sister Sylvia had a family reunion with their families.

Here's a photo of their dad and mom, Ralph and Ruth, at the dinner after our senior prom. As the article says, Ralph Zickuhr was the mayor of Mt. Morris from 1949 to 1961, and that he "felt it was important to develop a local celebration, not only for civic pride, but for the safety of staying in town and out of holiday traffic."

Where did you live in high school?

Home on Hannah Avenue
My parents owned this home from 1951-1958, then moved to Lincoln Street until 1996 when they moved to the Pinecrest Apartments. However, it was the third house Dad bought in Mt. Morris that year. It was his habit to buy a home for his family sight unseen by my mother. I think she got tired of remodeling old clunkers, and said NO to the nice new home in the Carr Addition on the east side of town because she thought it was too small. So then he bought a new two story on the east end of Lincoln Street, but it was too small also. So he traded that home with DeKonings who lived in the lovely big old house on Hannah Avenue. It also had room for Dad's truck since it had a large barn/garage, a full basement, full attic, 4 bedrooms, and a den/office that doubled as a music room.

This was a great "kid" house. Within two blocks of us lived the Mayos, Bearmans, Stevens, Davies, Dohlens, Zumdahls, Priemers, Sweets, and Knowles, although not all at the same time. It had a tree in the front yard (not in photo) that was perfect for climbing, and I staked my horse in the back acre. Mom had a huge garden (although that wasn't so great for kids because we had to help) and for awhile we even had chickens (loose zoning). For slumber parties, I took over the living room and Dad's office/music room, and my sister Carol had hers (with Rabbit, Ole, Chickie, Mary Lynn and others whose names I've forgotten) in the attic which had a high pitch and windows on 3 sides. I could have the whole CBYF group (probably 20 kids or so) on the front porch. When Tina K. moved to Florida after our junior year, I had all the girls in the class of 57 in the living room for a good-bye party. Different groups used our barn for floats. I can't identify this one (there were 4 children in our family in high school in the 50s), don't think it was a class float, but perhaps an organization. If it wasn't built in our barn, I have no idea why I have the photo. Can you identify it?