Thinking of you, Denise. I'm a Nurse and I think I have it hard when I work 12 hour shifts, etc. I'm so thankful you wrote this for all of us. I know it wasn't easy to do. Because of you, I'll try to be more patient, thoughtful of others and caring. I'll try to remember to savor and enjoy the day, the moment. Thank you so much for sharing with us. Jackie ----- Original Message ----- From: <denisek711@aol.com> To: <IADECATU-L@rootsweb.com> Sent: Monday, June 13, 2005 11:24 PM Subject: [IADECATU] off subject, very long sorry, I just needed to talk and say thank you > Hello all, > It's been a long time since I have posted to the mailing list. I have been battling some pretty messy "demons" this past year and a half. The "demons" have been physical and mental. Through all of what has happened, this mailing list has helped me get through it. The Kate Strong letters, the notes, I may not have responded, answered, or posted my thoughts but I was thankful for the list. Going through everything, getting as mom called it "out of sorts", I would read the letters, the old newspaper articles and realize what I was going through wasn't that bad. People before me had gone through a lot worse and survived. I will never be my old self and I think I am finally coming to terms with it. I guess I should explain. Pardon the length but here it goes; > It all started so innocent...It was a Friday afternoon, I was busy making cookies for the trip to my Aunt Jane's the following day. My cousins and their kids were coming down, I hadn't seen them in almost a year so I was very excited about the "mini family reunion". Guess it is true, you should never do two things at once. While I was baking cookies I was also doing laundry. When the buzzer for the dryer went off I looked at the oven timer, 3 minutes until the cookies were done. I had just enough time to grab Dad's dress shirts out of the laundry so they wouldn't get wrinkled. There really is no such thing as permanent press! > You ever miss a step, your foot kind of just slides on the edge of the step? Well that is what happened to me. I thought I was only a step from the bottom so to stop my slide/fall I stepped forward. Turned out I was more like 4 or 5 steps up. When I landed, my foot went one way, my leg went the other and down I went. I have never seen my ankle/foot swell so fast. So here I am down at the bottom of the stairs, in pain, in tears, my daughter in the shower not hearing my yells to come help me. My two dogs heard me and were down at the bottom of the stairs almost instantly. Looking back I can say it was almost comical, here I am trying to crawl my way up the stairs, one dog, Taylor (fox terrier) under my hurt leg almost trying to lift me, the other dog, Kelly (Boston terrier) going up the stairs backward, licking my face/tears all the way up. > At the top of the stairs my daughter finally heard my yells. I didn't want to go to the emergency room, I always think of emergency rooms for life and death illnesses. Swollen ankle didn't' qualify so off we drove to the local urgent care center. > The orthopedic tech wanted to take full x-rays, foot, leg, ankle but he was over ruled by the doctor. He was convinced I had broken my tib so ordered just ankle and lower leg x-rays. They came back negative. They told me I had a severe sprain, put a home made splint (putting in water than it gets hard), bandage and gave me crutches. Told me take the splint off after 7 days, try to walk after 10. > The reunion for me was off the next day, I really wanted to go, but my ankle/foot was killing me. It hurt just to move my leg. Even though my left leg was killing me, I went on with what I had to do on Sunday. > After 6 days with the brace on, I couldn't bare the pain anymore, so I removed it. The pain subsided, it wasn't as bad. I could stop taking the mortin. > I got quite good on crutches, they didn't' stop me..went shopping with my daughter, even exercised with the crutches, vacuumed, cooked etc. There is really only one thing you can not do by yourself when you are on crutches...grocery shop, you need someone to carry the basket, I found that out the hard way. Needed milk, my daughter had the car, since the grocery store was only 2 blocks away, I figured I will just "crutch" my way there. August is especially hot, so I am not sure what I was thinking when I decided to go to the store. I arrive at the store, then it hits me, how do I get the milk from the back refrigerated section to the cashier. I had put my purse/money in my backpack (impossible to use a purse on crutches) You can push a grocery cart on crutches, but you can't steer it...so after trying to push a cart, I gave up that option. Couldn't put the milk in my backpack, they might think I was shop lifting. I could read the headlines, "Woman in need of a rice krispie! > fix arrested for stuffing skim milk in backpack". Finally with the aid of a clerk, I was able to purchase my skim milk. When I got home, I was too hot to eat breakfast, so I just had an ice cold glass of water! > After a week, I noticed my calf, ankle and foot would swell when I was walking around on my crutches. I started to put weight on my leg, it didn't hurt unless I shifted my weight forward. I called the doctor at the urgent care center, he told me not to worry, sprains are worse than breaks, it just takes time. The one thing I remember about that August, the heat. It was so hot and moving around on crutches made it that much worse. Even worse, that was the August when all the storms went through Maryland. Every week we would lose power. The shortest period without power, 8 hours, the longest 4 days. I have never sweated so much in my entire life. The heat seemed to my make my leg worse. My leg wouldn't hurt, it would just swell. Everyone I ran into would always say, sprains are so much worse, they take forever to heal. Day 14, still couldn't walk. I could put all my weight on my leg, but as soon as I shifted it forward to walk, immense pain would shoot through my foot and l! > eg. I called again, told the same thing, give it time, have patience...to ease the swelling elevate my leg as much as I can. Went to a wedding that Saturday, as my boyfriend and I sat at the reception I could feel my leg swell up. It is a very weird feeling, very uncomfortable, dull annoying pain in the foot but not really painful just enough to bug you. I decided to skip the time it would take to get a referral and made an appointment with an orthopedic doctor. > When he walked in the room, Dr. Cashman made the comment, wow I can see your foot and calf from a mile a way. The full set of x-rays came back, I had a broken foot, the 5th something bone. Apparently the reason I was in so much pain the first week, the splint they made for me...it was pushing directly into the break. At least I know I am not a whimp!:) I hate it when doctors don't listen, I kept having to repeat that I had fallen almost 3 weeks earlier. I told him, I was tired of my fat foot, fat ankle and fat calf. When my leg was elevated, it was fine, but when I was "crutching" all over the place it would swell up. He said that was no big deal, three weeks in a cast and I would be fine. > The tech came in to put a cast on my lower leg, three more weeks on crutches. I was not thrilled with that but what can you do. I told the girl it was too tight, but I was told the cast had to be tight. I was told to elevate my leg for two days to help ease the swelling. I am not one to sit, but I obeyed. That was August 25th. > On August 28th, my parents, daughter, boyfriend and I packed up our cars and headed up to Frostburg, Maryland. It was my daughter's first day at college. She was so excited, me I was already missing her. When we arrived at Frostburg as I got out of the car I could feel a weird burning in my chest and lost my breath. All I could think was 3 weeks on the crutches and already out of shape. I watched as everyone unloaded and help set up my daughter's apartment. As I sat there, the burning and tightness went away. After delaying it as long as I could it was finally time to head home. I didn't feel like me, but I thought it was just my emotional me, missing my daughter. > That night after taking a bath, when I stood up it felt like someone just kicked the air out of me. I thought I was going to fall over right there. I grabbed a towel and headed to my bed. I put my nightgown on, while laying down. Every time I tried to sit up I thought I would pass out. Luckily my boyfriend was still there watching tv in the living room. I finally had enough breath to cry out, he rushed in. I couldn't' explain what was wrong with me, I just knew something was. He called an ambulance and I was rushed to the hospital. > I don't' remember much about that night. Just bits and pieces. Every time I would start to pass out, I would hear people calling my name and it would wake me. Now looking back, I think I was actually dying but I was too stubborn to let go. > I remember the nurses rushing back in after my cat scan and getting very painful shots in my stomach. I was admitted to the hospital with a massive bilateral pulmonary embolus. After seeing the cat scan, the doctors could not believe I was still alive and breathing, without oxygen either. I was so scared when the doctor told me what was going on. It is very surreal to be told I might live or die, they didn't know. It could go either way. I remember thinking, I just dropped my baby off to college, I am only 40 this isn't right. I don't want to talk about the hospital time, it was very hard and it still upsets me. > To the doctor's amazement, I was released after only 5 days in the hospital. They told me with the amount of clots etc., I would be there minimum of 7 to 10 days. I always did like proving people wrong. > Life changed dramatically for me. Before all this, I would run 2 miles a day. After, I was out of breath after walking down the driveway. Stairs would drain everything out of me. I was put on comoudin and told I couldn't do my job anymore. I taught gymnastics and coached cheerleading. If I got hit spotting one of the kids, I could be severely injured because of the blood thinner. I had never been that sick before in my life, now I was constantly getting respiratory infections, they would put me out for 2 to 3 weeks. After taking care of my lungs all my life (never smoked etc.) now I had/have asthma. The scariest feeling is not being able to breath. When an attack happens, breathing is no longer natural, I have to think about breathing. The very independent person I had been, was no longer. For the first time in my life, my body felt old. Like I had instantly aged 30 years. > My prescription bills, medical bills, lab bills (I would have to get blood tests every week to two weeks) were piling up and I couldn't work. My debt load was piling up, I found out no company really cares. So my savings was gone. > Fear, that was present quite often. Mortality never hit me until then. It took me weeks until I could relax and fall asleep not fight sleep. When I first came home from the hospital I was afraid I wouldn't' wake up. I was afraid a blood clot still left in my lung would loosen and head to my brain. Now I can laugh at my fear, but then it was real. Thank God for Tim McGraw and Kenny Chesney. I would listen to their music every night until I could fall asleep. Their music seemed to soothe away my fears. Even now I am ashamed to admit, I will wake up sweating after remember/dreaming about that night etc. > I had no more control over my life. Every thing I identified with was no longer. The person who I use to be didn't exist. Being told you can't do something you love anymore can really zap you. As infections came and went, I would go through depressions and then feel better. It was a crazy cycle. Through it all I would always check my email and read the "Decatur mail". sometimes I could only get to my mail once a week, but that was enough. > After a year I am off the coumadin, so I can go back to teaching gymnastics. I still can't run no matter how much I try. No matter how slow I start, there is no amount of building up, I have tried. No matter what I do, my lungs get tight, I start to cough and then I have an asthma attack. At least I am saving money on running shoes...too bad the asthma medicine is 2 times as expensive, but the bright side at least I can take it off my taxes. Even my vision changed. It hadn't changed for 20 years, now it got worse. Probably more of turning 40 than the blood clots. > Funny, even after an asthma attack this weekend I am/was at a point, where I was accepting the fact that I wasn't going to be able to be that same crazy person I was before. Then I got a phone call this morning from the hospital, seems they need me to come down and sign a release form for my medical records. The FDA or someone wants to look at them, they believe that my blood clots may have been caused by the birth control patch I was wearing at the time. I went online and found out several women have died from the same thing I had. They were all young girls, one was only 18. Not sure how I feel about that. I am confused and angry. It would be nice to know why I had the blood clots. They ran a genetic blood test on me at the hospital. I don't carry the factor 5 gene, the one that makes you susceptible to blood clots. So to my doctor I was a freak of nature, no real explanation why. > I don't mean to have a pity party. I feel guilty because I know there are people dealing with a lot more. In fact I learned a lot of good...I say I love you to more people and more often. I always make sure I tell my daughter I am proud of her. I forgave a lot of people I had been angry with. I realized a lot of stuff I use to get upset over, wasn't worth it. I call my sister and my nephews more. I pray more. I definitely believe in miracles, I have been told I am one. > Have you ever noticed how beautiful the sky is? I had forgotten before. Now I look at clouds like I did when I was a kid, trying to figure out what they look like. Even on a rainy day, look around, it is still beautiful. I wonder how many people don't see the beauty around them. When I am out, I smile and say hi to people I see. In DC that can baffle a few people!! > I remember to say thank you to everyone, even for the little things. Which is why I wrote this...I realized I owed everyone on the list a much over do thank you. So much time and energy is put into the Decatur site and mail and it is awesome, means a lot to me and I am sure others. > On the days when I was sick and everyone was off at work. You were my friend, keeping my mind sane and my thoughts busy. Reminding me I was lucky to be alive. So one more time thank you! > Hopefully you don't think I am a loon but I am just me. > Thank you > Denise > > > > > > ==== IADECATU Mailing List ==== > Stacey Dietiker, Momdit@aol.com: Decatur County List Administrator, > Website Coordinator, Decatur County IA Genweb - http://www.rootsweb.com/~iadecatu > > ============================== > Search Family and Local Histories for stories about your family and the > areas they lived. Over 85 million names added in the last 12 months. > Learn more: http://www.ancestry.com/s13966/rd.ashx > >

Denise, I decided to enter articles because I'm in the basement with Lynn my wife. She also broke her foot and it was real ugly. The doctor operated last Tuesday and put in a plate and screws. She is a good trooper and put up with grumpy me. I haven't entered any articles in the last couple of days. Wasn't sure anyone was reading grandmother West's stuff. I think I will put in some more articles tomorrow for the group. You take care. Lynn has home care nurses that come out to the house to check up on her. I didn't know that they did that stuff anymore. The kids and grandkids can sure cheer you up. Barry

Hello all, It's been a long time since I have posted to the mailing list. I have been battling some pretty messy "demons" this past year and a half. The "demons" have been physical and mental. Through all of what has happened, this mailing list has helped me get through it. The Kate Strong letters, the notes, I may not have responded, answered, or posted my thoughts but I was thankful for the list. Going through everything, getting as mom called it "out of sorts", I would read the letters, the old newspaper articles and realize what I was going through wasn't that bad. People before me had gone through a lot worse and survived. I will never be my old self and I think I am finally coming to terms with it. I guess I should explain. Pardon the length but here it goes; It all started so innocent...It was a Friday afternoon, I was busy making cookies for the trip to my Aunt Jane's the following day. My cousins and their kids were coming down, I hadn't seen them in almost a year so I was very excited about the "mini family reunion". Guess it is true, you should never do two things at once. While I was baking cookies I was also doing laundry. When the buzzer for the dryer went off I looked at the oven timer, 3 minutes until the cookies were done. I had just enough time to grab Dad's dress shirts out of the laundry so they wouldn't get wrinkled. There really is no such thing as permanent press! You ever miss a step, your foot kind of just slides on the edge of the step? Well that is what happened to me. I thought I was only a step from the bottom so to stop my slide/fall I stepped forward. Turned out I was more like 4 or 5 steps up. When I landed, my foot went one way, my leg went the other and down I went. I have never seen my ankle/foot swell so fast. So here I am down at the bottom of the stairs, in pain, in tears, my daughter in the shower not hearing my yells to come help me. My two dogs heard me and were down at the bottom of the stairs almost instantly. Looking back I can say it was almost comical, here I am trying to crawl my way up the stairs, one dog, Taylor (fox terrier) under my hurt leg almost trying to lift me, the other dog, Kelly (Boston terrier) going up the stairs backward, licking my face/tears all the way up. At the top of the stairs my daughter finally heard my yells. I didn't want to go to the emergency room, I always think of emergency rooms for life and death illnesses. Swollen ankle didn't' qualify so off we drove to the local urgent care center. The orthopedic tech wanted to take full x-rays, foot, leg, ankle but he was over ruled by the doctor. He was convinced I had broken my tib so ordered just ankle and lower leg x-rays. They came back negative. They told me I had a severe sprain, put a home made splint (putting in water than it gets hard), bandage and gave me crutches. Told me take the splint off after 7 days, try to walk after 10. The reunion for me was off the next day, I really wanted to go, but my ankle/foot was killing me. It hurt just to move my leg. Even though my left leg was killing me, I went on with what I had to do on Sunday. After 6 days with the brace on, I couldn't bare the pain anymore, so I removed it. The pain subsided, it wasn't as bad. I could stop taking the mortin. I got quite good on crutches, they didn't' stop me..went shopping with my daughter, even exercised with the crutches, vacuumed, cooked etc. There is really only one thing you can not do by yourself when you are on crutches...grocery shop, you need someone to carry the basket, I found that out the hard way. Needed milk, my daughter had the car, since the grocery store was only 2 blocks away, I figured I will just "crutch" my way there. August is especially hot, so I am not sure what I was thinking when I decided to go to the store. I arrive at the store, then it hits me, how do I get the milk from the back refrigerated section to the cashier. I had put my purse/money in my backpack (impossible to use a purse on crutches) You can push a grocery cart on crutches, but you can't steer it...so after trying to push a cart, I gave up that option. Couldn't put the milk in my backpack, they might think I was shop lifting. I could read the headlines, "Woman in need of a rice krispie! fix arrested for stuffing skim milk in backpack". Finally with the aid of a clerk, I was able to purchase my skim milk. When I got home, I was too hot to eat breakfast, so I just had an ice cold glass of water! After a week, I noticed my calf, ankle and foot would swell when I was walking around on my crutches. I started to put weight on my leg, it didn't hurt unless I shifted my weight forward. I called the doctor at the urgent care center, he told me not to worry, sprains are worse than breaks, it just takes time. The one thing I remember about that August, the heat. It was so hot and moving around on crutches made it that much worse. Even worse, that was the August when all the storms went through Maryland. Every week we would lose power. The shortest period without power, 8 hours, the longest 4 days. I have never sweated so much in my entire life. The heat seemed to my make my leg worse. My leg wouldn't hurt, it would just swell. Everyone I ran into would always say, sprains are so much worse, they take forever to heal. Day 14, still couldn't walk. I could put all my weight on my leg, but as soon as I shifted it forward to walk, immense pain would shoot through my foot and l! eg. I called again, told the same thing, give it time, have patience...to ease the swelling elevate my leg as much as I can. Went to a wedding that Saturday, as my boyfriend and I sat at the reception I could feel my leg swell up. It is a very weird feeling, very uncomfortable, dull annoying pain in the foot but not really painful just enough to bug you. I decided to skip the time it would take to get a referral and made an appointment with an orthopedic doctor. When he walked in the room, Dr. Cashman made the comment, wow I can see your foot and calf from a mile a way. The full set of x-rays came back, I had a broken foot, the 5th something bone. Apparently the reason I was in so much pain the first week, the splint they made for me...it was pushing directly into the break. At least I know I am not a whimp!:) I hate it when doctors don't listen, I kept having to repeat that I had fallen almost 3 weeks earlier. I told him, I was tired of my fat foot, fat ankle and fat calf. When my leg was elevated, it was fine, but when I was "crutching" all over the place it would swell up. He said that was no big deal, three weeks in a cast and I would be fine. The tech came in to put a cast on my lower leg, three more weeks on crutches. I was not thrilled with that but what can you do. I told the girl it was too tight, but I was told the cast had to be tight. I was told to elevate my leg for two days to help ease the swelling. I am not one to sit, but I obeyed. That was August 25th. On August 28th, my parents, daughter, boyfriend and I packed up our cars and headed up to Frostburg, Maryland. It was my daughter's first day at college. She was so excited, me I was already missing her. When we arrived at Frostburg as I got out of the car I could feel a weird burning in my chest and lost my breath. All I could think was 3 weeks on the crutches and already out of shape. I watched as everyone unloaded and help set up my daughter's apartment. As I sat there, the burning and tightness went away. After delaying it as long as I could it was finally time to head home. I didn't feel like me, but I thought it was just my emotional me, missing my daughter. That night after taking a bath, when I stood up it felt like someone just kicked the air out of me. I thought I was going to fall over right there. I grabbed a towel and headed to my bed. I put my nightgown on, while laying down. Every time I tried to sit up I thought I would pass out. Luckily my boyfriend was still there watching tv in the living room. I finally had enough breath to cry out, he rushed in. I couldn't' explain what was wrong with me, I just knew something was. He called an ambulance and I was rushed to the hospital. I don't' remember much about that night. Just bits and pieces. Every time I would start to pass out, I would hear people calling my name and it would wake me. Now looking back, I think I was actually dying but I was too stubborn to let go. I remember the nurses rushing back in after my cat scan and getting very painful shots in my stomach. I was admitted to the hospital with a massive bilateral pulmonary embolus. After seeing the cat scan, the doctors could not believe I was still alive and breathing, without oxygen either. I was so scared when the doctor told me what was going on. It is very surreal to be told I might live or die, they didn't know. It could go either way. I remember thinking, I just dropped my baby off to college, I am only 40 this isn't right. I don't want to talk about the hospital time, it was very hard and it still upsets me. To the doctor's amazement, I was released after only 5 days in the hospital. They told me with the amount of clots etc., I would be there minimum of 7 to 10 days. I always did like proving people wrong. Life changed dramatically for me. Before all this, I would run 2 miles a day. After, I was out of breath after walking down the driveway. Stairs would drain everything out of me. I was put on comoudin and told I couldn't do my job anymore. I taught gymnastics and coached cheerleading. If I got hit spotting one of the kids, I could be severely injured because of the blood thinner. I had never been that sick before in my life, now I was constantly getting respiratory infections, they would put me out for 2 to 3 weeks. After taking care of my lungs all my life (never smoked etc.) now I had/have asthma. The scariest feeling is not being able to breath. When an attack happens, breathing is no longer natural, I have to think about breathing. The very independent person I had been, was no longer. For the first time in my life, my body felt old. Like I had instantly aged 30 years. My prescription bills, medical bills, lab bills (I would have to get blood tests every week to two weeks) were piling up and I couldn't work. My debt load was piling up, I found out no company really cares. So my savings was gone. Fear, that was present quite often. Mortality never hit me until then. It took me weeks until I could relax and fall asleep not fight sleep. When I first came home from the hospital I was afraid I wouldn't' wake up. I was afraid a blood clot still left in my lung would loosen and head to my brain. Now I can laugh at my fear, but then it was real. Thank God for Tim McGraw and Kenny Chesney. I would listen to their music every night until I could fall asleep. Their music seemed to soothe away my fears. Even now I am ashamed to admit, I will wake up sweating after remember/dreaming about that night etc. I had no more control over my life. Every thing I identified with was no longer. The person who I use to be didn't exist. Being told you can't do something you love anymore can really zap you. As infections came and went, I would go through depressions and then feel better. It was a crazy cycle. Through it all I would always check my email and read the "Decatur mail". sometimes I could only get to my mail once a week, but that was enough. After a year I am off the coumadin, so I can go back to teaching gymnastics. I still can't run no matter how much I try. No matter how slow I start, there is no amount of building up, I have tried. No matter what I do, my lungs get tight, I start to cough and then I have an asthma attack. At least I am saving money on running shoes...too bad the asthma medicine is 2 times as expensive, but the bright side at least I can take it off my taxes. Even my vision changed. It hadn't changed for 20 years, now it got worse. Probably more of turning 40 than the blood clots. Funny, even after an asthma attack this weekend I am/was at a point, where I was accepting the fact that I wasn't going to be able to be that same crazy person I was before. Then I got a phone call this morning from the hospital, seems they need me to come down and sign a release form for my medical records. The FDA or someone wants to look at them, they believe that my blood clots may have been caused by the birth control patch I was wearing at the time. I went online and found out several women have died from the same thing I had. They were all young girls, one was only 18. Not sure how I feel about that. I am confused and angry. It would be nice to know why I had the blood clots. They ran a genetic blood test on me at the hospital. I don't carry the factor 5 gene, the one that makes you susceptible to blood clots. So to my doctor I was a freak of nature, no real explanation why. I don't mean to have a pity party. I feel guilty because I know there are people dealing with a lot more. In fact I learned a lot of good...I say I love you to more people and more often. I always make sure I tell my daughter I am proud of her. I forgave a lot of people I had been angry with. I realized a lot of stuff I use to get upset over, wasn't worth it. I call my sister and my nephews more. I pray more. I definitely believe in miracles, I have been told I am one. Have you ever noticed how beautiful the sky is? I had forgotten before. Now I look at clouds like I did when I was a kid, trying to figure out what they look like. Even on a rainy day, look around, it is still beautiful. I wonder how many people don't see the beauty around them. When I am out, I smile and say hi to people I see. In DC that can baffle a few people!! I remember to say thank you to everyone, even for the little things. Which is why I wrote this...I realized I owed everyone on the list a much over do thank you. So much time and energy is put into the Decatur site and mail and it is awesome, means a lot to me and I am sure others. On the days when I was sick and everyone was off at work. You were my friend, keeping my mind sane and my thoughts busy. Reminding me I was lucky to be alive. So one more time thank you! Hopefully you don't think I am a loon but I am just me. Thank you Denise

Is there some one living in Decatur County that would go to Rose Hill Cemetery in Lamoni for me? My grandfather, George M. Turpen, who died in 1944 is buried there in plot 0846 - 2. I am hoping his exact date of death is on his tombstone. Is there someone in that area that would go look at his tombstone for me? I will be happy to pay for gas and/or time. Thanks so much!! Shari _Shari050@aol.com_ (mailto:Shari050@aol.com)

Is there anyone who would attempt to find for me in 1873 a newspaper clipping regarding an accident which took the life of Francis McGovern. I have always been told that he died in an accident, and given the fact that he was only 50 years old at the time of his death, this seems likely. Francis is buried in the Catholic Cemetery, Woodland Township, Decatur County, Iowa. He was survived by his wife, Anna Mary McGovern, a son, Francis Henry McGovern, and daughters, Catherine Elizabeth McGovern and Margaret Anna McGovern. I do hope someone will do this for me and I would be happy to pay any charges. Agnes Donnelly Penn Laird, VA

This is great! I added one to my great-grandfather, Luther Francis Frazier as his first name was mispelled. I fnished transcribing the Grundy County graves and am through the R's in Franklin County. It's been very interesting. Would ike to see other states do the same thing with their WPA grave records. Conni McDaniel Hall -------Original Message------- From: Momdit@aol.com Date: Monday, June 13, 2005 14:41:38 To: IADECATU-L@rootsweb.com Subject: [IADECATU] WPA Graves Online Project adds Post-em Notes The IOWA WPA Graves Registration transcription project continues to see its searchable online database grow rapidly. In just over 3 months we find ourselves with over 275,000 burial records now online statewide. Most of us familiar with the WPA records know that occasional errors were made by the WPA workers when they collected and recorded this data back in the late 1930s. We now have a new tool that will enable interested parties to make corrections to those errors or to add useful data by way of digital “Post-em Notes”. WPA Post-em Notes can be used for many purposes by clicking on the individual's name and using the form provided. Some Examples: · “This is my gg-grandfather. Would like to exchange info with others related.” · “John Smith’s birthdate was actually 26 Oct 1898 per obituary [state source].” · “Frederick Smith's wife’s maiden name was Mary Johnson. Email me for more info.” · “Burial place is incorrect as listed. Should be Graceland Cem., Henry Twp.” · “I have info on other relatives with this surname not listed in WPA records. Contact me.” Below are a couple of examples of actual Post-em Notes. Click on the person’s name to see the actual Post-em note. http://iowawpagraves.org/index.php?lc=1&last=Rockefellow&fc=1&first=&cid= http://iowawpagraves.org/index.php?lc=1&last=Lamborn&fc=1&first=&cid=80 Rich Lowe Iowa WPA Grave Online Project http://iowaWPAgraves.org ==== IADECATU Mailing List ==== Stacey Dietiker, Momdit@aol.com: Decatur County List Administrator, Website Coordinator, Decatur County IA Genweb - http://www.rootsweb com/~iadecatu ============================== Search the US Census Collection. Over 140 million records added in the last 12 months. Largest online collection in the world. Learn more: http://www.ancestry.com/s13965/rd.ashx .

The IOWA WPA Graves Registration transcription project continues to see its searchable online database grow rapidly. In just over 3 months we find ourselves with over 275,000 burial records now online statewide. Most of us familiar with the WPA records know that occasional errors were made by the WPA workers when they collected and recorded this data back in the late 1930s. We now have a new tool that will enable interested parties to make corrections to those errors or to add useful data by way of digital “Post-em Notes”. WPA Post-em Notes can be used for many purposes by clicking on the individual's name and using the form provided. Some Examples: · “This is my gg-grandfather. Would like to exchange info with others related.” · “John Smith’s birthdate was actually 26 Oct 1898 per obituary [state source].” · “Frederick Smith's wife’s maiden name was Mary Johnson. Email me for more info.” · “Burial place is incorrect as listed. Should be Graceland Cem., Henry Twp.” · “I have info on other relatives with this surname not listed in WPA records. Contact me.” Below are a couple of examples of actual Post-em Notes. Click on the person’s name to see the actual Post-em note. http://iowawpagraves.org/index.php?lc=1&last=Rockefellow&fc=1&first=&cid= http://iowawpagraves.org/index.php?lc=1&last=Lamborn&fc=1&first=&cid=80 Rich Lowe Iowa WPA Grave Online Project http://iowaWPAgraves.org

PLEASE REPLY TO RUTH! If you hit "reply" it will come to me instead of her. Thank you! Is there anyone who can give me information on getting into Union cemetary? I have ancestors buried there;and will be back there in couple weeks. Thank you. Rthb532@cs.com

e-mails

Just a reminder that all emails posted to the Decatur County, Iowa Mailing List need to be Genealogy related and pertaining to Decatur County. We are pretty relaxed on this list as to what can and cannot be posted. However, an email that was definitely inappropriate has been recently posted. It has been brought to the poster's attention. Please refrain from posting such messages to this list. Thanks for your attention to this matter. Stacey Dietiker momdit@aol.com Decatur Co IA List Administrator Decatur Co IA Website Coordinator

It was George the Mailman's last day on the job after 35 years of carrying the mail through all kinds of weather to the same neighborhood. When he arrived at the first house on his route, he was greeted by the whole family who congratulated him and sent him on his way with a tidy gift envelope. At the second house, they presented him with a box of fine cigars. The folks at the third house handed him a selection of terrific fishing lures. At the fourth house, he was met at the door by a strikingly beautiful woman in a revealing negligee. She took him by the hand, gently led him through the door, which she closed behind him, and took him up the stairs to the bedroom where she blew his mind with the most passionate love he had ever experienced. When he had enough, they went downstairs and she fixed him a giant breakfast: eggs, potatoes, ham, sausage, blueberry waffles, and fresh-squeezed orange juice. When he was truly satisfied, she poured him a cup of steaming coffee. As she was pouring, he noticed a dollar bill sticking out from under the cup's bottom edge. "All this was just too wonderful for words," he said, "But what's the dollar for?" "Well," she said, "Last night, I told my husband that today would be your last day, and that we should do something special for you. I asked him what to give you. He said, 'Screw him. Give him a dollar.' The breakfast was my idea."

Hello, Would anyone be available for checking the Leon newspaper for a couple of obituaries. Looking for; Jane M. Dingman died June 19, 1913. Joseph Dingman, died december 13, 1893. Looking for copies of obits, but would like to see a tracsription. Any help is appreciated. Thank you, James Wallace 630 S. Main St. Columbus, Wisconsin 53925

found in grandmother West's scrapbook Barry West For the Leeper reader Ronald Leeper, freshman, was injured last Tuesday in the manual training department when he cut his fingers while working on the edging machine. Medical attention was necessary. __________________________________________________________________________ Staff of the Leon Journal_Reporter Co-Editors Don Horn Howard Menold News Editor Shirley Gardner Sporst Editor Bill Rayhill Feature Editor Layton Hurst South School Wallace Lorey Reproters Berne Tharp, Anita McAllwee, Darylene Morey, Veryl Bigley, Margaret Ford, Harry Tullis, Mary Kay Farquhar, John Dean Frost, Marble Cox Post Graduate Reporter Cash Cordes Art Director Warren A. Ruby Adviser Margaret Louise Stout __________________________________________________________________ editorial Cement Floors Cause Low Temperature-Low Grades How would you like to study in a room that was only 58 degrees above zero? Well, the girls of home economics department have experienced just that. The normal temperature of a heated schoolroom is 72 degrees, yet our homemaking department has ranged from 54 degrees to 58 degrees nearly all winter. This temperature near the ceiling of the room is 80 degrees, What then seems to cause the 26 degree drop? The trouble it would seem comes from poor cement floors. Cement is cold enough, but cracked cement is colder-that is the verdict of the students, who are learning to "sew a straight seam" in a rather frigid atmosphere. Classes of recitation are being shifted to the food laboratory where one may sit upon a high stool. Here one may also turn on the little electric plates, by way of warming things up. It is well established fact that the instructor get the best fractions from the students if they are warm and comfortable. This can be accomplished only by the laying of new wooden floors in the home-making department, according to state vocational instructor, Miss Mary Ferris, who has advised the improvement. This will not only result in a more homelike appearance for the department, but it will overcome heretofore unhealthy condition. ---D.D.M.

from grandmother West's scrapbook Barry West Junior High Girls' Club Elects New Officers At a recent meeting of the Junior High Girls' Club, officer for the remainder of the year were elected. The officers are: Maxine Bair, President; Theo Tharp, vice president; Jessie Jean Hurst, secretary, and Shirley Lloyd, treasurer. Regular meetings will be held every two weeks, and one or two of the members will speak on "Etiquette," the topic chosen by the club for discussion this semester. ________________________________________________________________ Alum is on Debate Squat Bernita Barmum. '32 grad. was one of two new members recently selected for the Simpson college varsity debate team. Only two members were selected this year. Simpson's schedule for this year includes debates with Upper Iowa, Central, and Iowa State Teachers college. ___________________________________________________________________ Helen G; "What does 'college bred' mean?" Bety B.; "A four-year loaf out of Dad's dough."

from grandmother West's scrapbook Barry West Red hearts topped with cupids added to the color scheme of red and white, carried out by the homemaking girls in their valentine luncheon last Friday. Guests at the luncheon were Mr. and Mrs. E. W. Blair, Mr. and Mrs. Leo Hoffman, Mr. Warren Ruby, and Mr. and Mrs. Frank Burrell. Hostesses at the different tables were June McVey, Izola Darnold, Rosa Cooper, Hazel Davis, Hilda Hullinger, Freda Blakesley, Helen Gutmann and Mary Riddle. The luncheon was prepared for the purpose of teaching preparation of meals, marketing, social customs, and table service. This week the girls will complete their study of the luncheon unit.

found in grandmother West's scrapbook Barry West Open Adult Art Classes An adult art class opened last week at the high school building under the supervision of Warren Ruby, art director. Classes will be held each Wednesday at 7:30 p. m. The work will center around figure drawing and various other fundamentals of art. Dr. J. E. McFarland, Dr. C. D. Scott, Billy Lindsey, Francis Wallace, Nelson Trisler and Forrest Miller attended the session last week.

from grandmother West's scrapbook Barry West Strand Theatre-Leon Friday, Saturday admission was 10 cents, 20 cents Sunday, Monday, Tuesday Admission 10 cents, 26 cents Night admission 10 cents, 31 cents. Wednesday and Thursday Admission 10 cents, 26 cents Feature of the week was Captain Blood

from grandmother West's scrapbook Barry West Eleanor Powell Writes to "Jimmie" Sort of like from one member of the profession to another, and also understood to be from one bed of illness to another, came an autographed photograph Friday which brightened the heart of one Behtany boy past ever being forgotten. The photograph came from Eleanor Powell, motion picture star, and acknowledged leading woman tap dancer of the United States to James Hampton (Jim Miller son of Dr. and Mrs. G. A. Miller) who is spending a year in bed to correct a heart lesion. The picture was one of four and three-eights inches. On the side was written: "To 'Jimmie.' Best wished always, Eleanor Powell." It came as a surprise to the boy who has spent more than six long months in bed. He did not know until that moment that Eleanor Powell, noted dancer, ever had heard of James Hampton Miller, who was achieving a reputation about his home town as a tap dancer until he was compelled because of his heart, to undergo extreme quiet. The photograph came from Tuckahoe, N. Y. It has been heard here that Miss Powell has suffered a nervous breakdown from overwork and that she is being compelled to take a rest at Tuckahoe. There are two theories about how Miss Powell may have heard of James Hampton. One concerns Tom Alley, who visited James a short time ago before going back to the east and to Canada. He also has a son who is a tap dancer, and who has danced on New York stages. It is believed they may know Miss Powell and told her of the Bethany boy tap dancer who is in bed for a long time. The other theory is that Harry Hoyt, professional dancer who taught James Hampton, may have told Miss Powell of him. Whatever the answer, a boy has been made happy. Jimmie is doing well in bed, and now is being propped up just a little. He is picking up in weight and has the suspicion of a double chin. His prized photograph is being framed so that it can stand where he can see it at anytime. Behtan Republican-Clipper

found in grandmother West's scrapbook Barry West Second Headline on main page $15,000 Fire Occurred in Grand River Early Thursday Morning of Last Week Unable to Get Outside Crews for the Drifts Chemicals Gave Out and the Fire Fighter Resorted to Snow Fire, which at times threatened to wipe out an entire block raged through three building on the west side of Main street in the business district at Grand River early Thursday and resulted in a $15,000 loss. According to Henry Street, who discovered the fire, the blaze started in the kitchen of the Jack Ely cafe shortly after 3 a.m. Volunteer firemen battled the blaze with the town's only fire equipment, a two-wheeled cart with two containers of fire chemicals. When the chemicals proved insufficient they resorted to shoveling snow and throwing on the fire to bring the blaze under control. The men with the exception of two of owners, had returned to their homes after the fire had destroyed the cafe and was seemingly out. Within a half an hour they were summoned again by the clanging of the fire bell. The fire had crept through the joists in the corner walls into the Earl Lamoree hardware, furniture and undertaking establishment and was a roaring furnace when the men returned with some shovels to fight the fire. (Missing) the funeral coach and a (missing oree) building. The entire stock of hardware, furniture and under taking equipment was completely destroyed. The men were halted in their fight to extinguish the fire when ammunition stock in the front of the hardware store began exploding. The explosions of shotgun shells and rifle cartridges continued for nearly fifteen minutes. All of the contents of the Walter Overholtzer cafe, which adjoins the north of the Lamoree buildings, were removed and lath and plastering torn from the south of the wall to check the fire. The firemen repeated the removal of lath and plaster from the north side of the Daughton & Bone feed atore which adjoins the south of the Ely cafe. Part of the flooring of the building was also torn out in an effort to curb the fire. All of the feed stock was removed and piled in the street. However, considerable stock was damaged by scorching. The contents of the Overholtzer cafe were also damaged by smoke before they could be removed. The Leon fire department was not called because all roads into Grand River were snowblocked. Grand River has no city water supply. Although debris continued to smolder Friday morning, workmen pulled down the charred brick walls to prevent accident hazards. The volunteer firemen did a splendid job without sufficient fire equipment. They were favored with the absence of wind. The men scooped snow by the ton and threw it on the blaze. the loss is only partially covered by insurance.

found in grandmother West's scrapbook Barry West Frank Grimes Brought here for Burial Frank Grimes, 65, who passed away Monday of last week at his home in Omaha after a lingering illness, was brought to Leon Friday of last week for burial. The funeral party came from Omaha to Osceola where the Stewart Funeral Service met them and brought the body to Leon where immediate burial took place. Services were held in Omaha. His wife, a sister of Dr. Fred A. Bowman of Leon, and two children, Gale Grimes of Los Angeles and Mrs. Harry Moore of Omaha, survive. grimes of Los