MOM’S MEMOIRS – IRENE LOUISE (NEE KUCKKAN) MUELLER
(Continued)

Mom’s Autobiography – Chapter 59 – In Book, Page 141

New Year’s Day – 2005, Thoughts and Prayers, Joshua’s 2nd Birthday, Lions at the
Imax Theater in Milwauke, Mitchell in Cinderella Play at Luther Prep, We build a
Shed, Mom’s 75th Birthday, Julia Graduates from Luther Prep, Becky Weiland and
Patrick Kluck’s Wedding, Dutch Hollow Lake, Tree Down at Pioneer Park, Rock
Climbing Wall at the ROC, Birth of Jonah Timothy Poston, Summer at Pioneer Park,
Birth of Abby Darlene Lockrem
 

NEW YEAR’S DAY – 2005

As usual, Jim, Sue, and their family come from Merrill, Wisconsin, to celebrate
Christmas with us. They cannot be with us for Christmas because Jim is Pastor of
Christ Lutheran in Merrill, so he. Sue, and the rest of the family are very
busy. There was much fun again in eating, opening gifts, playing games, etc.
Joshua, Jenny and Kevin’s little boy, almost 2 years old, was especially in awe.
Dick and I were in awe when we saw our Mueller grandkids on the floor finishing
off tying the ends of a beautiful plaid blanket for us, our Christmas present.
Oh, how I especially love that blanket! When the weather starts to chill in the
Fall, I get it out of the closet and wrap myself up in it on the davenport in
our home in the evenings. I know it was made with love. Thank you so much!!!!

OUR THOUGHTS AND PRAYERS

During these blessed and joyous Christmas holidays, we miss the rest of our
family who are not able to be with us. We thank God that they, too, worship the
birth of Jesus in their churches. We know God is with all of them, and we keep
them in our prayers.

JOSHUA POSTON’S 2nd BIRTHDAY, FEBRUARY 5, 2005

What an absolutely beautiful cake with all of its ocean creatures – octopus,
seahorse, shells, Nemo, etc. Jenny, you are so artistic! And Joshua is
enthralled with all his relatives, cards, gifts. etc.!

FEBRUARY 13, 2005 – HUMPHREY IMAX DOME THEATER

Wow! Thank you, Melody and Steve for taking us to see ROAR: LIONS at the
IMAX THEATER in Milwaukee. What a great surprise! And what a thrill to
see all those African lions loudly roaring, surrounding us, and practically
ready to pounce and eat us!

MITCHELL HEITSCH, OUR GRANDSON, IN PLAY

Many in our family went to see Mitch perform in a play – CINDERELLA – at
Luther Prep. He was part of the Chorus and did very well. It reminded us of our
Debbie when she was in “Mid Summer Night’s Dream” in Lusaka, Africa, and was
great! Where do all the years go?

WE BUILT A SHED!!!!!!!

We needed a shed to store the lawn mower, snow blower, garden tools, hose reels,
Ma’s old wheelbarrow, etc., so we went to Menards and bought a kit. Sooooo, as
soon as the weather started getting warmer, there we were on our hands and knees
putting pieces together like a puzzle and nailing them together. We got the
front with the door and the back of it finished. Then Tim and Timmy came, helped
us carry them to the back of the house, set them up, and nailed the sides and
roof on. Tim came another day and nailed the shingles onto the roof. And we had
a beautiful shed! “The king of the castle”, our Tim, is standing on top of it,
hands on his hips, on one of our pictures. Thank you so much, Tim, and Timmy.
The shed is a godsend.

APRIL 17, 2005 – MOM’S 75TH BIRTHDAY

How can it be? Me 75 years old? No way? Ah, but I must face the truth – I am 75
years old! So again our family got together, this time at the Ponderosa in
Watertown, to help us celebrate. The family tablecloth was again there. I kidded
Sue and told her she must have at least five of them to have them last so long.
They presented me with the wonderful present of a patio set, complete with glass
table, umbrella with a cement frog stand, and chairs! Sue, Tim, their whole
family, Debbie, Glen, Glen’s Mom “Elaine”, and Melody and Steve were there. What
a blessing!

JULIA MUELLER GRADUATES FROM LUTHER PREP IN MAY, 2005

Another blessing! Everyone in Julie’s family was there, including the little one
Jenny and Kevin are expecting. Debbie, Cassie, Joanne and Jerry Brandt, and we
were there. Adam Lawrenz, the son of African Missionaries Stephen and Lorraine
Lawrenz, manned the camera in the balcony. It was a beautiful day.

JUNE 4, 2005 – WEDDING OF BECKY WEILAND AND PATRICK KLUCK

We traveled to Merrill, Wisconsin, where Becky and Pat were married in Christ
Evangelical Lutheran Church where Becky’s father is pastor. All in the Weiland
family were there, including Jim’s Dad and Mom. Patrick’s family was also there,
including his Mom, who was in a wheelchair because of Huntington’s disease. Sue,
Jim, and family sang a moving hymn together. Wow, all the Weiland girls, Becky,
the bride, Susie (our daughter), sisters Christina and Laura, looked beautiful!
Jessica, Brian’s girlfriend, also looked beautiful. It was another happy and
blessed occasion in our family.

DUTCH HOLLOW LAKE

Even though we do not have our Dutch Hollow lot anymore, all in our family still
love to go to the Lake and go swimming, fishing, and water skiing. The happy and
wonderful memories there will never leave any of us.

PIONEER PARK, LAKE DELTON, WISCONSIN

Dick and I were at Pioneer Park when a big tree had to be taken down too close
to Sue and Tim’s park model trailer. The winds can be sometimes very strong
going through the park, so it was the thing to do. One time what they call a
“wind shear” went through the park. A tree across the street from us landed on
our neighbor’s trailer, causing great damage. She said to me, “how come you have
all those little doo-dads on the railing of your deck, and not one of them fell
down or was damaged?” Besides falling on trailers, trees also fell on a number
of cars, damaging them.

Cary, Grant, Ben, Aiden, and Mason (now over six months old) came all the way
from Wichita, Kansas, to be with us at Pioneer Park during the summer. We had a
great time together swimming, tubing, and water skiing. It was a blessing to see
Cary, Grant, and their family.

ROCK CLIMBING WALL AT THE ROC

The rock climbing occurred on Friday, July 8, 2005. It was at the Watertown
Recreation & Outreach Center for Youth. Of course, Tim climbed up the around 25
foot tall rock as did many others. I was tempted, but I am not a kid anymore, so
didn’t attempt it. It was a lot of fun for all!

JULY 22, 2005 – JONAH TIMOTHY POSTON IS BORN

We traveled to Immanuel Evangelical Lutheran Church where Jenny’s husband,
Kevin, was a teacher, and where we were blessed with another beautiful
great-grandson, “Jonah Timothy Poston”. Joanne and Jerry Brandt also traveled
from Watertown. Our son, Tim, baptized the baby. Pastor Paul Schossow, pastor of
Immanuel was also there. We know Paul from years back when he (a child then) and
his family were members of Lord And Savior Evangelical Lutheran Church in
Crystal Lake, Illinois, when Dick was pastor there. It was an added joy to see
him again!

SUMMER FUN AT PIONEER PARK WITH THE FAMILY

Where else to be but in the swimming pool having fun together? Cary, Grant, Ben,
Aiden, and Mason (now over six months old) came all the way from Wichita,
Kansas, to be with Sue, Tim, and family, and us. We had a great time together
swimming, tubing, and water skiing. It was wonderful for Dick and me to be in
the swimming pool with our family, especially now with the little
great-grandchildren. It was a blessing to be with Cary, Grant, and their little
ones, but sad when they had to leave to go back home to Wichita.

AUGUST 15, 2005 – BIRTH OF ABBY DARLENE LOCKREM

Carl and Carly (Melody’s daughter) Lockrem became the proud parents of a little
girl. She weighed 8 lbs. 5 oz. – not so little. She is a cutie! Melody and Steve
are very happy grandparents.