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

Mom’s Autobiography – Chapter 69 – In Book, Page 165

Father’s Day at Marley’s, Wisconsin Dells, Bridal Shower for Jamie Vick, Dick’s Sister Arrives in The Dells with Two Teens, July, 2007 – “Pebbles From The ROC”, Chris Mueller is Installed at Christ Lutheran Church in Eagle River, Wisconsin, Marriage of Jamie Vick and Mark Wilson, Tim Preached at St. Mark’s, Watertown, Wisconsin, St. Mark’s Worship on TV Channel 13, Julia Mueller’s 21st Birthday Celebration, Watertown Halloween Parade

JUNE 17, 2007 – CELEBRATING FATHER’S DAY AT MARLEY’S, WISCONSIN DELLS, WI.

Our grandson, Matt, worked as a waiter at Marley’s, so we were given the blessing of having him wait on all of us. We were served a delicious seafood dinner by him. Sue, Tim, Jenny, Kevin, Joshua, Jonah, Conner, Timmy, Chris, Julie, Matt, Colleen and Bill Poston, Joanne and Jerry Brandt, and we were the happy hungry people served by him. The five fathers, Dick, Tim, Jerry, Bill, and Kevin wore special Marley’s hats – cute!

JUNE 30, 2007 – A BRIDAL SHOWER FOR JAMIE VICK

A wonderful bridal shower was given for Jamie, Mark’s fiancée, by Nicki Chmielewski and Ann Wilson, her future sisters-in-law. It was held at Debbie and Glen’s beautiful home in Colgate. It was a beautiful day, and many relatives and friends were there. The food was great, and Jamie and Mark received many lovely gifts. How could I have resisted going for a swim in that very inviting swimming pool? But I did, and had a nice visit with the people at the shower.

JULY 17, 2007 – DICK’S SISTER, HELEN, ARRIVES AT THE DELLS WITH TWO TEENS

Helen Kellberg, Stephanie Kellberg (Helen’s granddaughter), and a friend, Nina Moore arrived by car at our park model trailer at Pioneer Park. How happy we were to see them! Helen slept on the sofa-bed in the living room, and the girls slept in the bunk beds. All of us went on a “duck” ride on the 18th. A duck is a retired army vehicle which can be driven on land and water. They were used in World War II to land Marines, and an enterprising person bought many of them and put them into use to show tourists the wonders of God’s creation, on land and water. A young man explained the rock formations to us as we traveled along the Wisconsin River. We were very excited when we saw a doe with three fawns which crossed the road just in front of us. We had a wonderful picture taken of the five of us to remind us of our great trip together.

The girls wanted to go to Mount Olympus, a recreational water park with water slides, roller coasters, etc., so we dropped them off in Wisconsin Dells and decided to go to Walmart in Baraboo. But, as Helen got out of the driver’s side, the ragged corner of her car door caught Helen’s leg and deeply gouged it. We took her to the Clinic in Baraboo, and waited for her to get stitched up. It took a long time, but we did get back to Wisconsin Dells in time to pick up the girls.

Then we drove to Watertown and went to the huge ROC (Recreation & Outreach Center) for youth Rummage Sale at Trinity/St. Luke’s gymnasium. There were a lot of nice things. On the 20th we drove to Christberg Cemetery, east of Jefferson, where Dick and Helen’s parents and many people we knew at St. John’s church in Jefferson when Dick’s Dad was pastor there many years ago are buried. We also drove to St. Mark’s cemetery, north of Watertown, where my parents, brother, Kuckkan grandparents, many other Kuckkan relatives, and many friends are buried. We trimmed, watered all the graves, and renewed many memories of our loved ones who had gone before.

We visited Debbie, Glen, and Mark in Colgate, Wisconsin, and also Sue and Tim in their home in Watertown. The girls lost no time in getting into their wonderful hot tub. We left Sue and Tim sitting on their verandah on their wicker chairs among their beautiful flowers waving goodbye to us. Then it was time to say “God be with you ‘til we meet again” to our guests. It was a blessing for all of us to be together.

JULY 18. 21. 22. 2007 – ST. MARK’S BULLETIN – “PEBBLES FROM THE ROC”

“We thank our Lord God for the Gospel of His love and forgiveness in Christ, by which we are saved and which has touched the hearts of so many at our Recreation and Outreach Center (ROC) for Youth. A new wave of teens has started coming to the ROC, as those who have just finished sixth grade (now considered in seventh) are allowed to attend. As the number of unchurched attending the ROC continues to be well over 50%, we are thankful and excited to be able to share the Gospel with so many who haven’t heard it before.

We are also thankful to our Lord for all those who worked so hard on the golf outing for the ROC. Thanks also to those who donated the auction and door prize items and sponsored the holes. Thanks to WELS Kingdom Workers for financially sponsoring the event and also Thrivent for the matching funds. The total raised for THE ROC was a new high at $11,000.

$774.70 was the total for THE ROC as Wal-Mart matched the $387.35 which came from the Brat Stand we had there on June 9th.

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The ROC teens along with adult supervisors will be at Glenn’s Brat Stand on Friday and Saturday, August 17th and 18th, 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. Stop by to have lunch, and at the same time support THE ROC. Adults are asked to call Pastor Mueller at 206-9581 to volunteer to help.

Remember, you can stop by at the ROC anytime it’s open to visit or be considered for our volunteer staff. Your gifts are also greatly appreciated and needed. Thanks so much for your support.”

AUGUST 5, 2007 – CHRISTOPHER MUELLER IS COMMISSIONED AND INSTALLED AT CHRIST EVANGELICAL LUTHERAN CHURCH IN EAGLE RIVER, WISCONSIN

Sue and Tim were kind enough to take us along with them to Eagle River, Wisconsin, where their son, Chris, our grandson, was commissioned and installed as the upper grade teacher at Christ’s school. Jerry and Joanne Brandt also were there. We met Mr. Duane Polack, who is retiring, as the upper grade teacher, his wife, Brigitte, and many other kind people. After the service we were invited to the Polack’s beautiful home and had a delicious dinner. It turns out that Mr. Polack and I are related. He has Kuckkans in his ancestry, and showed a genealogy book to us where it shows that he is related to the Kuckkans. It’s a small world!

SEPTEMBER 8, 2007 – MARRIAGE OF JAMIE LYN VICK AND MARK RICHARD WILSON

The marriage of Jamie and Mark took place at St. John’s Evangelical Lutheran Church in Lannon, Wisconsin. What a beautiful wedding it was! Everyone looked great! The sermon, delivered by Pastor Jeffrey Heitsch (Stephanie’s husband), was based on Colossians 3:12-19. Dick also officiated in the wedding service. He read the Scripture lessons which were: Mark 10:6-9 and 1 Corinthians 13:4-7, 13. After the wedding, we all partook of a delicious meal, and a good time was had by all of Jamie and Mark’s family and friends. Many displayed their talents with the karaoke. It’s hard to believe that the little Markie we used to baby-sit in Crystal Lake, Illinois, is married. It is God’s plan.

SEPTEMBER 12, 15, 16, 2007 – TIM, PASTOR/DIRECTOR OF THE ROC GUEST PREACHED AT ST. MARK’S EVANGELICAL LUTHERAN CHURCH, WATERTOWN, WISCONSIN

As quoted from the back of the St. Mark’s bulletin – “Our Watertown Recreation & Outreach Center (ROC) for Youth conducts a strong after-school program involving homework help when needed, crafts, and other interactive activities. Our craft committee is asking for anyone who has the following to drop them off at the ROC this week after 3:00 p.m: empty shoe boxes, empty cereal boxes, and empty washed soup cans. Thanks so much for your help.”

SEPTEMBER 19, 2007 – WATERTOWN DAILY TIMES ARTICLE

“St. Mark’s Service to air on Cable Channel – The 6 p.m. church service at St. Mark’s Lutheran Church will air on Community Cable Channel 13 at 2 p.m. Friday. Due to technical difficulties, the program did not air on Monday. The sermon was given by the Rev. Tim Mueller, director of the Recreation Outreach Center. He spoke on the ROC.”

OCTOBER 19, 2007 – JULIA’S 21st BIRTHDAY IS CELEBRATED

Julie’s birthday is actually October 30th, but for convenience’s sake, it was celebrated on the 19th. As many of the family who could be there were. She had a very delicious meal and birthday cake, complete with 21 candles. She received many wonderful gifts. Among them was a squirrel feeder which Dick made for her.

OCTOBER 28, 2007 – WATERTOWN HALLOWEEN PARADE

Watertown, as long as I can remember, has had a Halloween Parade. It is mostly for the children so that they can parade down Main Street as witches, ghosts, skeletons, or whatever. Dick and I went to see it, but it was almost over by the time we got there. They did get together on First Street to award prizes for the best costumes and give out candy. We hope and pray that those children and their parents remember to attend our church services to celebrate the Reformation, when Martin Luther nailed the 95 Theses on the door of All Saints’ Church in Wittenberg, Germany, in 1517.