MOM’S MEMOIRS – IRENE LOUISE (NEE KUCKKAN) MUELLER
(Continued)
Mom’s Autobiography – Chapter 72 – In Book, Page 173
Janice Chmielewski Called Home To Heaven, Cleanup Help at Pioneer Park, Christina Weiland Graduates from Northland Lutheran High School in Mosinee, Wisconsin, Watertown Daily Times Article – Richard and Irene Mueller Celebrate 55th Wedding Anniversary, Bridal Shower for Julia, Lake Delton Drains Away, Conner’s First Birthday, Father’s Day at Marley’s – Lake Delton, Fun at Melody and Steve’s Home, Walking in Lake Delton
ANOTHER NOTE; APRIL 21, 2010 – JANICE CHMIELEWSKI IS CALLED HOME TO HEAVEN
We were shocked and saddened when Debbie called early in the morning and said that Nicki’s mother-in-law, Janice, Dave’s mother, had passed away while eating breakfast in the hospital where Ken, her husband, had taken her for tests a couple days before. We had just seen her at Elaine Wilson’s funeral service, and she had asked to sit with us at Maxim’s restaurant after the service. I had taken a picture of her (probably the last one of her) and her husband, Ken – unbelievable! She was 62 years old. She and her twin sister, Joyce, had been my first grade students at Trinity Evangelical Lutheran School in Freistadt (Mequon), Wisconsin, where I taught when Dick was in his last year at the Seminary. I was pregnant with Debbie (Nicki’s mother) at the end of the school year when I was teaching Dave’s (Nicki’s future husband) mother. The funeral service was at Trinity Evangelical Lutheran Church, so I was again at the church and school where I taught Janice and Joyce. It was nice to see Joyce again. Dick and I went to the classroom which was the same, except that now there are computers and TVs in the room. They weren’t invented yet in my time!
APRIL 23, 2008 – A BIG THANK YOU TO STEVE, NICKI, CALEB, AND JIMMY
Dick put out a plea for HELP to help us clean up our lot at Pioneer Park of all the leaves which fall from our tall trees during the fall. Well, the above mentioned showed up and did they ever work raking and bagging all those leaves! Thank you so much! We love being with members of our family. We couldn’t have done it without you. Dick took apart the extra picnic table we had at Pioneer Park, keeping the boards to replace the boards of a very old picnic table we have at our home in Watertown. That made me very happy – thanks, Hon! After working at our trailer, we went out for lunch, celebrating Steve’s 41st birthday.
MAY 31, 2008 – CHRISTINA WEILAND’S GRADUATION FROM NORTHLAND LUTHERAN HIGH SCHOOL, MOSINEE, WISCONSIN
We were privileged to attend Christina’s graduation and hear Jim preach a very uplifting sermon to the graduates and all others who were there. The weather was beautiful. After the service and all of the congratulations, all of us were invited to the Stoney Creek Inn for the reception. As always, we had a great time being together. Also, we were very happy to go to Sue and Jim’s home in Merrill, Wisconsin, and Christ Evangelical Lutheran Church where Jim is the pastor. We are richly blessed!
JUNE 5, 2008 EDITION OF THE WATERTOWN DAILY TIMES
Richard, Irene Mueller celebrate 55th anniversary
“The Rev. Richard, Jr. and Irene Mueller of Watertown will celebrate their 55th wedding anniversary on Saturday, June 7th.
The couple took a Caribbean cruise on the “Navigator of the Seas” to Cozumel and Belize City, Mexico, which was a birthday, Christmas, and anniversary gift from their six children and spouses, who accompanied them.
Mueller and the former Irene Kuckkan were married June 7, 1953, at St. Mark’s Evangelical Lutheran Church in Watertown by the Rev. Richard Mueller, Sr. and the Rev. Gerhard Redlin.
Attending the couple were Janet Lee (Kuckkan) DeVries of Riverside, California, Helen (Mueller) Kellberg of Renton, Washington, the late Robert Hoenecke, Deloris (Luedtke) Hoenecke, and Richard Yecke.
Richard is retired from the pastor/missionary ministry and Irene continues to help her husband.
The couple have six children: Deborah (Glen) Wilson of Colgate, Wisconsin, Richard (Wanda) Mueller of Orlando, Florida, the Rev. Timothy (Susan) Mueller of Watertown, Wisconsin, Susan (the Rev. James) Weiland of Merrill, Wisconsin, Stephanie (the Rev. Jeffrey) Heitsch of Cheyenne, Wyoming, and Steven (Melody) Mueller of West Bend, Wisconsin..
There are 20 grandchildren and 19 great grandchildren.”
JUNE 7, 2008 – BRIDAL SHOWER FOR JULIE
What a wonderful blessed time we had again at 1411 Wedgewood Drive, Watertown, Wisconsin, Sue and Tim’s beautiful home. Julie’s hoop petticoat is hanging from the light fixture in the spare bedroom, the kitchen counters are laden with delicious food and drink, and especially there are the happy faces of relatives and friends everywhere. Fun games were played, conducted by Julie’s sister, Jenny. There were three ladies wrapped in toilet paper purporting to be brides, one of whom was me. Tom, the handsome groom-to-be made his smiling appearance, greeting all the lady guests.
JUNE 9, 2008 – WISCONSIN’S LAKE DELTON LAKE DRAINS AWAY
In a bizarre disaster in reverse, torrential rains in Southern Wisconsin in June washed out a 700-foot section of earth that separated Lake Delton from the Wisconsin River. The 270 acre lake rushed through the breach, washing away a section of County Highway A and five shoreline homes in the process. Video of the houses breaking in half and floating away was broadcast around the world (there is a video available in the office of Pioneer Park of one of the houses being washed away which Dick and I have seen). It’s unbelievable, but shows clearly that “it is no secret what God can do”. I remember a song by that title. The draining left behind a muddy moonscape of stumps and puddles. When it was drier, Dick and I walked out onto that “moonscape” and even saw metal detectorists out there. There are pictures of us walking in the “lake” in our Pioneer Park, Lake Delton, Album, Number 32. There are also pictures in Album Number 76.
About 20 resorts, restaurants, and boat rental shops that hitched their survival to the water barely hung on. The famous Tommy Bartlett Water Ski Show was carried on, but with no water show. Instead of jet boats towing human water-skiing pyramids, tourists got a juggler, acrobats, and Wes Harrison, “Mr. Sound Effects”, who made noises with his mouth like steam engine trains, wild animals, machine guns, etc. Lake Delton is about 10 feet deep. Dick, our families, and I have gone swimming in Lake Delton often. We also went boating, fishing, and water-skiing like so many others did. But 10 months later, according to the April 21, 2009, edition of the Watertown Daily Times, the nightmare was over. A reinforced dam was built, and a new section of Highway County A was laid across the breach. Lake Delton was refilled, it was restocked with fish, and everyone was happy and back in business again!!!! Hooray! Thanks be to God!
JUNE 10, 2008 – CELEBRATING CONNER’S 1ST BIRTHDAY
Conner was 1 year old on June 1st. We celebrated it with Sue, Tim, and family at the Ponderosa in Watertown, Wisconsin. It’s hard to believe that a whole year has passed since he was born. Sadly, not long after that the Ponderosa was closed. It was one of our favorite places. We often saw a lady who volunteers at the ROC working there as a manager.
JUNE 15, 2008 – FATHER’S DAY AT MARLEY’S
There were three fathers at this party – Dick, Tim, and Kevin. Matthew was working there and was our very efficient waiter. They were presented with shark, crab, and rooster hats. Besides the three fathers, Sue, Jenny, Joshua, Jonah, Conner, Timmy, Chris, Julie, Matt, and I were there. We had delicious meals and also a scrumptious “Happy Father’s Day” cake. It was loads of fun!
JUNE 22. 2008 – – MORE FUN AT MELODY AND STEVE’S HOME
Melody and Steve invited Sue, Tim, and us to their beautiful home in West Bend, Wisconsin. Steve barbecued for the great meal which he and Melody served us on the deck. They have Karaoke, so all of us went down to their very wonderful basement. Mostly, we were entertained by Tim and Steve. Bedsides Karaoke, they played “Guitar Hero”. They did great!
JUNE 29, 2008 – A TRIP TO THE DRAINED LAKE DELTON
Dick and I decided to make a trip to what was Lake Delton. We walked out to the middle of the lake. There were some puddles, but not many. People were walking around with metal detectors. We hadn’t brought ours. We could see what was left of some of the houses. The piers in front of the big hotels and resorts were standing there without any water around them. It was really something to see.