As the extreme summer heat is beginning to lessen, we here at Gem Estates are hearing some good news and some sad news about some of our residents.
Our prayer list is for Deannie Bennett, Helen Springer, Norma Monsulik’s daughter, Bonnie Whiten, George and Sylvia Held, Les Ott, Chuck and Joan Newland, Tom Greenwood, and Betty York.
Betty will be moving to Ohio and her address will be on the bulletin board at the clubhouse for those who would like to contact her.
We certainly wish everyone a speedy recovery.
We have lost three of our residents in the past few weeks — Jacob Frank, Dan Farnsworth and Billie Ann Packard. Our sympathies to their families, Karyn Frank, Carol Farnsworth and Vern Packard. We will miss them all.
Earl and Lois Sprague also gave us sad news about losing a 27-year-old grandson in Maine.
We were happy to see our vice president, Richard Burgess, and Dea-Ann back again to resume their duties officiating at our coffee socials.
A big thank you to Billy and Carolyn Mayer for hosting our summer coffee and doughnuts every Thursday. Making the coffee and ordering, plus picking up the doughnuts, might not seem a big deal. But when you have no idea how many people will show up to partake, it seems like always a worry: too much or not enough.
Our big news is the new addition to our clubhouse, giving us a lot more room for storage of our tables and chairs, bingo equipment, records, and leaving us enough room for a small meeting or two.
Residents with October birthdays are Mae Slipp and Frances Coon on Oct. 10, Paul Griffin and Gary Gibson on Oct. 11, Ray Moyer Oct. 13, Dee Neilson Oct. 20, and Betty Jo Kiger Oct. 27. Happy birthday to all.
For the past two months, I have been highlighting several people here in the park that have taken super trips — the Caseys’ trip to Hawaii, Caroline Wagoner’s trip to Alaska, and now this month I’ll highlight Neva Roy and her son Steve Miltroka’s trip sailing down the Main, Rhine and Danube rivers on a Viking River Cruise that runs through Germany, Austria and many more countries.
Traveling these rivers takes you past many old historic castles and churches that have withstood the sands of time and the ravages of wars as it winds its way to the Black Sea.
The first area they landed in was Amsterdam, Holland, a city rich with history, full of sights, with 90 island separated from each other by canals, and approximately 500 bridges. The most important means of transportation is the bicycle.
Neva ended up in a Cologne, Germany, hospital due to a fall and couldn’t get around to see all the fantastic sights, but the staff members on board made sure she was informed as to where they were and a television photographer gave her a rundown of locations and attractions.
The workmanship on the castles that withstood hundreds of years was so outstanding, she couldn’t pinpoint any one that was the most amazing.
One of the highlights she and son Steve enjoyed was the Weiner Hofburg Orchester program, a concert of Strauss and Mozart music, along with too many to mention.
Neva and Steve both told me the 15-day Viking River Cruise, with its sights and memories, is something that will last a lifetime.
About 30 people from the park are also excited and will be going on a cruise of their own to view the Panama Canal, Curacao, Aruba and Costa Rica in January. You are welcome to join us.
By Lee Heffelfinger
Published October 29, 2014
