My daughter, Sara, Gertie's 5 year old Great Granddaughter told me we have our memories.  How right she is.  

I remember the summers at the cabin with all the cousins, fishing, swimming, water skiing, playing lawn games and, of course, fighting over the number 1 glass.  All made possible because of Grandma.

I remember holidays at her home.  There was plenty of food to eat, a puzzle to help put together and of course the card games.  Grandma usually won.

I asked Sara about her memories.  She told me she remembers sitting on Gertie's lap.  They were in her wheel chair in a garden. 

Gertie was a very important person in the lives of my children, Jason and Shaina Clapper.  They have often spoken of her fondly.  I am grateful for the energy she spent on planning many family get-togethers and events.  I can't count the times she prepared meals for a crowd of her children, step-children, children-in-law, and grandchildren. 

Gertie had many expert skills, such as elegant penmanship, perfect organization, and proper manners.  She tried to impart the latter to the rest of us with varying success!  She had more recipes for Jell-O molds that anyone else I know.  Our favorite was strawberry with sour cream.  She also made an unusual Jell-O mold with a vegetable medley mixed in.

I am thankful to Gertie for being such a loving caretaker to Bob as his health declined.  She demonstrated real love and faithfulness by tending to his needs during those difficult years.

It's a great lesson to all of us that we can leave an important and lasting legacy just by being a good, loving, and responsible person.


Pam   

Josh and I would always spend a week in the summer and a week during the holidays at Grandma's house.  I have so many great memories, but I think my favorites are when Aunt Judy and Ron would come over with Chad and Amy and we would all sit around the big table and play cards.  Oh my gosh, so many skip bo games were played.  And then sitting at the card table and working on puzzles with grandpa.  I always looked forward to my trips to Illinois and always hated leaving to go back home.  Grandma would drive Josh and I to meet up with my mom at the McDonald's that was half way between the two houses.  We would ride in that good ole wagon.  I missed that wagon when it was gone.

March 1978 (Easter Week-end): We were visiting Bob (dad) and Gertie (mom) and were spending the Easter week-end at their cabin in Mahomet, Ill. The first night there was a very severe ice storm that hit the entire area; knocking out power over the entire area. All of the trees and streets were covered with very a thick coating of ice. With power out, the toilet in the cabin would not fill. We had to go to the lake and get water to fill the toilet every time we used the toilet. We kept a bucket on standby in the bathroom (lol). Luckily, the cabin was gas heated by a room heater (rectangular with a flat top). Gertie came prepared and had some food dishes already prepared. She (Gertie) had made a Ham and some casserole dishes before we went to the cabin. Well, she put the food that needed heating up on the gas heater and we had a lovely dinner – Gas Lantern Lit (how romantic). We were not able to leave the cabin for a few days, but she had brought plenty of food. Bob (dad) and I started the charcoal grille and cooked burgers and hotdogs. We spent a lot of time playing cards, enjoyed telling stories, and trying to stay warm. That week-end became a great memory and was shared with others for many years to come.

What a handsome couple!

I admired grandma for her sharp wit and her independence.  It is amazing to think of all the changes she saw in her lifetime -  from technology to social.   

I always enjoyed playing card games with grandma.  If I beat her it was a serious victory, she was one sharp lady!