 The day began with Activity Director Rebecca Johnson offering up a
welcome to the four ladies and a number of family members who had
come to celebrate the day as well. After prayer, all the guests
enjoyed a lunch of chicken dumpling soup accompanied by a warm
croissant with cheese. Lunch was served by Johnson, Activity
Assistant Linda Bree, and Social Services representative Marie Parr.
The luncheon was topped off with a coconut cream pie dessert.
This year, Johnson compiled short biographies of each of the
honorees. After lunch, she shared the biographies with the group.
Gladys Herrington
Gladys was born on December 21, 1913 in Kissinger,
Missouri, a town that no longer exists. Her parents were Benny and
Effie Brown. She had three brothers and four sisters. Of her
siblings, her “baby sister” Blanch is the last remaining at the age
of 96.
Gladys married Gui Redd in 1939, and they moved to Springfield,
Illinois. They raised two daughters, Ginger and Gail. Gladys was an
active member of her church in Springfield and a member of the
Eastern Star.
Gladys’ daughter Gail passed away in 2007. She also lost her first
husband, and in 1940 remarried to Raymond Herrington. After
Raymond’s passing, Gladys moved to Lincoln, to be close to her
daughter Ginger. Gladys has now been a resident at St. Clara’s for
five years.
Gladys enjoys the time she has with her daughter and granddaughters.
To date she enjoys having not only Ginger, but one step-daughter, 11
grandchildren, 25 great-grandchildren, and many, many
great-great-grandchildren as well as her sister Blanch and many
cousins, friends, and two loving church families; the Zion Baptist
Church in Springfield and the Second Baptist Church in Lincoln.
In the biography Johnson wrote, “Here at St. Clara’s, Gladys has
always been a true example of a Christian. With dignity and grace,
she has accepted whatever God has handed her. She is an inspiration
to all who know her.”
Marie Kurtz
Marie was born January 28, 1912. Her parents were
Henry John Schmidt and Mary Ruth Smith. She had one brother and one
sister. In her very early years, the family lived on a farm between
Hartsburg and Bell Station. While still in her youth, the family
moved to Lincoln where Marie attended grade school and was the first
member of her family to graduate high school.
Her first job was a popcorn girl at the Maple Club. There she sold
popcorn to earn money so her younger sister could take music
lessons.
Marie married Raymond Kurtz in 1935. The couple had three sons,
Williams, Tom and Robert. Robert passed away in 1981.
Marie has been a resident at St. Clara’s for three years. She enjoys
daily visits from her son Tom, who is also readily available to
volunteer as needed at the manor.
Johnson noted in the biography that Marie has always been interested
in the many activities offered at St. Clara’s. In recent times,
declining health has limited her ability to participate, but she
still very much enjoys attending bingo and special events such as
the luncheon. She also took a moment to acknowledge Tom not only for
his devotion to his mother, but also for his willingness to help out
when needed.
Verna Ommen
Verna was born August 12, 1912. Her parents were Fred and Laura
Fricke. She had three brothers and two sisters. Her last remaining
sister is 96. Her oldest sister, passed away in 2014 at the age of
102.
Verna grew up on the farm and enjoyed life with a wide variety of
farm animals. She enjoyed cooking, gardening, and preserving
homegrown vegetables and fruits taken from the family’s gardens and
fruit trees.
She married Marvin Ommen in 1935 and raised five children. They
lived in the Morgan/Cass County area. Verna remembers her life in
the country as “clean country living." She remembers walking to
visit neighbors and one particular occasion when she and her husband
carried their youngest daughter in a bushel basket between them.
[to top of second
column] |
The family enjoyed working jigsaw puzzles together, and Verna
greatly enjoyed quilting and crocheting. She crocheted afghans for
all of her grandchildren in their school colors.
Johnson, during the biography, asked for a particular afghan to be
shown to the group. It is the last afghan Verna made, and it is made
of remnant yarn from all the afghans she crocheted for her
grandchildren.
After leaving the family farm, the Ommen's lived in Beardstown;
Verna later moved to Jacksonville where she lived for 20 years. At
age 96 she moved again to live with her daughter Wilma, and now she
is a resident of St. Clara’s.
She and Wilma enjoy time together on a regular basis, and often
participate in manor activities as a pair.
In the biography Johnson wrote, “Verna’s eyes light up when children
are in the building. She smiles and holds their hand, she claps her
hands with musical entertainment, and she watches to see what’s
going on around her. We thank you, Verna, for allowing us to be
around you every day.”
Hilma Theobald
Hilma was born on August 6, 1912. Her parents were William and
Sophia Lohrenz. She had six siblings, two of which died at very
young ages. Growing up on a farm in Logan County, Hilma attended the
Buckeye, a one-room country school.
In the 1930’s, she married Eugene Theobald, and the couple worked
side-by-side on a dairy farm near Broadwell. Hilma was a devoted
farm wife who tended to the needs of her husband and farm hands by
providing daily snacks and cold drinks in the field and large
noontime meals for everyone.
Throughout their lives, the Theobald’s were very involved in the
Logan County Fair and helped with the Kickapoo Saddle Club and the
Mounted Police Patrol.
The couple moved to Lincoln in 1988. While they had no children,
they were blessed with a large family, including many nieces and
nephews. The couple's special day was always Easter Sunday when 40
to 50 family members would come to their home for an Easter feast.
Often the couple cooked the meal together, with Eugene manning a
stove in the garage while Hilma used the one in the kitchen.
A resident of St. Clara’s since 2013, Hilma still enjoys the company
of family, and was happy to have family members with her on Monday.
Johnson said that Hilma enjoys the music programs and special events
at St. Clara’s and particularly likes the days when she gets her
nails done by the manicurist.
After the biographies, Johnson presented each of the ladies with a
gift. She invited comments from the audience.
Gladys Herrington’s daughter Ginger was present along with two of
Gladys granddaughters. Ginger may have summed it up the best when
she said that she thought it was remarkable to stop and think about
the history these four women have seen. In their lifetime, they have
been a part of a great depression, have witnessed world wars, civil
unrest, and reform, and seen the invention of many things that in
their youth may have been unimaginable. Ginger also said she was
grateful that these women have aged with grace. They have been here
to share their stories, and that she particularly appreciated all
her mother has given to the younger generation by way of life
experiences and memories.
At the end of the day, Johnson also took a moment to remember a
lovely lady who died just a week before the luncheon. She commented
that Mary Hunt was to have been the newest member of the
Centenarians and had been very excited about turning 100. She
recalled, “Mary would say, ‘I’m 100 years old. Can you believe it?’”
Johnson remembered her as a dear lady who will be missed at St.
Clara’s.
[Nila Smith] |
