|
 Peacock suffered a spinal cord injury from an accident that
occurred in October of 2016. It left her paralyzed from the chest
down.
The restaurant proudly locally owned and operated by Elaine and
Steve Aue, is known throughout Logan County for hosting evening
fundraisers to help the community, but this particular cause “hits
home.”
According to Elaine Aue, she is more than willing to lend a helping
hand for a local woman.
Peacock is the mother of three girls, ages six, 10 and 14.
Prior to the accident, Peacock worked at The Christian Village and
she was most recently a hospice nurse at Safe Haven Hospice. Peacock
is widely known throughout the community as one who helped others.
Family and friends are now combining efforts to help Peacock and the
Culver’s fundraiser is just one on a list of upcoming efforts to
help the young woman.
 Elaine, who does not personally know Peacock, explained the reason
behind doing an all day event. "This is not something that I
normally do. We are going to do 100 percent of the sales for Stacy.
Everything in the door is going to go to her benefit.” So whether
you come in for a ButterBurger meal or any of the entrees on the
menu or simply stop in for some Culver’s famous Fresh Frozen
Custard, 100 percent of the sales go to help Peacock.
Elaine mentioned that she does do an entire day of fundraising for
St. Jude’s, but other causes normally benefit from evening
fundraisers only.
Continuing to explain her reason behind the full day, Elaine said,
"I feel like this is a hometown person that needs our help. I think
it’s a good cause to help her family and to help with her medical
bills. I mean she’s got the positive attitude and she’s going out
and giving it all she can give it, so why don’t we try and help her
through it, you know.”
Elaine said that she knows a lot of Peacock's family members are
coming to help, her daughters are coming to help and also some
members of Audra’s Dance Class are pitching in with the efforts this
Saturday. “They all will come in and run orders to the tables, help
keep tables clean and run orders to the car,” said Elaine. "My team
will obviously do all the cooking and taking food orders.”
“Everybody in the door that day will be supporting her,” said
Elaine.
The most poignant reason for the all day event was revealed by
Elaine as the interview progressed. Elaine first saw news of
Peacock’s accident in a paper and then somebody brought in a flyer
to Culver’s and asked for a donation.
“I don’t know. It kind of hit home because of my sister’s accident
many years ago. I know what it’s like….” said Elaine, her voice
breaking up, as tears came to her eyes. “It hits home. It hit hard.”
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Elaine would go on to explain that her sister, Lucinda Reifsteck,
was involved in an automobile accident on Valentine’s Day morning in
1985 at the young age of 24. Lucinda hit black ice on the way to
college in Freeport while driving her little Fiat car. Her brother,
David, was in the car with her and Lucinda more than likely saved
his life. The driver of the van that hit Lucinda’s vehicle said he
was headed towards the passenger’s door when something happened.
Elaine explained, “The guy coming at them, the van that hit them,
said he was headed for David’s door for sure. He said there were
deep ditches and he couldn’t go anywhere. He said at the last minute
she (Lucinda) turned the wheel and spun it to hit her side. David
said he remembered Lucinda screaming, “David, no.”
Lucinda was in a coma for a year, according to Elaine. Lucinda and
Elaine were just 14 months apart in age. “We were like twins,” said
Elaine, emphasizing that the two sisters did not look alike however.
"Lucinda had soft blue eyes and there was something about her. The
guys just went to her like a magnet. She was just really down to
earth, next door, cute little girl.” Elaine laughed when saying, “I
was like a wallflower” with Lucinda around. “She was just a dandy of
a person and loved life to the fullest.” Elaine also sees a lot of
similarities between Lucinda and her own daughter, Kristan.
Lucinda would live for 27 years unable to walk and talk. “That’s a
long time to be on this earth, but as David said, “You know, she had
a lot of lives to touch and a lot of things to do, so she stayed,”
said Elaine. Lucinda lived at St. Clara’s Manor while in Lincoln and
she was the love of Brian Aper’s life. Elaine believes Aper, a Logan
County man who had suffered an accident in 1980, and Lucinda were
soul mates and later in life they would spend their days together at
a rehab facility in Lincoln.
"It happens quickly and it happens too often,” said Elaine, of these
life-changing accidents.
No doubt as customers come through the door or drive-thru Saturday
at Culver’s, not only will they be helping Stacy and her family with
medical expenses, but folks will also unknowingly be helping Elaine
and her family honor the memory of Lucinda. The financial support
will be obvious but you cannot put a dollar amount on the emotional
support that both families will be receiving.
Finally, Elaine hopes for a big day Saturday, as she and her team
open their hearts to help Stacy. "I had them pick a Saturday because
Saturday’s are one of our better days, instead of a weekday. I
thought we would get more highway traffic and everything coming in
on a Saturday. Hopefully we can pack this place all day long.”
[Teena Lowery] |
