Diary of Alfred E. Potter May, 1942

01.  Friday: [6M RD] To church at 7 Oclock.                 Com. Honor B.V.M.

02.  Saturday: [8M RD] Martin Koeck who works at our south side store lost his mother this morning.  She passed away at 6.55 at Fond du Lac, at the home of her daughter Mrs. Arthur Vedner.  Born Feb 13 – 1883.  Dropped in to see Joe Weisheipl, he is still confined, his hands and face are somewhat better.  I took Donald and Mary Ann to the Strand to see Abbott and Costello in “Rio Rita” starring Kathryn Grayson and John Carroll.  Thres goes to Armory B, Chas Maloney’s Giant Bingo with 100 and 50 dollar prizes.  She wins 2⁵⁰, well, thats something.

03.  Sunday: To 6 Oclock Mass at St. Johns.  A decided change in the weather today.     Com.  Mrs. Frances Koeck

04.  Monday: [4M N RFXMOK] View the remains of Mrs. Koeck.  Met Loretta from Chicago, hardly knew her.  Joe and Art begin their summer schedule of working hours today.  Joe is the first one out.            M.O.  Mrs. Frances Koeck

05.  Tuesday: [6M N RAXMOK] Attended funeral of Mrs. Koeck.  I’d took Father Bastian to the cemetery and back.  He is in fine humor this morning.  Told about when he’s served mass as a little boy about 7 years of age.

06.  Wednesday: [8M RNXMOK] This is a day of rain.  I staid home part of the afternoon to do some cleaning up in my den upstairs.  At night I do the same as it is still raining.  Corregidor falls into the hands of the Japanese.  General Wainwright is believed to be taken prisoner with his men.

07.  Thursday: [6M RDXMOK] M. C. Mertz & Son begin putting a new door on our garage.  A beautiful day, hardly a cloud in the sky.  Bought of “Silent Yard Man” lawn mower for home.  .86 inches of rain fell yesterday.

08.  [10M N RNXMOK]

09.  Saturday: [6M RNXMOK] Donald out early today to work on the farm for Joe Nebel. He earns 75 cents. Bill Glidden is here to prime our new garage doors.

10.  Sunday: To six oclock Mass at St. Johns.  Donald peddles a new paper route today.  View the remains of Frank Werner at Mallery Arhelgers funeral home.  Thres and Annie Heip played Bingo at the American Legion Club House and win the usual nothing

11.  Monday: [1M N RCXMOK] Frank Werner is laid to rest this morning.  Robert H Downes, Secretary of Cook and Brown Line Co.  Passed away last night at 11 Oclock at Mercy Hospital.  Prominent in business and civic affairs for years.  Mr. Downes was born Feb 9 – 1879 at Sutter Creek California.  Married to Nellie Brown Sept 26 – 1911.  We have much rain all day, also a foot of water in the basement of our west side store.

12.  [6M RJXMOK]

13.  Wednesday: [4M RNXMOK] It is hot and sultry out today.  Took Ed and Thres Fretchel to the cottage this afternoon.  Ed painted two of our lawn chairs.  It was nice when we got there, but several heavy downfalls of rain and much wind did some damage during the latter part of the afternoon.  Frederick W. (Buster) Baumgartner is 13 years old today.

14.  [6M N RNXMOK]

15.  Friday: [10M N] Joseph Matschi 1118 -12^th passed away this noon at Mercy Hospital.  He was sick only a short time.

16. Saturday: [6M RNXMOK] Drove to the cottage after dinner.  Orville Rumlow stopped in to check our plumbing.  Donald and myself painted lawn chairs, no cutting grass the ground is too soggy.  Visited Mrs. Hemmer tonite she is quite low, can not keep food on her stomach.  Mrs. Joe (Margaret) Hemmer stays home with the folks with her babies.  Visited Anna Drexler, and Leona and Romy Czecalski.  Romy is painting and the ladies to the criticizing.  A lady friend addressed Rose Weisheipl over the phone today “Hello Old Bag.” How are you?

17.  Sunday: [2M] To six oclock mass at St. Vincents, Donald serves.  Took Ed Fretchel to the cottage spray the apple trees.  In the afternoon are viewed the remains of Joseph Matschi.  Mr. Matschi was born April 15 – 1866 in Austria.  Met his daughter Sister M. Mathalie who is stationed at Madison.  Worked 7 hours today.  Geo. Eigner from Milwaukee drops in to say hello.  He was up to Waupaca, trout fishing.  After work took Ed and Thres Fretchel, to the Strand to see “Bob Hope and Madeline Carroll” in “My Favorite Blonde.”       Com. Int. Holy Father  M.O.  Joseph Matschi

18.  Monday: [4M N RMOXMOK] Anna Weisheipl gets a permanent hair do today.

19.  Tuesday: [6M N RNXMOK] Today is Monika Mauritz Ven Sister M. Melora’s birthday.  I think she is 29.

20.  Wednesday: [5M RJXMOK] Donald and myself cut grass at the cottage.  It is very heavy and hard to cut.

21.  Thursday: [RAXMOK] Took Ed and Thres Fretchel for a visit with their son Edward and daughter in law Marion.  They live with Laurence and Margaret Spanbauer renting 3 nice rooms upstairs.

22.  Friday: [10M N RAXMOK] According to tonite's paper, boys 18-19 will register June 30th, but will not be subject to military draft until they reach the age of twenty. Edward Paulik is in the store tonite and talking rather loud, he must have looked a little deep into the glass of good cheer.

23.  [4M RCXMOK]

24.  Sunday: To six oclock mass at St. Johns. Visited Mrs. Hemmer, she is very low, but she still recognized me. Wired money to Pete Hemmer this afternoon. He is at Jefferson Barracks, Mo. Donald is made a Grand Knight of the Altar, the highest rank among Altar Boys. Other degrees are Page – Guard - and Knight Commander. Ordered flowers at Hrnaks then to Riverside Cemetery, met Harry Kujawa and family there. They spent the evening with us at the cottage. Harry is good with a scythe. Mrs. Hemmer passed away at 4.30 this afternoon.

25.  Monday: [10M N RFXMOK] Ma Potter is out early this morning to get a permanent.  Ed Fretchel is painting or boat at the cottage.  Attended prayers at the Hemmer home.  Mrs. Hemmer was born in Bavaria June 21 – 1869.  Her husband passed away April 1 – 1912.  Shot of the furnace today, had had a steady fire since October 23d.  Mr. and Mrs. Peter W. Reifer 713 South Park Ave. are married 55 years today.

26.  Tuesday: [6M RAXMOK] Harold Mueller is 46 years of age today.  Carol Mae Baumgartner is nine years old today.

27.  Wednesday: [4M RMOXMOK] Mrs. Regina Hemmer is laid to rest.  Father Hemmer offered the Requiem.  Father John Nuernberg is also here.  I am one of the pallbearers.  Took Ed Fretchel with me this afternoon to do some work at the cottage.  The boat gets two coats of varnish and the lawn chairs receive their finishing coat.  Geo. Hilton, prominent Oshkosh attorney passed away this afternoon at his home 375 Washington Blvd.  He was born in Washington D.C.  Oct 10 – 1861.  Corky Weisheipl comes in to loan one of my traveling bags.

28.  Thursday: [2M N RNXMOK] Father Bastian has a birthday today, I think he is 68.  The “Dionne” quintuplets are 8 years of age today.  They lose their pigtails and get hair bobs.  Corky Weisheipl leaves for Milwaukee to be examined as to fitness for army service.

29.  Friday: [4M N RNXMOK] Anna Weisheipl gets a hairdye this morning.  She tells me read here did not look good honor.  Thres takes Donald – Mary Ann and Ed Fretchel to the cottage tonite.  I follow after work.  It is our first night at the cottage and it looks very threatening.

30.  Saturday: [RDXMOK] Ed Fretchel is out at 5.45 A.M. to cut down the hay back of the cottage.  Around 9 A.M. we put in the skid for the boat.  It turns very hot during the day.  Ed Jr. and Marion come out on their bicycles and Ed helps cut lawn.  He and I develop a healthy sunburn.  Ed Sr. gets a red nose.  Bill and Emma Siewert come out this afternoon.  We drive back to town about 9.30 P.M.  Lucky to get home when we did, for a severe storm broke.

31.  Sunday:[T] To St. Johns 6 Oclock Mass but it did’nt begin until 6.15.  Ed Baranowski had to rouse out the priest.  It is still raining heavily this morning.  Thres and self went to the Oshkosh tonite.  “Wild Bill Hickok Rides” starring Constance Bennett – Bruce Cabot and Warren William also comedy “About Face” starring William Tracy – Joe Sawyer – Jean Porter, are the pictures.