Diary of Alfred E. Potter July, 1944

01.  Saturday: Our near neighbor George Golz’s (639 – 14^th) resignation from the fire department comes effective as of today.  He completed 23 years of service.  To the Strand Betty Grable stars in “Pin up Girl” also “A Night of Adventure” with Tom Conway.

02.  Sunday: To 7³⁰ Mass St. Johns.  Work until 1 PM.  Oh to the cottage about 5⁰⁰.  Stan Dembowiak, Clara and children go along.  Father Michael Drexler, his Mother Anna and Joe and Annie Heip follow.  Ed Fretchel is staying at the Dramatics.  Got Norbert Mueller out for a fishing license for Stan.

03.  Monday: To town this morning for ¼ barrel beer and food.  Ed and I did some fishing but no fish.  This afternoon Fathers Drexler –Pimiskern – Matt Drexler – Joe Kloiber – Joe Baier –Emma Baier and children – Annie Weisheipl come out.  Almost forgot that Stan Dembowiak from West Allis also came, and Alois Mugerauer.  The boys had quite a poker game.  Fretchel when out by himself and caught some fish.  Bob Kliss 712 – 10^th St. lost his mother Anna last night about 11 Oclock.  Born in Germany Oct. 17 – 1846.  Came to Oshkosh in 1868, married Joseph Kliss who died in 1905.

04.  Tuesday: To town this morning for another ¼ barrel and more food.  Bill Siewert happens to be at Jennie Miller’s so I get A1 service even at the shop is closed for the day.  Matt –Joe Drexler – Stan Dem.  - _____ Wolf are out early this morning to fish, no luck.  This afternoon Father Michael –Stan and the family –Father Pimiskern, Joe Kloiber – Ed Weisheipl are out to swim and play cards.  Anna Weisheipl comes with the boys.  After most of the folks went home Ed Weisheipl gave a performance, not too pleasant for any of us.  Party broke up at 2 A.M.

05.  Wednesday: [2M T] Everything is quiet at the cottage this morning.  Fretchel did some more fishing without any luck, and I am back on the job.  Norbert informs me, he was called to the West side store yesterday afternoon by one of our customers who had been waiting inside the store for 15 minutes, when the store was supposed to be closed.  Elizabeth Samuels had forgotten to lock the door when she left for home.

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07.  Friday: [4M] Took Bill Mauritz and Ed Fretchel to the cottage.  Bill repairs the roof with some new boards, Ed cleans up the shore land.  Faye Baier has a tonsils and adenoids removed.  Joe and Emma Baier bring the folks back tonite.  Joan Mauritz is Mary Ann’s guest at home today.  Mary Ann takes her to the “Time Theatre” this afternoon.

08.  Saturday: Took Ed’s dog “Mikey” to the cottage this afternoon and that was quite a treat for him.  Temperature is 97° today.

09. Sunday: To St. Johns 7³⁰ Mass, then to work.  In the evening took Thres Fretchel and Aunt Lena Baier a long to the cottage.

10.  Monday: [N T] Had my first opportunity at the blood bank today. There were many blood donors there. Am pretty tired tonite.

11.  Tuesday: To Kiwanis luncheon, the first in 3 weeks.  Our table Ozzie Witte – Frank Labudde – Gene Vogel –Ed Durler –myself.  Visited Anna (Mrs. John) Drexler this evening.  She is to have X Ray pictures taken tomorrow at Mercy Hospital.  Has not been so well lately.  Had a good shower of rain today, accompanied with wind.  Rain was much needed.  When I get to the cottage tonite, I find the folks have adopted a dog, looks like he might be a shepherd or collie, or maybe both.

12.  Wednesday: Worked as usual.  Ed Weisheipl gets an afternoon off, a schedule for July and August.  Kiwanians meet some of the future farmers of Winnebago County.  We stopped at the Otto Ruehlke – Herman Schnell – W^m Raddatz and Gordon Raddatz farms.  Charles Ruehlke – Clarence Schnell and Gordon Raddatz each gave a talk on his farm.  Frank Wilkinson – Floyd Miller and Myron Clark assisted at the tour.  Our car –Dave Johnson – Myron Clark – Bud Menzel – Earl Clemans –Ed Schrank – myself.  Pauline Heiss “owner of the “Heiss Bakery” until 1923 passed away 10 oclock last night at 67 Church St.

13.  Thursday: [N] Mrs. Heiss was born in Black Wolf Oct. 21 – 1859, daughter of Mr. – Mrs. Paul Gunz.  Father Michael Drexler stops at the store this morning.  His mother had more Xrays at Mercy this morning.  Viewed the remains of Mrs. Pauline Heiss at Fiss & Bills.                    M.O.  Mrs. Pauline Heiss

14.  Friday: [2M N] Frank Haidlinger passed away at 1³⁰ this morning at Mercy Hospital.  Born Sept. 18 – 1890.  He was a classmate of mine at St. Vincents.  Brother of Bill Haidlinger.  Felix Rohde 1035 – 9th St. also pass this morning at 1³⁰ at Mercy.  Born in Germany November 1852.

15.  Saturday: [2M] View the remains of Frank Haidlinger at Fiss & Bills.  Joe Hemmer said the rosary.  Took Thres and Mary Ann to the Oshkosh Theatre “Three Men in White” starring Lionel Barrymore –Van Johnson –Marilyn Maxwell and “Louisiana Hayride” with Judy Canova and Richard Lane.              M.O.  Frank Haidlinger

16.  Sunday: To St. Vincents 7³⁰ Mass then to work.  Napped this afternoon then moved the folks back out to the cottage.  The Joe Baier –Bill Mauritz –and Ray Ostertag families spend the day at the cottage, and the children sure have a good time.              Com.  Frank Haidlinger

17.  Monday: Jack Rothe takes his vacation this week.  Frank Haidlinger is laid to rest.  Pallbearers were Erwin Friederich – Anton Serwas – George LaBorde –Roman Novotny – Louis Thoma –Ed Duwe

18.  Tuesday: [T] Brought Mary Ann in for treatment.  Took Carol Steinert along tonight.  She will be Mary Ann’s guest for a few days

19.  Wednesday: The weather turns cool.  I gave the dog a good scrubbing today and that improves his looks a lot.  The Democratic Convention is on in full blast at Chicago.  Franklin D. Roosevelt no doubt will be nominated for a fourth time, setting a precedent.  The Japanese War Cabinet resigns, which looks like an admission that their war against the U.S.A. is lost.

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21.  Friday: [N] The Democratic Convention ends by nominating Pres. Franklin Roosevelt to run for a fourth term and Sen. Harry Truman, Missouri to run for Vice President.  Henry Wallace, present vice – pres.  Lost on the second ballot.  Had a pleasant surprise this evening.  Joe Kriz stopped in to see me.  He has covered 130 000 miles on the sea in the last several years.  He is on a months leave, will then go to Washington and from there he will attend Harvard for advanced studies.

22.  Saturday: Visited Tony Pable and Carl Binder at Sunnyview.  Took Aunt Lena, Mary Ann and Thres to Oshkosh Theatre Technicolor “Home in Indiana” featuring Walter Brennan – Lou McAllister – Jeanne Crain and Charlotte Greenwood.  Detective “Kitty O Day” with Jean Parker is very comical.  A Requiem Mass at St. Peter’s Church for Capt. George R. Dempsey, killed in action north of Rome June 28^th.  Born Feb. 22 – 1918.  Married Catherine Schwalm early part of 1942.

23.  Sunday: To 730 Mass of St. Johns, then to work.  Back to the cottage this afternoon.  After being there about 30 minutes our dog comes back from somewhere.  We thought he would not be back, as he followed Joe Baier’s car for quite a stretch, nearly to the Omro Junction School last Friday when the folks were coming home.  I gave him a good scrubbing and now he is himself again.  Bill and Emm Siewert spend the evening and night with us.

24.  Monday: [T] Stopped at Ann Drexler’s this afternoon.  She is much improved but still gets dizzy spells.  Father Michael Drexler is there on his weekly visit.  Mike Grabner is 76 years old today.  He looks very well for his age.

25.  Tuesday: George Weisheipl stops of the store a few minutes to say hello.  Wrote a letter to Harry and Agnes in Berlin and when I got to the cottage tonite I find Harry and family visiting with us.  Dolores Kinateder comes along as guest to Mary Ann.  Frank Keefe, Congressman is speaker at our Kiwanis luncheon.  He explains the duties of various committees in Congress.  He is on the Committee of Appropriations.  Our table Alec Bukolt – Lee Conroy –Abe Kagan and self.

26.  Wednesday: Can’t get my car started this morning after a very heavy rainstorm and showers, and am marooned at the cottage.  No one around with a car to help me out.  About 6⁰⁰ took a walk over to Carl Binders.  He helped to get me started, and I drove to town and work the evening.

27.  Thursday: Joe and Marge Weisheipl stop in at the store for short visit.  Joe has been home since a week ago last Tuesday on furlough.  Father Frank Schoettl and his mother stopped at the store.  Mayme Haidlinger (Mrs. Will) is operated at Mercy Hospital.

28.  Friday: Our “Boots” does not come today.  The folks are worried.

29.  Saturday: Boots comes back this morning with a shot in his right hip.  He is hardly able to drag himself.  Took Aunt Lena – Ed and Thres Fretchel to the Strand tonite.  “Christmas Holiday” starring Deanna Durbin and Gene Kelly, also “South of Dixie” with Anne Gwynne –Dave Bruce –Jerome Cowan - Joe Sawyer.

30.  Sunday: To St. Johns 730 Mass, then to work as usual.  Ohio St. Merchants have their parade and picnic at South Park today.  We drove back to the cottage about 4³⁰, took Thres Fretchel and Aunt Lena along.  Our dog is back after we were at the cottage about an hour.

31.  Monday: [T] Just learned that Ted Behlendorf had been confined to bed since the last Tuesday in April.  He is now able to be out of bed for short intervals.