Diary of Alfred E. Potter March, 1945

01.  Thursday: Dropped in at “Defender Photo Supply” visit with Mr. Dodge.  Then over to Eastman Kodak Company visited with Mr. Bergerson.  These results should help to cement or business relations with these firms.  Then over to Standard Drug Co. and bought quite an amount of merchandise.  Had late luncheon at “Pellegrins” then back to the hotel to check out.  The “400” Streamliner is sure loaded.  Met Mr. Mrs. Ed Durler on the train also a niece of Frank Callies.  She lives next to Hugo Hoevelers at Waukesha.  We arrive home at 7¹⁵ P.M. and I go down to the store to work until 11 P.M.

02.  Friday: To mass 8 Oclock St. Johns with Thres.  Met Emma Siewert.  Goods are coming in 80 and 60 case lots at the store.  Ed Fretschl is swamped.              Com.  Donald – Mary Ann

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04.  Sunday: To 7³⁰ Mass St. Johns with Thres.  Then to work.  Ted Steckbauer is an overnight guest at our house.  After breakfast took him over to his (sister) aunt Rose on Grove St.        Com.  Bishop Paul P. Rhode

05.  Monday: Two Kiwanis directors luncheon at the Athearn.  Visited Elizabeth Samuel this morning.  She has been down for four weeks with “Undulent Fever.” She is anxious to be back at work but no doubt will be down for some weeks to come. Ed Dietze and Martin Potratz, representatives of the Salsbury’s Remedy Co. conduct a Sales Meeting at our West Side Store tonite.

06.  Tuesday: Two Kiwanis luncheon.  We have as Frank Steckbauer’s guest at our table Eddie Koeck who is back from Europe.  He lost a foot over there.  Others at our table Ed Durler –Sam Lucksinger.

07.  Wednesday: To (Kiwanis) Chamber of Commerce Directors meeting at the Athearn.  Only a few of us were there: Ray Kivell – Charles Whitmack – Irv Sill – Dan Harmon – Dave Johnson – Jim Cudlip – and myself. Gerry LEstrange, our president is having a plate made for his uppers.  Mary Ann is fifteen today.  Aunt Lena is here for the evening.  No special celebration but a very fine dinner as only mother makes.

08.  Thursday: [T] Francis Lamb is with us today to begin our income tax returns.  Right Rev. Paul P. Rhode, Bishop of Green Bay Diocese, is laid to rest today.  Solemn pontifical requiem high mass was celebrated by Archbishop Moses E. Kiley of Milwaukee.  The eulogy was delivered by Rt. Rev. Stanislaus Bona who is Bishop Rhode’s successor.  The American First Army crossed the Rhine river south of Cologne last night.

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10.  Saturday: Dropped in to see Will Siewert this evening.  He is looking fine and is going to the All Stars game with Ray and Maxine.

11.  Sunday: To 7³⁰ Mass with St. Vincents Holy Name.  Then to work.  After a nap, took Mary Ann to the Strand, and then drove to Sunnyview.  Visited Tony Pable and his daughter Dorothy.  Also Carl Binder –Jimmy Jungwirth –Walter Kraus.  Back to work tonite, paid about 30 statements, when I get home find Louis and Mary Mauritz are over.  They leave at 1 A.M. Forty hours begins at St. John’s this morning.                Com.  Jacob Nuernberg

12.  Monday: Had a call from Douglas Hunt – Wautoma – this morning.  He is interested in doctors and cash register repair men.  This is a nice sun shiny day, and warm too.  This evening took Aunt Lena –Mary and Thres to Spikes MacDonald to view the remains of Wenz Mottl.  Had a nice visit with Joe and Mrs.

13.  Tuesday: Anna Drexler (Milwaukee) is 61 years of age today.

14.  Wednesday: Naomi Mueller is very generous today.  She sends the post office 50 dollars too much money in our daily money order report. Wenz Motttl is laid to rest today.

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16.  Friday: Temperatures are up today 63° in Oshkosh, 81° in Chicago.  Joe Hansetter is waxing my Plymouth.

17.  Saturday: Temperatures are still up.  Took a night off for change.  Had Ed and Thres Fretchl as theatre guests tonite.  “For whom the bell tolls” is at the Strand, also “Devil Boats” Cary Cooper and Ingrid Bergman star in the first picture, the second is about P.T. boats, both in technicolor.  Stopped at Pete Kings after the show.

18.  Sunday: To 7³⁰ Mass St. Johns.  Thres with Womens Council of Catholic ladies to St. Vincents 9⁰⁰ Mass, and Donald with K C’s and Squires to St. Mary’s at 8⁰⁰ Mass.  Annie Weisheipl has breakfast and dinner with us.                    Com.  Honor St. Joseph.  “Grace Happy Hour of Death”

19.  Monday: [T] Father David H. Regan pastor of St. Joseph’s Church, Berlin Wis. passed away suddenly at 2 A.M. this morning.  Had church services yesterday morning and stations of the cross in the afternoon.  Became ill last night.  Thres has the S. S. Business Men’s Auxiliary Card Club here this afternoon.  They are Angie Jansen – Mary Fenzel – Rose Binder – Emma Siewert – Louise Zentner – Leone Dodd –Dess Wirtz – Irma Kalbus –Ida Menzel – Rose Schneider – Laura Schein – Alma Tobobin – Mayme Siewert –Elsie Zentner –Vese Haveman – Elizabeth Lehnigk –Leone Nolte – Thres Potter.

20.  Tuesday: Kiwanis Club auctioned for the benefit of “Red Cross War Bond” 10 packages (1 Carton) cigarettes I donated.  They cleared 26⁰⁰ on the 10 packages, which is very good.  Spring begins today about 6 P.M.  A lovely day welcomes its arrival.

21.  Wednesday: [T] Took a drive to Milwaukee with Thres.  Stopped at Mutual – McClurgs – Yahr Lange.  Ambrose Grace is laid up again.  Had lunch at Fritz Gust, met Carl Bechler, he’s been laid up with arthritis.  Walter Lange waited on me and Y.L. while Thres did some shopping at Gimbels.  Took a drive to see Anna Drexler –Romy and Leona –Margaret and Gail.  Romy has skin trouble – Anna has exzema and Anna – Leona is breaking out on her face.  After a short visit started for home, arrived at 8²⁰ and stopped at the “Town Grill” for dinner.

22.  Thursday: Another beautiful day.  R.A.F. Mosquito Bombers attack Berlin for the 31^st consecutive day.  Dr. Geo. Lynch and Mrs. are back tonite from a five weeks vacation in St. Petersburg Florida.

23.  Friday: Mary Ann has another party in our basement.

24.  Saturday: Our Chime Clock comes back today.  Louis Heintz had it for months.

25.  Sunday: Men, Lady and Junior Foresters to Communion at St. Johns.  They had a swell turnout.  Mother – Marianne – Donald and myself all received.            Com.  Intention of the Holy Father for World Peace.

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27.  Tuesday: Today is the warmest day of the year -78° temperature and a very strong wind blowing almost a gale, blows open our front screen door at the south side store and the handle into our front window, smashing it badly. Essers were right on the job to put in a new one.  At Kiwanis luncheon we learned about (CAP) Civilian Air Patrol.  Our table Dr. Sid Dorfman – Dr. A. C. Gifford – J A Breese and me.  I won George Savage’s birthday prize today, it is a lovely necktie.

28.  Wednesday: Walter Patri made out my annual Guardianship report of the Jungen boys.  Filed report with W^m Niemuth.  This evening Thres and I visit with Ed and Thres Fretschel.  Grandpa Fretschel seems to be failing lately.  Today is Marion Fretschel’s (Mrs. Karl Larson’s) birthday.  She is 22.

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30.  Friday: Mrs. Mary Miller (Mrs. Rudolph) Miller passed away this morning at 3⁵⁰.  Born in Poygan Nov. 27 – 1884.  Married to Rudy – July 14 – 1909.  Mother to Father Roger at Salvatorian Seminary, St. Nazians.

31.  Saturday: Took Mary Ann and Thres to the Oshkosh to see “Song of Nevada” featuring Roy Rogers and his horse “Trigger,” also Gene Autry in “OH Susanna.” This is Anna Knoak’s last day at the Security Bank.  She has been with them 38 ½ years.  She is going to take a months vacation with her sister Mrs. Rev. Ludwig Schneider, Jackson Center, Ohio.