Diary of Alfred E. Potter May, 1944

01.  Monday: [2M] Joe Weisheipl is 60 years old today, he is looking better than ever.  May is ushered in with a lovely day, temperatures well up in the 70’s.  Karl Kieckhafer is in today.

02.  Tuesday: To Kiwanis luncheon, Ray Miller speaks on youth centers and Jay Putney showed a picture on safety away from work.  Our table Dr. Gifford –Reuben Shekey – Len Holt – Gene Vogel – Dave Collin and myself.

03.  Wednesday: Aunt Mary gets a treat today.  I take her along to Milwaukee.  She has never been there.  Left her at Margaret’s and went on to take care of my business.  In the evening we had our meal at Romy and Lovie’s.  Sick Aunty is about the same.  The folks all were as much surprised to see Aunt Mary and she was to be there with them.  She stayed at Lovie’s overnight.  I stayed at Margaret’s.  Little Gail has reaction from a diphtheria immunization given to her Monday.  Winds are heavy today.

04.  Thursday: Drove home this morning, rain part of the way.  Arrived home at noon and Aunt Mary has much to talk about.  Visited Father John Nuernberg this evening.  He is at Mercy Hospital and is very much depressed.  Doctor Lynch of is having tests made to ascertain if Father has pus in his system and to what extent.  Father Victor Kandy is also there to see him.

05.  Friday: To 7 Oclock Com. at St. Vincents.  George Buchanan passed away this evening at 6⁴⁵.  Death came unexpectedly.  Born Sept. 19 – 1905.  He operated the “Doman” South Park Ave. tavern for several years.  Married Mary Biebel March 31 – 1939.              Com.  Donald – Mary Ann

06.  Saturday: [2M T] Father Bastian brings Holy Communion to Thres this morning.  Took Ed Fretchel out to the cottage with our birdhouse.  Our first trip out there this year.  Aunt Lena has more bad news for us today.  She is going to be confined another three weeks out to Ann’s.  Ramon now has scarlet fever and Ann Ostertag is not feeling well either.  Ray Ostertag no doubt will have to stay at his mothers again.  This is tough luck.

07.  Sunday: Took Thres to St. Johns 7³⁰ Mass.  This is the first time she has been able to attend church since Feb. 6^th.  Took Ed – Carl – of Robert Fretchel out to the cottage, we put up the birdhouse and thats some job.  Ed find a dead all in the cottage.  This afternoon we put on the screens and cleaned up the back yard.  The “Brands” are out cutting grass.              Com.  Father John Nuernberg

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10.  Wednesday: [2M T] Drove to the cottage tonite to cut grass.  Took Mary Ann along.  When we got home Will and Emma Siewert were here to spend the evening.  Party broke up at 1³⁰ A.M.

11.  Thursday: Our neighbor John Rozek is operated for appendicitis this afternoon.

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13.  Saturday: [2M] Cut grass at the cottage this afternoon.  Worked at orders at the store tonite and took Ed Weisheipl home.

14.  Sunday: To 7³⁰ Mass at St. Johns with Thres and Mary Ann. Thres is feeling much better today. This noon left for St. Nazianz with Mary Ann, Fred Karst, and Mrs. Frank Drexler. The Salvatorian Glee Club (Donald belongs) puts on a nice entertainment.                     Com.  Thres – Mother

15.  Monday: [T] Naomi Mueller and Rose Weisheipl spend the day in Milwaukee altho they get up somewhat late 10.30 at the hotel.  The top two Margaret over the phone.  Turned off our stoker after 7 months of steady firing.

16.  Tuesday: To Kiwanis luncheon.  Our table Frank Thew – Dr. Linn –  Noordhoof-Ray Ware – myself.  This evening visited John Rozeck our neighbor at Mercy Hospital, also Geo. Madaus who has a mangled right hand – and Gilbert Rhyner who was operated for ruptured disk in his spine.

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18.  Thursday: Temperature is down to 42° during the night.  Stoker back on again.

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21.  Sunday: To 730 Mass of St. Johns, then to work.  This afternoon took Mary Ann – Carol Steinert and Thres to the Oshkosh Theatre.

22.  Monday: [T] Out to the cottage tonite to cut grass in the backyard and it is rather long.  Anna Weisheipl has a swollen ankle today.  Does not know what brought it on.

23.  Tuesday: Thres gets a permanent today, wow they are cheap now, only 7⁵⁰.  To Kiwanis luncheon Earl Clemans gives a fine lecture on the geology of Wisconsin.  Our table Alexander Bukolt – Frank Sullivan – Dr. Pfefferkorn and myself.

24.  Wednesday: Big Bingo Party at Sacred Heart given by the Catholic Knights.  Anna Weisheipl is chairman.  A good attendance clears 70 dollars.

25.  Thursday: A marker is being set up for Grandma Baier today at Riverside Cemetery. Rexall gathering at the Raulf tonight. Ralph Rhyner, _____ Maxey, Harry Ferry are here. Towns represented Neenah, Appleton, Fond du Lac, Wautoma, Oshkosh. Home at 1¹⁵  A.M. Took Thres and Ed and Thres Fretchel to the cottage to clean up the inside. Emma Siewert and Ana Weisheipl did not go along this time.

26.  Friday: [2M] Had a nice visit with Sister Romana this evening. Thot she to get a permit to go along to St. Nazianz next Tuesday.  Aunt Lena Baier is again of a quarantine.  This makes six weeks she has had this spring.  Dropped in to see Anna Weisheipl and gave her advice how to get rid of the pains in her foot.  Told her the best medicine and remedy for it, is to go to bed and stay off the foot for a week or more.

27.  Saturday: Took Aunt Lena – Mary – and Thres to the cemetery this afternoon.  Planted geraniums on all of our graves also Baiers.  Dr. Will Wagner gives Anna Heip the same advice, I gave her yesterday, and so she’s off to bed.

28.  Sunday: To 730 Mass of St. Johns, little children receive first Holy Communion.  Bobby Siewert is quite nervous, but gets straightened out by grandma Emma Siewert.  Took Thres, Mary Ann to the Strand to see “The Sullivans” with Anne Baxter – Thomas Mitchell.  Edward Ryan – John Campbell – James Cardwell – John Alvin – George Offerman Jr. are the Sullivan Boys, also Selena Royls and Trudy Marshall.  Tonite we visit the Weisheipls.  Annie gets up to play cards but stays off her bad foot.  Party breaks up at 1 A.M.  Took Thres and Ed Fretchel along.

29.  Monday: [T] Took Ed and Robert Fretchel to the cottage tonite.  They can get an early start in the morning to put in the dock and paint the screens.

30.  Tuesday: Drove to St. Nazianz to bring home Donald - Clarence Drexler - Melvin Karst - Harold Stadtmueller. On the way over had a blowout several miles out of Taycheedah. My auto jack has no handle, had to borrow one from a kindly farmer. Donald and Mary Ann are examined for life insurance by Dr. Leibensohn. Spent the evening at the cottage. Harry Kujawa and family are there from 3 oclock this afternoon. A storm comes up and we drive home early. Official temperature 92°.

31.  Wednesday: Joe Hannes, 85 Sixth Ave. passed away yesterday afternoon at his home.  Born in Bavaria Feb. 28 – 1870.  Survived by two brothers John and Alois and a sister Mrs. Louis Kuebler.