Diary of Alfred E. Potter March, 1952

01.  Saturday: Ma and me attend Holy Mass this morning.  Temperature is 8° above.  We interviewed Les Hanson today at the Athearn as number two applicant for Secretary of the C. of C.  Its a 3 hour session and somewhat fatiguing.  Present Chuck Fiss –Ted Widder – Doc Keese – Bill Petrie – Elmer Clark –Ruf Schriber –Ed Schrank – Les and myself.  Tonite we visited Uncle Joe’s.  He’s resting as usual.  Aunt Annie – Rose – Marion are home.  Presented Annie with buns, baked by Thres. 

Com.  John Kloeckner

02.  Sunday: To 7³⁰ Hi Mass, Father Wagner Sermon “Love Neighbor as Thyself” To work balance of the morning.  This afternoon we paid last respects to John Pable at Poklasny’s –John Miller at Sitters – Leo Bingen at Fiss & Bills.  Mrs. Beerntsen (John Beerntsen widow) sister to Leo tells us he passed away suddenly.  His average weight 450 pounds.  He was normal until 21 of age.  Picked up weight after a tonsil operation by Dr. Hunt. 

Com.  John Pable

03.  Monday: John Miller – John Pable and Leo Bingen were laid to rest this morning.  I was pallbearer at the Bingen funeral.  Eight pallbearers and four from Fiss funeral home helped us to get the remains to St. Marys Church.  To Kiwanis directors meeting at the Raulph.  Another very fine meal.

04.  Tuesday: [T] I get an hour and a half of exercise shoveling snow this morning.  It turns out to be a very nice bright day.  To Kiwanis luncheon at Raulph this noon.  Tonight I attend church alone.  Mother is home and Mary Ann works.  After services I was back to work until 9⁴⁵.  Today was primary election day, but very little interest is shown.

05.  Wednesday: Meet Francis Lamb up town today.  He’ll be ready to begin on our income tax job Friday morning.  Dropped in to see Uncle Joe this noon.  He is generally improving his speech.  Another Chamber meeting at 4 P.M.  We interview Mr. Devleau from Oskaloosa Iowa.  He makes a very fine impression and has a good presentation.

06.  Thursday: Donald is over this morning with Debbie.  She decides to stay with us for a few hours.  This is the first time she’s done this and she behaves well and eats nicely at the table.

07.  Friday: To 7⁰⁰ oclock Mass, St. Vincents.  This is Mary Ann’s birthday, she is 22 and quite a lady.  It turns out to be a rather blustery day.  Incidentally this is also Kathe Muellers birthday.  She is 13.

08.  Saturday: Well the weather is not improving.  Art Faust is here this afternoon to fix the pump in our cellar.  It’s been behaving miserably of late. Mr. and Mrs. Edward Durler leave for California today to make their home there.  Al Dunham is their chauffeur.  He intends to visit his brother Clyde and will return to Oshkosh by plane.

09.  Sunday: City wide Holy Name Communion at St. Peters this morning about 300 present. Father Hogan has the service. Worked this morning and part of the afternoon. Also to Stations at 1³⁰ St. Vincents. Father Milbauer. Attended "Oshkosh Civic Symphony" tonite. Doris Heisler is the High School Student chosen to be soloist. She sings very well, is a bit nervous. Agnes Hazen is taken sick last night at a dinner at Little Chute. Art took her to Mercy Hosp.

Com.  Men in Service

          World Peace

10.  Monday: [R 2 M] Joint luncheon Kiwanis and Rotary.  Dr. Marcus Bach is the speaker and a good one.  He gives us his experience with “Father Divine” and his believers who believe him to be God and he almost? convinced Bach.  Took Norman Brown and Bob Kniss as my guests.  Norris Krohn Wis Pub Service is at our table.  Worked until midnight tonite which makes about 13 hours for me today.  We have both snow and rain today and moonlight tonite.  Saw Uncle Joe at suppertime.

11.  Tuesday: Attended “Round Table” luncheon at the Raulf a delicious vegetable meal is served.  About 22 members were present.  A beautiful day.  Mary Ann visited Aunt Mary at the hospital last evening.  Aunt Mary sleeps without a pillow –puts her doll on the pillow.

12.  Wednesday: [R 4 M] Ray Zahn is in this morning to see me about the new adventure for him and his brother Wally.  Thres and I visited Aunt Mary this afternoon.  She knew both of us.  I also visited Ben Zinth and Mrs. Gene Whittmore.  Ben ran smack into a large snow plow on Washington Blvd, near the post office.  Howard Christianson drops in to say “Good bye.” Going back to Fort Riley.  Joan Mauritz is over tonite.  She and Mary Ann go to the “Mode.” Saw Uncle Joe this noon, he’s developing quite a grip.

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30.  Sunday: To 9³⁰ High Mass at St. Johns.  Then stopped at the store about noon to pick up Mary Ann.  This afternoon a long nap.  Eddie Heip works for Mary Ann tonite.  Learned that Joe Baier had a bad spell yesterday afternoon, so Thres and me visit him tonite.  Find he is not too bad, a few days in bed should do him much good.  From there to visit Uncle Joe Weisheipl, he is looking much better although his speech is still somewhat impaired.

31. Monday: Well I’m back on the job and I still feel somewhat lazy.