Diary of Alfred E. Potter August, 1956

01.  Wednesday: [Joe Lang – Caroline Kempinger married 50 years.] I’m rather tired this morning.  Guess I’m not as young as I used to was.  Took Ed and Thres Fretschl to Milwaukee to see Sister Linus who is teaching at St. Augustine School on South Graham Street.  Mama – Mary Ann and myself visit the Yahr Lange Drug, met some of the old-timers Paul Heyden is going strong, he started working there in 1898, Bill Kies – Art Gauerke – Bob Heinman – ___ Eagen and of course Walter Lange.  Picked up some new narcotics for prescriptions.  Back home at 7 P.M.  Worked a short time.

02.  We are told by Sister Linus this is one day when the Sisters watch the mails to see if they are to receive a new assignment. Well, we have a new Sister Superior at St. Vincents and who do you think it is, none other than our beloved Sister Alverna who has been at Oshkosh for ___ years.

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04.  Saturday: Billy Siewert and Marjorie Grose are married at St. John’s.  Father Williams performed the ceremony.  Donald – Arline – Debbie – Donnie – Mary Ann and me are out for boatride to the cottage.  Grandma Potter takes care of Markie.

05.  Sunday: To 7¹⁵ Mass – Father Milbauer.  Monthly communion Altar Society.  When we arrived home from church Harry Kujawa called that Anna Drexler passed away in Milwaukee.  Karl Radomski called shortly after that Anne had been at St. Luke’s Hospital for a week.  A hospital call from the Hospital shortly before seven folks repaired to the hospital to learn she had just passed away of a heart attack.  Karl wants me to make arrangements for internment here. 

Found between pages Aug 5-6, 1956

Com.  Mike Eichman

06.  Monday: [1 R Anne Drexler] Well Im out to see Ted Friedberg to make arrangements for the use of the chapel at 1 P.M. Wednesday, then Father Schorn then Evan MacDonald at the Northwestern for newspaper item then Troxell’s about who in their family will be pallbearers.  Called Karl at Milwaukee and learn that I am to get all the pallbearers for Milwaukee instead of for the internment service at Riverside.  Thres and I take a ride to the cottage this evening.  Stopped at Bill and Rose Mauritz on the way home.

07.  Tuesday: [1 R Anne Drexler St. Lawrence Chapel] Called Harry Kujawa then Milwaukee – Margaret answered and I was glad I could talk to her and offer a few words of consolation.  Then again to see Evan MacDonald at the Northwestern.  Did not attend Kiwanis did attend cemetery board meeting at 1³⁰.  Left for Mt Calvary at 3³⁰  P.M.  Did not meet too many of the old-timers.  Bill Renner – Stubby Diedrich – Leo Sharp – Jack Quella are registered and no doubt will be in tomorrow.  Had a nice visit with Father Gratian.  Spent time in the chapel which could be my last visit there, as ground will be broken for a new one soon.  Home at 8³⁰.

08.  Wednesday: [2 R. Anna Drexler] Up at 4⁴⁰ out to Joe Drexlers and Franks at 5⁴⁵.  Leave Oshkosh at 6 oclock, Don drives until we get to Milwaukee, then I take over.  At Carl’s about 8⁰⁰.  At Scheuerlee’s Funeral Home at 8²⁰.  Anna looks very nice laid out.  A profusion of flowers.  Service at 9 Oclock –Father David Ryan had a beautiful Eulogy for Anna, Father Mike in the Sanctuary.  Leave Milwaukee at 10⁴⁵ and it poured on the way out –clear further north, I drive all the way home, picked up Father Schorn and Mary Ann at cemetery at 12⁴⁵.  Father Schorn leads the Rosary at the chapel – it is filled with friends – relatives and neighbors.  Relatives at our house after the internment 28 in all.  Folks leave at 4 Oclock Don and family stay with us until 8³⁰.  Markie has a good time with grandma and grandpa.  He even pulled off my sock.  By the way this is our Wedding Anniversary.  Forty five years.  No celebration.

09.  Thursday: [M 9 M] Back on the job, it’s a lovely day.  Don family and Mary Ann take a ride to the cottage.  Mother and Me to the “Serra Banquet” for Seminarians” Father Milbauer and Jim Kirsch at our table.  Father Orville Griese Rector Sacred Heart Seminary, Oneida was the principle speaker.  Burton Schmidt 15, 1924 Minnesota St. first polio patient at Mercy.  Was admitted Monday.

Aug 10, 1956 Hoover clipping

10.  Friday: Art Lang 63-163 E New York Ave. died at Mercy yesterday 11 A.M.  Heart attack Monday.  Married Oct. 12 – 1914 Mary Neustifter.  She died April 16 – 1941.  Art was employed at Menominee Park for the past 20 years.  Brother to Leona Yack, mother in law of to Vince Kempinger.  Expresident Herbert Hoover is 82 today his advice to longevity “Keep busy.” He works about 12 hours today.

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12.  Sunday: [6 ½ hrs.] To 7¹⁵ Low Mass with Holy Name Society.  Then to work.  Took mother to spend the evening at Aunt Annie Heips. 

Com.  Katherine Holzbauer

13.  Monday: Weather is not too bad altho we had some heavy thunder crashes during the night.  The Democratic National Convention opens at Chicago.

14.  Tuesday: To Kiwanis luncheon, I missed the last two.  Harvey Lhost is my guest.  Had quite a long distance conversation with Mr. Wright of Chicago in regard to the New 6 and 4 head Remington Shavers.  Jimmie Bruins is his nephew.

15.  Wednesday: To 6³⁰ Mass – Father Schorn – Took Thres to the cottage, she has company today Annie Weisheipl –Mary Schneider – Emma Heppler – Elsie Kirsch – Rose Stiefvater – Alvina Putzer -

16.  Thursday: [M 12 M] Had occasion to congratulate our new Sister Superior Alverna.  She and Sister Vera are at the store.  Sister Vera has been gone all summer.  Wenzel Matejka 50 Northwestern Ave. died last night 10 P.M.  Born Oct. 24 – 1873 Czekoslovakia.  Cabinet maker for Brands 1922-1949.  Brother to John Matejka.

17.  Friday: Conrad Ben Pitcher of Iron Mountain Mich. will be our new Secretary of the Chamber of Commerce.  He succeeds John Greenough.  John is taking a position as sales correspondent for Hoffmaster Paper Company.

18.  Saturday: [M 6 M    S 4 M] John does a complete job at cutting grass at the cottage.  Donnie and Debbie spend the morning with grandma as usual.

19.  Sunday: To 7¹⁵ Low Mass – Father Schorn.  A Marian Father is with us to appeal for his missions in Oceania – that is Polynesia includes the Solomon Islands –Samoa and many others.  Temperature is 55° at 7 A.M.

20.  Monday: Norm Brown is our noon guest.  Weather is pleasant.  The Republican National Convention opens at the Karl Palace in San Francisco.  President Eisenhower will have no opposition to being nominated, but Nixon has a position from Harold Stassen whose candidate is Governor Herter.  Father Milbauer brings in Father Milot pronounced “Meelo” the Marian Father was spoke to us Sunday about the Marian Missions.

21.  Tuesday: To Kiwanis luncheon at the Raulf.  Milton Seefeldt showed slides of his trip to National Kiwanis Convention.

22.  Wednesday: Another lovely day, so mother and I decide to take a drive.  We stop at the cottage to check the refrigerator and then drive to Berlin stopped at Harry and Agnes.  John and Mary are home.  In the Berlin paper we read the announcement of Mary’s engagement to James T. Bayorgeon of Kaukauna Wis.  President Eisenhower is renominated and strange as it may seem Governor Herter made the nomination speech for Vice President Nixon and former Governor Harold Stassen made one of the secondary speeches.  Nixon was then also re-nominated for the vice-presidency.

Aug 23, 1956 Most Precious Blood receipt

23.  Thursday: Brother William Schalk is in to get our renewal to the precious Blood Messenger.  He comes once in two years, he is not looking very well, says he has lost much weight.

24.  Friday: To Serra Club luncheon, had a nice meal of pike – potato – salad – chocolate ice cream.  Charles Nolan gave us a little history of the time Al Smith was nominated for president of the U.S.  Being of Catholic he was decisively defeated.  Raymond Ostertag Jr. is in my office.  He completed painting our boat house this morning.  Had another letter from Margaret Radomski today.  She and Lovie can’t console themselves to the thought that their mother is dead.  It seems that she is on a trip and should be returning soon.  We spend the evening at home.

25.  Saturday: Have a letter from Lovie, she also misses her mother very much.  She is trying to give Margaret a boost in the kitchen but find’s it a sad task.

26.  Sunday: To 7¹⁵ Low Mass Father Milbauer.  More about the Seventh Commandment.  Worked from 9-12.30 had a spell of chest pains about 5 P.M. did not go back to work this evening.  Emma Kossl 68 – 962 – 9th died yesterday afternoon 4.40 at Mercy.  Born May 19 – 1888 married Adolph Kossl July 6 – 1909.  Adolph was a carpenter, worked for Matt Mertz passed away 1927 – pneumonia.  She was a sister to Aloys Kinateder.  While home I worked on the St. Joseph’s Union Report included Donald and Arlene. 

Com.  Anne Drexler.

27.  Monday: [Wrote letter to Sister Linus, also sent pictures.  1 R. Emma Kossl.  Sent St. Joseph’s Union Donations and Report.] Herb Smith Sup. of mails at the P.O. is being recommended for advancement from Colonel to Brigadier General.  Herb deserves it, he’s a mighty fine fellow.  Dr. Don Gerth is in at the end of his service period as of today.  He is in today to look over his office rooms above our South Store.  Met Agnes and Mary Kujawa at Hilda’s this afternoon.  They came in with Leona – Harry’s Sister.  Father Ducharme is in with James Hook to get a boost for the city wide C.Y.O. movement.  I told them I’ll do what I can to help.  Took a drive to the cottage after supper, back to town to view the remains of Emma Kossl, took mother home, to the store for an hour of work, picked up Mary Ann at Don’s and called it a day.

28.  Tuesday: Joe Baier and Billy Mauritz to the Braves Dodger game yesterday afternoon.  Braves were beaten 6-3.  To Kiwanis luncheon, met Lieutenant Robert Schroeder Salvation Army.  He replaces Cap. Rothwell Stickley.  Did not stay for program.  Wanted to get going on our basement at home.  Eddie Heip and Don help to get rid of some of the rubbish.  This evening mother and I visit Fred and Loretta Baumgartner.  Loretta I would say is looking poorly.

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30.  Thursday: Donald is now the tonsorial artist in his family. Little Donnie gets a hair cut from papa, the reason, haircuts for children are now 1²⁵ and for adults 1⁵⁰ at the barbershop.

31.  Friday: My weight is down to 146 pounds.