Tag Archives: Robert Gieselman

Mary Poppins and Lord Jim

Letter transcription:

Aug. 3-1965

Dear David & Bonnie—

Last week (Sat.) I went to Lafayette to take the leased car to the Cadillac garage, and while I waited went to Loebs and bought some shirts for Dad. The shirts were on sale so I can’t return them, so sent the two which didn’t fit to you. I hope you like them—since they require no ironing and also hope you can wear them.

I went to Champaign last week to see Lord Jim. Spent the night with Lea & Bob and came home Wed. PM. Lord Jim is coming here but I don’t know when—probably while we are away. I took Mrs. Myers to see Mary Poppins Sunday afternoon, then brought her out here for dinner. I took her home a little after 8. She really enjoyed being “out in the country”—she said the air smelled so fresh. We had had some rain so it did seem more refreshing than she has been used to—what with so much dust

[page 2] this summer.

I worked for Edna yesterday a.m. She is going to the Risk Dental Clinic for new dentures. The ones Dr. L. made for her have never been satisfactory, so she (after some persuasion on my part) decided to try Risk. She has to go back Wed., so will have to work for her again tomorrow. I am trying to get a few things done—like disposing of accumulated items of no value—however, I won’t throw anything away I think you may want.

The United Church Women of Kentland elected me to the office of Secretary and I have a few chores in that office to take care of before we leave on vacation.

I also have to take the Cadillac back to Lafayette Friday for further repairs—so I won’t get any sorting done that day.

See you the 13^th.

Love Mother

©2017 copyright owned and transcribed by Deborah Sweeney
Post originally found: https://genealogylady.net/2017/02/07/mary-poppins-and-lord-jim/

Valentines

1 Reply

Letter transcription:

February 22, 1965

Dear David and Bonnie:

I hope you have been able to figure your tax. Saturday Marge Janssen went with me to Champaign to see Oliver. Dad was to go, but thought he was too busy to get away. I told him he could go and probably not have a call during that time and that is what happened. However, there was one baby case he felt he didn’t want to leave. Dr. Schoonveld is on vacation and he thought he should stay home. John had gotten tickets for us several weeks ago. Show was held in field house, which looks like a mushroom. I suppose Bob and Lea pointed it out to you when you were there last year. Our seats were near the roof, but I took binoculars along and the sound was good, so I got along fine. We drove home after the show and were back here by 1:15 Saturday AM. John Janssen had washed my car and cleaned it out with a sweeper on the inside. I really felt like I was driving a Cadillac. Then on the way home, about 45 minutes before we arrived in Kent we went through a rain storm and there were several trucks passing and my car looks like I had driven through mud. Lea and Bob had us come to their place for dinner, so Marge and I really had a nice evening.

I stopped to see Mrs. M. last Friday. She was so happy about receiving a valentine and let me read your letter. I make it a point to stop and see her at least once a week. We also were happy to receive a valentine. We had sent valentines to Becky and Kirk and they sent us one. Uncle Jim always sends me a valentine and since that is his birthday, I always send him a card.

I am listening to Das Rheingold. John brought me a record by Anna Russell—the same thing you have on tape. I get a chuckle out of it every time I listen to it.

We have had missionary speakers at our church the past two Sundays. Last night we attended a pot-luck dinner and listened to the missionary speak about her work and show slides. She has been in Chile for a number of years. Last week the speaker was from Korea. He was with us from Sunday through Wednesday.

[page 2] I think Arvella’s sister has gotten permission to take her vacation in Sept., so all is taken care of. She said if Caroline couldn’t take off in Sept., they would do something else. I rather think Ralph will let her off then. I told Arvella either that, or for her to get someone to work for her and she didn’t seem to think much of that idea.

Dad finished the bedroom unit and is working on a unit for my desk. We moved the desk out of your room and he built a wing for the typewriter and adding machine. He still has two drawers to finish before the unit is complete, but I am using it as it.

Love Mother

P.S. Did the visiting D.S. ever call on you? Did I write you about hearing Joan Fields give your address over the phone? She told me it was Dr. Bailey. He was getting the address for the D.S. from South Bend Dist.

©2017 copyright owned and transcribed by Deborah Sweeney
Post originally found: https://genealogylady.net/2017/01/29/valentines/

Long Weekend Vacation

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Letter transcription:

January 25, 1965

Dear David & Bonnie:

Yours of the 20^th (you mailed it 23^rd) received today. We have just returned from a long weekend vacation. We left Wednesday evening after attending a stockholders dinner meeting given by the Bank. The dinner was at Sumava and we traveled as far as the Howard Johnson Motel in Lafayette to spend the night. Thursday AM we leisurely traveled to Indianapolis, stopping at Lebanon to see Ruthie. Floyd was busy and we didn’t get to see him. Uncle Jim was gone (on a business trip), but we did see Aunt Thelma. I hope you sent them a thank-you note for their gift. Also I was wondering if you sent Phyllis and Art a thank-you for the Teflon. If you didn’t, I hope you will. Which reminds me, I sent your thongs and the pan lid and also a few little items for Bonnie which I purchased while I was buying some things for myself. Just in case she hasn’t had time to make a blue slip for her knitted dress.

We spent Thurs. and Friday in Indianapolis and saw My Fair Lady, Father Goose, and John Wayne in Cinerama. Saturday morning we left for Champaign and spent the afternoon with John and Lea and Bob. John took us out to dinner then we saw a James Bond – Goldfinger. I wouldn’t advise it for children. We attended the Methodist Church which is located on campus, and heard the Wesley minister. He gave a very interesting sermon about Timothy and St. Paul. He addressed the congregation as Timothy speaking. We visited with John and Bob a while after church—we went to the 11 o’clock service and had eaten at the pancake house at 10 o’clock so we didn’t need any lunch—so started home soon after 1 o’clock (Lea had to work, so wasn’t with us Sunday).

While in Indianapolis we visited the Legislature (it is in session now) and saw Senator Landgrebe. He wanted to know your address so you will probably be hearing from him. I was supposed to attend a Legislative seminar in Indianapolis (for WSCS) Tuesday, but since we had planned to go Wednesday night, I didn’t see how I could make it, so did the next best thing, but visiting the Legislature while in the city. Our Christian Social Concerns committee had met the Sunday before to compose a letter to send to Rep. Hendrix about the gambling bill. The Bishop sent letters to (I suppose) all churches to be read to the congregations urging everyone to write to Rep. or Sen. in opposition to the bill. I didn’t write since we made the trip in person.

I think your grades are not to be looked down upon, but if you are trying for all A’s I hope you succeed next semester. And about the typing—how many times did I try to get you to learn to type correctly? From the looks of this letter I didn’t learn too well myself, but I will blame it on fatigue. That makes me think of something else. We have decided to take a month’s vacation in September and go out through the northwest. I told the girls not long ago that we were going to take a month and of course, expected them to take their vacations at the same time. Arvella said she wants her vacation in July, because they want to go to California. We haven’t mentioned the subject further, but I do not want to work for her and we were wondering if you had any definite plans (Bonnie, that it) as to what you will be doing this summer. Would you want to work in the office two weeks? Of course, if you get a job in Bloomington, that might not work out so well for you to work for us two weeks, but if you think you want to do that, let us know. We have to get a replacement for those two weeks if Arvella is to go in July. We plan to take a month this year and another long vacation in 1966—something like 3 months. It doesn’e look like it is possible to find a young man to come in here, so since Dad doesn’t want to quit work altogether, we will

[page 2] have to take a long vacation every year or two. Let us know what you think about working. John has received a grant and is going to Arizona and Bob thinks he is going to get one and plans to go to Texas for the summer.

Love Mother

©2017 copyright owned and transcribed by Deborah Sweeney
Post originally found: https://genealogylady.net/2017/01/26/long-weekend-vacation/

Heat Wave

3 Replies

Letter transcription:

Monday August 3, 1964

Dear David & Bonnie:

Long time, no letter. There is a package here for you and since it was large and light of weight and not very securily wrapped I looked in to see if I should send it on – it is a picknic basket. Do you want it sent on? If you do I will send it. John has gone to Urbana today on business. He had to make a trip over last Thursday. We had planned to go to Chicago. Dad got the baby-case out of the way (he has a little time now until the next one scheduled) so we (Dad and I) went and stopped at Aunt Ruth’s. Romaine and her children were there (Tye had to make a trip to Chicago on business, so we missed seeing him). We had a nice visit with them, then went on to Mark’s. Becky came home with us and Friday evening Mark and Shirley stopped for her as they were going to Wards. She seemed to have a very nice time and yesterday when they stopped on their way back home she didn’t want to go with them, but wanted to say here. It has been very hot here – in fact I think we have set some kind of record again. You know the Midwest is always having some kind of first in weather. Mr. Harris told me this morning that every window fan and air conditioner they have has been sold. I think from the way he talked every dealer has sold out. I talked to Mrs. Myers one day last week and she was having a bad time with the heat. She said it was the first time it had bothered her. She told me she had tried to buy a window fan and couldn’t get one. The weather forecast is for cooler this evening. I hope so for all the people who do not have air conditioners. We are going to give a program for the Nurse Association at the Hospital tonight and I think it will be a rather warm evening. The air conditioner at our office wasn’t functioning properly and the repair man from Sears was working on it this morning. Dad told me at noon if he didn’t get it fixed he was going to cancel out the afternoon appointments. He hasn’t come home, so I presume it has been put in order. I decided to buy myself the Interpreter’s Bible and Dictionary. The dictionary came today, but I haven’t had time to look it over. I brought back 23 Genesis study books and have distributed all but two. I am in a dilemma. I still have 3 families. I just didn’t bring enough copies back with me. However, I know some of those books will not be opened. – Yesterday afternoon Dad had a telephone call from one of his Commanding Officers (in South Pacific). He was stopping at Tri-Way so Dad asked him to stop and see us. He told us how much he thought of Dad and what a morale booster he had been during the war. Mark and Shirley and children came just as he was leaving so he got a chance to see them. Of course John was here too, so he got to see all of us but you and Bonnie. Please excuse lack of paragraphs, but I got so used to writing this way to John, I hope you don’t mind. Last week (Sat. to be exact) John helped me and we sent out the statements. Isn’t such a bad job when there is some help. He even used my old typewriter. He has his work spread out all over your room. He is doing some work on Indonesian language (I think). His work at U of I will be in Linguistics and with graduate students. He may try to find something in housing on this trip. At present he will be staying at Bob & Lea’s. He asked me if I knew what Bob taught. I replied, “Business English.” He said, “He teaches people how to write junk mail.” I suppose it needs to be well written because once in a while someone will read it. My afternoon is getting away from me, so must bring this to a halt. I want to stop and see Mrs. M. before I go to the office.

Love Mother

©2016 copyright owned and transcribed by Deborah Sweeney
Post originally found: https://genealogylady.net/2017/01/05/heat-wave/

John’s Homecoming

1 Reply

Letter transcription:

July 27 1964

Dear David & Bonnie:

I have read the enclosed. It couldn’t be forwarded, so I thought I would see what it was all about – I don’t do that to letters, but since this was a circular type of thing I didn’t want to spend postage on it if was not something you would want. Since it is from New York, you probably don’t want it. I am deep in the heart of getting things caught up, since my week off (which I enjoyed very much).

John was on the train and we headed for Kentland via Lafayette as soon as possible. We stopped at the VW place and he bought a new car and drove the rest of the way home by himself. I took him to Morocco the next day to get his car license and renew his driver’s license. The Motor Co. loaned him a license plate so he could drive the car home. He is working on some of his papers and using the tape recorder. He brought several tapes home with him. He has one he made of a Javanese street singer and little boy. He said man and boy were passing his house one day singing and playing drum and he asked then in so he could record. We have listened to it once. He is going to the U of I next Monday to see Prof. and take care of any business at hand. He plans to stay with Bob and Lea. He is also going to look for a place to live (apt or house). We plan to go to Mark’s one day this week and hope Dad can take Thurs. off so he can go with us. (Dad plans to go if Sandy Puetz Smith has her baby before Thurs). John was quite impressed with Kirk. He thinks he is very bright. He said Kirk would start to crawl over him and he would say, “Kirk, I am going to give you a bath and put you to bed” – and that would send him away, (for the time being). John asked me if I had heard of the Soaky bath. They give the children bubble baths which have been dubbed Soaky. They both like the soaky baths and never object to having one. Mark told he last Sunday they went to the beach and that the children loved playing in the water. John said to get Kirk excited, all one has to say is “Let’s go to the beach.” Probably like the excitement over Grandpa’s little dog. Kirk is going to stay here while M. & S. vacate.

I have launched my class on the study of Genesis by Charles F. Kraft. I was so sorry I didn’t know what a good teacher we would have last week. I would have taken our tape recorder along and gotten his entire series of lectures on tape to use in my class. However, I think I have been able to generate a little enthusiasm by my description of the lectures. I talked to Rev. Marrs a time or two. He said he doesn’t believe in the Virgin Birth and from the way he lectured I know he believes in the theory of evolution.

John and I just hung the bamboo drape on the west bedroom window. I didn’t think to ask Dad to do that little chore yesterday and this afternoon after the sun got around John decided upon my suggestion that it would be a good idea. You will begin to think I have hidden talents. First I write and tell you I took all the old wax off the linoleum and now I tell you we hung a drape. Just necessities. I am not interested in a full career of that kind. John has some pictures (slides) that belong to the Georges (the people who have been working with him the past 2 yrs.) which were taken in Bali and Java. Some of the scenes are from places where we had been and we are going to have some duplicate slides made for ourselves. They were they during a special festival last December.

I have a desk full of work staring me in the face, so must get this finished and get to work.

Love Mother

P.S. Have promised to loan Legend of Virgin Conception to a friend to read.

©2016 copyright owned and transcribed by Deborah Sweeney
Post originally found: https://genealogylady.net/2017/01/04/johns-homecoming/

The New Arrival

3 Replies

Letter transcription:

Thursday afternoon
October 11, 1962

Dear David:

Yours received via Corbins. It is a wonderful day and just like summer. I suppose it is a few degrees warmer where you are. Dad has had a very busy week. He had to spend most of his time this week in the hospital, taking care of accident cases, surgery and baby cases. He is getting some work done around the yard this afternoon. He is going to the office at 5 o’clock to put a new handle on the inside front door. The old one keeps getting out of order. We keep getting a few more things done at the office and Dad is working on the speaker system to get the FM radio hooked up. Don’t worry about my record player. If we want to, Dad can make it into a stereo. We have been too busy it seems to even listen to records, but I hope this pace doesn’t keep up. Anyway, you know I am not (at this time) interested in spending anything on record players. We will charge the FM off to office expense when Dad gets it ready to be installed. I am so used to writing John without using any paragraphs that I just decided to do the same with you. This is the easiest way. I hope you get your studies. You sounded so busy in your last letter, I was beginning to wonder if you were going to get it all done. We haven’t heard from Mark’s since a week ago today. Mark says Shirley isn’t due until the 20^th or 21^st. Of course, that isn’t going to keep her from going a little early if the baby decides not to wait until the date set. It would have been nice to have Becky here during this nice weather so she could have played out of doors some. I will let you know when the new arrival gets here (or there, rather). Lea and Bob came last Saturday and spent the night and Sunday with us. We took them to the KC for smorgasbord Sunday noon. We didn’t know they were coming. I was supposed to attend a class party at the parsonage, and had baked a cake, after I finished baking yours (incidentally that was your birthday cake, if a little late) to take to the party. I cancelled attending party and had cake to serve for dessert Saturday evening.

Dad has gone to the office to work on the door and I am going down to do some work on a thing or two I can’t get done while the office is open for business.

Love Mother

©2016 copyright owned and transcribed by Deborah Sweeney
Post originally found: https://genealogylady.net/2016/10/26/the-new-arrival/

Mackinac Bridge

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Letter transcription:

[Memorial Hall I.U. – Handwritten by David]
Thurs. July 19, 1962

Dear David –

I went to Lafayette yesterday and while in the hospital had a chance to see Dr. Ferguson. He wants me to continue therapy two more weeks – or until I have normal motion with my right arm. I am to go again tomorrow. I think I had too much therapy yesterday – my arm is a little sore today.

I asked Rev. Fields about the book you wrote about but he didn’t know anything about it. He was to give me a list of books he does know about. He is at camp this week and I didn’t get the list from him. While the Fields are away this week the painting is being done.

Well, what do you think about the defeat of the little Kennedy boy’s legislation? If he can learn from anything I think it is time for him to take a hint. I think the Dri strike in Canada possibly had some effect on the way the voting went.

While Mark, Shirley & Becky were here Bob & Lea stopped for a little while on Saturday. Sunday afternoon Virginia (Zell) Gale and her family came. I don’t know when Mark’s will be back. We couldn’t figure out a date while they were

[page 2] here. Shirley is going to visit her family for a week after she quits work August 1. She will stop here for a little while. We are planning to go to Chicago September 1 for a week’s vacation. We thought we would go up and see the Mackinac bridge one day. I hope you plan to be home all the time when you get back from summer school, until you return to school in September. We are counting on leaving you here to look after things while we are away. And of course you have to be here to help me during Arvella’s vacation.

The work on the building is at a standstill. Mr. K. says the windows haven’t come and that he can’t do anything more until he gets them.

Dad has been so very busy, I will be glad when he can get away for a vacation. Dr. Brady is gone from Morocco and the people in Morocco have no hopes of getting another Dr. That just makes more work on Dad all the time.

Marge Cheek had to have an emergency operation Monday evening. Appendicitis and complications. I was at the hospital Tuesday but didn’t try to see her because she wasn’t able to have company.

I have to write to John and do a few other things today – I will be traveling tomorrow so won’t get much done at home.

Love Mother

Mackinac bridge (Image by Jeffness Wikipedia Creative Commons license)

Building Projects

1 Reply

Letter transcription:

[Wright 533 – handwritten by David]
Kentland, Indiana, March 12, 1962

Dear David:

We are still enjoying (?) unusual March weather, or maybe I should say usual. I think most of the population around here is ready for spring. Mark and Shirley and Becky came for the week-end. They certainly will be glad to see warm, sunny weather. I told them I thought Becky looked a little pale, but why shouldn’t she. She hasn’t been out in the sunshine for such a long time. She was feeling pretty good, but had a little cold. They still have her on a fat free diet because of her bowel condition. I mashed potatoes for her with just a little skimmed milk. Made some plain Jello and had skimmed milk for her to drink. She could have some broiled steak, which she seemed to enjoy and some unseasoned lima beans. I suppose if they could never feed her anything else, she would think her diet was good. They haven’t been giving her any eggs or orange juice. She did have some cereal for her breakfast. It doesn’t seem to slow her down any and she put on a good show for us. Mark and Shirley both were getting over severe colds. I wanted them to leave Becky here. Mark said they would talk it over and maybe some other time. They didn’t make any date as to when they will be coming back. However, they have decided it is too much to go to both places for a week-end and after this they will go one place one week-end and the other the next time they make a trip this way. Mark is learning how to do the book work (Just in case I need help along that line). He isn’t too happy with his new job. He is going to try to get something else thru the placement bureau of Northwestern. I wanted them to come for Easter so you could see Becky, but no promise.

Lea and Bob were here for dinner Saturday, but went home early in the afternoon. They had spent Friday night with Lea’s folks at Ade.

You received another dividend check from GM for $2.00 which I will deposit to your account. You know John bought some Rexall stock when he was home last summer. He has been receiving dividends from them right along (not very high rate, but at least something), but today he received a right – he gets to buy one share – he has 75/100 fractional interest in one share. I have to mail the card back ordering the share to be bought.

I went to a meeting at the hospital at noon – regular monthly meeting of the Ex Comm of the Auxiliary – and the road is in terrible condition – as are all the streets and highways around here. We can hardly get to the office for the mud. The snow is about gone from around here, but we are having rain and some snow mixed in with it today, so we will have mud for a while. We finally got rid of the ice on our driveway (without having David chip it off).

Julie was in church yesterday: I asked her if she had seen you recently. I also happened to see Nancy Holley about two weeks ago.

Dad is still building things in the house. I think it will be some time before he needs to work in the yard – however if we knew we weren’t going to have another freeze, it would be a good time to roll the yard. He has the lawn mower all fixed I think. He has finished all the shelves and is ready to start building the cabinet around the washing machine. We want to begin work on the office as soon as possible, but that can’t be started until we have warmer weather. I am getting anxious to get this place (I am at office now) done over. The linoleum in the waiting room had cracked too much that it will have to be taken off. I am afraid when we get started we will find a lot of things to be done. Aren’t you glad you won’t be here? I know it will be a mess for a while, but it will be worth it.

I haven’t seen Mrs. Myers since the day I took her to the hospital and then took her out to the house, but last week, I had a round of bowel infection. I was sick all night Wed. nite and stayed in bed all Thurs., so didn’t circulate around too much for a day or so.

Love Mother

Thanksgiving 1966

1 Reply

November 24, 1966 envelope

Letter transcription:

November 24, 1966, p. 1

Thanksgiving Day 1966

David, My very Dear

The book which you so kindly purchased for me arrived, and can’t tell you how grateful I am for your getting it to me, and also, I hope you will forgive me for asking you to purchase your own Christmas gift, but you don’t know what it meant to me. I am enclosing check, and I had thought it would be more.

I have a gift for Bonnie, and your mother is going to include it for me in a mailing to you both before Christmas.

I am at home alone today, very disappointed because I wanted to see baby David, whom I have not yet met. Your Mom invited me for Thanksgiving dinner, and Mark and Shirley and the kids and Lea and her husband, and John. Last night about ten o’clock Gladys called me on the phone and said that both the little kids had broken out with chicken pox. Becky had had it a couple of weeks ago and they thought the two little children were not going to get it, and when they arrived in Kentland your Dad discovered they were in full bloom. So of course, my never having had it, they did not think it wise for me to come. Gladys brought me my dinner, which I am going to eat in a short while. Mark, Shirley and the children were returning to Indianapolis this evening because Mark must work tomorrow.

The day is very gloomy and overcast, but not cold. Looks as if it might do something. There are so many things I would love to discuss with you, but I do not have the strength to write what I would like to. I look forward every week to your letter, and you will never know how I appreciate it. I know your time is very precious to you, and it is wonderful thing for you to take part of it to write to me.

My very dear love to you and Bonnie, and I am sure she is thrilled to have her folks here.

Always your
Grandma

P.S. Gladys said she would write you about the Nizer book. Your Dad does not have it, but you will hear from her about it.