By MYRNA FAUSKA
The merry month of May is half gone already, and it is finally looking like we will have summer after all next month. The oak trees on my lawn have finally leafed out and the woods in the valley are green instead of looking like dead trees. An old saying is when the oak leaves are the size of squirrels’ ears, it’s time to plant corn, and the countryside is teeming with farmers in their fields getting in the crop. It’s hard to get those pesky squirrels to stand still long enough to see how big their ears are, though.
Here in the valley, there are a few items to share, beginning with this feisty Fauska. On Wednesday evening, the Hill Country Belles Red Hats met at the Broken Spur restaurant in Mauston for a delightful meal and fellowship. One of our members, Shirley Waddell, went home to the Lord this past week, and her Red Hat sisters joined her family at Picha Funeral Home in Elroy at noon Saturday for a memorial service. After that service, I joined my Zirk cousins at St. Luke’s Cemetery in rural Elroy for a memorial service for David Lee Zirk, who has been home with Jesus since last September. A fine luncheon was served at the Kendall Senior Dining Center after the gathering. The weather cooperated for these blessed times with loved ones.
Ron and Arlene Garvens attended a delightful comedy performance of the Area Community Theatre’s production of “Marrying Walt” on Friday evening. They especially enjoyed seeing the author of the play, as he was sitting in the front row.
The folks at the west end of the neighborhood continue to regale us with news of their activities every week. On Wednesday former resident Lisa Goostree celebrated her birthday with Lynette Vlasak and Sally Dana at Donnie’s Restaurant in Reedsburg. On Friday afternoon, Lynette and Sharon Finucan went to South Ridge for a visit with Darlene Martalock.
On Friday evening, Lynette and Sally joined the Marty family with Lowell and Arlys Zellmer, Heather Vlasak, Dean Tompkins and Joyce Olson at the Royall High School Pops Concert, at which Heather was honored for having accompanied the Royall Band and Choir performances for the past 43 years. On Saturday the Marty family and Lynette and Sally were in Cashton, where Layla Marty participated in the Royall Middle School track meet.
What comfort it is to attend the memorial services for loved friends and relatives who knew Jesus Christ as their Savior. Although the deceased will be missed, they will live on in God’s wonderful gift of memories of all who knew them. As we prayed The Lord’s Prayer on Saturday and came to the phrase “deliver us from evil,” I was reminded of my sister Lois and I as we joined hands with Sister Theresa at my mom Grace Zirk’s homegoing and seeing Mom’s jaw drop and the light go out of her eyes as she was delivered from evil. Someday we believers will be together in that great family reunion in eternity, and that is the best gift of all. Hallelujah!