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 Fromherz Family Reunion, June 20-22, 2008

King-Chambers Reunion, June 21, 2008

Letter from the Editor:

Dear Family and Friends, 

If you wish to have your own .pdf (Adobe Acrobat Reader) copy of this newsletter, please contact me either by snail-mail or e-mail.  I can attach a .pdf file to an e-mail for you, which is free to you.  If you want me to save it to a disc I will need $3 pre-paid to cover postage and handling . . . again please send your requests to me via e-mail or snail-mail.

For those of you that don’t have e-mail or internet access . . . you can go to any library.  You usually have to sign up for a time frame (usually an hour)  . . . and sometimes you can just walk-in . . . it doesn’t cost you anything.  You can view the latest Newsletter.  There is usually a fee per page to print. Ask the librarian to assist you with this!                                    

Jim & I frequent the libraries (or Internet Café) when we are traveling.  We even pay our bills from the internet access at the library when we are traveling. Really, it is fairly easy!

        This issue of the Newsletter is yours to ENJOY!

Jim & Connie Gale

12925 W Greenfield Road

Nine Mile Falls, WA 99026

congale@aceweb.com

Fromherz Genealogy  Contact Daniel Frommherz  daniel_lewis_frommherz@mckenzievalleymarket.com 

FROMMHERZ-REQUEST@rootsweb.com is celebrating 10 years . . . first time contacts should use this address and must put the following in the subject and body of the first letter.  "subscribe" without the "quotes".  A welcome letter generated by myself will be returned by immediate email.  The welcome letter describes what is acceptable for publishing, how to send requests, and announcements.  All letters are sent are published immediately and sent out by return mail.  All this is done by a computer once I give their email permission to join the list.

Daniel

King Genealogy Contact David Trask

Official King Family Historian since 1989

dltrask@aol.com

I have been the King family historian since 1989. I keep the history of the Oregon Kings which remains my emphasis, but I do keep the more distant history as well.  Any questions on the earlier history can be addressed to me.  I want family members to know that as the King Historian, I am the keeper of all the knowledge of the entire family as we presently know it, not just the Oregon Kings. 

David M. Trask

1533 Nottingham Circle 

Medford, Oregon  97504-7202 

Please contact David and/or Daniel with questions or stories about our family roots.  Their links can also be found on our home page.  Just double click on the link and it will take you there! 

   INDEX

(in genealogical order—more or less : )

 Jenny (Reed) & Steve Jackson / daughter of Josephine (Fromherz) Reed

 Florence (Fromherz) Gross

Louis Henry Gross / obituary

 Claire Leabo / daughter of Florence (Fromherz) Gross

 Fr. Gerard Gross / son of Florence (Fromherz) Gross

 Pat Gross Zollner / daughter of Florence (Fromherz) Gross

 Katie Zollner Voss / daughter Pat Gross Zollner / daughter of Florence (Fromherz) Gross

 Alice (Mrs. Charles) Fromherz

 Charlie & Marilyn Fromherz / son of Charles Fromherz

           Kathy Cappetta / daughter of Charles Fromherz

 Don & Barb Fromherz / son of Charles Fromherz

 Margaret (Mrs. Albert) Fromherz

             Bill Fromherz / son of Albert Fromherz

 Margie (Mrs. Adolf Joe) Fromherz

 Rita (Fromherz) & Roy Reichenbach / daughter of Adolf (Joe) Fromherz

 “RUN FOR ROY 2007”  The Final Update

Barb (Fromherz) & Steven Guarracino / daughter of Adolf (Joe) Fromherz

 Sylvia Fromherz / daughter of Adolf (Joe) Fromherz

Louie & Tricia Fromherz / son of Adolf (Joe) Fromherz

 Mary (Fromherz) Gerding

 Karen (Gerding) Raskin / daughter of Mary (Fromherz) Gerding

 Elenora (Mrs. Walt) Fromherz

 Winnie (Mrs. Art) Fromherz

 Daniel Lewis Frommherz / son of Art Fromherz

Jane Fromherz / daughter of Art Fromherz

 Mary (Fromherz) Holt / daughter of Art Fromherz

 Judy Fromherz / daughter of Art Fromherz:

 Mary (Mrs. Jim) Fromherz

            Connie (Fromherz) Gale / daughter of Jim Fromherz

             Tom & Kathy Fromherz / son of Jim Fromherz

   Felice Noel Fromherz / daughter of Dennis (Buzz) Fromherz

 Paul & Peng Van Etten / son of Florence (King) Van Etten

 Don & Tamara Van Etten / son of Florence (King) Van Etten

Bill King / son of William King

Winnie (Young) Trump/ daughter of Dorothy King Young

From Jenny (Reed) Jackson / daughter of Josephine (Fromherz) Reed

We're all fine and keeping busy as usual.

Garrick is back home after 6 years in the Air Force. He's now in the Air Force Reserves as a part-timer, but is working pretty much full time per contract at the Portland Air Base. It's good to have him back home!

Kelly is a junior at Portland State University, majoring in business accounting. She was inducted into the honor society last spring.

I wish for all of you a blessed Christmas and a Happy New Year!

With love,
Jenny

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From Florence (Fromherz) Gross:

Dear Family,

Most of you know that my husband, Louie Gross, died last June after taking a bad fall on concrete.  He was preparing to work on his grape project here at the Towers.  Yes, he died with his shoes on!  It was a shock to everyone--it was so sudden.  I am thankful that with his injuries he did not live to suffer a long time afterward. 

Two wonderful priest friends, Claire, Pat, Paul and Christiana, Jerry, Judy and Kelly, myself, and later Katie and Jim were at his side.  Our son, Fr. Gerard-David, Louie’s cousins, Frs. Jack and Bill Shaw, and priests from the abbey concelebrated the funeral.  Daughter Sharon was the soloist, the Zollners conducted and produced music that Louie had requested.  I told them afterwards that they could do my funeral exactly the same and I would be happy.

As for me, I am quite well.  I have no great problem or condition, except I am almost blind.  I do most of my hobbies (such as playing the organ, use my office machines) and still crochet [Editor’s note:  making and giving away colorful afghans], but use only one pattern.  I still work in my flower garden, but may give that up next year??  I still walk on my two feet, slower and more awkward, using a cane (white so people won’t bump me).  Yes, I do use a walker for longer stretches.

Come see me sometime--I plan to stay here at the Mt. Angel Towers, and hope to be around until I am 100!  Since Jerry is taking care of my finances (stocks, etc., that Louie had managed), my mail is going to his address in Corvallis.  If you want to write to me at this time, please use Pat’s address, which is: 

Pat Zollner, PO Box 34, Mt. Angel, OR 97362. 

I wish you a Merry Christmas and a prosperous and God-blessed New Year in 2008.

Louis Henry Gross was born on March 21, 1913, in Nez Perce, Idaho, to Adam and Emilia (Koenigs) Gross, the youngest of 5 children.  After receiving his bachelor’s degree from Oregon State College in 1938, he married Florence Fromherz in Corvallis, Oregon, on June 5, 1939, and raised a family of 6 children while living in Dayton and McMinnville, Oregon.

 He began his career teaching vocational agriculture, but spent 30 years as an Extension Agent for Yamhill County.  In 1963, he received his Masters in Agriculture Education from the University of Arizona and in 1973, was promoted to Professor Emeritus by Oregon State University.  During those years in McMinnville, he was an active member of Rotary, Grange, Future Farmers of America, the Turkey Growers Association, and 4^th Degree Knights of Columbus, as well as church choir director at St. James Catholic Church. 

Upon his retirement, Louis and Florence enjoyed living in Dunes City, Oregon, Tucson, Arizona, and finally Mt. Angel, Oregon.  Louis enjoyed singing and playing the violin, square dancing, gardening, fishing, community volunteering, campaigning for pro-life causes, investing, philanthropy, travelling, family and friends.

 He is survived by his wife, Florence, his children:  Joan Doughty of North Carolina, Claire Leabo of Arizona, Father Gerard (David) Gross of Georgia, Gerald Gross of Corvallis, Oregon, Sharon Gross of Switzerland, and Patricia Zollner of Mt. Angel, Oregon; 11 grandchildren; and now 5 great-grandchildren.

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From Claire Leabo / daughter of Florence (Fromherz) Gross

Every year Patrick and I travel to a picturesque place about four hours north of Tucson, Sedona.  It is famous for its beautiful red rocks, and we just love it there.  We went in May of this year.  It is an artist colony, and we often enjoy browsing in the many galleries.  This year, they had javelina statues that had been painted in all sorts of different styles on display throughout the town, and there were quite a few on the grounds of the timeshare location where we stay.  We had our usual good time, and have enclosed a picture of me with one of the javelina pairs.  That's me on the right.

Claire & Patrick Leabo         

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From Fr. Gerard Gross / son of Florence (Fromherz) Gross

Peace be with you.

The landscape of our lives here is ever changing. We lost a couple of our seniors, Frs. Bob and Joseph, early this year, a few days apart! They were both deeply silent gentle souls. Both were noted for the brightness of their smiles. Fr. Bob was an artist doing sand casting and decorative gardening at the retreat house for many years. Fr. Joseph taught scripture in the seminary and was our liturgist for many, many years. His smile was utterly perpetual no matter what happened! He always had an encouraging word, though being deaf in his later years, conversations were rare. He could read lips pretty well, though, or hear us if we shouted at a deafening roar!

Our Novitiate went down from 9 novices to 3 novices, with one Postulant at this time. I was transferred from the Retreat house back to Bonsai last May, and was also made the Subprior. The latter means attending a few more meetings and occasionally leading prayers and giving the final blessing at the end of the day when both the Abbot and prior are away. Br. Callistus made his solemn vows this past April. He was a monk at our sister Mepkin Abbey in South Carolina, before coming here in 2003. Our Green Cemetery is off the ground, with official opening coming soon, though we have a couple of people buried already. Otherwise, we are selling off the right to develop our land to obtain the money to purchase the Susong property that is in the middle of our property. We are doing this to prevent it from being developed, since we don’t want a huge subdivision in the middle of our land! Thus, we are a part of the Heritage Stone Mountain green way. Eventually their trail will end on our property on the other side of the road along the South River. We are planning to build a new retreat house and industry complex down by the old barns, transforming them into stores and making a museum out of the brick barn that the monks lived in when they arrived in 1944. Presently we are working on fund raising to have the capital to launch the project.

I enjoy being back in Bonsai. I still give retreats occasionally including one on Thankfulness starting tonight! Musically things are looking up as we recently revised our Advent Christmas Antiphonary, putting back some beautiful but difficult music we took out a few years ago because we lacked the cantor who could handle it. Our Casio keyboard died recently so for $780+tax we purchased a Yamaha electronic grand piano that sounds and feels to the touch like a real 8’ or 9’ grand piano!

Personally, it is a great year spiritually, for now my Father is helping me much more than ever from his place of great influence! Recently I discovered the writings of St. Hesychios the Priest in the Philokalia On Watchfulness and Holiness. After all these years it is astonishing to “hear” someone describe the spirituality I have been seeking to live for the past 29 years! He writes:

“5. Attentiveness is the heart's stillness, unbroken by any thought. In this stillness the heart breathes and invokes, endlessly and without ceasing, only Jesus Christ who is the Son of God and Himself God. It confesses Him who alone has power to forgive our sins, and with His aid it courageously faces its enemies. Through this invocation enfolded continually in Christ, who secretly divines all hearts, the soul does everything it can to keep its sweetness and its inner struggle hidden from men, so that the devil, coming upon it surreptitiously, does not lead it into evil and destroy its precious work.

“6. Watchfulness is a continual fixing and halting of thought at the entrance to the heart. In this way predatory and murderous thoughts are marked down as they approach and what they say and do is noted; and we can see in what specious and delusive form the demons are trying to deceive the intellect. If we are conscientious in this, we can gain much experience and knowledge of spiritual warfare."

Shalom

Br. Gerard-David

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From Pat Gross Zollner / daughter of Florence (Fromherz) Gross

Greetings from Mt. Angel~

We are continually getting more settled in to life back here in Paul’s hometown, Mt. Angel.  We built a house here last year and are still working on the landscaping. 

Christiana is a Junior at Silverton High School this year, drives herself to and from school, so my Taxi-Mom days are over.  I now work full-time for the Oregon Judicial Department in Salem this year.  I’m on the publications staff.  Paul is working for Silver Falls Bank.  Tecie has been attending Chemeketa Community College and working at the new Glockenspiel Restaurant here in town. 

We’ve had such a rich year—Dad’s funeral was on a Tuesday and Monica & Grant’s wedding was the next Saturday, June 23rd!  Then before summer was up, Katie gave birth to our first grandbaby, Julia, on September 9^th.  We enjoyed having Fr. Gerard-David, Sharon and Claire here.

We wish you all the best in 2008~

Pat and Paul Zollner

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From Katie Zollner Voss / daughter Pat Gross Zollner / daughter of Florence (Fromherz) Gross

We’ve had a fun filled year, getting life back on track after spending a year in Thailand with the Peace Corps.  Jim and I moved to Mt. Angel with my parents in October of last year, and we started working in November.  In February we bought our home in Silverton and September 9, our baby girl, Julia Marie was born!  Jim’s currently working as a senior accountant at Willamette Valley Vineyards, and I’m staying home with Julia.  We hope everyone has a fantastic holiday season!

Love,

Katie, Jim & Julia Voss

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Regarding Alice Fromherz / from son, Don

We're certain if Alice could communicate better she would send her love and Holiday greetings, so we'll try to do it for her.

Although she is non-ambulatory and fully-assisted in all functions of daily living, she has had a relatively good year with no major events.  She now has a new high-tech wheel chair which gives her better support and is much more comfortable.  She is eating well and loves visitors (mornings between 9:00 and 11:00).  Most afternoons we find her enjoying naps or resting.

Thanks for your cards and pictures.  Alice loves them and remembers all of you.  We're glad she has not had to move into a nursing home and is able to remain at 

Regency Woodland, 4710 Sunnyside Rd. SE, Salem. 

Mail is best in care of me (Don) at:  621 Lamplighter CR SE, Salem OR 97302
 
Don Fromherz

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From Charlie & Marilyn Fromherz / son of Charles Fromherz

We want to wish all the family a wonderful Christmas and may we all have peace and joy to celebrate the season.  Charlie is still driving all over the country with his pilot service... seeing lots of back woods and truck stops!   He sure enjoys that truck and all his gadgets even though

it wears tiredness on his body.  While Charlie is gone Marilyn keeps very busy with her sewing.  Won another first place on a quilt in June with the Orchid Society and is busy with quilt guild as the webmaster and graphics designer for their quilt show promotion.  Not much traveling has been done with out 5th wheel, seems it stays a lot in storage.  We did take a quick 4 day trip on the Grand Canyon Railway Tour with our park friends and of course, did a couple of quick weekend trips to Oregon for family reunion and Charlie's 50th class reunion in Lebanon.

Editor’s note:  Here’s is a late-breaking news bit from Charlie:

I am sitting in a motel room in El Paso, Texas the time now is 11:00 a.m.

I am the pole car for a oversize load going from Loma Linda California to Houston, Texas.  Yesterday at 1:30 p.m. we arrived in Texas, stopping at the intersection to cross over Interstate 10.  The light turned green I proceeded through the intersection the truck driver informed a over the CB that the truck broke.  He had broken the driveshaft I turned around and came back blocking traffic from the rear.  The police came and helped us block traffic and called a tow truck to pull us out of the intersection.  The driveshaft on the truck is being repaired.  Hopefully we will get back on the road again some time today or tomorrow morning.

Our 2003 Dodge pickup has 462000 miles on it now.

CHARLIE FROMHERZ

Everyone have a great holiday,

Christmas hugs from Charlie and Marilyn

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From Kathy Cappetta / daughter of Charles Fromherz

Hi Gang,

This is a family and friends email update.  This past couple of weeks have been grueling on me.  The bottom line is that I am doing fine, just that some days are better than others and the road gets kinda rocky sometimes, but I have my faith and your prayers that pull me through and THANK GOD for that!!

Everything was going along just fine until Thanksgiving.  Oh, I have the cancer metastasize to my bones and that makes walking and sitting difficult, but I manage.  Every opportunity that I get to get out there and live, I do, God gave me but one life and I am going to make the most of it.

I was bad, the week before Thanksgiving while Mike was at the office; I got the bright idea that I could do two loads of laundry.  I discovered real quick that I can’t.  I was leaning against the washing machine waiting for the water to fill up over the soap before inserting the clothes and out of the blue, my left hip popped.  My doctor thought I broke it and immediately ordered x-rays.  I still do not have the results back, but I can now put weight on it again where it was VERY painful before.

I had radiation done on my neck and hips to help with my mobility.  They kept warning me that I would have a sore throat from the radiation  well, I didn’t.  Now, 7-9 weeks later (so much has happened I have lost track of time) my esophagus is sloughing (pealing) off from the inside getting rid of the dead fast-growing cells.  I had no idea that that would make eating, speaking, and drinking impossible!  After a WONDERFUL Thanksgiving with Dad, Marilyn, her daughter Jennifer, Jennifer’s son Mark, and of course, my Mike, all of a sudden my throat got real flemmy, I couldn’t swallow and breathing was almost impossible.  After consulting with family and thinking about the severity of the issue, I called Kaiser and the told me to report to the emergency room right away.

Mike took me, we saw a doctor, I told him that I was a cancer patient, all the history, etc.  He told me there was nothing wrong with me and $100 later, he sent me home.  Heck, I was afraid to go to sleep that I would not wake up in the morning!  The next day was even more traumatizing.  I met with my oncologist and had chemo and got the infusion of my bond medication.  Then she wanted a CAT scan on my brain to be certain that cancer had not spread to my brain.  So from chemo, I went to nuclear medicine where they set up an IV for the contrast die.  She poked me 25-30 times causing me to hyperventilate and have chest pains where instantly I was wheeled in my own wheelchair with oxygen back to the emergency room.  The clown there again told me there was nothing wrong with me and to go home.  NOPE.  I didnt trust him and asked to see his supervisor.  She came in, asked a couple of questions and admitted me on the spot.  I wanted to be monitored at least over night to be sure my heart was OK because chemo is no good on the heart.  Mike was wonderful sitting with me and being with me.  Brother Mark came down from Seattle and sister Rose came up from San Diego to spend a two days.  I really needed the help

The doctors gave me three new medications that seem to be ever so slowly helping, but the important thing is that I feel improvement.  I went today and had chemo as usual so right now, except for being extremely tired, I feel good.  With that, I will close this; I don’t want you to have to be reading for the next two weeks just to get caught up.  Thanks for your love and prayers.

Love Always,
Kathy

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From Don & Barb Fromherz / son of Charles Fromherz

2007 has been a rich, full year.  All 8 of us went to Maui for spring break--valuable family time!  Don still works hard at dentistry and Barb loves retirement (from teaching).  Babysitting the grandkids is one of her joys.  We get away often in our travel trailer and spend many winter weekends in it at the coast. This summer we hiked some new trails and canoed some new waters.  Son Scott is opening his sleep medicine clinic in Tigard soon with his wife Crisi attending to details.  Daughter Jenny is still teaching first grade and her husband Chris manages the reserve golf course in Aloha.  Their son Brady is in 1st grade and loves Reading and Math.  Emma just started preschool and loves it. 

Happy holidays to all!!

Don & Barb Fromherz

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News from the Margaret (Mrs. Albert) Fromherz clan / thanks to Marylen (Fromherz) Robinson, daughter

The biggest news from Yakima was Mom's (Margaret Fromherz) 90th birthday party June 30, 2007.  Many friends and family came including students from her first years of teaching nursing.  Around the same time Mom sold the apple ranch.  However, she will probably continue to live in the house the rest of her life.  The new owners are planning to plant cherries.   The orchard was originally a cherry orchard when Dad bought it.    Bill, John and Sue take wonderful care of Mom.  There is still room for company and Mom loves it when family visits. Mom sounds great on the phone.  She continues to make it to Mass every Sunday and goes out to meals and to special events.  Walking is difficult but she keeps going.

All the children, grand children and great grand children are doing well.  All are in Yakima except for Adam's (Bill's son) family in Spokane and Marylen's (the Robinson's) in South Bend.

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From Bill Fromherz / son of Albert Fromherz

May the peace of Christ be with each of you this Christmas and throughout 2008.  We sold both apple orchards June 29^th and on June 30^th we celebrated Mom’s 90^th birthday.  Mom, Margaret Stupfel Fromherz, gets to continue living in her home for four years rent free.

John lives in the same house with Mom and looks after her daily needs.  Without John there to pick Mom up when she falls, give her meds and see that she eats, Mom would not be able to stay in her home of 58 years.  Suzanne is working in North Bend, but has bought a house in Yakima.  She directs John and me (Bill) in providing assistance to Mom. 

Our children have all gone out on their own.  Amy Teresa runs the Chemistry lab for Haas.  Haas transforms hops into flavor for beer.  Adam Basil works for UPS in Spokane and is a part-time bartender at the Wild Sage restaurant in downtown Spokane.  Kelly Ann works in Yakima at Regional Hospital as a Nurse’s Aid-Float.  Matthew works on the Microsoft campus as a telecommunications technician.  He just graduated from Perry Technical in Yakima. 

My wife, Lucy, enjoys her 3 grandchildren, Cameron (8), Caleb (3) and Grace (1).  Lucy works as a nurse for the State of Washington, dropping in on nursing homes.  I teach school and help look after Mom.  I’m a substitute school teacher in Selah and love it.  Al (Dad) died 3 years ago, December 10^th. 

May God Bless you.

Love, Bill

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News from Margie (Mrs. Adolf “Joe”) Fromherz

Allen & Robin:  Becky was home from Vienna for Thanksgiving.  A.J. will be home from Qatar for Christmas.  Amy working at retirement center, and is also the assistant manager of the horse barn in Dallas, where numerous horses are stabled.  I was given the official tour and was very impressed.  Alan is in the process of restoring an 1880 barn.  Robin is busy teaching at Willamette University.

Rita & Roy:  They are still struggling with Roy’s illness and ask for your prayers.  Their daughter, Margie (Margaret Mary) is following in her father’s footsteps in the field of Range Management, and living in Bismark, ND, with husband, Ryan.

Frank & Bridget:  Busy at home and on the job.  Planning on spending Christmas with Chris, Veronica and baby Horacio in Bolivia.  Nick will be joining them.

Rose & Kevin:  Will be down from Stevenson, Washington, for Christmas Eve.  Cory, Ryan and Sam are busy with schooling and making plans for the future.

Barbara & Steve:  Barbara has been busy homeschooling Gina, and teaching a group of young people in choir at their church.  Steve and Barbara thank all who contributed to the “Run for Roy” and all of your many prayers for Rita and Roy.

Sylvia & Andy:  Have moved to Makanda, IL, where they are both teaching at the University.  Bryn and Andrew like their new school and excel athletically (swimming, skiing, soccer, etc.)  Keeps mom and dad busy.

Louis & Tricia:  Louis busy driving truck—long haul.  Gone from home many days, but it supports the family.  Tricia home schools and Andrew, Mary, Bernadette and Marcellina are doing well.  Andrew is planning for future at a community college.  Mary is working at nursing home and plans on becoming a nurse.  Bernadette excels in music (esp. piano) and may go into teaching.  Marcellina is very active and loves North Dakota.

John:  He is busy working nights at Intel, Army Reserve, and keeping up with demands at home.  Like his dad, he loves to go to auctions. 

Paul:  Works at the cannery in Woodburn and has become a world traveler.  He went to Greece last year and this year he went to Rome, Germany, and Poland, visiting many shrines.  Sings in the choir at St. Joseph’s.

Matt & Karen:  Matt works in forestry.  Built a storage barn in their back yard with 2-1/2 year old Holly.  I wish I could have had a movie camera.  Baby Joseph, born March 14, 2007, keeps his little sister busy.  Karen could write a book about their expeditions.  He is beginning to walk and one day mom found Joseph and Holly playing in the dry bath tub.  Holly helped him in!

Well, that’s it.

Love and hugs,

Margie

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From Barb & Steven Guarracino / daughter of Adolf (Joe) Fromherz

“RUN FOR ROY 2007”  The Final Update:

The 2007 New York Marathon went well for Steven.  He finished in a little over 5 hours!  We had an exciting visit in N.Y. as well, and Gina Rose, now 6 years old, even saw her God Father for the first time ever!

Roy had to resign from his work on November 13, 2007, due to the need for a new liver and the ravages it has taken upon his body.  The money raised from the run is needed more now, than we originally envisioned!  Your response has deeply moved Rita and Roy as well as us! . . .  May God bless you all for your kindness and generosity!

Sincerely,

Steven & Barb Guarracino

On behalf of Rita & Roy Reichenbach

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From Sylvia (Fromherz) & Andy Sharp / daughter of Adolf (Joe) Fromherz

This past spring, Andy was offered a tenure-track faculty position in the School of Medicine at Southern Illinois University that was just too good to pass up.  When the same group managed to create a faculty position for Sylvia as well, the deal was done and we decided to relocate the family this summer to southern Illinois.  We are happy to live in the country again (6 acres) but with the university town only a short 10 min drive away.  Some of the perks high on the kids' list are swimming in our pool and warming up in the hottub, trampolining and climbing in the barn, taking horseback riding lessons, and playing club soccer.  We are all enjoying the opportunity to explore the nature in the area (limestone cliffs, rolling hills, pleasant woods, lots of new

flora and fauna).

Merry Christmas!

Sylvia, Andy, Bryn and Andrew

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From Louie & Tricia Fromherz / son of Adolf (Joe) Fromherz

Happy Thanksgiving to you all!  Here’s our news:

Louie is still driving truck.  He was in Florida last week.  Louie also followed a tornado into Tennessee.
 

Louie & Tricia Fromherz

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From Mary (Fromherz) Gerding:

For the last two years I’ve been very ill.  First, I had a bad case of Polymyalgia rheumatica and before I was over that, I had a relapse!  Then I had a bad infection of my veins, behind my right ankle--with three deep holes that just wouldn’t heal.  I was told by the doctors that I could lose my leg, but with nurses coming twice a week to care for the bad leg and all the prayers (thank all of you for that), I’m doing much better now and my leg has healed—thank God!

After the effects of all of this, I’m trying to get my strength back.  You can understand that in those two years, I didn’t get any younger!  So, hopefully I can get back to a degree.

Happiness to all and a Merry Christmas!

Mary Gerding

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From Karen (Gerding) Raskin / daughter of Mary (Fromherz) Gerding

Well, this is our second year to be snowbirds to Arizona!  I can sure see why you and Uncle Louis came here, Aunt Florence!  The people are so nice and it is really wonderful.
 
David is still working and I am working with fusing glass.  The days seem to melt quite fast.   Our tree is up and the holidays are here!  Now the baking starts and Christmas cards...
 
Hope this finds you all well and in good spirits.
Our Love and Prayers are with y'all,
Karen and David Raskin

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From Elenora (Mrs. Walt) Fromherz:

Happy Holidays from Medford, Oregon!

It’s a few weeks before Winter really begins—but it feels like it has arrived already.

Thanksgiving was nice—the three boys and I went out for dinner, had a very nice time.  We were together and the dinner as very good.

I will be thinking of you all.  It’s not the same as it once was ~ but we have memories to get us through.

So… bringing wishes of Peace~  and may you all have a bright and Merry Christmas ~ and let us always remember why we celebrate ~

Best Regards~

Elenora Fromherz

Mike, Doug, Max and Patrick

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From Winnie (Mrs. Art) Fromherz:

I moved back into our (old) home, now remodeled, thanks to Judy.  Everything is so handy.  Russ, Marie and family brought down my book case and books.  Now with all my furniture, it is really nice and homey.

For my birthday, we had many to celebrate at a dinner in Salem.  Seven of us had a tour to Alaska.  We had a wonderful tour.  Mary and I went to Reno to celebrate Russ and Marie’s twenty-fifth wedding anniversary.  It was a wonderful surprise--a BBQ put on by their boys.  What a great job they did!  Their new home is lovely.

We had our first frost, which brought down many leaves.  Thanks to Mike and Art Jr., who took them up.  I have really enjoyed my greenhouse.  Martha, Mark and Art Jr. saw to it I had a greenhouse.  My plants in there are in full bloom, including some from others.  Art Jr. trimmed our big Gravenstein apple.  What a job!  First time it has been trimmed in 10 years.

Since cataract surgery, I cannot drive.  I need a new lens in my glasses.  Another two weeks and maybe I can see!    

Love always,

(Aunt) Winnie

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From Daniel Lewis Frommherz / son of Art Fromherz

Let me fill you in on what is going on in my life.  In June I took 92 pictures with my digital camera at your dad's funeral.  The range of pictures of the service that I took, start with the rosary the night before and end with the luncheon at the church.  It was a sad and joyful gathering of all who came together on those days to say goodbye to your dad, husband, and our uncle.  You may know, or remember that when the barely-18-year-old young wife of Arthur Francis gave birth to me in January 1947 (yes I turned 60 this year), we came to live with your mom and dad at their McMinnville home, while dad and Nana (Winifred Smith) moved his family to Dallas at Oakdale.  So I would have been the 4th of all the cousins to see both of them that young in those years.  I am, was, and still am extremely proud of the way that they opened their home to us.  It was there in that same home only 3 years later that I returned to meet my grandfather, Adolph Sr. I have written about this previously, so there is no need to go into that again.  I will never forget that I learned the proper way to shake hands that day, too.  I fondly remember that this action made my dad really proud in front of his father that day.

So I have been here in Springfield for 12 years now.  I have 3 acres of land that are in the city.  I have to say the time has flown by it hardly seems that long.  I have kept a diary that I can look back on fondly.  I humorously joke that I should write a book.  It is my own world down here and few bother me and that is the way I like it just fine.  I added 11 colonies of Italian Honey Bees  this year to make a grand total of 15.  They live in an organic world so I have not lost any of them like other keepers have lost hundreds of their colonies this year.  In the past year I completely rebuilt my garden of 11 raised beds of various sizes and shapes.  I had the basic design to work from after reclaiming it from the wild blackberries which took over while I was in school.  I built  them 17 inches high with metal corners.  It started out as a large rectangle behind my Green House.  In my minds eye it is laid out like a large croquet playing field.  So do you or anyone remember when we were kids the game of Croquet such as it was well it wasn't really to win but a chance to knock your opponent’s ball far enough away as possible and then have a good laugh sort of "Passive Aggressive" but you had to take it with a measure of frivolity because there was no sense of grousing about it.  So the playing field is laid out on carefully manicured lawn that I have been grooming.  The garden has enough corners and turns that it will be impossible to send a ball very far I warn you.  Oh and formal attire is expected for the game here.  Well one thing led to another and I decided that I wanted berries. I already have ever-bearing Strawberries, Blueberries and Thornless Himalayan Blackberries.  So I built 11 -  26 foot long boxes 2 feet wide in the same style as my vegetable garden area.  In those boxes I added Black Raspberries, Red Raspberries, Marion berries, and Boysenberries.  I am trying to figure what I will do with the Black Raspberry tips that have rooted.  I wonder if anyone is into farming anymore?  I harvested all but the last two during the summer as I added one box at a time to my garden.  I have a full chest freezer in the garage and the freezer in the kitchen is as full as I can possibly get it.  The summer addition early on saw the addition of an orchard.  I had originally planted them in large plastic pots.  To those trees in now have 8 different kinds of Apples, 2 of Plums, and 3 Cherry trees.  I made Applesauce from the trees this fall flavored with pumpkin pie spices. I was almost finished when I got the wild hair to add two rose gardens in the back and north of my gardens.  The first is a formal Rose Garden with a gazebo benches and a fountain.  The second are simply 9 - 14 foot long rows with Hybrid Tea roses.  They have identifiable names like Double Delight, Veterans Honor, Peace, John F. Kennedy, Saint Patrick, Welcome Home, Ink Spot, Pope John Paul II, and Sweet Sixteen.  Just outside in a triangle is a Water Works (still being built) to direct foot traffic like they call in the landscape world "rooms within rooms like beads on a string".  I took out my 85 year old next door neighbors’ sheep  fence to build her a garden behind her bathroom and another raised bed of beautiful Legend Red Hybrid Tea Roses.  The opposite side of the path leading to my house is a double row of Queen Elizabeth Floribunda Roses.  The boarders of all the gardens are complete with a gate and climbing roses over the trellis now I have 4 of these pass throughs that I call "Granny Gates" each one has a different color Royal Sunset, First Prize, Cecil Brunner, and Autumn Gold.  All the paths lead a person to explore a little further. The boxes along the north side of my house on both sides of a stone path are rhododendrons and Tree Roses.  I have two waterfalls and a running stream in my tiny front yard, a weeping birch tree, Forsythia (well trimmed), and 9 more tree roses.  The lawn is tiny with a bridge across the steam to get to a bench of Black Walnut wood  to sit and enjoy the work that I have completed so far.  The running stream has steps that go down and around a corner to give the lower water falls out of sight a spectacular surprise you would not expect to find there.  Along the driveway are 5 climbing Queen Elizabeth roses over a wood fence.  I am trying to find a way to get them to bloom more than one spectacular flush early in the summer.  I am trying a new approach since I prune them back to the canes in the fall I wonder if doing that again after the flush is finished if new growth off of the canes will produce another bloom.  Stay tuned.  I think that I have figured them out.  I have been training these roses of wire like they have in the Owens Municipal Eugene Rose garden if you have ever visited there.  The gardeners in the rose garden have been a wonderful and giving resource.  Tall posts hold the wires and plastic ties hold the selected cane branches that I have carefully groomed into place to give my place more privacy.  I have canned till I couldn't see straight. For jars I bought out BI-Mart, the recycle yard, and the teen challenge thrift store several times throughout the canning season this year putting in several all nighters this summer making juice of my large plum tree harvesting every piece of fruit.  I even got around to harvesting from a huge old Bartlett Pair tree.  This fall I picked the green grapes making 37 gallons of juice.  I bought one of those 40 foot storage containers they use to bring mostly Chinese goods into the country without wheels.  In it I built an insulated fruit room with shelves near the ceiling for my canning supplies but I have cases of my labor sitting on the floor up to 4 feet.  I put a pocket door so that I can heat only that portion if it gets cold in the winter.  I am starting to make Jelly and Jam for Christmas gifts.

In April 2006 I used a proxy person, the executive secretary, of the America Guernsey Association to place a bid on my latest adventure.  To buy a DAIRY COW not any cow but one that I could show at the State Fair and make a name for my investment.  I chose a Guernsey heifer bred from Dallas, Texas.  The owners had shipped her by truck to Pennsylvania for the Blue Halter Sale.  I was counseled in the fact that I wanted her.  I had my proxy bid but I instructed him to stop bidding at $10,000.00 for her.  My second choice was made the day before on an older cow from the Snider-Gable herd carrying the name SNIDERS ALURES ASHLYN - ET.  ET means she was an embryo transplant for a really great cow family.  Thank you Berneta (Snider) Gable you are wonderful to have let her go when you did.  I believe that my investment is already paying off. Seth Spencer a very progressive dairyman who I met at the State fair in 2005 and I thought she would be a better pick than the heifer from Texas so that is why I quit bidding when I did.  We thought that the cow would go for about $4,500.00 to $5,500.00 at the sale.  I asked Seth how bad I wanted her?  His reply was, “if you get the package of 5 embryos from her sister SNIDERS VALORS ALURE you will want her real bad”.  The heifer was first up and Ashlyn followed second.  So I told my bidding proxy to limit the bid to $7,000.00 you should have heard Seth shout and I won't say what it was.  I laughed and said you told me I wanted her.  She sold for $7,100.00 and I got her because the $5,000.00 additional money I would have spent on the 5 embryos of her sister went for $4,000 I saved a bundle and the AGA proxy told me he wasn't going to loose her for $200.00.  He has since become a great person who helps out with suggestions on how to get better as a budding dairyman.  So again thank you Seth Johnson who flew down from Vermont to attend the show.  I have to say that I was extremely happy to have her.  She arrived in Oregon from Pennsylvania in June bearing a calf due in December 2006.  The cost of shipping her to Oregon from Pennsylvania cost me $600.00 to have her trucked and milked along the way twice a day.  She made several stops along the way mostly to show off at some great farms including Hoard’s one of the best Guernsey herd’s in the mid-west.  Ashlyn made a record of 33,200 pound of milk and over 2,000 pound of butterfat at 5.4 % butterfat in 305 days. Six days after the sale Ashlyn was appraised at EX - 90 out of 96 points.  Oh I forgot Ashlyn's first daughter sold for $18,000.00 at the sale.  This was after I bought her mother in the same sale.  She took top honors at the Oregon State Fair for best Udder and production.  In October 2006 I traveled to Madison Wisconsin to the World Dairy Expo for 10 days.  This show is one of the largest all breed cow shows in the world.  It was judged by the Ayres a husband and wife team with Mrs. Ayers the lead judge.  While there I bought 6 more animals.  The purchase included a just freshened heifer, "COYOTE RUN JESUS JEWELL" who placed 10th out of 60 young cows in her class and another heifer "MISTY MEADOWS FAME WINNER" who placed 4th in her class.  Moving ahead Jewell just freshened in October this year and tested at 80 pounds of milk at 5.2% butterfat.  She was appraised at VG-87 higher than Ashlyn was appraised at the same age.  The sale was held near the show ring and I got some really good pictures on a bright fall day before they were loaded onto a truck to make the trip from there to Oregon.  The owner of the Knapp Herd in Iowa helped me with my bidding of the animals that I wanted to buy.  I am happy to report that Ashlyn freshened in December 06 with a daughter SOLID GOLD UP RIVER ACATHISTUS "Annie" for short and she knows her name.  I prepared Ashlyn for collecting Embryos in August serviced to a bull named Challenge for my efforts I got 11 embryos of which I used 6 and have 4 confirmed pregnancies in the waiting donor heifers who were used.  The five remaining embryos are frozen for future use.  The calf “Annie” is really fancy and of course being well spoiled by the folks who visit at the dairy.  In March 2007 Ashlyn's sister gave me 3 ET heifers out of 5 calves.  I also bought several packages of embryos from some of the top cows in the United States at the sale.  I made several private deals with owners of cows (Misty Meadows, Villa Crest, Knapps, Valors, Trotacre, and Hoard’s) that I thought would be great as cows for future embryo flushing.  Yup I spend my whole budget and paid for my trip with the savings on what I would have spent for these Guernsey heifers. In December and January 07 and 08 I will have 17 calves born from them.  I keep my entire small herd of 11 on a dairy farm northeast of Lebanon where they get excellent care.  I recently had several of my animals bred to top bulls with names like Challenge, Blue Spruce, Mentor, Fame, Mission, and Job.  My bull is named Tabasco.  I took five of my heifers to the State Fair this year and won the Aged Cow class and the Summer Yearling class.  The judge came from Wisconsin this year.

On Sunday 20 November one of my nieces wrote to me a nice email letter asking for help in Genealogy.  She apparently has a class assignment that will include a speech on her family history. So I helped out and gave her some bragging points on the King, Frommherz, Smith, and Lounsbury families.  I not only know who they are but I make it a point to learn of their lives as well. I spend about 2 hours a day on the Internet doing genealogy and buying reference books.  I have a great library of rare and first edition books.  I found that mom's side of the family is English, Welsh, Irish, and another side of my grandmother's mother's side that is my proverbial Brick Wall.  In the last month I have concentrated on trying to figure out the Wood Family of Westchester County, New York and our Grandmother Lucy’s line with and by figuring out who William King Sr. IV married as his second wife.  His life is like a Black Hole between his the first marriage in Salem, Essex County, Massachusetts on 6 March 1740/1741 and when his oldest daughter wrote that he moved his family to New Salem, Hampshire County, Massachusetts in 1755.  So far I have proven that he did not marry who many folks thought that he had married.  It turns out that his First Cousin of the same name married her and she died so she couldn't be the mother of his 4 children.  Our 4th great grandfather Amos King was one of those children and this is why I am working so hard to find out her name and what her life was like.

With my retirement savings I plan to finally build a house in the forest and possibly live there forever among the old growth Fir Trees. 

Well folks this is about all that is happening in my world.  Have a great Christmas and may God bless you one and all.

Daniel Lewis Frommherz

Owner Up River Farm

Registered Guernsey’s Of National Distinction

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From Jane Fromherz / daughter of Art Fromherz:

Hello Family,

What a wonderful thing to have family and know they care.  The year has been a good one.  I have now reached two full years at Lowe's and am enjoying it...I work in the paint department and with my background in art I can make or match just about any color.  My customers like my work, I stick with them until the color is just right and they appreciate it.

My daughter, Annella, is still in the Air Force.  She is stationed in Nebraska.  Her children are two and three.  Her husband, Jeremy, has been in Korea since March but is home right now so they can have a good Christmas.  He will be retuning to Korea just before Christmas and will be home in March.  They are being re-stationed in Las Vegas in March, a little closer to home--maybe I can get to see my Grandbabies more.

My son, Adam is still in the Coast Guard.  He has been re-stationed to Bangor.  He was in Seattle.  He and his wife, Bekah, own a home in Port Orchard, Washington, so I get to see them on Holidays and any other time I have time to go.  Adam's children are now six and the twins are four...what a wonderful handful.

 
Christmas greeting to everyone. 

Love to all.

Jane

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From Mary (Fromherz) Holt / daughter of Art Fromherz:

Everyone is doing great. We have had a busy year, but a really busy summer, starting with Relay for Life in June at Chemeketa Community College. We have a team called Chris' Crusaders and Brian’s team is the Celts. We enjoy Relay--it helps to have something to look forward to that helps us raise money to find a cure. The survival rate has increased by about 20% in the past 5 years. The relay itself is magical with a chance to honor survivors (which grows every year), and a chance to honor the memory of those that lost the battle. It is a 24-hour relay walk that was started because Cancer never sleeps!!!

This was the first year we had to leave early. Travis’ baseball team was in the championship that afternoon. His was the youngest boys’ team, but they ended up working really hard, had a great coach and ended up in the championship. Lots of fun--he had a great time. After the game we had a last party and BBQ where the kids played the Dads (and Moms). It always amazes me that the boys can hit those fast balls the way they do. Chris and Brian both played and always amazed me.

The next morning we drove to Roseburg to take Brian and Travis to camp for the week. It is a camp that is for kids that have had to deal with cancer, whether it is a parent or sibling. They always have a wonderful time.

In between, the family reunion cousins dinner was on Friday night and everyone seemed to have a great time and most everyone asked to have it at Rheinlander again. Then Sat. the breakfast, golf tournament and BBQ were that day. Mike and I missed the family reunion because we had to head to Roseburg on Sat night to pick up the boys early Sunday morning. We ended up meeting with Buzz, Al, Sue and Nick (Jim's kids) at Seven Feathers in Canyonville and had a great time catching up.

We had to get Brian to the Portland Airport for a youth work trip and Catholic youth conference in New Orleans. The 20 kids worked all year to be able to go and help. We made it with a 1/2 hour to spare. Brian worked hard and met 200 other youth groups for the conference.

We had July off and then were able to go with Mom (Winnie) on an Alaskan Cruise. Marty, Mark and Judy all were able to go. We all had a wonderful time.

Travis played football and Mike coached another team. They both had a great time. Mike started coaching with a team 4 years ago when Brian played. That team drafted him and won't let him leave. (I don't think he minds.) That left me to play the Father (parent)/Son game. Thank goodness I caught a touch down pass and did not fall in the mud. (Yuck!)

I took Mom to Reno to Russ and Marie's surprise 25th wedding anniversary party their boys put together. I think they had an idea that something was going on, but had no idea Mom would be able to make it. Peter has made a really nice bench to honor both his grandpas who were in World War II. We were able to go and see them. They are wonderful.

We have already started to set up for next years Relay for Life. I am the online chair and the luminary chair. I think it will be a fantastic year.

Well I think that brings us up to date. Talk with you soon.

Mary, Mike, Brian and Travis

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From Judy Fromherz / daughter of Art Fromherz:

News from Washington D.C.  -  10 December 2007

I can only describe the year 2007 as “What a wonderful year”!   I crossed 20 years in the Military, completed the remodel of mom’s house, live in our Nation’s Capitol, and was blessed to have many friends and family drop-in to visit!

As most of you may (or may not) know, I am working in the Pentagon and have achieved the rank of Lieutenant Colonel (LTC) in the Army.  My current position is the Executive Officer (XO) for the Director of Materiel (DOM) in the Army G8. The G8 is responsible for planning, programming, and executing the Army’s annual budget for the purchase and distribution of all the equipment for the soldiers serving our Country.  I earned my Department of the Army Staff Badge and will remain in this job through June.  My schedule includes 14-15 hour days and I truly enjoy my job!!  I look forward to retiring from the military and moving home in a couple of years.  I am not sure what I will do for employment, but know that my experience in the Military and management skills will definitely enhance the workforce of some company or corporation in Oregon! 

So why do I say this year was wonderful? 

Last December (2006), I started the downstairs remodel of mom’s house that I purchased from mom & dad in 2003.  I took a lot of time and effort to find a contractor that could do the job with me in Washington DC.  I had to find someone that could handle the job and someone that I trusted could make the right decisions in my absence.  The entire project (including the upstairs completed by a different contractor) cost $ 300,000.00!   The house turned out beautiful and Mom is very happy living in a “new” house that includes a huge kitchen, her own bathroom, and walk-in closets!  

In January, I flew home to check on the house and be with family & friends for a very short 11 days!   I had a great time staying with Mary & Family since the house was not yet livable.  Mom was staying with Art & Family recovering from her broken hip and partial hip replacement surgery.  The weather limited us a little, but it turned out to be a great trip!!

In February, I hosted a Pampered Chef Party.  My sister, Mary was able to fly in to be my consultant!  We had a great time and were able to see the White House blanketed in Snow! 

In March/April, Jennie (Marty’s oldest) dropped in for her Spring Break.  Thanks to a mutual friend, we got to tour the West Wing of the White House!  We also got to see the Japanese Cherry Blossoms in full bloom!

In May, mom was able to come and stay with me for 6 weeks and we had a glorious time!  I rented her a scooter and we went all over Washington DC including the Washington Monument, Capitol, Lincoln Memorial, Postal Museum, Mount Vernon, The National Zoo, and many more places.  During the day (while I was working) mom spent time reading in the sun, napping, taking walks, and enjoying the company of my cat, Taz.

 In June, Mom and I returned to Oregon and I was able to spend a couple of weeks at home.  I walked in the ACS “Relay for Life” in memory of my nephew, Christopher Holt; went to the Celebration of Life and Funeral Service for Uncle Louis; moved mom back into her house; attended the Family Reunion events; and hosted (with lots of help from family & friends) a huge BBQ to celebrate Mom’s 80^th Birthday. Mary can truly BBQ chicken & ribs – YUM!!!  Mom turned 80 in August and decided to go on an Alaskan Cruise so our plans for a big party were accelerated by a couple of months!  

 I returned to DC with my Niece, Joelle (Marty’s youngest), and her friend, Krista; we had an awesome time touring DC and NYC.  We saw 2 Broadway Plays; went inside & climbed 192 steps to the base of the Statue of Liberty; went to the top of the Empire State Building; went to the top of Rockefeller Center, toured Ground Zero, and saw the taping of the NBC Today Show….Oh, and we shopped!   Back in DC, we toured the Capitol, the White House, and the Pentagon.  We watched the National Fireworks display from the Pentagon Helicopter pad; toured and shopped in Historic Williamsburg, went to Virginia Beach, and went to Busch Gardens.   We also got to see Marty & Mark as they led their 8^th grade classes from Bend on the annual East Coast Trip. 

In August, I was home again to celebrate Mom’s Birthday (on her Birthday) and go with her on the Alaskan Cruise.  We went to Juneau, Sitka, Ketchikan, and Victoria BC.  We saw Whales, Bears, Salmon, the Glaciers, Eagles, and the most beautiful scenery that you can imagine! 

 In September, I had the pleasure of seeing Scott (Art’s son) a few times while he attended a Marine School at Fort Lee, VA.  We had an awesome time going to Busch Gardens at Williamsburg where we road the “Griffon” 5 times!!  This ride does a 90 degree drop for 270 feet at 70 miles per hour.  You can probably tell what that feels like by looking at the expression on my face!! By the way, that is not the way I fix my hair!!  Scott and his Marine buddies took it all in stride!!

Now we are in December and I have the honor of hosting our cousins, Connie & Jim Gale, for a week!  Today, we went to the Marine Memorial of Iwo Jima and Arlington National Cemetery where we saw the Tomb of the Unknown Soldiers, the Changing of the Guard, the memorial in honor of the Challenger & Discovery Astronauts, and The Kennedy Graves sites.   These are somber and wonderful tributes to our nation and its soldiers who fight and have fought for the preservation of our freedom!   This week, they will get to tour DC including the Pentagon, the Lincoln Memorial, the Capitol, the New Air Force Memorial, and many other sites.  We are even going to make Christmas dinner with all of the trimmings!   

Like I said in the beginning, this has been a Wonderful Year!!  I thank God for all his blessings, my family, and many friends for being involved in my life and guiding me through each day!

 God Bless and have a Glorious Year!!!

Love Judy & Taz

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Gale Holiday Greetings 2007

Dear Family . . . Another year has rolled around . . . And, here we are again Holiday Time and sending Holiday Wishes and Hugs to "All you all."

We spent a week in Ajijic, Mexico just before Christmas 2006 and enjoyed the milder weather and festive atmosphere.  We left freezing weather and snow in Spokane.  Connie had just finished up her first semester at Washington State University (WSU) at the Intercollegiate College of Nursing Education (ICN) and came through with a 4.0.  After many years of being a U of O Duck, we have now joined the family of WSU Cougs!

2007 brought with it more freezing weather and snow, Connie's second semester at WSU ICN finished in early May and she was right back at it with another class in the 8 week compressed summer school semester.  She actually finished her finals while at the 2007 Reunion Campout spending the week at Ft. Stevens State Park on the Oregon Coast.  We were able to get away in January for a long week-end at Leavenworth Washington, a small town much like Mt. Angel but maybe a bit more commercialized.  We also went to the Oregon Coast for a week during Washington's spring break . . . different week than Oregon's spring break!  Travel takes us to Calgary and Edmonton, Turkey, I-5 south to the US Mexico border, east to Phoenix and north thru Las Vegas, Salt Lake and home.  Jim is on the Board of Governors for Automotive Parts and Rebuilder's Association (APRA) and flies back to Iowa or South Carolina quarterly for meetings and planning, also APRA & Heavy Duty Clutch tradeshow in October in Las Vegas.

We did some building in the yard this summer putting a permanent roof over our upper deck and added on an attachment to the shop for yard equipment freeing up room in the shop for Jim to work on refurbishing his first love (his first car), a '65 Dodge Coronet.

Jim is doing a good job of keeping his weight down and still sports a 38 waist and an XLTall shirt, checking out healthy.  He likes to ride his recumbent bicycle in the summer.  It is put away now for the season.  Jim's most recent health issue is a surgery Nov 15, 2007 on his left arm to remove extra bone growth from his biceps tendon repair of 2005.  This is a big deal for him as he is a south paw.  Recovery is hard for him as he wants everything back to normal RIGHT NOW and it doesn't work that way!  He doesn't know how to do TINCTURE OF TIME very well at all!

Looking Forward . . . we are traveling to Washington DC the second week in December and celebrating Christmas early with Judy instead of Mexico this year . . . We plan to  travel to Turkey in Mid May 2008.  Connie is still sporting a 4.0 GPA and will graduate May 2, 2008 in Spokane and May 3, 2008
in Pullman.

We wish you all well in 2008, good health, and many treasured and joyful moments with family and friends.  Sending More Holiday Hugs your way.  Come visit us in 2008, we'll leave the porch light on for you!

Jim & Connie Gale  . . . Cocoa  & Ebony

From Tom & Kathy Fromherz / son of Jim Fromherz

Our family (Tom & Kathy's) is doing well. We are enjoying our new grandson, Brian. With Tom's job in Moses Lake, WA, we have been able to see Brian quite a bit- it is only a 2 hour drive from Moses Lake to Spokane, WA. We were also able to get together at our oldest son's house for Thanksgiving and spend the holiday together. Several of the kids walked the Seattle Half Marathon that weekend- maybe to try and walk off some of the turkey dinner!

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From Felice Noel Fromherz / daughter of Dennis (Buzz) Fromherz / son of Jim Fromherz  

Dear Loved Ones:

Here it is, Christmas time again, my favorite time of year. There is something magical about this season. I find myself enjoying the little things that come with all the hustle and bustle… the crisp cool air on my face, the twinkle of Christmas lights, the sweet smells of warm holiday baking, the festive melodies of the season… and all the blessings that come along with it.

As most of you know I have been living in Las Vegas for a couple years now, and this December, John and I are moving into a larger place on the west side of the city. Just in time for the holidays. We have a big Christmas planned.

Dad and Karen will be arriving on my birthday. I can’t wait. Karen is now 18… yes, that's right, 18 years old. She has grown into quite an amazing young lady, with big plans for her future. The wonderful part about having a sister like Karen is that she never gives up. No matter how strange and frustrating things get in life, I can forever rely on Karen to share her most honest and loving perspective, and before you know it, I have a smile on my face and a giggle in my heart.

It will be nice to see Dad as well. I got to spend a week with him during the Baja 500. He was invited to be a part of the Honda Team Pit Crew a few years ago, and I have been begging to go ever since. I finally got my chance last June. It was so much fun! Mostly because I got to laugh and play for days with one of my most favorite people in the whole world, my Dad! He has such a knack for making everyone comfortable and cheerful. The world is a better place when he is around.

Right now his plate is quite full. Besides working his usual 50 or 60 hours a week, he is selling the West Linn house, and is moving into a new home in Donald, Oregon. Still he is taking a few days to come down and visit. I couldn’t ask for a better birthday gift.

I would love to get up to Oregon, though. The last visit only lasted a couple of days. It was nice to have everyone together. Mom planned a ‘Sisters Day’ in honor of Betsy. Renee, Matt & Gage joined Karen, Mom and I for a fancy evening. We played a little dress up, and sat down to a fabulous seafood dinner. Then to top the night off, Mom gave us each a bracelet with a small locket that holds Betsy’s memory. I was really gorgeous. That’s my Mom… always coming up with brilliant creative ways to make things so special.

I know somewhere, Betsy was commemorating that day with us. If there was one thing that she loved, it was a good celebration. Rarely was there a holiday that she didn’t remember. In true Betsy fashion, she was ceaselessly the best dressed and most charming star at every event.

Being together with my sisters is always a treat. Renee and Matt are usually hard at work or play. Fortunate for me, they were here in Vegas for about a week recently as a part of their Billiards League. Their team won the regional pool tournament, and was sent to Vegas for the National Competition. I didn’t get to see them play, but they made time to visit with John and me, in the evenings. Funny, when I get together with Renee it’s just like old times.

Renee, Matt & Gage are a beautiful family. Gage is almost two years old now. While I may be a bit bias, I think he is absolutely adorable. Makes me think having kids would be a good thing. On second thought… John and I aren’t quite ready for that. I think I’ll stick to being an Aunt for a bit longer.

For 2008, John and I have resolved to dedicate more time to our loved ones. Which could be more of a curse than a blessing for some of you, but that is because we love you! So when we are all moved into our new home, I plan to snuggle up in my favorite winter blanket, next to the window overlooking the lights of the city, let the steam from a hot mug of apple cider warm my nose, think of the people I care most about, and make a Christmas Wish for you all to be blessed with love, health and happiness.

Merry Christmas from the Heart,  

Felice Noel Fromherz

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From Paul & Peng Van Etten / son of Florence (King) Van Etten

Had a nice talk with [Florence Gross], who I believe is now the Matriarch of our respective families.  We all are so proud of [her].  My favorite story about Florence happened a year or so ago.  We had stopped by Mt Angel to visit with [Louis & Florence].  Florence was playing the organ, while Louis was dutifully turning the pages of the music book.  I comment on Uppy and my having attended Aunt Louise and her twin sister’s birthday party in Brownsville.  Florence looks over her glasses at me with a sly smile on her face and stated, “Don’t you remember, we were there also?”

Unfortunately, our significant news is that we lost our oldest brother, Albert, last year.  Then our next oldest brother, Upton, has been ailing lately.  The good news is that Donny and I recently had a pleasant visit with Uppy and his wife Orletha in Florida.  While visiting with Uppy he telephoned Aunt Louise, who is now 88 years old and living in Idaho.  I believe Aunt Louise (Banta) King is now the last of our older generation.  Uppy and others of our generation all have pleasant memories of Warren and Louise’s farm in Oregon.

 I will try to find some pictures of our Mom to send, as our respective mothers are almost a mirror image of each other.  Unfortunately, our mother (your Mom’s namesake) suffered from dementia her last few years, as did our brother Al.  On the plus side, Florence, Louise and Uppy all have good memories that we all could aspire to have, even at our younger ages.

Paul & Peng Van Etten

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From Don & Tamara Van Etten / son of Florence (King) Van Etten

Memories make Christmas beautiful.  The love given us by God through His Son.  We have the joy to share—your family, our Cousins Florence and Mary, we cherish.  The next generation—even more numerous—priceless! 

The memories live in our hearts like love to share.  Thank you for being such a loving family~

Don & Tamara Van Etten

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From Bill King / son William King

There is no greater gift for Christmas, or indeed any other time, than to invite someone into the Roman Catholic Church.  That's what happened to me..  Somehow you have to be welcomed or you'll never make the first step no matter how hard you're looking for that first step.  And give a rosary to that person and teach them how to pray it.  You'll gain a soul to Heaven.

Yours in the Hearts of Our Lord and Lady,

Bill King

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From Winnie Young Trump/ daughter of Dorothy King Young

I hope this is appropriate for the newsletter.  Sorry I don't do email. I wrote this as an introduction to your CA relatives.

I am a retired elementary school teacher.  Photography is my hobby and passion.

I have attended several King family reunions and one Fromherz family reunion in the last few years so a few of you are familiar to me.

Your mom's cousin,

Winnie Young Trump

The California Kings (and I don't mean beds!)

Who in the world are they?  Well, they're your relatives!

The two most senior Fromherz sisters (and my first cousins), Florence and Mary, called me recently and asked me to do a little update piece for the family newsletter about the 2 King family branches in northern California, the Young family and the Hill family.  Both Dorothy King (Young) & Winnie King (Hill) emigrated to California in the early 1900's and never returned to live in Oregon-that's how we became the California Kings.

Winnie was Lucy's just younger sister & Dorothy was Lucy's youngest sister.

My name is Winnie Trump, 4th child of Dorothy King Young and Henry Arnold Young and namesake of Winnie Hill.

My husband, Dan and I (ages 70 & 71) have 2 sons (ages 41 & 44):

Jeff & his wife, Kris, who have a 13 yr. old son, Ben, and our son, Gordon, & his wife, Tanya, who have 2 sons, 9 yr. old Connor & 6 yr. old Ian.

Jeff is a CPA in Susanville, CA (about 1 hrs. from Reno, NV & about 6 hours from Arcata, CA where we live).  Gordon is a carpenter & lives a few miles away from us in McKinleyville.

My sister, Claire, (b. 1934 d. 1981) had 3 children (all of whom still live in the area).  Mike O'Neal, the eldest (52) who lives just south of us near Scotia, & his wife, Joanne, have 1 daughter (Leah) who attends College of the Redwoods.  Mike owns his own manufactured home transport-demolition, & set-up business.

Claire's daughter, Kendal Bradley, has 3 children:  Taylor (age 18), Dana (age 16) and Aaron (age 10).  Kendal is an LVN nurse for a group of pediatricians in Fortuna, CA where she lives.

Claire's middle child, Nathan O'Neal, is also living in the area & is employed as an antique fixture refinisher.

Winnie King Hill (my aunt & Lucy's sister) was born in 1894 and is now deceased.  She also has descendants living in this area.  Both of her sons, Alan (killed in Japanese POW camp in WWII) and Bob (Eureka attorney) are deceased.  Bob's wife, Betty Hill, still lives in the home that she shared with Bob in Eureka.  Bob & Betty have 3 sons, Alan, Larry, & Robby.

Alan is a professional chef who creates fine cuisine for remote luxury fishing lodges in places like Iliamna, Alaska and Belize (depending on the season).

Bob & Betty's middle son, Larry Hill lives in Eureka, CA with his wife, Aida, and their children, Lauren (age 22), & Nathan (age 15).  Larry is home awhile now.  He is in the Merchant Marines & travels about 6 months at-a-time as a Second Mate on big ships that travel all over the world.  When he is home he is a fulltime dad to 6 ft. Nathan (Lauren is now through college and working in San Francisco).  This is an especially challenging time with Nathan reaching driving age.

Bob & Betty's youngest son, Robby, lives in Orleans (along the Klamath River) where he can be in his beloved great outdoors running pack animals into the Marble Mountains.

Betty has kept involved (even though she could have retired) in women's apparel sales.  She and her longtime business friends run a very popular mail order sweater business at conniealee.com.

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HAPPY BIRTHDAY! To All Our Seniors . . .

Florence Gross 95 on October 13, 2008

Alice Fromherz 93 on September 16, 2008

Margaret Fromherz 91 on June 30, 2008

Margie Fromherz 73 on December 14, 2008

Mary Gerding 89 on October 16, 2008

Elenora Fromherz 83 on December 15, 2008

Winnie Fromherz 81 on August 8, 2008

Mary Fromherz 80 on September 29, 2008