Friday April 25th

We're back!!!
We just came back from being gone for 2 weeks, had a great time in Las Wages, oops I mean Las Vegas...
We drove in high winds for a couple days going out, and one day coming back. Oh, going out West of Albuqueque,I wore my winter coat and there was some misty rain, we had pulled into the Flying Eagle Casino and camp ground it was dang cold! But the rest of the traveling days were really nice. It's always good to get home tho. We just took a bus from Sam's town to down town the buses run every few hours, we were let out on Fremont street, lots of action even in the day time, can't imagine what we would have seen if it was at night...there's lots of free entertainment on the streets, one man painting pictures with spray cans like you see in Mexico, he had a big crowd around him, also several wonderful singers , some scantily clothed people, a Ventriloquist who was amazing, also a man painted entirely in silver paint and he stood there not moving a muscle for a very long time. Anyway not entertainment you would ordinarily see......

We were sorry to hear of Gary Jass passing away. I remember him having such a good time this Season at Cribbage etc. And happy he had a good time here this past Winter. Here is the obituary:

GARNER - Gary L. Jass, 80, of Garner died Sunday, April 20, 2014 at his home in Garner following a three -year battle with laryngeal cancer.

Funeral services will be held 10:30 A.M., Wednesday at St. Paul Lutheran Church in Garner with Revs. Daird Korth and Scott Kozisek officiating. Burial will be in Concord Township Cemetery with military rites by the Garner Veterans Ceremonial Unit.

Visitation will be held from 5 to 7 P.M., Tuesday at the Cataldo Funeral Chapel, 160 E. 4th St., in Garner and will continue one hour prior to services at the church.

Memorials may be directed to Redeemer Lutheran Church, St. Paul Lutheran Church or Hospice of North Iowa.

Gary Lee Jass, the son of Otto and Eva (Evanson) Jass, was born September 16, 1933 in Garner. He graduated from Garner High School in 1951. After graduation, he worked for the REC in Garner and then began working for Northwestern Bell Telephone Company. Gary served his country in the U.S. Air Force from 1953 until 1957. On February 14, 1958 he married Arlene Knopf at St. Paul Lutheran Church in Garner. They lived in several communities in the north Iowa area until moving to Garner in 2005. Gary was employed at Northwestern Bell Telephone until his retirement in 1990. He enjoyed golfing, playing cards, reading, cross-word puzzles, fishing, boating, water-skiing and family trips for twenty years to Sand Lake, MN.

He was a member of Redeemer Lutheran Church in Ventura, Telephone Pioneers and the Garner American Legion.

Gary is survived by his wife, Arlene, of Garner; two daughters, Debra (Craig) Lemke of Tucson, AZ and Vickie (Gordon) Mennen of Mason City; grandchildren, Katie Lemke, Jarod (Kendra) Lemke, Cory Lemke, Jamie Lemke, Michael Mennen, Robby Mennen and Grant Jass; two great grandchildren, Grayson and Cozette Lemke; two brothers, Daryl (Carol) Jass of Ankeny and Douglas (Marilyn) Jass of Reimer, MN; a brother-in-law, Allen Albers of Florida; and many nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his parents; son, Randy Jass in 1989; grandson, Jason Mennen; sister, Connie Albers; and nephews, Chad Albers and Scott Jass.

Former Mgr. Jack Bardon is in real bad condition.
This morning Tom and Mary Lou Benson furnished the donuts.I counted 35 people but could have been a couple more come in. The conversation was around how rich we got out in Vegas   lol lol  also that Wednesday a high wind came through and blew the awning on Printy's mobile too bits, and I think some roof damage. But no other damages reported. There was another water leak under the street over across from Frank and Phylliss's mobile down almost in front of A-3. I watched the weather reports before we left Vegas and it looked like severe weather for West Texas for Wednesday, but couldn't really tell how far South in Texas the severe weather was to be, I know San Angelo and North got bad weather Tuesday night, and after that moves out, the weekend is to be pretty bad for North Texas and Eastern New Mexico, so I think we hit the areas just about right. We also took the more southern route going through El Paso.

Busy busy getting laundry done and putting away a ton of things we took with us and didn't need !!!!!

A note

Since we are in Las Vegas I will wait until we get back to the valley to post any news. It is really nice here but traveling has been treacherous, high winds especially in New Mexico, and going home we expect more of the same.

Friday

You're missing out on some lovely weather here. April is always warm, but watch out for the next few months. It will start getting hot!! We are having 80's with lows in upper 60's. Windy tho. 20 mph or so.
We have some cards to sign , Gary Jass, Cancer, Al Mason, new knee, and Ken Eshelman fell and is in re-hab. Bill Clements has an ulcer on the bottom of his foot, using a wheel chair. 
Next Friday will be the first Coffee and Donuts, the office will buy and then individuals will buy them and make coffee each Friday.
I've noticed Gene Sanstra#82 has quite a few yards to mow now, they really look nice! 
Until next Friday....have a good one

Last Monday morning meeting

Scraps and Greetings

This is our last WTC meeting, so I will start a regular post on Fridays. 

We will be starting our Summer activities, starting with our Friday coffee and donuts, we usually start about 7:30 a.m. the Office buys April 18th. then we will take turns furnishing them. It's a good time to get together and visit and also for Management to relate any thing that might be going on that we all would be interested in hearing about.

I ran into Richard and Mardel Blume (sp) from Minesota, and their little dog "Annie" they are former residents and they are staying about a month. Mardel is Marleys Hicks Sister

Some of us got together and had a party for Gary and Jan Philipps in celebration of their upcoming 50th Wedding Anniversary. It was a great party and of course Fred Goldsberry played music for our listening and dancing pleasure!

We have close to 70 - 80 folks that live here year around! Some leaving for just weeks and others a month or so. So yes we have plenty of folks to play games with, visit with, have parties with, and some times dream up a fun party, go to pizza together, potlucks etc. You all might try staying for a Summer and see how you like it!!

RVE CLUB MEETING – Rex Rexroad, chair, called meeting to order. Pledge of Allegiance & singing of “God Bless America” preceded meeting. We closed by singing club song.

Accompanist – Peg Hayelan

Invocation – Charlotte Therrien – Blind Man and his dog joke followed by prayer

Secretary Report – Rita Sutherland

Treasurer Report – John Geer

***********************************************************

Thanks to the Three Amigos for our donuts this morning.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO THEM --

JOHN GEER, AL LENIUS & HECTOR THERRIEN !

*****************************************************

This was our final Monday meeting of the season. Beginning April 18, residents who remain are invited to the pool room area (7:30 a.m.) for donuts, coffee & visiting. There is a sign-up sheet for anyone wishing to provide donuts. On the 18^th, donuts will be provided by managers/owners.

This is the final newsletter this season.

*****************************************************

MANAGEMENT REPORT – Reporting was manager Helen who gave us reason to smile with her joke about the “blonde heading to Toronto in first (or economy) class on the airplane”. Mail delivery will be late this week. Managers wish everyone a “safe travel home .. and speedy return in the fall”. Website for park is riovalleyestates.com.

Read club website RVEWTC.com written & maintained by Judi DeKoning . Judi keeps our calendar up-to-date. Since she's gone home for the summer, changes may be reported to editor at #103 or emailed to Judy (see activities schedule hanging on board in Friendship Hall). To get into “members only” on site, password is riovalley. Let office staff know if you are chairing an event as often someone stops there to ask.

Want news during the summer, be sure to check Donna Gabbert's blog www.donnasramblingsatrve.blogspot.com. She keeps us up to date when something (happy or sad) happens to our RVE friends. Editor may write more on her website “Slow Boat to Nursing Home” over the summer.

Properties Committee had nothing to report. Board members are Properties – Clyde Read, Dave Cochran, Ron Zoeller; Finance – Mary Lantis, John Geer, John Norris. New board takes over Oct. 1. New board members are: properties – Clyde Read; finance – Charlotte Therrien.

*****************************************************

The 2013-2014 season is winding down. Many activities are done. No changes have been made on chairperson names for games, will be updated in the fall. If a group is meeting for games most know this .. and hopefully will pass the word.

*****************************************************

Irene Quail (#49) places cards to be signed by residents in office area. Call her at 704-516-5360 if you know of someone needing card due to illness or death of family member. This week cards were sent to Ken Eshelman who fell, now in rehab in Weslaco; and Dale Cleland who is not doing well. We need to pray for Wade (Buzz) Roberts who will be undergoing heart valve replacement & a triple by-pass on April 10.

****************************************************

Upcoming Events:

April 10 – All Park Breakfast, Fiesta Tex-Mex, 8 a.m.

April 18 and each Friday thereafter – Residents invited to coffee & donuts in Pool Room.. 7:30 a.m. (or so!)

April 20 – Easter Dinner in Friendship Hall, 1 p.m., hams furnished by owners of park, remainder is potluck

*****************************************************

Bet you don't need bifocals to read the newsletter today. With less news to report, using larger font .. 

Ken & Sue Barnhart are chairing the Easter dinner. Sign up so they have an idea how many tables & chairs are needed. Bring dish to share & own table service. Park owners provide the ham. Remainder is potluck.

\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\

Don't forget these summer activities up north ..

Iowa Potluck – July 9, noon, at Comfort Inn, Story City, chairs Jerry McAninch & Carol Nelson. If you wish to stay overnight, call motel at 515-733-6363.

Iowa Campout – Aug. 3-10 at SkipAway Campground, Clermont. Make your own reservations by calling Terry at 563-423-7338; mention this is the “Benson” group so you will be camping in that area with the group. Questions? Tom or Mary Lou at 956-532-9665.

All are invited to Raymond & Margaret Davis' 70^th wedding anniversary celebration June 14, 5-11 p.m. at Legion Club, Bassett, NE. No gifts please. For details, call Sharon Bussinger, 308-325-4979.

How about a trip to Ontario, CA for the party honoring Hector & CharlotteTherrien on their 50^th wedding anniversary? All are invited August 29! No gifts.

\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\

////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////

There was discussion concerning recycling/trash disposal this morning. Chris Stephens said she feels we should recycle items such as cans, newspapers, cardboard. We remind residents they need to break down cardboard before placing in trash containers. Several residents take newspapers to Progreso with tubs provided behind stage. Pop/beer cans are crushed to be recycled with special area provided. Plastic containers, cardboard, & tin cans may be taken to the green trailers located at Texas & 83^rd near Lone Star Bank. There is a list of other recyling places posted on board in Friendship Hall. Properties committee will be looking into this. Subject was tabled until fall per committee member Clyde Read.

If you are chairing an event next season, take a look at the activities sheet hanging on board in back of big hall. If a date needs to be changed or a chairperson added or changed, give this info to editor so she can bring Judi DeKoning up-to-date on this.

a note from Janean

 Anyone interested in making pillow cases for the kids with cancer, the dimensions for the pillow are 8 x 12 so the pillow case should be a little larger.  We were told that these pillows will be used when the kids come out of surgery and they hold them over their surgery site. It will be fun to see the pillow cases that are made.  Anything to put smiles on the kids faces. 

Thanks.

Janean Berhow

A couple recipes

Try this Onion Casserole it's so easy to make using our sweet 1015 onions

I used 5 to 6 large onions, and cooked them until soft in a skillet using a stick of butter, poured them into a 13x9 pan, sprinkled on a crushed 7oz. bag of Sour Cream and Onion potatos chips, then one can of Cream of Mushroom soup mixed with 1/2 can water and a tablespoon of beef bouillion, then about 2 cups of shredded cheddar cheese, baked for 25 to 30 min.

another recipe:

Dianna Bruce brought this to a fish fry we attended:

Spread 2 lbs. thawed frozen peaches in a pam sprayed 13x9 pan,
Sprinkle with a little sugar and cinnamon (to your liking)
Spread 1 box of yellow cake mix on top,
then pour a can of diet 7-up over all, bake covered at 350 for 20 min. and uncover and bake 40 minutes more.