MARCH 2008 Senior Hero - EMMA BOCHMANN

Today we celebrate the community spirit of Emma Bochmann.  Emma was born in Park Valley, Utah in 1915, then as an infant moved with her parents, Henry and Clara Chadwick, to homestead in Moffat County.  She was the third and first girl of eight children, with six brothers and one sister.  Her childhood memories included her flour sack bloomers, being harassed by her many brothers, catching squirrels and grasshoppers, helping her ailing mother care for her younger siblings, riding horses and her love for milking cows, which she proudly could milk faster than her brothers.  Homesteading in a rural community created fun times at the holidays, when area families would gather to celebrate.  The only entertainment for teenagers was Saturday night dances they hosted in houses, barns or the schoolhouse.  Emma remembers the rules of the dance, that the first, midnight and last dance of the party had to be danced with your boyfriend, or else you were in big trouble. She enjoyed her schools days, and the fact that the teacher of their one room school house, was also her roommate, as her family usually provided boarding for the teachers.  To her dismay, Emma only attended ½ year of high school, as her mother took ill and they had a newborn brother to attend to, and the high school was 30 miles away and too expensive for their large family.

In her late teens Emma married Emil Bochmann and they moved to Brighton, Colorado.  Emma and Emil lived in a variety of places, New Mexico, Arizona, Colorado, Wyoming, wherever Emil could find work.  In 1945 they scrapped enough money together to buy a two-room house on an acre lot in Arvada.  Together they built the home where Emma has resided for these many years, and although it pains her to leave this house, she soon will be starting a new chapter of her life at local retirement community.  Emma and Emil had three children, two sons and a daughter.  Emma now has 10 grandchildren, 20 great grandchildren, and one great, great grandchild.  In 1980, after 46 years of marriage, Emil took ill and passed just as they were ready to enjoy their retirement years.  Emma decided that now that she was alone, she needed to take care of herself and try some new things, as this was the first time in her life she was not serving as a caregiver.  She visited the North Jeffco Senior Center and signed up for a writing class, dance exercise and square dance. 

Emma also began giving back to her community and for over 25 years has taken previously “loved,” stuffed animals and given them new life.  She washes, mends and dresses them with new ribbons ready to meet their new owners.  These spruced up toys are then donated to local charities, including orphanages and victim advocate centers, so children can have a toy to cuddle to get through lonely times.  For over 11 years she has donated spruced up bunnies to the North Jeffco Community Recreation Center for our annual Bunny Breakfast.  Her caring hands have brought smiles to many.  In 2006 these efforts were brought to the attention of Channel 7 and she was featured as one of their Everyday Heroes!  Emma is now 92 and still keeps fixing up these critters to bring joy to others.  We thank Emma for her tireless efforts.

November 2007 Senior Hero - Fred DiBona

Today, we honor our senior hero, Fred DiBona, and his many great accomplishments. Fred was born in Chicago to Joe and Katrina DiBona. The older of two brothers, Fred was a proud stepbrother to Joe and Mary and his brother, Angelo. Growing up Fred spent a lot of time working in his dads store and finding trouble with a certain Skunk Leman. Fred and Skunk and the rest of his boys would fix old model T’s and try to stay out of trouble. If you were to ask Fred now about Skunk and the outhouse story you would see that twinkle in his eye, the smile then the chuckle.

After high School Fred attended the University of Illinois and while attending classes he made the freshman football team earning him the nick name of Swivel hips. Fred went to Denver to take care of his step mother who owned the Moose Hotel on 20^th and Larmar. Soon Fred received a call offering him a spot on the Almight team back in Illinois. Fred excitedly accepted the offer and was soon was playing running back for Almight. At that time the pay was $125 a game and for the time it was great pay. Fred played against great people like Earl Brittian who blocked for Red Grange.

Fred met the woman of his dreams, Melba Green. They met in a drug store and it was love at first sight. He happily gained a blushing bride and they had a beautiful little girl named Nancy. A few years later Patty was born and Fred began raising a wonderful family. Fred then joined the Navy as one of the Seabees. During this time Fred served his country with great honor and respect playing a very important part in American history that shaped our future. Fred was stationed at Pearl Harbor a week after the bombings and stayed for eleven months. He built many small hospitals and buildings even grinding a coral reef in to a complete airfield. Fred went to San Diego and made a special plaque that he presented with Roslyn Russell to the 92^nd battalion. Roslyn Russell took a liking to Fred and said when he got out of the service she would get him the finest job.

Fred got a job working at Elitch Gardens where he built many fine additions such as all the red wood flower boxes, concessions stands, Kiddy land and the main theater. He even built his very own tool box. Not only was building and constructing things his job but he also was in charge of safety. He did this by walking the rollercoaster track checking all the nuts and bolts. One experience that he particularly enjoyed was setting up for bands and being part of the excitement and magic. At one band set up he was able to meet Grace Kelly.

Fred went in to business of his own building houses in Broomfield and Denver he has built two homes that were in the parade of homes. Fred also built Harlem Manor. Fred later got a job at Western Distribution where he made many fine quality items that will be enjoyed through the decades such as display cases and tables. One special project that Fred worked on is part of a familiar advertisement we all know, the animals on the Frontier plains. Fred made special crates fit to specific dimensions of the animal drawings that were then shipped to Germany to be animated for commercials.

Fred found that not only did he have a job but a family as well at western Distribution. Fred worked there over 22 years making life long bonds with all that he worked. Now at the young age of 95, Fred has been retired for all of three months. I’d say not too bad for a spring chicken like Fred.

We are honored to have Fred join our family at the Sterling House of Arvada were his compassionate love for all warms the heart.

November 2007 Senior Hero - Jack Appelhans
In honor of Veteran’s Day, today we salute Jack Appelhans, a local veteran and community volunteer. Jack is a proud Colorado native, born in 1924 in Sterling. His parents emigrated from Russia in 1912. His family spoke German and so he quickly had to learn English when he entered school. During high school, a young lady from Nebraska, Neva, moved to Sterling and became Jack’s high school sweetheart. Upon completing high school, Jack was inducted into the Army and was stationed at Fort Bliss, Texas. He was a Corporal and his tour of duty included England, France, Belgium, Germany and Austria where his troop captured a concentration camp. He received stars for his active duty in the following campaigns (battles) Ardennes (better known as the Battle of the Bulge), Rhineland and Central Europe. 

Jack completed his service in February of 1946, and returned to Colorado where he married his sweetheart, Neva, in June 1946. Jack and Neva celebrated 61 years of marriage this year. They had eleven children, and sadly just lost their first-born child this year to cancer. They have 18 grandchildren and three great-grandchildren. Jack and his family moved to Arvada 46 years ago, when he was transferred with Mountain Bell, where he worked for 32 years before being offered early retirement. Taking early retirement at age 58 was scary for Jack as he still had two kids at home, but it all worked out. Jack encouraged his kids and now his grandkids towards scholastic achievement, as he wanted them to be more studious than he was. He regularly reviews the grandchildren’s grade cards, encouraging them to do their best.

Jack has been actively involved at the North Jeffco Community Recreation Center for many, many years, primarily in the fitness classes where he tirelessly harasses the instructors and staff. Jack also has volunteered for many years with the Arvada Gardeners of America who oversee Arvada’s Community Gardens. He has quite the green thumb, and his surplus vegetables are shared with the Arvada Food Bank.

Our thanks go to Jack for his commitment to his country, family and community. He truly is a Senior Hero.

OCTOBER 2007 Senior Hero - Dorothy Stansbury

Tuesday, October 9, 2007, Today we honor Dorothy Stansbury who loves to volunteer and help others.  Dorothy was born and raised in Dixon, Illinois, in a family with 5 brothers and one sister.  She married and moved to Colorado, where she raised four children, three boys and one girl.  She now has four grandsons, and one great grandson.  She loved working and spent 20 years as a fleet manager for Hertz Car Rental at Stapleton airport.  Dorothy describes herself as a happy, religious person who loves life.  She enjoys volunteering, as she loves people and helping others.  Dorothy says, “The world has been good to me, so I like to give back.”

And give back she does!  Dorothy lends her skills to make things run smoothly, whether it is a special event at the North Jeffco Community Recreation Center or routing paper work at Exempla Lutheran Hospital.  North Jeffco has benefited from her positive outlook and sharing hands since 1992 where she has contributed over 1058 hours.  She volunteers as a member of the Apple Dumpling Gang to cook and serve meals and refreshments for our many special events.  During her fifteen years of volunteering she has assisted the center with over 375 individual events.  She loves her working with the other volunteers and enjoys the seniors we serve.  She especially enjoyed helping to serve the twice-a-month poker games, making sure to keep the players happy and supplied with a special treat.  She is an asset to the staff, other volunteers, and to our participants.  Her longevity in service is advantageous as she helps show new volunteers their way around the kitchen.

 

Dorothy also volunteers at Exempla Lutheran Hospital.  In her first decade there, she donated 2 days a week, but over the last few years has cut back to “only” 5 hours each week.  Her jobs have included making sure paperwork is ready for surgeries and helping run paperwork to the various departments of the hospital.  She just likes to know she is helping people while helping the organization run more smoothly.

Dorothy makes a difference in her community, and makes the world a better place.  She truly is a senior hero.

Sunrise Rotary and North Jeffco- Honor a Senior
This month we would like to honor Audrey Lawson, a long time participant and volunteer of the North Jeffco Community Recreation Center. Audrey was born and raised with 4 brothers and 2 sisters in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Her mother died when Audrey was just five. Her father later remarried, and her stepmother did not miss a beat in taking on the care of the family. Her family was of Polish decent and she fondly remembers going to the farms of her grandparents, as well as taking the streetcar to St. Paul to visit her maternal grandmother who ran a shoe store. This same grandmother was well remembered for her kindness and generosity as she brought baskets of gifts as each sibling had their birthday.

Following graduation from high school, Audrey began working at the Federal Reserve in Minneapolis. While vacationing in Colorado she fell in love with the state and headed out west to live with two girlfriends. She secured a job at the Federal Reserve of Denver. In Colorado she met her husband Cliff, and they raised their 2 sons and one daughter in Arvada. She and Cliff enjoyed life. They loved to square dance, jitterbug, work in the yard, bowl, take long walks and just plain laugh and have fun. Audrey was widowed after 41 years of a good marriage. Since Cliff’s passing, Audrey has managed to live alone, but she is quick to admit she does not like it one bit! Yet Audrey feels that she is blessed and tries to make the best of this phase of her life. She currently is “grandma” to six grandchildren who have grandma wrapped around their fingers, as they know she does not know how to say “no”. One of Audrey’s sons is a racecar driver, so Audrey has an annual tradition of getting miniature racecars and having the kids and grandkids race the cars before they open their presents on Christmas Eve. The whole family looks forward to these times of laughter.

Audrey has been active at the North Jeffco Community Recreation Center for many years attending several fitness classes weekly. She has served as a Front Desk Volunteer Receptionist for 12 years, giving more than 1900 hours to the Center. She volunteers every Friday afternoon, and often substitutes for others. She also enjoys helping others by giving them rides to the Center, doctors’ appointments, shopping or about anywhere. She also served for seven years as a driver for Meals on Wheels, delivering a hot meal to many homebound seniors. She loved getting to know the clients she served, and enjoyed helping them with task such as opening a stuck jar, or taking their laundry off the line. After years of visiting the same people, it was fun to greet them as friends.

When asked what words of wisdom she would like to pass on, she says, “Be happy, even if you have to work at it. Laugh often.” Audrey says she has been blessed throughout her youth, adult and senior years, continually surrounded by a loving family that would do anything to help you out. Maybe that is why she is so quick to help out others. Audrey is a hero bringing happiness and laughter to others.

As we celebrate National Volunteer week in April, North Jeffco is fortunate to have Lois Weber as one of our extremely dedicated volunteers.  Lois is now in her 13^th year as both a Crafty Senior and a RSVP Warm Heart volunteer for the North Jeffco Community Recreation Center clocking in over 2225 hours.  The Crafty Seniors are a group that takes donated craft supplies and create gifts to sell in center bazaars and the gift shop with proceeds benefiting the center.  The RSVP Warm Hearts group makes items to donate to those in need in the community.  Their creations benefit such agencies as Head Start, nursing homes and battered women’s shelters.  Lois has taken leadership roles in both craft groups for most of her years of service.  Additionally at the Center, Lois has volunteered for Craft Fairs, garage sales, open houses, holiday events, teaching Bunka embroidery, and much more.  Lois is truly an asset to the Community Recreation Center, and her efforts have not only benefited the Center, but her fellow senior volunteers, and the community.

Lois’ volunteer heart extends beyond North Jeffco, as she is a 16-year, 5,000+ hour volunteer for Saint Anthony’s Hospital.  At the hospital Lois is Vice President of fundraising for the Volunteer Association Board of Directors, and volunteers in surgery check-in to make sure patient packets are ready to go, in the thrift store, and as an ambassador to the Orthopedic Clinic.  Faye Buffington, the Volunteer Coordinator there says “we love Lois, she is a volunteer that volunteers from her heart, she truly loves to serve others.”

If that weren’t enough, Lois volunteers helping adults age 17-79 with reading, math and preparing to get their GED’s so they can get better jobs.  She loves this as she finds these students are so eager to learn, as well as it utilizes her teaching background.  She also volunteers for Kids in Crisis helping them with craft projects.  Through the years she has also served as a Girl Scout Leader and Girl Scout Camp cook.

Lois was born in South Milwaukee, Wisconsin, but her family moved when she was 6 weeks old to a farm in Milbank, South Dakota.  She was the oldest of five children and loved riding and raising horses.  She met Greg, her husband of 57 years, in Milbank, where Lois served as a county schoolteacher.  Lois and Greg have called Denver home since 1960.  Here they raised their five children, and now have 10 grandchildren, and 4 great-grandchildren.  Her hobbies include volunteering, crafts, cooking, and she loves to travel and cruise.  Her philosophy of life is to keep busy and help others and then some joy will return to you.

North Jeffco, Saint Anthony’s Hospital, and many, many others are blessed to have Lois’ caring heart making our community and our lives better.  Thank you Lois!

February 2007 Senior Hero - Butch and Joliene Augustine

 As cupid is upon us, what better time to celebrate the efforts and kindness of Butch and Joliene Augustine. This couple of forty-three years attributes their years of marriage to a blend of stubborness and commitment.  They met on a blind date in 1962.  Joliene had a co-worker whose parents were very strict and did not allow her to date alone; Butch and Joliene were coaxed by friends to come along.  This way the evening could be considered a “group outing”.  Both couples ended up getting married.

Butch was born in Iowa’s farm country and later moved with his family to Colorado when he was in the second grade.  His family sold the ranch and his Dad became the chief of police in Holly.  In Denver, Butch attended barber school and worked at the barbershop on Wadsworth.  In 1968, he began working at Coors Brewery as a “general worker” and later moved into various supervisory positions.  After 25 years with the brewery, he retired.  In “retirement”, Butch also drove a bus for Jeffco for several years.

Joliene is a native of Colorado.  She was born in Salida where her Dad worked the railroad and later ran the local grocers.  Joliene moved to Denver for a bank position at Jefferson County Bank.  After working at the bank, Joliene became a supervisor at Speedy Mailing as that company grew.

Joliene and Butch have two boys, each of which have two children of their own.  They are very proud grandparents.  They stay involved in all their grandchildren’s lives even though two granddaughters live out of town.  Their two grandsons live here in town and refer to Joliene as the “one who can cook”.

Continuing to give back to their community, they have served as Cub Scout leaders, school chaperons, and in many different capacities with the Arvada Soccer Association.  Joliene also volunteers at the local assisted living facility and with the church quilters.

In more recent years, they have also been involved in improving their community by volunteering for North Jeffco in many capacities:  serving on North Jeffco’s Vision 20/20 citizen’s committee, with the North Jeffco Community Recreation Center as trip drivers, escorts, delivering treats, and even dressing in elf costumes during the holidays.   Butch is said to delight in terrorizing the staff with practical jokes as well.

North Jeffco, and our entire community, is blessed to have these two caring hearts in our midst.

January 2007 Senior Hero - Robert Dexter

Today, we salute and thank Robert Dexter for his dedication to serving his country and his community. 

Bob was born in 1920 in Fort Lupton as part of what is termed the Greatest Generation.  Like others in his generation, he grew up during the Great Depression, fought in World War II, parented two baby boomers and has experienced a life full of changes.  His mother was widowed shortly before his birth. 

Bob’s mother was widowed shortly before his birth.  When Bob was just two years old, his mother sold the family farm and moved the family, which also included an older sister, to a new farm near Boulder.  Bob began college at CU Boulder in 1938, but dropped out to work in the aircraft industry.  This employment was short-lived as he was inducted into the Army in 1942.

His military service took him to the European Theater where he received battle medals for Normandy, Northern France, Rhineland, Ardennes, and Central Europe.  He was with General Patton’s Third Army from Utah Beach to Czechoslovakia.  On a rainy day in Pilson, Czechoslovakia, he met his wife, Isabelle, who was serving as an Army nurse in a muddy field hospital.  He was a captain when he completed his service duty.

After the war, Bob returned to CU Boulder and completed a degree in mechanical engineering.  He and Isabelle built a house in Arvada in 1952 where he lived until just two years ago.  They had two daughters – both Arvada High School grads.  One now resides in Broomfield with the other in Southern California. 

He is also the proud Grandpa of two granddaughters.  The oldest is in Pennsylvania in her second year of residency on her way to becoming a doctor.  The other is in her first year of medical school at Georgetown University.  His advice to them is to pursue an education to the best of their ability and as long as needed to provide a fruitful life. 

At age 86, Bob attends the men’s fitness class at North Jeffco’s Community Recreation Center.  This has been his routine for over 20 years.  Bob is also a member of the Arvada United Methodist Church serving on their finance committee and investment subcommittee.