“The Good Old Days” -By Tom Kuehne

Spear Fishing

Using a spear to get a family’s supply of fish was the accepted method. The original spears were made in blacksmith shops. They were of varying quality from being actually well formed and attractive to a haphazard gathering mixture of tines with barbs, which kept the speared fish on the spear. Spears used in the fish houses were usually formed with greater precision and more temper in the metal, which kept their sharp points for a longer period of time. A spear used in the creeks usually was of lesser quality, with less temper, so it would bend and not break when banged into a rock on the bottom of the river. Spears used in the fish house usually had about a 5 foot handle and those made for the creeks had a handle of 8 or more feet.

The fish harvested with a spear were used for fresh eating, along with smoking and canning. Fish obtained from creeks were usually salted and smoked, since they were referred to as rough fish. The taste and quality required additional processing in order to be made more eatable. After the smoking was complete some households canned the fish, which made them taste like smoked salmon.

My grandfather walked to his fish house 6 days per week. It was ¾ of a mile across a field and through a wooded area. The snow depth varied with the winter and it was frequently well below zero. He wore a long sheepskin coat, felt shoes and 4 buckle overshoes. The coat and boots were heavy, but they kept him warm. He usually carried at least one fish home every day. They were either Northern Pike for us to eat or they were Dog Fish for the chickens to enjoy. The best week that I recall him having included a 17 pound Northern on Monday, a 21 pound Northern on Wednesday and on Saturday he speared a Northern which wouldn’t fit through the hole in the fish house. He thought it was about 35 pounds.

Spearing Suckers in the spring usually involved cleaning, salting and smoking about ½ a gunny sack of fish. That was the desired number, since that is about all that the family could smoke, eat and can without spoilage. I must comment that the farm cats and yard chickens really enjoyed the abundance of fish guts. They spent a lot of time chasing each other around the yard thinking that the one they were chasing had a better looking treat than they could pick up off of the pile. They were fun to watch.

My grandfather and his brother, Hugo had a continuing contest to see who could spear the largest fish each week. Hugo had the advantage of living about 150 feet from his fish house. Each Sunday before the noon meal, they sat in their easy chairs, smoking their curved pipes, filled with Prince Albert Tobacco and spoke of their past week’s success. It went like this: “got a 7 pounder this week and missed two.” “Ya, I got two.” “Hmmm,” puff, puff, “been cold.” “Ya, looks like snow,” puff, puff, silence. For feedback or story ideas, email Tom at tom@swanvilleinsurance.com.

If you need help with Health or Life Insurance or for Senior Health Solutions Contact: Tom Kuehne 320-360-0343

Card of Thanks

Thank you from the Arlene Arnzen family to Father Dan, the musicians and church volunteers for the wonderful mass, meal and desserts. We would also like to extend our appreciation to Patton Schad Funeral Services and the hospice care team. May God bless everyone who called or visited Arlene at home, she enjoyed each visit. God

Arlene Arnzen Family

To Submit a Card of Thanks the cost is $5.00 for the first 50 words, 10¢ for each additional word. MUST BE PREPAID. Mail to: Hometown News, 29442 120th St., Grey Eagle, MN 56336.

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Debra A. Gieske

Debra A.

“Debbie” Gieske, age 53 of Melrose, passed away surrounded by her family and nursing home family on Friday, March 17, 2023 at the CentraCare Care Center in Melrose, Minnesota.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 11 a.m. Thursday, March 23 at St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Melrose with Rev. Marvin Enneking officiating. Interment will be in the parish cemetery. The Mass will be livestreamed and can be viewed on the YouTube channel: Church of St. Mary Melrose.

Visitation will be held from 10 to 10:45 a.m. Thursday at the church.

Debra Ann Gieske was born November 1, 1969 in Melrose, Minnesota to Valentine and Louise (Tiemann) Gieske. She graduated from Melrose High School in 1988. She lived and helped on the family farm north Melrose for many years. She then moved to Pine Villa Care Center in Melrose where she was a resident for the last 16 years. She became family to those that work there and will be greatly missed. Debbie enjoyed playing cards, watching the Twins in person and on TV, driving around, and shopping.

She was a member of St. Mary’s Catholic Church and Catholic United Financial.

Survivors include her brothers, Randy (Lynn) Gieske of Sauk Centre, Ron (Kristi) Gieske of Sauk Centre, and Bob (Cheri) Gieske of Melrose; 11 nieces and nephews; and eight great-nieces and nephews.

Debbie was preceded in death by her parents, Valentine and Louise Gieske; infant brother, Billy Gieske; sister, Judy Gieske; and brother, Donnie Gieske.

Arrangements were made with PattonSchad Funeral & Cremation Services of Melrose.

Frances "Fran" Blommel

Frances “Fran”, (Mareck) Blommel, 98, lifelong resident of Albany, passed away peacefully, Sunday, March 12, 2023, at St. Cloud Hospital surrounded by her loving family. A Mass of Christian Burial was held Saturday, March 18, 2023, at Seven Dolors Catholic Church in Albany. Interment took place at Seven Dolors Parish Cemetery.

Fran was born June 1, 1924, in Albany, the daughter of John and Eleonora (Stueve) Stangler. Fran was raised and educated in Albany. During WWII, Fran assisted with the war efforts by making parts for planes at Cargill in St. Cloud. On June 26, 1945, she was united in marriage to Stephen Mareck. The couple was blessed with six children, unfortunately, Steve passed away on October 5, 1958, before the birth of their last child. On November 30, 1968, Fran married Joe Blommel.

In addition to raising her family and working on the farm, Fran was employed by Stearns Industries for a year before she dedicated 20 years to the Albany Area Senior High School. She retired in 1990.

Fran’s faith was very important to her - she was a member of the St. Francis Cabrini Mission Group for over 50 years. She also volunteered her time with the Christian Mothers, St. Ann’s, American Legion Auxiliary, VFW Auxiliary, Mother of Mercy Nursing Home Auxiliary, and Meals on Wheels. For more than 20 years, Fran co-chaired the Quilting Group.

Fran used her talent to create many quilts and embroidery items, many family members were gifted and blessed to have a quilt made by her. She also liked to paint ceramics and read. She and Joe spent many nights bowling and playing cards. Fran was known for her apple pies and homemade jellies.

Nothing was more important to Fran than her faith and her family. She enjoyed spending time with her family, especially when travel was involved. She was grateful for her time spent on trips across the USA and Europe, specifically her pilgrimage to Italy.

She will be missed by her children, Dennis (Marcy) Mareck and David (Darlene) Mareck, both of Albany, Kathy (Ralph) Schmitz, of Sauk Rapids, Sharon (Ron) Spanier, of St. Augusta, and Steve (Theresea) Mareck, of St. Cloud; daughter-in-law, Kathy Mareck, of Chanhassen; 21 grandchildren, 37 great-grandchildren; three (and a half) greatgreat-grandchildren; and sisters-in-law, Alice, and Judy Stangler. She was preceded in death by her parents; husbands, Stephen Mareck (1958) and Joe Blommel (2020); son, Marvin; grandchildren, Michael, and Ann; siblings, Magdalene, Edmund, Lorraine, Jerome, Ambrose, John, Rosemary, Sylvester, Al, and Elmer.

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