Commun ty Matters Farmington Presbyterian Manor
‘Believe’
By Bruce Shogren, Presbyterian Manors of Mid-America president and CEO
As I look forward to the holiday season, one word is key to this season: “believe.” I truly believe in three key people: Jesus Christ, Santa Bruce Shogren Claus and the employees of the Presbyterian Manors of Mid-America system. What could be more important than Christmas Day, the day we celebrate the birth of our Savior, Jesus Christ? I grew up in a church in which every Sunday we would state our belief by reciting the Apostles’ Creed. I believe in God, the Father Almighty, Creator of Heaven and earth; and in Jesus Christ, His only Son Our Lord,Who was conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of theVirgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died, and was buried. He descended into Hell; the third day He rose again from the dead; He ascended into Heaven, and sitteth at the right hand of God, the Father almighty; from thence He shall come to judge the living and the dead. I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy Christian Church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of CEO, continued on page 2
December 2014
Lucille and Harold Weiss
Manor scooter helps couple spend days together After 70 years of marriage, Lucille and Harold Weiss still spend every day together. Harold just has to cover a little extra ground to make it happen. Every morning, Harold leaves his apartment at Farmington Presbyterian Lucille and Harold Weiss Manor and rides a scooter over to the health care neighborhood, where Lucille is recuperating from a fall. They have lunch and dinner together before Harold returns for the night. The scooter was donated by a former resident. When staff members saw Harold walking back and forth to Lucille’s room every day, they offered him the scooter for his daily round trip. “It saves me a lot of wear and tear,” he said, adding that he still walks a good deal. The Weisses moved to Presbyterian Manor in 2009. This April, they celebrated their 70th wedding anniversary. The couple met in 1941 while attending Flat River Junior College, now known as Mineral Area College. They were engaged a year later while Harold was serving in the Army Air Corps in World War II. Lucille supported the war effort by working in the rationing office. After a two-year engagement, they married in 1944. “I came home, and we tied the knot,” Harold said. Harold went on to work in the offices of St. Joe Lead Co. for 42 years, retiring in 1985. That’s when the Weisses became world travelers, taking trips with their square dancing group, cruises and other excursions. They visited Alaska, Hawaii, Mexico and at least 10 European countries, including stops in Italy so Lucille could visit some of the places Harold saw in the war. Plus, he fondly recalls, “I climbed a tower in Ireland and kissed the Blarney Stone. I played a bagpipe and danced a Scottish jig.” Lucille has “exceptional talent” as an artist, her husband brags. She painted for many years and later took up the art of engraving pictures on metal. Her talents also extend to the fiber arts. Lucille learned to sew as a girl and made many clothes for the couple’s two children, David and Donna. Today, she continues to crochet afghans. Harold said she recently gave six afghans to their church fundraiser, where the warm and cozy creations were snapped up quickly.