Senior Times Fall 2013

Page 1


Page 2 — Senior TimeS faLL 2013

Senior TimeS PUBLiSHer Elizabeth Gorske managing ediTor Eric Young ediToriaL STaff Sherry Barnum Tim Barnum Emily Walker Thomas Williams adVerTiSing SaLeS Laurie Blamer Jama Gates Anthony Kachiros Carla Reeves Tracy Pardue-Smith ComPoSiTion Sharon Ehlert Jesse Karbowski emaiL sherrybarnum@ogemawherald.com Cover Photo

Photo by Tim Barnum Roy Packard, 59, of Au Gres, displays his medals from the 2012 Polk County and Florida State Games, and the 2013 Senior National games.

Have a story idea for the Senior Times? Email us at sherrybarnum@ ogemawherald.com

Sztanyo’s celebrate 70 years By Sherry Barnum After 70 years of marriage, Emil and Iris Sztanyo of Prescott say that having common interest and enjoying things together have played a big role in their lives. At the young age of 18 and 21, Iris and Emil wed on June 18, 1943 in Florida. Emil, who was stationed in Kissimmee, Fla., at the time, called Iris up to invite her down for a dance. “Stan had moved to Illinois after high school to live with his sister and work before going into the service,” Iris said. “After he entered the service, he was stationed in Kissimmee and there was a big dance coming up, so he called me up to come down and go to with him. I took the train down, and we weren’t planning on getting married at the time, but he was leaving to go overseas, and we didn’t know what was going to happen, so we got married.” “He left for war a month and a day after we got married,” she added. “She was just a kid,” Emil joked. Growing up in the Twining/Turner area, Iris met Emil at the old North Eastern Michigan league ballgames where he was a pitcher for Twining. “It was absolutely love at first sight,” Emil said. “Emil went to Turner school and I went to Twining,” Iris said. “And we both graduated from Standish.” “Our story really isn’t that interesting,” she added. Others may disagree. Emil, who entered the military when he was just 19, was a night fighter pilot for the U.S. Air Force. “I stayed in the Air Force for about four and half years and went into the reserves after that,” Emil said. “While Stan went to Africa, I came back home to work and was doing defense work in Bay City,” Iris said. “He came home after almost two years overseas, so I went back down to Florida and then moved to California with him when he got stationed out there.” Iris said Stan was stationed in California when he decided to resign from the Air Force. “They were going to send him to either Germany or Japan, but I was pregnant at the time so he resigned from the service and we came back home,” Iris said. “He stayed in the reserves for a while after and was called back for the Korean War.”

Ogemaw Commission on Aging’s The Cottage Adult Day Services The Cottage is a fun, friendly, safe place for a loved one to take a break from his or her caregiver, to enjoy activities and good food or just rest if they wish. Open Tuesday, Wednesday & Thursday 8:00 am - 4:00 pm By reservation only please For more information call 989-345-3010, Ext. 1810 Email: thecottage@ogemawcoa.org director@ogemawcoa.org Salena DeBusschere, LPN, ADS Coordinator

Photos courtesy of Marcia Duncan

Above, Emil and Iris Sztanyo pose for a picture. Right, Emil and Iris on their wedding day. In 1945 after they left California, Emil and Iris set up residence in Prescott and ran a furniture store and funeral home. “The store and funeral home was split in two,” Iris said. “On one side we had the funeral home and one the other was the furniture store and we lived overhead.” “Prescott was a nice town when we moved here,” Iris added. “There were a lot of nice stores, we had a grocery store, clothing store, two elevators, an IGA, hardware and theater. For a small town it was a nice little town.” Emil and Iris remained active within the community for 45 years. “The funeral home kept us quite busy,” Emil said. “I was the Ogemaw County coroner for years.” Along with the funeral home, Emil remained an active member on the Whittemore-Prescott school board, serving as a member of the original board. “I was real active in the WhittemorePrescott schools for 20 years,” he said. Emil said he was part of the consolidation of Whittemore-Prescott and influential in getting the school placed where it sits today. “Whittemore and Prescott were two sepa-

rate schools at the time,” he said. “We had a lot of little schools and tried to combine with whoever would. We went after Sterling and Hale and if we would have gotten Hale we were going to put the school on M-55. We had about eight schools we tried to consolidate with, but no one wanted to combine.” “So we decided on Whittemore and Prescott and put them halfway between the two towns,” Emil said. “Senator C.T. Prescott gave us a piece of land to build on, so we

See sztanyo’s, 5


Senior TimeS faLL 2013 — Page 3

Local artist shares talents at senior center By Thomas Williams Commercial artist Jonathan Bolger, 70, of Kneeland is enjoying his retirement teaching an art class at the Oscoda County Council on Aging and hunting and fishing. Starting his life in Kneeland before growing up in Bay City, Bolger said he may have ventured away from Oscoda County for brief periods in his life, but always returned to the area. “I’ve lived here on and off since 1943,” he said. “My first memories were of my Grandma Hale and walking up the steps to her house when I was four years old. I went to Fairview School for a few weeks and then we moved to Bay City. That’s where I did my schooling.” Bolger said he entered the U.S. Army after high school and narrowly missed serving in Vietnam with the 101st Airborne Division, having between six and seven months left on his enlistment. “I got really lucky,” he said. “I went and got married and came back to the base and they locked us in our barracks for two weeks. I didn’t get to see my new bride the whole time we were locked down. They had us on first ready alert. When it was time to go and they posted our orders, I was not on the list. I didn’t have a whole lot of time left (on my enlistment). They transferred me to the 326th Engineers. Then they got sent to Vietnam too and I got transferred to the 39th Engineers.” Bolger said although he did not have to go overseas, the war still had an effect on him.

“I am glad I didn’t have to go,” he said. “I have a lot of compassion for the guys who did. A few of the ones I knew who went stayed over there.” Discharged from the Army in 1965, Bolger said he moved back to the Bay City area and was an assistant manager and manager at Zale’s jewelry stores for four years before moving back to Oscoda County in 1969. “I was a layout artist for a number of years,” he said. “Out of Traverse City, we used to have the Golden Book publication. We used to have the Timber Topper once a month here in Oscoda and I also used to do layout for the Oscoda County News. The dates I worked there, I have no idea now.” Bolger said he was forced into retirement, due to health issues. “In 2000, I had a massive heart attack, and Dr. Macintosh retired me,” he said. “I was enjoying horseback riding, until I fell off on some pavement and decided that I was not going to do that anymore.” Bolger said he sticks to more relaxed activities now. “I enjoy fishing and hunting with my brother, Eric Summers,” he said. “That’s probably my favorite thing to do now.” Bolger said has always been interested in art, even illustrating a book written by his mother, Shirley Dubay, titled “Rural Route 1” published in 1975. He said he enjoys sharing his talents by teaching an art class at the senior center. “When I was in probably about fifth grade, we were doing charcoal drawings,” he said. “At the end of it, I rolled mine up

Photos courtesy of Jonathan Bolger

Above, Jonathan Bolger helps with a drawing. Right, This illustration of the Oscoda County Courthouse, drawn by Jonathan Bolger, 70, of Kneeland, appeared in a book written by his mother, Shirley Dubay, titled “Rural Route 1” published in 1975. and stuck it in the trash. My teacher pulled it out and entered it in a Better Homes and Gardens contest and I won

See Bolger, 11

“At Our 5 Star Facility It’s All About You” ...................... Bortz Health Care of West Branch 445 S. Valley St. West Branch, MI 48661

989-345-3600 Call Debbie Kennedy for a Tour. . Physical, Occupational & Speech Therapies . 24 Hour Nursing Care . Wound Care . Dedicated Staff . Activities For All

Enlarge your diamonds without pills, surgery, or painful injections. In one brief session, our Diamond Doctor and able assistants can give you the size you really want in your diamond. Stop in anytime, or call for an appointment. Satisfaction guaranteed.

established 1959

www.branhamsjewelry.com

113 W. Houghton Ave. 219 Newman Street 5226 N. US-23 Oscoda, MI West Branch, MI East Tawas, MI 989-739-1341 989-345-5710 989-362-3674

A Recognized Name in Clinical Excellence! Traditional & Aquatic Therapy

Vijay Kumar, DPT, PhD, MD Doctor of Physical Therapy

Let us help eliminate your source of pain and get you back to life! Our staff of licensed professionals gives you the personal attention you deserve. Specializing in Neuromuscular and Orthopedic. Most insurances accepted including Medicare, Medicaid, Blue Cross/Blue Shield, Work Comp and Auto.

adaptpt.com 989-343-9755

105 W. Houghton Ave. West Branch, MI 48661


Page 4 — Senior TimeS faLL 2013

Whittemore woman shares crafts and memories of her 93 years By emily Walker A 93-year-old Whittemore woman traveled the world in her younger years before settling in Michigan to be near family. Hilda Bowman said she lived an interesting life traveling with her husband, living in Arizona and Buenos Aires, Argentina before moving to Michigan. “I learned to speak Spanish while we were in Buenos Aires — I had to, to survive,” she said. According to Bowman, one of the experiences she remembers most about living there was also her most dangerous memory. “I went to do my shopping, and had to get a loaf of bread at the bake shop, go to the meat store to get meat and a few other stores,” she said. “I had to go to the drug store, and I thought maybe I wouldn’t have to go to the drug store today, so I went home. I turned the corner away from the drugstore when a man shot a bomb through the window of the drug store and smashed everything to pieces. If I had gone to the drug store, I wouldn’t be here to tell you about it.” Bowman and her husband were living in Argentina during a time of political unrest, her son John explained. They eventually had to leave the country for their safety. Another experience Bowman remembers about living in Argentina was something that

Emily Walker

Hilda Brown shows off her display of baskets. happened to her late husband John a few days before Christmas one year. “John worked for John Deere, and after hours he used to look in the shop windows before he got on the bus to go home,” she said. “He always stopped at this one shop

because it had things in it that were interesting to him. So one day he went in and he put his briefcase down by his feet. While he was doing that, a young boy came in and grabbed it and ran away with it. And in it was all our Christmas presents and cards, so we had a

giftless Christmas that year.” “I’ve been through some great things in my life,” she said. Bowman said that Argentina was so crowded that they never could have caught the boy that did it. “He ran down the street into the crowds of people,” she said. “You can’t imagine how many people — it’s as many people as are at the (county) fair, only more, walking down the sidewalk all the time.” Bowman said that she enjoyed traveling the world, but she moved to Michigan to be closer to her son several years ago. She acquired the hobby of making handmade baskets out of pine needles for the past 40 years and said that has been one of her favorite things to do since she moved to Michigan. Bowman exhibited her handmade baskets as the oldest exhibitor at the 2013 Ogemaw County Fair and plans to continue making them as long as she is able, she said. Bowman said she learned the skill on a trip to Florida with her husband. “In this resort, this lady was doing this — teaching a class,” she said. “I couldn’t take it because I had something else to do, but the next year we went to Florida and she was still there and I took the class. She just gave one

Itpaystobanklocal.Makethemove.

See Crafts, 11

At Firstbank, we understand that each customer is different. That’s why we’ll help you find a checking account that suits your needs and your life.

We’re a community bank that believes individual people are just that. Stop by your local branch today and see what we can do for you.

Like us on Facebook

firstbankmi.com

“Your Neighborhood Pharmacists you can depend on.”

Easy Prescription Transfers! Welcome to Super Fast, Friendly, Personal Service. Most major insurances, Medicare Part D Plans, and Medicaid accepted.

STANDISH PHARMACY

Conveniently Located Inside

AuGRES PHARMACY

Conveniently Located Inside

PINNY PHARMACY niently Conved Inside Locate

533 S. Main St., Standish

236 W. Huron, Au Gres

989-846-0411

704 S. Mable (M-13), Pinconning

989-876-8899

989-879-7705

CONVENIENT HOURS: MONDAY-FRIDAY 9am-6pm (ALL LOCATIONS) SATURDAY 9am-4pm (Standish & Pinny) • SATURDAY 9am-1pm (AuGres)


Senior TimeS faLL 2013 — Page 5

Sztanyo’s: Still going strong after 70 years of marriage froM Page 2 built by his house and that is why the school sits on the Iosco-Ogemaw county lines.” Stan said after Whittemore-Prescott consolidated, the other schools in the area followed suit. “I also sat on a board to try and get I-75 to come through Prescott,” Stan said. “I met with a commissioner to bring the road right up through here, but Standish and Sterling

talked them out of it and grabbed ahold of it and we didn’t have enough drag to get it here.” “It would have been the shortest distance and would have helped the town,” he added. “But Standish and West Branch got a bunch of politicians together and got it.” Today, Emil and Iris are still dominant figures in the community. Although they have slowed down a lot, they are still active mem-

bers at Judson Baptist Church, and have been since 1960. “We joined the church in 1960, when the Sweets were there,” Iris said. “Then it was the Nelsons and now the Kennedys.” “Stan was a deacon and trustee for a long time and I was the church treasurer,” Iris said. With three children, eight grandchildren and 12 great-grandchildren, Emil and Iris are enjoying their time traveling and visiting their

To Support Your Community!

kids. “All of our kids live quite a ways away,” Iris said. “So when we are able to go see them we do.” When they are not traveling or visiting their kids, Emil and Iris, who are now 91 and 88, enjoy swinging on their porch swing, gardening and watching the Tigers. “We have been very happy and blessed to still be in love for 70 years,” Iris said.


Page 6 — Senior TimeS faLL 2013

Three-peat of a clean sweep Au Gres resident sweeps national shuffleboard competition for third straight year By Tim Barnum Roy Packard likes winning, and since taking up shuffleboard in 2006, the 59-year-old Au Gres resident has enjoyed plenty of victories. This August, Roy, 59, won two gold medals at the Senior National Games in Cleveland, Ohio, taking first in the 55-59 individual and doubles shuffleboard competition. It was the third straight time Packard won an individual gold medal at the games, which are held every other year, and the second straight time he won the gold in doubles. Winning the gold medals this year was no walk in the park, though. To even get a chance to compete on the next level, first Roy and his doubles partner, Ohio resident Betty Yerian, had to medal at the Polk County Senior Games, and then the Florida State Games — both of which were held in Lakeland, Fla,, where Roy and his wife Rosemary spend the winter. In fact, Roy placed lower at the qualifying levels than he did at nationals. “At the county, in the singles I got gold, and in the doubles I got bronze,” he said. “Then at states I got two silvers.” Roy even had to fight back from a pair of losses at the national games. “I lost two games in the singles, but I got more points, and they go by that for your final round,” he said. “Then I played three

in the final round. I won every one of them.” Roy’s previous gold medals at the national games were in Palo Alto, Calif., in 2009, and Houston, Tex., in 2011. “In Palo Alto, I just did singles, because my partner wouldn’t go out there,” he said. “Houston was the same. I just went out there to do singles. But after I did singles there was another woman there in another age group, and her partner got sick and they doubled us up and we got gold anyways.” But none of Roy’s success would’ve been possible without the support, and perhaps a little prodding, from his wife Rosemary leading up to the 2006 Polk County games. “I like winning. There’s no doubt about that. But if it wasn’t for a little pushing from somebody else, I probably wouldn’t have done it,” he said with a nod toward Rosemary. “The county games came and I said ‘Come on,’” she said. Rosemary said not long after Roy started playing at the park with friends, it was obvious he had a knack for the game. “You could see almost right away he took to that,” she said. “Number one, he has focus. That is probably 50 percent of it. He can focus right in, and he sees the court. Some of these courts are uneven, and he can see that there’s a drift in the block, and he can see and overcome that.” Identifying and adjusting to the nuances in

Tim Barnum

Roy Packard poses for a photo with his shuffleboard cue. the court surfaces is something that seems to come naturally for Roy. “It’s just something that just happened. I can’t really explain it,” he said. “It’s just that a lot of courts are really different. Then in the nationals they play on a mat, where in

Florida we play on cement. That took a whole lot of quick adjustments.” His first national games in California, Roy had to deal with winds that were lifting the

See golD, 11

Cynthia Zion ABC Medical Supply/Rotech

A ROTECH company We Care About Patient Care

JCAHO Accredited

• Oxygen • CPAP • Bi-PAP • Home Oxygen Equipment • Respiratory Care Services • Home Medical Equipment • Hospital Beds • Wheelchairs • Variety of Colors & Styles of Stroller Walkers We have what you need! West Branch

Gladwin

Toll Free 800-638-6715 122 W. Houghton Ave.

Toll Free 866-864-2673 307 W. Cedar Ave.

One bedroom apartments

Wish you were here!

For Persons 62+ Pet Friendly Free Heat, Water & Electric Extra Storage Affordable HUD Rents Planned Activities And More

AuSable Valley Apartments 1441 Maple Dr. Fairview, MI

989-848-2104


Senior TimeS faLL 2013 — Page 7

Tolfree Foundation pays tribute to Earl A. Hasty, M.D. this Veterans Day...

Comprehensive Comprehensive ccare are ffor or sseniors eniors At McLaren Bay Region Woodland Healthcare and Primary Care, we take a lot of pride in offering top-quality care to our community. And, we’re honored to say that we’ve been doing so for more than 30 years. We understand how important it is for seniors in our community to have access to dependable quality health care. When you want better care from health care professionals who live locally, you can always depend on us.

Dr. Hasty was awarded the Special Service Medal for his medical service to the U.S. Army. On December 5th, the Physician Extraordinaire Award 2013 will be presented posthumously to him.

Now accepting new patients. T To o schedule an appointment, call the location nearest you. Primary Primary Care Care Mio 558 Lockwood Lane Mio, MI 48647 (989) 826-3271

Rifle River 5170 Rifle River Trail Alger, MI 48610 (989) 873-5323 Rose City 2990 Campbell Road Rose City, MI 48654 (989) 685-2333 St. Helen 1360 N. St. Helen Road St. Helen, MI 48656 (989) 389-4944

West Branch 2331 Progress St., Suite D West Branch, MI 48661 (989) 345-1184

W Woodland oodland Healthcare Healthcare Evergreen Clinic 611 Court St. West Branch, MI 48661 (989) 345-7000 Court Street Clinic 621 Court St. West Branch, MI 48661 (989) 345-0100

m claren.org /bayregion mclaren.org/bayregion

989-343-3694


Page 8 — Senior TimeS faLL 2013

Luzerne man honored at park dedication

By Sherry Barnum Joe Pillars, 75, of Luzerne has been serving the community, helping build and come up with different projects, for more than 30 years. Over the summer, he was honored when the community named a park after him just below the Mio Dam. Pillars moved to Luzerne 30 years ago, after he had come up for fishing and hunting. “We used to ride snowmobiles here, and I thought it would be a nice place to have a cottage at,” Pillars said. “I retired from the GM Foundry in Saginaw at 47, came up here hunting and never went back.” Pillars said that was when he got involved with the Northeast Michigan Sportsman’s Club. “It’s really an interesting story, why they named the park after me” Pillars said. “I was part of the Northeast Michigan Sportsman’s Club for 20 years before they dissolved. During my time in the club, we

did about 14 projects throughout the community.” Some of those projects included the fishing pier at Mio Pond, Camp Tenbridge and the overlook. “After my stroke, 11 years ago, a couple of people from Consumers came to me and said, ‘Joe we want to dedicate Camp Tenbridge to you,’ and I told them no, I won’t have that because volunteers built that and I want to be fair to them," Pillars said. “About a year later I got a call from Randy Booth and he said, ‘Joe you know you mentioned to me about putting a pier in below the dam, and the township decided that we would go ahead with it, and Consumers would like to have you sit in on the meeting and get your input.’ As we went along one of the conditions was that there could be no volunteers helping build that Sherry Barnum

Joseph Pillars

See Pillars, 10

Sherry Barnum

Joseph Pillars Park offers a handicap accessible fishing pier located just below the Mio Dam.

Reverse Mortgages Is it right for you?

“We’re Here For You” Sometimes family members caring for an aging parent need a break or time away to stay healthy themselves.

•Receive payments instead of making them •You retain title to your home. •Use money for home repairs, buying a car whatever you choose! •No repayment due until you sell or vacate your home. •Origination and closing in your home. •Must be at least 62 years of age.

Call for a free no obligation information package Toll Free 877-349-0460 Ann Cartier

Moving Forward in Reverse

Our services offer relief and assistance to family members or current caregivers for short or long term care. Call us and go enjoy life!

877-343-6955 222 E. Houghton Ave. West Branch, MI

NMLS #358332 & #135633

Roscommon, MI

Reverse Mortgage Specialist


Senior TimeS faLL 2013 — Page 9

Leadbetter enjoying retirement after 27 years teaching By Sherry Barnum Betsy Leadbetter, 62, of Standish, no longer has to wake up to an alarm after deciding to retire from Sterling Elementary after the 2012-13 school year. Leadbetter said she began subbing at Standish before she received a full time position within the school district. “I didn’t start teaching right away,” Leadbetter said. “I graduated in 1973 and my husband, Dick, was still in dental school. So I began working at a bank as a teller and then head teller, and once he got done with school and found a position up here, I still didn’t teach because I was pregnant with our oldest son Brent and I wanted to stay home with the kids.” Leadbetter received her teaching degree from The University of Michigan and taught for a year at a preschool in the Deep River Township Hall before being hired on at Standish-Sterling. “I started out in second grade and then moved to third and then took the preschool position before finishing up my career back in second grade,” she said. “I wanted to teach since I was six years old. My mom was a high school teacher and I just always loved teaching and thought it would be really fun to teach kids –– I always wanted to teach little ones, I had no desire to teach high school like she did.” Leadbetter said she decided to retire because she wanted to be able to spend more time with her kids. “I was fairly close to retiring and was only going to teach a few more years and

then I found out my oldest son Brent and his wife Joanna were talking about having kids and I thought it would be a good time to retire,” she said. “After I turned in my resignation I found out they were pregnant with twins.” Leadbetter said her oldest son and wife live in California, so she wouldn’t be able to just zip over there and see them whenever she wants. “It would be hard to go if I was still teaching,” she said. “Plus, my other son, Scott, is planning on getting married next summer. So that will be occupying a little of my time too.” Although Leadbetter misses teaching, she misses the kids the most. “The kids are the main thing that I enjoyed most about teaching,” she said. “And I really enjoyed the special activities that we did –– such as the medieval festival and frog days.” Leadbetter said when she started teaching, they did a lot of theme teaching. “We studied dinosaurs, fossils, frogs and would have a whole theme involved,” she said. “Mrs. Sproule and I would even exchange kids and have them read stories that they wrote to the class –– but writing was much different back then too. We would take paper fold it in half and cut it to make books for the students to write stories.” “But we ran out of time for fun stuff like that,” she said. Now, Betsy has more time to do things that she didn’t have time to do before, like traveling and reading.

Sherry Barnum

Betsy Leadbetter, who recently retired from Standish-Sterling Area Schools, poses for a picture on her fall decorated porch. “I am also active in the American Cancer Society,” she said. “Which is actually working out well because I am really busy with it right now with all the government cutbacks and bills they are trying to get put through.”

With all the government cutbacks, Betsy said she is meeting with legislators and getting petitions signed to try and get some funding back.

See retireMent, 11

Boyne City • Cheboygan • Gaylord • Gladwin • Grayling Houghton Lake • Roscommon • West Branch


Page 10 — Senior TimeS faLL 2013

Pillars: Park offers handicapped accessible fishing froM Page 8 pier and I thought it was so odd that after all these years of using volunteers, they weren’t going to use any.” Pillars said he never gave it another thought as he continued to sit in on the meeting for four years, coming up with the costs of what it would take to build the pier. “The DNR put up about $100,000, Consumers put up about $100,000, and the forest service furnished the restroom that’s down there, and the T.I.C. Power line company donated $1,000 to the project, and the township gave a little bit,” Pillars said. “And when it was done everybody called me to see if I was going to go to the township meeting.” “Every time someone would call, I told them Carol wouldn’t let me go because I get too excited,” Pillars added. “But we ended up going and noticed the naming of the park was on the agenda. Now I thought the name of the park should be Hydro Park, since the Dam was right there and they said, ‘No we already have a name for the park and we decided it was going to be called the Joseph Pillars Park.’” Pillars said that had a lot to do with Consumers and everyone that he has worked with over the years. “I was shocked that they did this,” he said. Big Creek Township Supervisor, Randy Booth said they decided to name the park after Pillars because of all the work he did in the community on the handicapped fishing piers, improvements on the Mio pond

and the surrounding area. “I have known Joe for about 20 to 25 years,” Booth said. “As township supervisor, I didn’t do a lot of work with the club, but for 20 years Joe has come to me with ideas and recreational stuff that would help the township. I really wasn’t involved a lot until Joe had his stroke.” Booth said after Pillars had his stroke, Pillar’s daughter-in-law called him up and asked for help with the senior fishing day. “After that, I kind of took over and started doing some projects that he and the sportsman’s club started in the community,” Booth said. “Positively, he has done a lot of things that helped provide recreation activities that are easily accessible.” “He has a lot of ideas and visions and still has a lot of ideas for the future for our community,” Booth added. “Our community is fortunate that he moved here and had the vision for the recreation. The community is a lot better off because of their efforts.” Pillars said he really doesn’t like to say all that he has been involved with. “As a sportsman’s club member, I decided to work on the projects,” Pillars said. “I never wanted a position in the club, never wanted to be president or anything else. Well they gave me the fancy title of project coordinator. So I picked the projects to work on and got the money to do it and the people.” Pillars said they used to have the kids fishing day at the county park. “Believe it or not, all they had was a little board sticking out of the water for the kids to fish on,” Pillars said. “I said we should be able to come up with something better than

that. So the sportsman’s club started a fishing pier off of Pond Drive.” Pillars said they had it pretty well on their way until they ran into a snag and came to him and asked if he knew anything about building a fishing pier. “I said no, but by golly I bet we can do it,” Pillars said. “I don’t know why they came to me, but they did. So we built a fishing pier off of Pond Drive and that was the first thing we did.” Pillars said the second thing they did was the overlook. “The first pier was built in 1988, the overlook was built in 1992, Camp Tenbridge on the southside was built in 1993 and 1994 and the northside was built in 1994 and 1995,” Pillars said. “After that we built boat launch sites on Gerber Road and Pond Drive and a walkway out at O’Brien Lake, which is gone now, and a walkway through the woods for the Forest Service down by Whirlpool over by Oscoda. All together there were about 14 projects we worked on.” Pillars said the sportsman’s club was full of a bunch of terrific guys. “It was quite common to see 15 to 20 guys work on a project,” Pillars said. “And we worked through the winter. When we did O’Brien Lake I picked a day to start and said we would start no matter what. Well it was 14 below zero the day we started that project. We built the pier off the ice and the walkway we waited until spring to do.” Pillars said he didn’t do all of this for praise, but because he wanted to. “I think we have the best facilities for barrier-free fishing around,” Pillars said. “And I

Sherry Barnum

The sign at Joseph Pillars Park tells why the park was dedicated to Pillars and all the projects he has worked on over the years. think we have the best fishing in the whole world right here.” “I especially want to thank everyone over the years that helped out with everything,” he added. “And I’m not done.”

The All New 2014

Hear Your Best for the Holidays this Year! Schedule chedule a FREE F Hearing Screening! Screening!

Family y. Friends. Festivities. The joyous sounds of the holidays are fast approaching - which means it’s the perfect time ffor or a FREE Hearing Check k-up. Don’t let another year with hearing loss dampen your cheer.

FORD FUSION Hugs curves and embraces fuel efficiency.

$800 OFF a pair of Siemens 3mi hearing aids* *With purchase of a pair of 3mi model only. Everyday Price $2695 each. Sale Price $2295 each. Not valid with any other off ffer er or discount.

60-Day Trial Restrictionss applyy,, call ffor or details.

Call today ffor or your FREE Hearing g Check k-up! p

Buy or Lease One Today!

Ask us about special offers for Ford, GM and Chrysler members.

West es Branch

Call Toll Free: 855.293.3114 24 locations in Michigan Matthew L. Christy, Matthew Christy, Au.D., Au.D., Licensed Licensed Hearing Hear ing Aid Aid Dispenser #3501003413

www.hearusa.com w ww.hearusa.com

Susan Wilson, LHAS © 2013 HearUSA, A Allll R Rights ights R Reserved. eserved.

3382 W. M-55 • WEST BRANCH 989-345-1590 • 1-800-610-3780 WWW.DEANARBOURFORD.COM


Senior TimeS faLL 2013 — Page 11

Retirement: Leadbetter looks forward to traveling more froM Page 9 “And I am finally getting to work on some projects and help Karen Weishuhn with the library and activities that she has going on there,” she said. “A couple weeks ago we made cards for the VA hospital and took them to them.” Leadbetter said she decided to get involved with the American Cancer Society after she was diagnosed with cancer 21 years ago. “I have always donated to the ACS, but after being diagnosed with cancer, I felt I needed to do more, and I am healthy and I

can do something for the people fighting,” she said. Leadbetter said she has joined a couple clubs since retiring and will have more time for her retired friends. “I want to do some things I haven’t had a lot of time to do, like reading and learning some new languages and art classes, learning Italian with hopes to go to Italy some day,” she said. “I am also hoping to do a lot of stuff I haven’t had time for. I have already made a list of things I want to do and places I want to go, and I am enjoying sleeping in, having a cup of coffee and reading the newspaper and watching the news.”

Gold: Packard takes the gold at Nationals froM Page 6 mats form time to time. He also caught that the mat was slightly sloped. “If you were shooting one way you’d be shooting downhill, and if you were shooting on the other end, you were shooting uphill a little bit,” he said. Roy said when he first started excelling at the game, before he was invited to join his local park’s team and compete against other parks in Florida, he had no expectations to play competitively. But that changed not long after he first picked up the shuffleboard cue. “When I first started there, all the people who come out in the morning, they draw chips to see who shoots with who,” he said. “I was pretty much just learning the game, just getting into it, but I won a game. Then they asked me, ‘Did you know you just beat a pro?’” Sometimes the competition is pretty stiff, much like the early victory over a professional player. This year to clinch the doubles gold

medal, Roy and his partner had to beat a coach who plays almost every day of the week. “His last game that he played down there in doubles was a nail biter,” Rosemary said. “They had to go into overtime, and he was playing against the coach of the California team. He was a coach and he played six days a week.” And even though Roy is a seasoned and successful shuffleboard player, he doesn’t play nearly as much as the California coach he defeated in the finals. Roy said when he’s in Michigan, he doesn’t even practice. “There’s no place around here that’s close enough,” he said. That’s not to say he and Rosemary haven’t tried to do something about that. “We’ve given them stuff up here in City Hall to bring in courts up here, because there’s nothing in this part of the state,” she said. “If they would put in some courts and put in a little advertising, I think they could bring in some business.” Roy is originally from Omer and graduated from Au Gres-Sims in 1973.

Crafts: Bowman, at 93, still enjoys working on projects froM Page 4 class and showed us how to do it.” According to Bowman, she began to teach the class in Florida after the instructor didn’t return to the class. “I couldn’t count the classes I taught,” she said. Bowman said she used to spend more time working on the projects when she was younger. “I work on them when I feel like it,” she said. “I don’t work on them all the time anymore — some days I don’t feel like it.” Bowman said every piece she makes is unique and she often gives them as gifts. She said she would even sell her work if anyone was interested in buying it, and has taken her baskets to several fairs and art shows in the state. “I made a bootie for my grandson when he was born,” she said. “I made three of them for newborn babies. They are very hard to make and take a lot of time. I make every one

Emily Walker

Bowman displays her baskets for all to see. different.” According to Bowman, she has made dozens and dozens of baskets and other projects. “It has to be more than a couple hundred,” her son John added.

Bolger: Artist shares passion of art at local community center froM Page 3 third prize. I didn’t think it was that good. I still don’t think it was that good.” Bolger said he will continue to live his life as he has because he believes it has served him well over the years. “In my words, no regrets,” he said. “There’s nothing bad about getting old. You just have to accept it. There’s nothing you can do about it.”

Unity Home Health Care Professional Quality Care At Home... ...For You & Your Loved Ones www.unityhomehealthcare.com

Unity Home Health Care

Have an interesting story to tell?

We Work With Medicare & Several Types of Insurance

Email sherrybarnum @ogemawherald.com or call 989-345-0044

Serving Northern & Central Michigan

We Work With Your Physician To Establish A Plan Of Care For You. Our Services Include:

• Skilled Nursing • Physical Therapy • Occupational Therapy • Medical Social Worker • Certified Home Health Aid • Speech Therapy

“The comforts of our care in the comfort of your home”

877-281-4201 575 Court St., Suite C West Branch, MI 48661

Phone: 989-345-1126 Fax: 989-345-4752

OBERDICK

DRAFTING, DESIGN & CONSTRUCTION, LLC

Residential • Commercial Licensed • Insured We Can Make Your Home Handicap Accessible. Interior & Exterior • Bathrooms • Ramps

foberdick@yahoo.com 2086 W. State Rd. 989-701-2346 Office West Branch, MI 48661 989-387-1247 Cell


Page 12 — Senior TimeS faLL 2013

WALKER AGENCY “Your Insurance Store” 989-876-7131 Au Gres 989-345-1570 West Branch www.walkeragencyinsurance.com • Email: info@walkeragencyinsurance.com


Issuu converts static files into: digital portfolios, online yearbooks, online catalogs, digital photo albums and more. Sign up and create your flipbook.