I have been lucky in my life. As written earlier,
serendipity has ruled a great deal of my good fortune. Perhaps one of the most
important was the time I spent with Gerry and Linda Kreuder while in Albany IL.
I first met Gerry the day I was hired to teach. He had been
painting the goal posts on the playground along with Denny Woods. I have to admit I
thought he was pretty weird. This was 1969, the end of the decade of protests,
hippies, and long hair. Gerry had a short flattop haircut, weighed about 100
lbs soaking wet and he was covered in paint. I think he got some on the goal
posts, but you couldn’t prove it by the way he looked.
When I got home, I told Connie I was a teacher, and had met
this strange little guy who was also a teacher. I had no idea that he would
become a lifelong friend to me and to everyone he would meet.
Many times I have witnessed Gerry walk into a room,
reception area, restaurant or bar, and find out something about everyone he
encountered. Before he leaves a place he will have made a connection with
everyone who will talk to him, and, with his booming voice, you cannot avoid
doing that.
He and Linda are dedicated to the service of others. I
often thought of them as the king and queen of Albany. Linda was in junior
women’s Club, served on the newly formed library board, served on the park
board, taught Sunday school etc, etc. Gerry was president of the Fire
Department, was one of the founding members of the Albany Lions Club, managed
the park facilities, etc. etc. They did all of this while working full time,
having three kids, attending more basketball and football games than anyone can
count and doing so many other things I that would make me exhausted to write
about.
They have not been as fortunate with health issues. Between
the two of them and their three kids, they have spent more time in Iowa City
than Herky, the Hawk. Not to make light of their struggles, but I believe the
University of Iowa is planning a wing for them I believe the hang-up is they
have visited so many departments, the university is not sure which should
receive the honor.
We had been through a great deal together. We have enjoyed
many good times after basketball games. All of the staff attending were invited
to Kreuders for pizza and beer. It was a terrific way to finish the night. The trip to the state basketball tournament was another tradition that was always a good time.
Gerry had a painting business that kept me employed for
several summers. We painted more than a few houses and some barns. We usually
got more paint on the building than ourselves, but it was close. I used to kid
him that he found his ladders in the junkyard. I think they were held together
with spilled paint.
We have been through some tragic times. Gerry and Linda
were there when my father died. It was the first week of my coaching career. We
have attended many funerals of former students, parents, and colleagues. The
trips to Iowa City often included me.
They continue to provide for others. They will often be
seen in the company of one or more of their grandkids. Although they are both
officially retired they remain active in their new community. They stay
connected with friends and Gerry’s former students, all who have a nickname.
We have spent so much special time together it is difficult
to find only one of two to describe. Let me leave it that my life would be so
much less without them in it. In short, our lives were completely entangled during
the time we lived in Albany. I was sad to leave them, but I had to leave to
pursue my goal of becoming a principal.
I join them, and the
many friends they have back along the Mississippi in congratulating them on
fifty years of marriage.
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