Residents celebrate life, birthdays

Family attending the Celebration of Life for Kerm Jenkins last week included his sister Rosemary Raridon of Youngstown, Ohio; Kerm and Pat's children: Roger and Gail Jenkins, of Corpus Christi, Texas; Rhonda and Dale Hesseltine, of Crawfordsville; Rick and Nancy Jenkins, Randy and Brenda Jenkins, of Ainsworth and Russ Jenkins of Warner Robins, Georgia. Present also were grandchildren Jason Jenkins, of Trinidad, Colorado; Jeremy Morrison, of Warsaw, Indiana; Travis Jenkins, of Corpus Christi, Texas; Patrick Jenkins, of San Diego, California; Tiffany and Waylon Brenneman, Mya and Lara, of Kalona; Tara Jenkins, of Ottumwa; Laci O'Leary, of Riverside; Kassi Spencer, of Mary Esther, Florida and Randi Jenkins and fiancé Josh Brase of Iowa City.

Nieces and nephews included Geri Socciarelli, of Cuyahaga Falls, Ohio; Tim Raridon of Youngstown, Ohio; and Karee Valek of Sarasota, Florida.

Jim Schmidt celebrated his birthday in the Town Center Friday morning surrounded by friends and neighbors. Jim provided a delicious carrot cake for everyone to enjoy along with coffee. Jim and Gerri's daughter Kate Rubin arrived later in the week to extend the birthday celebration.

Carl and Helen Dallmeyer celebrated their 74th wedding anniversary Saturday, Nov. 17, 2018 with a weekend visit from family including special guest: 21-month-old Lidia Underwood, daughter of Brian and Liz Underwood of Florida and the granddaughter of Russ and Dae Dallmeyer Underwood of Johnston, Iowa. Carl and Helen met at a skating party in Columbus Junction, to which Carl says he didn't dance, bowl or skate but Helen married him anyway. While Carl served on the West Coast during his service in World War II, Helen traveled there with her grandmother and the couple married in a picturesque white clapboard church two blocks from the ocean in Pacific Grove, California. Helen jokes that the secret to their long marriage is that she forgives and Carl forgets. The Dallmeyer family also celebrated Carl's Thanksgiving Day birthday while here.

The family of Wanda Skubal hosted an Open House in honor of her 100th birthday Sunday afternoon in the Moore Family Dining Room. A large crowd of well-wishers attended including Wanda's entire family, friends and neighbors. Wanda reports that she enjoyed visiting with people whom she hasn't seen in a long time and before she knew it the party was over. Wanda's family shared Sunday dinner together before the birthday celebration in the Campus Center.

Esther Bordwell entertained seven ladies at a coffee Monday morning along with the United Presbyterian Church Interim Minister, Pastor Karen Woo. It was an opportunity for church members to personally meet and chat with the current minister.

Eleven-year-old Rita Du presented a violin recital on Wednesday for residents of the Garrett Center. Rita performed classical music and was accompanied on the piano by her violin instructor, Gwen Ying.

There has been a buzz of activity this week with visitors to the United Presbyterian Home allowing many residents the enjoyment of preholiday activities with loved ones. Thanksgiving Day many residents and their families shared a delicious buffet of traditional holiday foods in the Main Dining Room that left everyone with bellies full and ready for an afternoon nap.