Our Yesterdays

Observes 49th Wedding Anniversary: The family of Mr. and Mrs. Joe Deutsch, Sr. helped their parents celebrate their 49th wedding anniversary on Sunday by all attending the 10 a.m. Mass at St. Joseph church in East Pleasant Plain. A cooperative dinner was enjoyed by all at the Deutsch home. All of the Deutsch’s eight children were present except one, Ray, who lives with his family in Wichita, Kansas. He talked by phone to his parents and other family members during the day. Those attending were Mr. and Mrs. Joe Deutsch, Jr. and Gina of Richland, Mr. and Mrs. Kirk Deutsch of Iowa City, Mr. and Mrs. Don Deutsch of Packwood, Mr. and Mrs. Marian Beltramae and Kathy of Fairfield, Kristi Beltramae of Indianola, John Beltramae of Omaha Nebraska, Matt Beltramae of Cedar Rapids, Mr. and Mrs. Ron Pacha of Bloomington Illinois, Mr. and Mrs. Dave Jeffrey and Rick of Mt. Pleasant, Tammy Jeffrey of Des Moines, Mr. and Mrs. Jim Deutsch with Laura, Amy, Jamie, and Amanda of Fairfield, Mr. and Mrs. Bob Deutsch and Jennifer of Fairfield, and Pam Deutsch of Brighton. Mr. and Mrs. Scott Deutsch of Fairfield were afternoon callers.

Bridal Shower Held: A bridal shower for Pam Withers and Richie Muntz was held on Saturday evening, March 31 at the Packwood Community Building with the classmates’ mothers as hostesses. Judy Atwood, chairperson, introduced a group of students from LeCygne Dance Academy. The first group to perform were Allison Dickey, Christi Kann, Kori Allison, and Sarah Dickey, with a ballet number. The second group of Scott Drobny, Ryan Mitchell, and Doug Goehring did a tap number. Their teachers are Pat Goehring and Terri Drobny. They are getting ready for their annual show and they will be performing these two numbers, as well as many others, in May. Dorothy Hollingsworth read a very special poem on “love” for Pam and Richie. Special guests included the mothers, Virginia Muntz and Barbara Withers; Grandmother Mrs. Balner, Irene Granaman, Betty Sines, and Richie’s sisters, Deb Connor, Vicky Heald and Kristi McKim. Helping Pam open gifts was Megan Dickey, Kristi McKim and Peggy Heisdorffer, with Richie’s nieces assisting, Emily Heald and Amy Connor. The couple will be married Saturday, April 28, at the Packwood Christian Church.

New Arrival Gott: Jerry and Diana Gott, Ollie, are the parents of a boy. Aaron Dean weighed six pounds and three ounces. Welcoming him home are Ryan and April. Grandparents are Dean And Doris Cary of rural Packwood, and Norman and Betty Gott of rural Ollie. Great-grandmothers are Letha Cary of Fairfield and Dorothy Reinier of Ottumwa.

April 1974

Davis Eidahl: Enjoys helping, watching young athletes develop: A young man who has brought considerable recognition to Richland through amateur athletics is Richland’s citizen of the Month for April. Davis Eidahl, teacher and track coach at Pekin High School, has contributed to many community groups as well as making a name for himself in athletics.

He became interested in walking as a sport through a friend in Des Moines who was involved in the activity. It took him five years to beat his friend, but he now consistently ranks as one of the best in the state.

“I like to compete,” he said this week, “and I found an event which I really enjoyed,” explaining how he got interested in the sport.

A native of Newton, Iowa, where his late father coached, Davis has always been interested in athletics. And his approach to sports is refreshing. “I enjoy getting a quantity of kids out for athletics and watching them develop,” he said. “This is more of a thrill to me than winning a championship,” adds the coach who has seen his performers swell the Pekin trophy case.

“Athletics should be fun,” he reminds us. “After all, that’s really what it’s all about.”

After starring in several sports in high school, he continued his achievements at Central College where he won 12 letters in basketball, cross country, and track. He was captain of each team, and, as a senior, won the Mentink Award given to the outstanding performer.

His first year of coaching, he guided Anita to the state cross country title. He came to Pekin in following year, in the fall of 1964, at the invitation of C.E. Tharp, then Pekin superintendent, who had become acquainted with him at Central.

Davis coached basketball for several years and led Pekin to three state cross country titles and seven conference championships. He now coaches boys’ and girls’ track. His teaching schedule includes biology, advanced biology, and geography.

He has won the Iowa Racewalking Award the past two years and went to the Olympic trials in 1972. Last summer he was picked to coach at the National Junior Olympic Championships in Ann Arbor, Michigan. He has been invited back this summer.

In the Amateur Athletic Union, he is the Iowa racewalking chairman and on the track and field board.

His father, W.L. “Ole” Eidahl, was inducted into the Iowa Football Coaches Association Hall of Fame after building a 163-47-16 record. His 1952 Newton team was the mythical state champion. After retiring, he stayed active by starting may track meets in Iowa, including some at Pekin.

Davis and his wife, the former Sandra Kleinendorst, will celebrate their 10th wedding anniversary this September 5. They have three children, Angela, seven, Davis, three, and Matthew, two. He is a member of the Lions Club and a director of the Richland Jaycees. The family belongs to the United Methodist Church, where he has taught Sunday School and sang in the choir. He is also adviser to the Explorer post here.

This summer, as the past 13 years, he will spend at Camp Mitigwa near Boone as waterfront director for the Boy Scouts camp.