Greendale

Dick Strauss and I were married in 1957 and lived in Greendale until 1974.
I worked as a Secretary, for Hale Park Lumber in Hales Corners. Dick was
working with Wisconsin TB Association traveling in Wisconsin with their
Unit, taking Chest X-Rays. He had a few different jobs after that, while I
worked for my brother Wayne as a Bookkeeper in his Law Office in
Milwaukee. In between the years of 1957 through 1967, I managed to have
three girls and two boys. We were prolific like devout Catholics.

In 1973, Dick started a new job, with a new startup company, Federal
Express, delivering packages. In fall of 1974, he was offered a job, as
Manager in the Quad Cities. The new job required an out of state move. He
was to open a station, in Moline Illinois.

There were many things to consider, should he accept this job? This was a
new company, just one and half years old, did the kids want to leave their
friends, did I really want to just up and move to a different state, not
knowing what was in store for us, with a family of five children? A mutual
decision was made, he accepted the job and we moved to Bettendorf, Iowa,
in April of 1975.

In 1978, he accepted a promotion offer as Manager in Minneapolis, MN,
with a move in September of that year.

In 1979, he accepted another promotion offer as Manager for a large
station in Boston, MA and another move. We settled in Hudson, NH. I got a
job with Frito Lay as a secretary, in Billerica MA.

In 1984, it was another big decision. This time it was out of the United
States and meant a move to Canada. I wasn't too sure of this one, I really
didn't want to leave my job and I liked my feet staying on the ground, in
the good ole USA . . . Federal Express was opening new stations in Canada.
We moved to Toronto, Ontario in November of that year . . . There was a
condition I wanted, that the next move would not be to the Headquarters
in Memphis, TN.

So much for that condition, in November of 1985, we moved to Memphis,
TN and Dick was to open stations in the Middle East. This is when his
World Travels began, to cities I never heard of. I guess I should have paid
more attention in World History.

In 1987, Dick and I got a divorce we mutually agreed upon and I moved to
Oak Creek, WI. It was great to be back with all the friends I had left in
1975. Dick and I kept in touch with each other and he would come to WI
and visit, from time to time.

In November of 1992, my brother called me and said he was sending
Mother and I Airline tickets, to fly to Florida in February, 1993 as a
Christmas gift. I knew this was a little fishy as he never got me anything
for Christmas. When down there he offered me a job as Accountant and
Office Manager in his Law Office, knew there was a catch to that trip.
Being fed up with the snow and being plowed in for three days, I was
eager to go.

April of 1993, Mother and I moved to Florida, she in Alva and I in LaBelle.
Wayne had found me a 3 bedroom home, which to this day I am still in.
In August of 1997, I was diagnosed with Lung Cancer and they gave me 4
to 5 years at the most. 10 years later, I am still here, Cancer free and
thanking the good Lord for each day. And NO ! ! ! I don't feel that smoking
had anything to do with it. Thank you. Dick had a prostrate cancer
operation and does not recommend it to anyone. He does not think smoking
contributed to his cancer either.

On January 1, 1998, Dick retired from Federal Express, after 25 years of
service moved in with me, and we now call our home Roomies Ranch.

October of 1998, My brother Wayne found out that he had Lung Cancer,
only much worse than mine. He went into semi-retirement and so did I, he
passed away in April of 1999.

Our children are all over the US, Cindy is in Oak Creek, WI, Sue is in
Hardingsburg, Kentucky, Linda is in Sandy, Oregon, Corey is in
Manchester, NH and Dean is here in LaBelle, FL. We have done some
traveling in the past 8 years. The one place I wanted to go was west and
managed to do so, in September of 2000. There won't be any more of
those trips west, as Dick does not like to drive the mountains and I don't
like flying anymore.

With many health problems, neither one of us complain, just happy to be
alive, I'll question the kicking part.

Keeping in contact with school friends, has been very important to me.
AND want to thank Bud Heitman for getting this site together, don't think
it was a very easy job to do.