Monday, December 31, 2007

Ellen & Steve Wicinski Family

We had a rough year in 2006 with the loss of Steve’s only sister. She was only 58 when passed away in July. She had survived a brain aneurysm bursting and was on the way to recovery, only to have complications in surgery while attempting to fix another brain aneurysm. Steve and his sister were very close and it is just to hard to believe she is gone.

There were a few happy milestones in our family in 2006. We had our 25th wedding Anniversary on Halloween and Brandon turned 21 a few days before that. We all went to Vegas to celebrate and finally had a vacation. Deb and Frank joined us and Brandon enjoyed having Uncle Frank show him the ropes! We visited the cake shop that was featured on the Food Network channel as having the best wedding cake in Vegas! Instead of renewing our vows, we went straight for the wedding cake!!

Lion Apparel finally hired me in April as a full time employee. I like being only 5 minutes from work and I like the job too! Steve is still at NCR, but works from home quite a bit. Brandon goes to Wright State and is now a Junior. He made the Dean’s list in 2006!

We want to remodel our kitchen this year, so that should be fun!

Have a great year.
Love,
Ellen, Steve and Brandon

Collins/Bold Family

We have been trying to keep warm up here in Columbus, OH. The forecasted low is 3 degrees today, with wind chills into the negatives.

On September 16, 2006, we got a lovely addition to our family by way of a wonderful daughter-in-law. Doug and Christy (Knox) got married here in Columbus and went on their honeymoon in Hawaii. Being staunch Bengal fans and season ticket holders, their honeymoon commenced the day after they attended the Bengals’ season opener on Sep. 17. What true blue fans!

They bought a house in Westerville, a suburb northeast of Columbus. They and our two grandcats, Murray and Ernest, are settling in quite nicely. Doug is busy with his sound company, his employment with Frank Bold and Associates and his band. Christy is busy in her job as a research associate with Children’s Hospital, having authored several papers on sports injuries, giving interviews with national newspapers and traveling to seminars.
Frank and I found out 2 weeks ago that the owner of the condo we are currently renting wants to move back into the property, therefore, our lease will not be renewed when it ends on March 31. So we have been house hunting. We think we have found a house in Gahanna, a suburb close to my job at DSCC and close to the airport (which is important for our quick getaways! ?), so hopefully we’ll be moving in March.

We are still finding time to travel to Florida and Vegas. We have a renter lined up in March for our house in Florida, so we are going down next week to make sure things are in order. That’s just our excuse – we’re really going to down to enjoy some sun (something seldom seen in Columbus) and eat some seafood! I have three years, 10 months and 9 days until I can retire, at which time we’re hoping to spend more time in Florida.

Fred and Phyllis Bergman

It was a big year for weddings! Our granddaughter, Angela married our paperboy, Kevin Snyder on August fifth here in Dayton at the Lutheran Church on Main Street. The maid of honor was Angela’s sister Anna Trotto and Angela’s cousin Brandon was the best man. Her bridesmaid’s dresses were lavender and the guys wore basic black. It was beautiful! The reception was held at the Knights of Columbus hall in Fairborn after a last minute change of plans. The meal was delicious too! It was nice to see everyone.


In September we went to Columbus to attend our grandson Doug’s wedding to Christie Knox. We stayed overnight at the Hawthorn hotel. That was the first time we stayed away from home in a very long time! We had a nice handicap accessible room which made our stay comfortable Our daughter Deborah, Doug’s mother, bought me a new outfit for the occasion. The intimate ceremony and the dinner were held at the same hall. with the ceremony on the stage and the meal eaten at tables throughout the hall. It was very nice. We held a shower for Christie here. Edna Nieport who took care of Doug as a baby, attended the shower taking pictures which we sent to Doug and Christie.

In March the entire family celebrated grandpa and my 75th birthdays at Anticoli restaurant. Deborah made us all a reservation in a private room and all the kids and grandkids enjoyed the food.

We took care of Taco, Ellen and Steve’s dog when they took Brandon to Las Vegas for his 21st birthday. We really enjoyed having him with us. He is such a good granddog!

Linda has planned an eighteenth birthday dinner party here for Anna.

The kids had one of the spare bedrooms turned into a laundry room so that Fred doesn’t have to go up and down stairs to the basement anymore. It also has a small freezer, a nice pantry and storage. This is much easier on him since he still has trouble with his knees.

All our love, Fred and Phyllis

Michael Claybaugh

{Written by Holly} Michael suggested that I Google him to learn about what he's up to. I found this article from Santa Cruz Magazine about his lovely historic home, and the website of his business, Buy Design.

Adam Claybaugh

[Contributed by sister Alison] Adam is still living in Columbus, but now resides with his long-time girlfriend Shelley. He has a great job with Crown Mercedes in Dublin as a service manager and enjoys it greatly. He has been working there since October and enjoys the many perks of the job including commission and driving a Mercedes around occasionally. He still talks about reenlisting in the guard, but for now, he is content where he is at and seems happy. No wedding plans yet for the long-time couple, but talk is in the air so we are hoping for an engagement sometime in the near future. He is also very much looking forward to having a niece and spoiling her when the time comes. We are counting on lots of Ohio State attire.

Elizabeth and Tim Dentremont Family

Elizabeth got out of the Navy in Jan after 4 long years and is going to school at Sinclair for nursing. Tim was been working at Home Depot and will be starting school at Sinclair in the Fall, and is up for a dept head position. Brayden just turned one in April, and is already running around the place and getting very big.

Annette Sheppard Family

We have been really busy since the last newsletter. Alex is now going to be a Freshman. She is going to band camp next week along with Natallie. Alex plays the trumpet and Natallie plays the flute and is a sophomore. A week after they get back, both girls are going on a mission trip to NYC. Our church's youth group is flying down for almost a whole week. They will be living in the Bronx and having many adventures. Once they return every Friday will be spent at school's football game. Unfortunately for Tim he will miss most of the games because he works second shift. Once the football season is over it will be off to the swim meets. I am sure that this coming school year is going to make the eighth grade seem that it was all over in a blink of an eye.

One of the hightlights for Alex and Natallie this past year was Confirmation. Both girls were confirmed along with 22 other teens. I still play in the church band, sing in the choir and praise and worship team. I was selected to be a Music Director for the Darke County Area Emmaus Walk in November. I am excited and a little nervous since I have never been a Music Director. Tim and I are working on our church's directory. Tim took about 96 pictures and I get to edit them. (YEAH!) I had to learn two computer software programs, then the printer died and once that was fixed the computer crashed. I had to redo everything. I am hoping the soon I will be finished.

 
We did not yet have a family vacation. We plan to attend an Anime Fest in Dallas on Labor Day weekend. I have had the pleasure of traveling for work. In December I went to San Antonio. They have a Riverwalk that was all decked out in lights. It was very festive. In the Spring I traveled to Baltimore and just a few weeks ago I went to Washington, DC. Next week I fly out again for San Antonio. Like I said, we are REALLY busy and getting busier. I started on Nutrasystems three weeks ago and lost 15 pounds. Maybe next year I will be sending you pictures of a skinny Annette.

Until next year...........

Bonnie & Mike Witte

Mike and I have been keeping busy with the usual things: work and family. He has about one year left at Delphi (that's when they are saying it will close its doors) and I'm still with Curves.

We have a new grandson Connor who'll be 8 months old by the time you read this. Allie (almost 14) has been busy with the high school band and track, Cara (8.5 yrs.) played ball this summer and so did Kevin (4.5 yrs.). We went to events for the kids and cheered them on.

As of this writing we are on vacation and have been doing short trips and of course piddling around the house. We've been to several Reds games and saw fireworks show after the game July 2. It was awesome!!! Probably the best I've seen. Still would like to go to Boston to hear the Pops and see that fireworks display. For now I'll just watch it from the comfort of my living room. Matt and Lina had a cookout at their place on the 4th and all of our kids were there. I even passed football with my kids and grandkids.

Since there are a few days left of this week's vacation we are going to get in the truck and hit the road. We never know where we wil end up and that's fine by both of us.

I participated in Relay for Life this year in New Carlisle. Our Curves had a team and we raised about $1200 in 6 weeks. We issued a challenge to our club's ladies to raise a $100. The catch was that I had to kiss a pig (that's right, a pig!) if they made their goal. They reached their goal and then some and yes! I kissed a pig!!! Not a piglet either. She was a 4H project and was over half grown. We've had a lot of laughs with this fund raiser but next year the manager gets to kiss the pig!

Time to hit the road, so until next time ---

Love you all,
Bonnie and Mike

Alison & BJ Curtis

Welcome to the newest Bergman, Macy Irelyn Curtis!

She was born to Alison and BJ Curtis on Monday, July 23rd at 9:07 p.m. Alison says: my labor started in the morning and we went to the hospital at 12:30 and she was born that night. It was pretty quick and no complications. She weighed 6 lbs and 6 oz and 20 inches long. She just got out of the hospital because she has jaundice but she is doing better and we are glad to be home.
Before Macy made her arrival, Alison had this to say about what's been keeping them busy:
I can’t believe another year has gone by, but we were more than happy to embrace 2007. 2006 began as another tough year with BJ deploying to Iraq again in March. This deployment was rougher than the last due to his job duties and worrying about his security most of the time. Most of the deployment went ok until he was just weeks away from returning home and his convoy was hit by an IED (improvised explosive device). Luckily, most of them came out of it with minor injuries including BJ. He was given a week to recover and then a few weeks later it was time for them all to return to the U.S. We were so grateful to finally have him home safe and for good.

In October we went to Ohio for a visit and took a well-needed vacation to Gatlinburg, which was great relaxation for us. We also have some very exciting news to share, which was our Christmas present to the family, we are having a baby. We found out we were expecting at Thanksgiving but decided to save the big news and share it with everyone in person. We are having a little girl and she is due to arrive soon, July 31st, however, it could be sooner. We are very excited and we are looking forward to her arrival. Her nursery is decorated with lots of animals, but we are still organizing things and still have a few things to get. I guess you can never be 100% prepared especially if they decide to come early.
In other news, BJ decided after two very long deployments he was going to switch jobs and become a Marine Corps Drill Instructor. He endured 11 weeks of intense physical and mental training and graduated in March at MCRD Parris Island, SC. We then moved to Beaufort, SC in early April and we are enjoying it much better than NC. His job is rough and includes long hours and is physically and mentally exhausting, but again, it’s much nicer and safer than being in Iraq. We know the job will get easier with time, but starting out, it's not very rewarding. Once his first round of recruits graduate (July 6th) he will get two weeks off, which will be a nice break. That will also work out nicely if our little girl decides to make her grand appearance early.
As for me, I am still taking classes online and plan to be completely finished in the fall. Then I can enjoy my time with the baby and take my time looking for a job. As far as my pregnancy goes, I’ve been very lucky with little nausea just major fatigue in the beginning. However, now that I am 9 months pregnant, this SC heat is making me more miserable by the day!! Most days I have trouble getting up and getting motivated but its all well worth it. I think that about wraps it up for us, but we promise to keep everyone updated on our new arrival and things here in SC. Happy Summer to all!!
Love, Alison

Jenny & Justin Henderson

Hello Everyone! Wow, it feels like the years are going by faster and faster anymore! 

This year was filled with time on the lake, family time and a couple of vacations here and there. Justin and I are both still with the same companies and we both really enjoy our jobs still. We added a new member to our family this year. He is a 5 month-old Boxer and we named him Blu! He is too cute for words. His big brother Buddy did not know what to think at first and stayed away from him for quite a while, but now they are inseperable! He has been a really good pup, we owe all of the credit to Buddy for showing him the ropes.

We were on the lake again most of this summer. The beginning of the summer we were riding with all of our friends though. Our boat had an issue and it had to have the engine rebuilt. Instead of rebuilding it to stock, Justin decided it was the perfect time to upgrade. We did not get it back until July 28th and from that weekend on we were on it every weekend trying to soak it up before the season was over!

Last January we went on a 5 day cruise to the Cayman Islands and Calica, Mexico and had a great time! We actually met another couple the first day of the cruise, and realized we had all met before on the lake. It was very odd! We basically ended up all hanging out together for the entire cruise. We have also seen them a couple of times since the cruise, and they are making their way here for the Michigan/Ohio State game. The best part of the cruise for Justin and I was swimming with the StingRays in the Cayman Islands, it was an experience! We also went to Florida for a long weekend in October with Justin’s family. It was a nice getaway. While we were there we drove over to Mobile to check out the USS Alabama. The rest of time time we just hung out on the beach!

I hope everyone else is doing well! Thanks to everyone for all of your prayers for Grandma. We hope to see everyone soon!!!

Love,
Jenny and Justin

Patty & John Bond Family

Hello to everyone!

We have had a busy year..............John and I put a pool in our backyard. The process took forever....we never thought we would be done. Our yard is not flat so they had to dig down about 31/2 feet to make the yard level....then the pool installers took forever. It took about 3 months to finally be ready to swim.....but how wonderful it is!!!! John built a deck around it and it attaches to our other deck. The whole thing looks so much better than I ever thought! We have palm trees and lights around the pool.......it is so much fun!

John is still working at GM as of this newsletter. You never know what is going to happen next with the auto industry. Right now they are in contract talks....so hopefully they will sign one soon. John is not bowling anymore.....just on the Nintendo Wii. Keith has followed in his father’s footsteps and is bowling on Thursday nights. He is really good! John had some minor surgery done in July....everything went well and he is fine!

Me, still at UD and loving it! I still try to make it the gym at least 3 times a week. I have also been taking a dance class called Zumba. It is fun! The weight doesn't come off like it used to.....but I feel better when I go to the gym. I try to help dad as much I he will let me with mom. I would like to do more....but dad has everything under control. Just got our basketball tickets for the Flyers so we will be attending the home games. On New Years last year....John and I, and Jenny and Justin went to North Carolina to watch the Flyers play the TarHeels. I love basketball and the TarHeels and Flyers are my favorites....so it was awesome to see them play. I was in heaven!!! We had a great time.....even though the Flyers losted!!!!

Kristi is still working at Childrens Urgent Care and in the nursing program at Sinclair. She should be done in about 2 years! It has been a long road......I am glad she finally settled on Nursing! She is living in Vandalia. We don't see her as much as we want......she is so busy!!!!I It is hard for me to except that she is 25 and on her own! Wow how time flies!

Keith is no longer working at Treasure Island Supper Club. He recently quit. He is working at M & R Technology where Jenny works. Kristi also worked there. He seems to really enjoy it! He has also taken up bowling and is bowling in a league. He is really good! He hangs out a lot with all his friends. He is still living at home which I am glad. With John working nights...it is nice to have Keith around.

Thanks to everyone for the prayers, cards and visits for mom. She has so many people who love her.... it is amazing!

Take care....have a wonderful and safe holiday!

Betty & Woody Duibley

[As you will read, Betty has been having some serious health problems lately. Here are the email updates that Patty has sent out, in order.]

October 16
Hello to all.......................wanted to let everyone know that mom is back in the hospital. She went in last Wednesday, Oct. 10th because she had infection in the blood. Her right leg was also bright red with an odor. As of right now the infection in the blood is gone.....but she is going to lose her leg. Surgery is tomorrow....Wednesday, Oct. 17th as of right now (things could change). The heart doctor came in and told mom that her heart might not be strong enough to go through the surgery but if she did not have it the infection would kill her. The source of the infection is the leg and they need to get rid of the source. They cannot take her off the antibotics because the infection would get back in the blood.

As you can guess no one is handling this news very well. Mom is really scared and so is dad. Please keep them both in your prayers. Everything will be in god's hands and whatever will be will be.
October 18
Hello everyone!!! Mom is doing as well as can be excepted. She was so happy to see Dad and all of us after the surgery. She hugged dad and would not let go. She was sure she was not going to make it!!! Her right leg is gone and she is coming to terms with it. It will be hard and the road is a long one.....but the infection was spreading fast and it had to be done! She is in ICU for the next couple of days........usually the risk of a heart attack is high the day after surgery. Her blood flow looked good yesterday and hopefully will stay that way. They will watch closely for infection.

Thank all of you for your prayers.......God still wants her with us!!!
October 25
Hello to everyone! Mom is doing pretty good considering everything she has been through. She was losing alot of blood over the weekend....but they have gotten that under control. Her lungs are getting a little congested so they are giving her extra dialaysis treatments...so hopefully that will help. She is very very confusted....we are sure it is the medication. She has been moved out of ICU and into a regular room. We were told she will be there at least another week....then we are not sure where she will go.

Thank you so much everyone for your thoughts and prayers!!! My mom is strong.....must be that German Bergman blood!!!!
November 2
Hello everyone!

Mom is doing pretty good! She has her bad days and her good days. On Monday they had to drain her right lung. They got 1100cc of fluid out of her lung. On Tuesday she was really out of it. She was hard to get arouse and what she was saying did not make sense. The doctors have taken her off some of her medicines...they think she might have been over medicated. Wednesday she was very alert, eating, and breathing much better. Her leg is still bleeding just a little....but they don't seem to be too concerned.

We don't know anything about coming home or going to a rehab place. They talked about it last week but nothing this week. I will let everyone know as soon as we know something. Dad takes all the cards out to her.....she loves them and thanks everyone.


Jeani & Bruce Ward Family

Boy, the year has gone by fast. In October Bruce and I celebrated our 25th Wedding anniversary. It was low key, a nice dinner out. The kids are always keeping us busy.

Nathan is a senior this year. With a heavy class schedule, 4 AP classes and 2 college credit classes, he is getting ready for college. Nathan went to a nuclear engineering summer camp at the University of Missouri in Rolla. He loved it. He turned in a application and got accepted. He has wanted to go to UMR since 9th grade and his goal is getting closer. The report cards just came out and both kids are doing great. Nathan was accepted into the National Honor Society. Nathan is also in his high school Orchestra, probably his most fun class. They are planning a trip to the University of Illinois in Champaign Illinois for a festival and then on to Chicago for some site seeing. It is hard to believe he has been playing violin since 3rd grade. He is still active as a scout, but now as an adult. He and Sarah are in a venture crew and they both were voted in as district officers. Nathan as vice pres and Sarah vice pres of communication for the St Louis New Horizons District.
 
In the spring Sarah entered one of her art pictures in a contest. The contest was for the Junior Duck Hunting Stamp she won 3rd in state for her age group. The winner gets their picture made into the hunting stamp. She got a nice big ribbon and her picture has been touring the state. This fall Sarah was working for the Girl Scouts at one of their camps as a wrangler. That is someone who works with the horses. She worked about 6 weekends getting the horses ready for trail rides. She just loved it. Especially that first pay check. She will work again in the spring and maybe all summer. Sarah is a sophomore this year and has started to tackle those AP classes. Sarah is also helping with the stage crew at school. They are putting on High School Musical in November. Both kids are active in others activities, Student Council, Renaissance and Tri-M.

I have been busy volunteering. I just passed out tuxedos for Orchestra and finished up one of their fundraisers. Nathan’s Orchestra had a concert last Saturday. They played with a local group called Fiddleback. Fiddleback came to school and worked with the students and gave them some pointers. They put on a great dinner/concert/auction with good food and music and lots of fun. I helped with the decorations.

Bruce is busy at work, church and Scouts. The scouts will slow down, but the work will always keep him busy. We just called his Mom in Oceanside, Calif. and she is safe from all the fires.

Love to all
The Wards
Bruce Jeani Nathan Sarah

Kitti & Chuck Schreiber Family


We had a very busy Fall season! Samantha is in her Senior year and last marching band season. I can't believe four years have gone by so fast. It was fun with all the extra special events for the Senior band members. They finished fourth at State Competition and continued their 21 year tradition. She has been accepted at Purdue in the Engineering Department and looking forward to college. It's going to be a big year for her with so much fun but she's ready to move on. GO SAM!

Katrina began her first year of Cross Country. We knew she was fast sprinting...but at distance?! She came in first place when she ran for junior varsity. Boy was that a fun race to watch! Shortly after that she made the Varsity team as a Freshman! She introduced us to the athletic department, which is a whole new world. She runs with Chuck...and leads him to believe he can still beat her. Her times show who's faster now, though he'll never admit it haha. The girls have fun exchanging stories about friends (whether band or cross country) only to find out that the other has similar classes or knows them. Many can't believe that they are even sisters because they are so different! It's fun having them together in school through such different activity aspects. RUN KATRINA RUN!

Frederick is in Band and Jazz Band this year playing the trombone. GO BONES! Frederick loves helping out at the high school with all their events and loves it when the high school band directors come to the middle school to help out. He joins me on Saturday running to CC meets then going to Band competitions. 


When he is not doing that he joins Chuck at races, taking care of his race equipment. Chuck loves to Swim-Bike-Run. He does everything: Half marathons, Du-athalons, Tri-athalons, 5K, 10K...the list goes on! Chuck did turn the Big 50 last month so he's now enjoying being the youngest in that 50 - 55 age group. Ha Ha Frederick just got his first race bike, so I think the two will be doing races together. GO DADDY GO!
Kitti is enjoying her second year of working as a librarian at Covington Elementary School. You'd think she was famous, after running into little kids yelling her name everywhere we go! The rest of the family finds this really entertaining, especially when she responds with even more enthusiasm to the kids! GO MOMMA! She is very active in supporting the rest of the family activities. In the marching band, cross country season her Saturdays normally consisted of waking up at the break of dawn, to go to the cross country meet that morning, running over the entire course to cheer the team on (which is a work out on its own!), followed by going straight to marching band competitions (ALWAYS at least a 2 hour drive) where she cheers with her signature Homestead High School pom-poms! I (Katrina) decided to write this buddy up for my mom after reading what she wrote about all us! Have a good one!

AND GO COLTS!!!

-The Schreiber Family-

Anita & Fritz Schnabel

So much has changed since our turn from the time we were in the Newsletter. By now, everyone knows we sold our condo at the Lake of the Ozarks, to be closer to family and better hospitals. Everyone knows by now that Fritz is on a feeding tube, can't eat food.... We sold our condo, our home for over 18 years....needed to be nearer to family and better hospitals. Our apartment is just 15 minutes away from Jeani and Bruce and Sarah and Nathan. Things have slowed down and we are in our routine. It is nice to attend Nathan's orchestra events, very enjoyable, going to Art Shows, to admire Sarah's artwork....to tag along with them when Kitti comes, one day we went to Branson, to attend Samantha's School Band, they were competing with other bands there. We enjoy our visits to Kitti and Chuck's gang, we arrange all Dr. appts. so we have at least 3 weeks to spend with them, whenever we can, about once a year, or more, when we can. Every 5 years, the Schnabel's have a Family Reunion, we tag along with Jeani Gang, we had a great week together. Fritz still has a brother and two sisters living, their families were so much fun to get reaquinted with, so many have married and their families were great to get aquainted with, more generations, now. That's about it....we love you all...

Love, Anita and Fritz We pray for Betty to be better, she has had such a time, we pray this may make her life healthier.