In April of 1994, I resigned from my position with the Kahler Corporation in Rochester. Genie resigned as an RN with the Mayo Clinic.
In June of 1974, I became the innkeeper of the Holiday Inn in Albert Lea. Later, Genie became the night supervisor RN at St. John’s in Albert Lea.
We bought a house in Chapeau Heights, Albert Lea, and moved in July 1974. Our children were 10 (Deb) and 8 (Dan).
In July of 1976, we purchased a cabin at Beaver Lake, Ellendale. We soon figured out the lake was busy on the weekends and quiet during the week. Thus, we went back to Albert Lea for church, laundry, mail, etc., on the weekend and came back to the cabin Sunday night. This we did for 37 summers until selling the cabin and leaving in October of 2012. The lake season was mid-April to mid-October, thus six months at the lake and six months in Albert Lea.
In the spring of 1980, the Holiday Inn of Albert Lea was sold. New owners meant new management, so I was looking for a job. Pastor Melvin Sucher at our church in rural Albert Lea told me of a position open with AAL, a Lutheran insurance investment company. I applied and was hired with my territory being part of Albert Lea and north of Albert Lea, including Hartland, Ellendale and Clarks Grove Lutheran church members. It was ideal for where I was living.
Time went by too fast and suddenly we realized our children were in the world on their own, Deb in North Carolina and Dan in Vermont. Genie told me all we’re doing is growing dust bunnies, so we down-sized and bought a smaller house in Albert Lea, moving in after the lake season in the fall of 1988.
Genie was the industrial nurse at Farmstead (Wilson’s) Foods in Albert Lea when it was sold. They asked if she would stay on to train the new nurses. Genie agreed and then decided to practice retirement.
It went so well that she retired at the age of 55. I decided to practice retirement and it went so well I retired in 1998 at the age of 61. I highly recommend you practice retiring for a year or so before retiring to be sure you can handle retirement.
Genie and I have always believed in being active where we lived. Ellendale was an extension of Beaver Lake. Thus we enjoyed our Friday morning breakfast out in Ellendale, the Ellendale events plus me being the AAL agent for about 200 Lutherans in and around Ellendale.
The following is an example of a long-lasting friendship by being active where you have lived.
Genie and I attended the celebration of life for Russell “Russ” Reistad at First Lutheran Church in Ellendale. The music was great! Via de Cristo singers (of which Russ was a part) sang and Kimberly Schlaak was an excellent soloist. Reverend Richard L. Sliper was the officiant, with an Evangalism sermon about where Russ went from earth (to Heaven) and is asked, “Where are you going?” It was his chance to preach to some un-churched, and all 6-foot-5 of him did just that. I am certain Russ was 100 percent behind the sermon; so was I.
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Bob is a retired AAL (Aid Association for Lutherans) agent, currently working on his master’s degree in Volunteering. His wife, Genie, is a retired RN, currently working on her doctor’s degree in Volunteering. They have two children, Deb in North Carolina, and Dan in Vermont. Bob says if you enjoy his column, let him know. If you don’t enjoy it, keep on reading, it can get worse. Words of wisdom: There is always room for God.