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Wild Krumpos

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Childhood

95 entries

1975

  1. Friday, July 25, 1975 · Don Krumpos

    A Party on the Krumpos Farm

    The Krumpos farm was a fun place to kick back on a nice summer evening with friends and family. This looks to be about July of 1975 (corn knee high by the 4th of July), and little Donny seems to…

1978

  1. Sunday, January 1, 1978 · Don Krumpos

    The Ditch

    One of my earliest memories begins with a car in a ditch. Not metaphorically. Literally. My father was driving home from work at the Royal Scot, where he cooked long hours, and somewhere only a country block from home—so close…

1979

  1. Tuesday, May 1, 1979

    Here it Starts

    This is to my children, Donny and Helen. Forgive me darlings, for not starting this years ago. Donny is 4 years old and Helen is 2 years old. Thank you God for giving Keith and I two such beautiful children.

  2. Saturday, May 5, 1979

    Saturday, May 5, 1979

    I woke up late this morning. The weather has been miserable. We had rain and snow mixed for the last 2 weeks; the temperature has only been in the 30's and 40's. We (the kids and I) went to town…

  3. Sunday, May 6, 1979

    Sunday, May 6, 1979

    We went to church today that is, we took Donny and Helen to Sunday School. Keith and I went to Ken and Cathy's to see the girls. Seems like we dont hae too much of a chance to get to…

  4. Monday, May 7, 1979

    Monday, May 7, 1979

    Today was Keith's day off for our whole family — that is always a special day for our whole family. I washed and cleaned in the morning while Keith and the kids were outside. Donny and Helen do love it…

  5. Tuesday, May 8, 1979

    Tuesday, May 8, 1979

    Today is a pretty nice day — very humid though. I had to go to the dentist this morning and Keith came with to see if the chestnuts from our trees were good to eat — he went to the…

  6. Wednesday, May 9, 1979

    Wednesday, May 9, 1979

    We went to take care of Kim and Carrie today. Donny and Helen were really a big help. They really love their little cousins. We didn't get home until 3:45 p.m. so I had to hurry and get ready for…

  7. Thursday, May 10, 1979

    Thursday, May 10, 1979

    Today is such a beautiful day. Debbie came over and got some manure this morning for her garden so Donny and Helen played outside with Aaron. Donny went with Debbie and stayed there until Debbie had to go to work.…

  8. Friday, May 11, 1979

    Friday, May 11, 1979

    Full flower moon tonight.

  9. Sunday, May 13, 1979

    Sunday, May 13, 1979

    I didn't get a chance to write until today so Friday and Saturday aren't done. Today was Mother's Day. I ran downtown and got some cards. Today was sunny for awhile and then we had rain this afternoon. Donny and…

  10. Monday, May 14, 1979

    Monday, May 14, 1979

    It was a beautiful day today just a little on the cooler side but very sunny. We were too tired to do much work today so we went shopping for groceries and also went to K-Mart. Donny got a Superman…

  11. Tuesday, May 15, 1979

    Tuesday, May 15, 1979

    Today was sunny, windy and a little cool. I guess pretty normal for spring time. Helen's cold is still pretty bad but she still had to play outside. I guess the sunshine can't hurt her as long as she's dressed…

  12. Wednesday, May 16, 1979

    Wednesday, May 16, 1979

    Helen was really sick today. All she did was sleep. Aaron came over as did Jason at 11:30 a.m. after school. Debbie had to go to a tea. Donny played outside with the boys and I had to stay in…

  13. Thursday, May 17, 1979

    Thursday, May 17, 1979

    Helen is just a little better, not much. I can't wait until she's over this. I'm not going to work tonight because she has a fever.

  14. Friday, May 18, 1979

    Friday, May, 18 1979

    I called the doctor for Helen today. her prescription won't be ready until later this afternoon. I was late for work so I could go to get her medicine. They stayed by Grandma's tonight until 11:00 p.m.

  15. Saturday, May 19, 1979

    Saturday, May 19, 1979

    Keith didn't have to work today because of rain. Helen's feeling better. Today Kenny, Keith and I went up North to play some music for a birthday party for a friend of Bucky's. Helen stayed by Grandma's and Donny went…

  16. Sunday, May 20, 1979

    Sunday, May 20, 1979

    We didn't go to church today because Helen still isn't the very best and Donny didn't get home from up North until 1:00 p.m. I went to work for 4:00 p.m. so the kids stayed by Grandma's.

  17. Monday, May 21, 1979

    Monday, May 21, 1979

    Today was beautiful except just a little cool. We went to town to get some plants for the garden. After lunch which we had at the Wildlife Sanctuary, we came home and worked outside the rest of the day. Keith…

  18. Tuesday, May 22, 1979

    Tuesday, May 22, 1979

    Today was really cold. We had light frost last night. I planted some peas and beans in the garden and mowed a little lawn. I was pretty tired from working so hard yesterday. Donny and Helen went by Grandma's because…

  19. Wednesday, May 23, 1979

    Wedneday, May 23, 1979

    Today was very cool and looks like rain. The kids and I stayed in the house — the kids played and I washed clothes. I used the dryer. We're supposed to get frost tonight.

  20. Thursday, May 24, 1979

    Thursday, May 24, 1979

    The sun is shining this morning. I guess it got down to 43 last night. I'm listening to the radio and there was a fire at Packerland Packing Co. last night. There was a 20 year-old boy in Wisconsin that…

  21. Saturday, May 26, 1979

    Saturday, May 26, 1979

    We woke up around 8:00 a.m.. The kids like watching cartoons Saturday mornings. Donny likes Godzilla and Super 7 and Helen likes whatever is on. They both like watching Super Friends, Bugs Bunny and Fantastic Four. I brought Keith to…

  22. Wednesday, August 1, 1979

    Wednesday, August 1, 1979

    Today was beautiful. Jason and Aaron came over in the morning. The kids had lot of fun playing . I just heard on the news that President Carter has just receive the power from Congress to have an emergency gas…

  23. Saturday, August 4, 1979

    Saturday, August 4, 1979

    It's really raining today. Keith still had to go to work — I can't understand how people can golf in this weather. The kids watched cartoons this morning. Helen went with me to Dimick's to take care of their animals…

  24. Monday, August 13, 1979

    Monday, August 13, 1979

    It looked like rain most of the day. Tonight it could get in the 40's — that's really cold for August. Jason and Aaron were over today so the kids had fun playing. I made lots of dill pickles today.…

  25. Friday, August 17, 1979

    Friday, August 17, 1979

    Today was cloudy and coll with rain this morning. Keith and I took the kids to K-Mart this morning to get their pictures taken. Seems like University Ave will never get fixed they have it under construction now. Tower Drive…

  26. Sunday, September 9, 1979

    Sunday, September 9, 1979

    It sure is hard trying to find the time to write in my journal everyday but I guess I'll just have to write when I can. We celebrated Donny's birthday last Tuesday the 4th at the Royal Scot. t was…

  27. Sunday, September 23, 1979

    Sunday, September 23, 1979

    Sunday school started last Sunday and the kids love it. This morning Helen said she didn't want to go — I asked her why and she said because she didn't know how to write. Kids think of the darnest things.…

  28. Sunday, September 30, 1979

    Sunday, September 30, 1979

    Today was just beautiful outside; it was in the 70's. The leaves are changing colors. I don't think there could have been a nicer day. The kids and I went to church this morning then we went to Hardees for…

  29. Monday, October 1, 1979

    Monday, October 1, 1979

    Today Keith had off so we went to Dad's and got my old bunk bed set that Kenny and I had when we were very little. We got new mattresses and a superman blanket for Donny and Mickey Mouse sheets…

  30. Sunday, October 7, 1979

    Sunday, October 7, 1979

    We had a going away party for Deena and Floyd at the Royal Scot last night. We had a very nice time. This morning the kids and I went to church then stopped by Grandpa and Jenny later and had…

  31. Sunday, October 14, 1979

    Sunday, October 14, 1979

    Last night we hit a record low of 22 degrees. It was also the lowest temperature in the United States. Helen has some congestion in her chest; I hope she doesn't get a bad cold. The kids and I went…

  32. Sunday, November 11, 1979

    Sunday, November 11, 1979

    Here it is November already. I just don't know where the time goes. The kids and I went to church this morning and then by Ken and Cathy's for a birthday dinner for Grandpa; he's 61 years-old tomorrow. We had…

  33. Thursday, November 22, 1979

    Thursday, November 22, 1979

    Well, today was Thanksgiving. We had turkey with all the fixins'. Grandma Krumpos, Steve, Carol, Grandpa Schmidt and Jenny all came over for dinner. We all had a good time. Donny said "we had the best turkey in the whole…

1980

  1. Tuesday, January 1, 1980 · Don Krumpos

    The Pedestal Board

    For a man who had once been president of a college chess club, my father did not actually play chess with me very often. Maybe a dozen times in all. Memory makes it feel like more. Perhaps because each game…

  2. Sunday, June 1, 1980 · Don Krumpos

    Donny, Going On Your Own

    I got my first bike for my birthday — a Huffy, blue and silver. It was a big deal. For the longest time, I could only ride on the driveway, which was slightly on an incline. I'd glide down the…

1981

  1. Tuesday, January 6, 1981

    Tuesday, January 6, 1981

    I can't believe it's 1981 and that it's been this long since I wrote anything down in this journal. A lot has happened since 1979. Keith and I have both grown in our faith. I'm thankful for that. Christmas this…

1982

  1. Friday, January 1, 1982 · Don Krumpos

    Mader's

    As a child, Milwaukee felt less like a city than a foreign country. To get there from the Door Peninsula farm already felt like crossing worlds—leaving fields, machine sheds, and county roads for expressways, brick facades, traffic, and the unnerving…

  2. Saturday, January 2, 1982

    Saturday, January 2, 1982

    One whole year since I've written in this. I hope I'll be able to stick to this this this year. Donny is in 1st grade and likes it very much. His teacher is Mrs. Killinger. He does very well in…

  3. Wednesday, January 27, 1982

    Wednesday, January 27, 1982

    This month has been unreal; the blizzards seem to come one after another. We've had very high winds and wind chills of -74 to -101 degrees and that's cold. Most of the blizzards come on weekends making it impossible to…

  4. Friday, January 29, 1982

    Friday, January 29, 1982

    Looks like we're going to have another cold weekend. Not as bad as the last few though. I had swollen glands today so I'm really not up to par today. Today we had a bunch of little Redpolls visit our…

  5. Saturday, January 30, 1982

    Saturday, January 30, 1982

    Today we had a wonderful time. First Keith had a meeting at church for the Neighborhood Spirit Group. While he was there I took Donny, Helen and Jena to the mall. After we went to lunch at Arby's then we…

  6. Monday, March 1, 1982

    Monday, March 1, 1982

    Weather is getting somewhat better in the 20's. Gas has gone down to $1.16 a gallon for awhile anyway. Our church had a roller skating party last night; we had a lot off fun. Helen's first time on roller skates.…

  7. Thursday, July 1, 1982 · Don Krumpos

    Parent-sickness

    One summer my mother went to Maine for about a week, though at that age a week felt nearly geological. An era. My sister and I stayed with my grandmother at the cottage on the Bay. Ordinarily this sounds idyllic,…

1983

  1. Saturday, January 1, 1983 · Don Krumpos

    Harold and the Laying on of Hands

    Some of my clearest childhood memories of church are not from Sunday worship itself but from the odd currents that swirled around it—potlucks, basement coffee, revival language drifting through fellowship halls, and certain visitors who seemed to arrive from a…

  2. Saturday, January 1, 1983 · Don Krumpos

    Light on a Living Room Wall

    Before I knew Europe as geography, I knew it as light on a living room wall. My father had a slide projector—I can still hear, or think I can hear, the dry mechanical click of the carousel advancing, the brief…

1984

  1. Sunday, January 1, 1984 · Don Krumpos

    Not Made for the Fair

    Every year of grade school I built something. Second grade was a papier-mâché earth, cut open to show the layers. Crust, mantle, core — the planet sliced like fruit so you could see what it was made of. I did…

  2. Sunday, January 1, 1984 · Don Krumpos

    One Railing Off

    It rained most of the weekend, and when we came out onto the overlook the valley was giving itself up to mist. The trees below were half-erased, the far ridge gone soft and white, the whole place breathing through wet…

  3. Sunday, January 1, 1984 · Don Krumpos

    That Was Our Land

    Every year our parents gave us new boundaries. At five and six we could only go to the end of the driveway. The next year we could go out onto the road, but only in front of the driveway, to…

  4. Sunday, January 1, 1984 · Don Krumpos

    The Books in His Bedroom

    My father had a massive collection of books from college. At least it felt massive to me then. They lived in his bedroom, which made them different from ordinary household books. They were not simply around, not part of the…

  5. Sunday, January 1, 1984 · Don Krumpos

    The School of Too Much

    It caught up with me in the Gate House, the first room of the tour, forty-two years after the first time I stood in it. Not a memory, exactly. Memory usually arrives with one small object in its hand: a…

  6. Thursday, January 19, 1984

    Thursday, January 19, 1984

    Seems impossible that all these years have gone by. So much happened since I last wrote in this journal. Donny and Helen are such great kids. They're really getting to be quite the Christians. Marge and Jim are in the…

  7. Saturday, January 21, 1984

    Saturday , January 21, 1984

    Today was really cold again. Hope we get some decent weather pretty soon. Keith is working 3-11 today. We had a pretty quiet day. Keith had a couple of errands in town so he took Helen in for her dance…

  8. Sunday, January 22, 1984

    Sunday, January 22, 1984

    This morning we went to church and came right home after. We invited Dorothy up for lasagna. Keith had to work 3-11 today. Donny and Helen played outside this afternoon. I did chores. The weather was in the high 20's…

  9. Wednesday, April 4, 1984

    Wednesday, April 4, 1984

    We've been having some very nice weather now. Last month Donny and Helen had chicken ox. They had very bad cases of them. Glad that's over for them. The kids are starting computer classes at school. They like that. Helen…

  10. Wednesday, August 1, 1984 · Don Krumpos

    The Cook

    Once a year, my father had a reason for me to skip church. On the morning of the Grace Lutheran summer picnic, we did not put on church clothes. We did not sit in the pews. We got up early,…

  11. Sunday, August 19, 1984

    Sunday, August 19, 1984

    It's really been awhile sine I wrote in my journal — just can't figure out where the time goes. So many things have happened since I last wrote. We joined Central Assembly of God this last July. We were baptized…

  12. Tuesday, August 21, 1984

    Tuesday, August 21, 1984

    We had rain this afternoon. This morning was very nice. Aaron stayed overnight last night with Donny and Kelly came over this afternoon to play with Helen. School starts in a week — doesn't seem possible that summer's almost over.…

  13. Thursday, August 23, 1984

    Thursday, August 23, 1984

    Today was cooler again. Nice for working. Seems like the only thing you hear lately is the election coming up in November. I think this will be a real important one. Our tomatoes still aren't ripe like everyone else seems…

  14. Saturday, December 1, 1984 · Don Krumpos

    Keep Playing Here

    It was winter in Wisconsin, sometime in the mid-eighties, when snow came in deep drifts against the hedgerows and the cold had a blue cast by late afternoon. My sister and I had been outside for hours, tunneling through snowbanks,…

1985

  1. Wednesday, May 29, 1985

    Wednesday, May 29, 1985

    Lots of time has gone by since I wrote in my journal. Donny's 10 years old and Helen is 8 years old. They're really getting big. Keith is coach for their baseball team. (Degroot's Construction). Galen is the assistant coach.…

  2. Saturday, June 1, 1985

    Saturday, June 1, 1985

    Today was a beautiful day in the 70's. Donny and Helen had to go to church this morning to practice for a play, "Daniel, Darius and the Lion". This afternoon Les and Cathy came out and I went with them…

  3. Saturday, June 22, 1985

    Saturday, June 22, 1985

    Time sure goes fast. Donny is getting so tall and independent — guess that's how it should be. Helen is still so sensitive. In some ways I wish I could keep em little forever, but that's not what the Lord…

  4. Monday, July 1, 1985 · Don Krumpos

    Talked Us Free

    My father believed in long drives. Not the modern kind, broken by motels and careful pacing, but marathon drives measured in thermoses. Twelve hours. Sometimes fifteen. He did almost all of it himself, hands steady on the wheel, one elbow…

  5. Sunday, July 14, 1985

    Sunday, July 14, 1985

    Helen's birthday celebration was today. Great Grandma and Grandpa Coppersmith, Grandma Krumpos, Grandpa Schmidt and Jenny, Uncle Ken, Aunt Cathy, Kim and Carrie, Uncle Bob and Aunt Kim and Ronnie were all here. She got a beautiful Cabbage Patch outfit,…

  6. Monday, July 15, 1985

    Monday, July 15, 1985

    The weather was beautiful today. Debbie and I went out to lunch with Irene Gronseth today and had a nice time. Blossom looks like she'll have her baby very soon. Keith's working 2-10 this week. The Schaut kids were over…

  7. Monday, August 5, 1985

    Monday, August 5, 1985

    Blossom had a little bull calf. Helen's classmate Jodi LaViolette died in a car accident. Carole Planert also died, of a heart attack. We just never know when we're going to die. Jodi died July 19.

  8. Wednesday, August 21, 1985

    Wednesday, August 21, 1985

    Grandpa Lau died last Sunday, August 18. The funeral was today. Carole Planert died a few weeks ago. They both died of heart trouble. The kids are looking forward to Christian school. It starts in one week.

  9. Monday, August 26, 1985

    Monday, August 26, 1985

    It's been so cloudy and gloomy the last few days. Sure hope the sun comes out before too long or my tomatoes will never ripen. Donny and Helen stayed by Ken and Cathy's last Friday night. They enjoyed that a…

  10. Monday, December 30, 1985

    Monday, December 30, 1985

    Christmas was different this year. Donny had the flu and strep throat. Keith, Helen and Henry went to Grandma's and I stayed home with Donny and wrapped presents. Christmas day I took Donny to the emergency room for an examination…

1986

  1. Sunday, January 19, 1986

    Sunday, January 19,1986

    The weather has been really nice the last few days. It must be our January thaw. Temperatures have been in the 30s. The kids like Christian school, especially not having to take the bus. Keith isn't feeling good today. The…

  2. Sunday, January 26, 1986

    Sunday, January 26, 1986

    Today was very cold, 2° above 0, wind chill of -30°. I didn't go out too much today. Keith did chores. It was nice staying in. I'll be having Megan 4 days a week now instead of 5 days. Donny…

  3. Friday, February 28, 1986

    Friday, February 28, 1986

    A lot has happened this month. We were involved in a play, "Heaven's Gate and Hell's Flames". Keith played the part of Christ — he did a terrific job. Our milk cow, Blossom, died from too much grain. We sure…

  4. Tuesday, July 1, 1986 · Don Krumpos

    The Cost of Work

    I grew up believing my father could do almost anything. He could fell trees, pour concrete, rebuild chimneys, coax tomatoes from difficult soil, repair old machinery with improvised brilliance, and somehow keep a farmstead, a house, gardens, animals, and a…

  5. Monday, December 8, 1986

    Monday, December 8, 1986

    We got snow today, It's nice out though, no wind. Kids didn't have school today because of a special Christmas program the nuns had they needed the classrooms. It's hard to believe Donny is in 6th grade and Helen is…

1987

  1. Monday, January 5, 1987

    Thursday, January 5, 1989

    Today was cloudy, but really nice for January. I changed all the sheets today. They sure smell good when you hang them on the line. Keith went to a Phoenix game at the arena with Donny and Aaron. They played…

  2. Monday, January 12, 1987

    Sunday, January 12, 1987

    Hard to believe it's 1987. Don is 12 and Helen is 10. Donnie is almost as tall as his father. Keith is at Fort Howard for 6 years now, that's also hard to believe. He likes Southern swing shift better…

  3. Wednesday, July 1, 1987 · Don Krumpos

    The Tape and the Tower

    The summer between sixth and seventh grade, my father drove me to Chicago. It was a father-son trip, and it had an official purpose, though no one named it out loud. That was how my parents handled preparing us for…

  4. Sunday, August 16, 1987

    Sunday, August 16, 1987

    Today it rained most of the day. Keith is on days. Tomorrow Helen and I are going on a shopping trip to Appleton. The kids are are growing up so fast it sometimes scares me. Donny is a fine young…

  5. Tuesday, November 24, 1987

    Tuesday, November 24, 1987

    The days and months go so fast. Today Donny got his Nintendo TV game set. He worked and saved his birthday money for it. Thanksgiving is this week. Galen is dating Teresa Caldron very seriously. The kids have basketball practice…

  6. Thursday, December 10, 1987

    Thursday, December 10, 1987

    Today was a busy one. We plastered the downstairs bedroom. Always makes other things a mess. Don's basketball team won their first game tonight against Redeemer Lutheran. Don and Helen both like basketball. Mr. Birr, their coach, is exceptionally good.…

  7. Friday, December 11, 1987

    Friday, December 11, 1987

    Don had braces put on in September. He had to get them tightened today. I picked him up from school and after I took him out for lunch before I brought him back to school. Our Christmas tree is up…

  8. Sunday, December 13, 1987

    Sunday, December 13, 1987

    Tonight was a Christmas play (Arch Angel) at church. This is the first year I didn't have any children in it. Don ran the spot lite and Helen helped me in the kitchen. We had an afterglow downstairs after with…

1988

  1. Tuesday, January 5, 1988

    Tuesday, January 5, 1988

    Christmas came and went so fast this year. We went by Dad's Christmas Eve for a couple of hours, then came home, the kids were anxious to open their gifts. Donny got a shift, pajamas, Nintendo game, Mach Rider, Zapper…

  2. Saturday, January 23, 1988

    Saturday, January 23, 1988

    Today was a nice winter day — no wind. The Royal Rangers at church had a log cabin building day today. I was helping in the kitchen. Keith was outside and Donny and Helen played most of the day. Tonight…

  3. Monday, March 14, 1988

    Monday, March 14, 1988

    We've been having such beautiful weather. But this last weekend it's been like winter again. Galen got into Fort Howard permanently. He's happy to have steady work. Last night we went to his house for supper. Debbie and Rick and…

  4. Wednesday, July 6, 1988

    Wednesday, July 6, 1988

    Today was a scorcher. 100° F. We're in the worse drought since the 1930's. Today we got more hay along the road. It's going to be hard to get this year. Helen is doing a lot of babysitting lately. She…

1989

  1. Monday, January 2, 1989

    Monday, January 2, 1989

    Wow! 1989 — impossible! Donny is 14 going to be 15 this year and Helen is going to be a teenager. Where do the years go? Christmas was nice. We went to church Christmas Eve then to Dad's. He enjoys…

  2. Tuesday, January 3, 1989

    Tuesday, January 3, 1989

    Today I finished taking down the Christmas tree. In on way it was good getting everything put away, but there's always a little sadness with it too. It symbolizes another year coming to and end. — A lot of good…

  3. Monday, August 28, 1989 · Don Krumpos

    Catfish Fishing

    Today Jimmy and I found a glorious fishing hole out on Point au Sable. We first found it by rafting down Wequiock Creek this spring when the water was high, but it is much easier to get to by the…

1990

  1. Wednesday, July 25, 1990

    Wednesday, July 25, 1990

    The weather has been beautiful. Donny's been on a canoe trip since last Sat. He went with a group from church. Steve Rebitski is his partner. I'm sure they're having fun. They're due back this Sat. morning. Helen stayed overnight…

  2. Wednesday, August 22, 1990

    Wednesday, August 22, 1990

    It was a beautiful day today. I did washing and mowed a little lawn as Donny has such a bad cold. Must be change of weather from Mexico. Donny stayed by Steve's yesterday and brought him back this morning. <isa…

  3. Thursday, August 30, 1990

    Thursday, August 30, 1990

    S.B. (SnowBound) came last Friday. He's a really nice horse. Helen went riding on Icon tonight. She really likes him. We went fishing this morning with Henry at Bayshore Park. We made a picnic lunch and had a tour of…

  4. Tuesday, September 4, 1990

    Tuesday, September 4, 1990

    Well , today was the first day of school for the kids. Don's a sophomore, Helen's a freshman. Can't believe it! Their first day was confusing and exciting, of course Donny's an old pro at this after all this is…