Travels to Waseca

The Star Tribune published an article December 30, 2008, about Marian and Larry Fischer’s garden on a farm north of Waseca. The article, written by Kim Palmer with photos by Joel Koyama, is titled, “Marian Fischer is a garden category unto herself.”

Back in the 80s my mother, Mary Ellen, took me out to see the Fischer’s garden. Like Marian said in the article, many of the plantings were in rows in the early years but the gardens were already spectacular. From the photos accompanying the article I can tell the gardens are even more expansive and spectacular now. Congratulations to the Fischers for their extraordinary labor of love.

Here’s a link to the Star Tribune article: http://www.startribune.com/lifestyle/homegarden/36880794.html?page=1&c=y

I read in a recent issue of the Waseca County News (12/16/08) that John Bendix, legendary Waseca High School teacher, is teaching a class this year as a volunteer. He taught 43 years fulltime, 7 years parttime, and now he’s teaching for no pay because he realized the school wouldn’t let him continue to teach on a parttime basis because of budget problems.

Bendix was presented with the Book of Golden Deeds Award by the Exchange Club for his teaching dedication and generous service to the community.

Way back in the 60s Bendix touched my family when he stepped way out of his teacher box and asked my father if we could help out a family friend who needed help. My father agreed. In case you don’t know it, John Bendix really is a very special person. The Waseca schools and the Waseca Community are lucky to have him.

I remember Don well, and I remember his baked goods, too. Especially in the spring we’d skip lunch at the school and walk to the Preuss Bakery and buy a filled bismark and a maple-glazed long john with our lunch money. And brother Dale worked at the bakery during his high school years before school and during the summer. I also remember Don showing us his tricks for growing his early tomatoes after he retired.

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DONALD “FUZZY” PREUSS, age 84 of Waterville, formerly of Waseca, died Wednesday, December 17, 2008 at Waterville Good Samaritan Center.

Born in Waterville, Minnesota on May 7, 1924, he was the son of Otto and Lena (Kastner) Preuss. He was baptized and confirmed at Trinity Lutheran Church in Waterville and graduated from Waterville High School.  He entered the U.S. Army during WWII serving from 1943-1945.  Don married Marcaline Ruth Wees on May 16, 1948 at the 1st Evangelical Brethren Church in Rochester.  He owned and operated Preuss Bake Shop in Waseca for many years.  He enjoyed gardening, fishing trips and going on trips in their motor home.  Don also served as the first “Frosty the Snowman” during the Waseca Sleigh and Cutter Festival.  He was a member of St. Paul Lutheran Church, Lions Club, VFW, American Legion and gardening club all in Waseca.

He is survived by three children, Richard (Carol) Preuss, Timothy Preuss and Julianne (Bruce) Bock all of Waseca; eight grandchildren; ten great grandchildren; sisters-in law, Molly Preuss of Waterville, Marilyn Dallman of Albany, OR, Joanne McClure of Gresham OR; brother-in-law, Merrill Holmes of Waialua, HI;  brother and sister-in-law, John S. (Donna) Wees, Jr. of Rochester; and many nieces and nephews.  He was preceded in death by his parents, step-mother-Lydia (Saemrow) Preuss, wife, infant son-David, one brother-Glenn, brothers-in-law-James McClure and Stanley Dallman, sister-in-law-Leone Holmes. 

Visitation will be held at Kinder-Dennis Home for Funerals in Waseca on Monday, December 22, 2008 from 4-8 PM and continue on Tuesday one hour before services at the church.

Funeral services will be held Tuesday, December 23, 2008 at 10:30 A.M. at St. Paul Lutheran Church in Waseca with Rev. Terry Quick officiating.  Burial will follow at Woodville Cemetery in Waseca. 

I’m sitting here listening to and occasionally watching the live feed of the Canvassing Board’s review of challenged ballots in MN’s U.S. Senate race. What a fascinating process and moment in MN history. The process is laborious but, in my opinion, it’s working. If you’re interested in following it yourself, here’s the link to the Star Tribune’s live feed while the Canvassing Board is in session:

http://www.startribune.com/video/?ls1=1?elr=KArksLckD8EQDUoaEyqyP4O:DW3ckUiD3aPc:_Yyc:aUycaEacyU

Would you be more interested in being a member of WasecaAlums.com if it had a social networking feature like that offered by FaceBook and MySpace? Please comment.

Thanks.
Chuck

I just read a wonderful New York Times article on George Leonard Herter and his Herter’s catalogs written by Paul Collins. The fitting title of the article is “The Oddball Know-It-All.”

The photo of Herter is by Peter Marcus (1966) as published in the NY Times.

Here’s the link: http://www.nytimes.com/2008/12/07/books/review/Collins-t.html?em