To celebrate National Grandparents Day on Sunday, September 13, we asked you to share photos of and stories about your grandchildren or your own grandparents or other older relatives. Here are your responses.
Stephanie’s “atomic grandfather” Paul at work.
“Atomic grandfather” had top-secret information
By Stephanie Hallgren, BSA/AML Lead
My grandfather Paul was always a great example to me. We had a larger age gap than many grandparents and grandchildren — he was born in 1912 and was 72 when I was born. Having grown up during the Great Depression, he taught me the importance of not wasting things; I was always impressed by his ability to haggle when we went to garage sales. And when I was older, I learned more about his amazing life.
He graduated with an engineering degree from the University of Utah and held some really interesting jobs. He sold the electric refrigerators when only 10 percent of the country had them, and worked for Remington Arms helping develop the first machine to measure the velocity of a bullet. During World War II, he worked in Richland, Washington, as part of the Manhattan Project and helped develop the nuclear reactor. He was in the control room as an observer for the first attempt to start the first atomic pile, as they were known back then. He became the area supervisor in charge of all three reactors there. He was afraid of saying top-secret information in his sleep!
After the war, my grandfather worked for GE as a contractor for the Atomic Energy Commission. His name appears as inventor on six different patents, one of which is U.S. Patent 3963936, for the “neutronic reactor thermal shield.” The patent is now assigned to the U.S. Energy Research and Development Administration.
Maribeth’s maternal grandparents.
Mother’s, father’s families grew up on same street
By Maribeth Osmundsen, Loan Funding Rep Team Leader
My Grandma and Grandpa Wells started a business in 1921 in Racine — Wells Brothers Italian restaurant, in business for 99 years so far. The third generation is currently grooming the fourth to take over. I never knew my grandfather, as he passed away when my mother was only 18. But my grandma was the sweetest lady. I helped her and my mom make pizzas, stuff rigatoni, and do other work around the restaurant as much as I could. We still love going there today and seeing family and friends. Grandma loved playing bingo, so we would go with her on occasion. We used to ask her about the Mafia and, oh, she didn’t like that — she would shake her finger at us and talk in Italian. Miss her dearly!
Maribeth’s father’s family. Her father, Eugene, is in the back row, second from right.
My paternal grandma and grandpa came over from Italy, passed through Ellis Island, and settled in Racine in a two-bedroom house for a family of seven — can you imagine! They actually lived across the street from my other grandparents. So my mother and father grew up together and pretty much knew each other all their lives. My grandfather worked in a foundry, and my grandmother was a homemaker. I don’t remember too much about Grandma and Grandpa, because they passed away when I was very young. I do remember going to their house every Sunday for dinner. My grandma made the best Italian dishes. They never spoke English, so when we were there, all they did was speak Italian, so we kids never knew what they were talking about! You can imagine what that all sounded like — LOUD. I remember my grandpa having a huge garden, with grapevines for making wine in the basement and tomato plants for my grandma to make her delicious sauce. I miss them dearly and have much love and appreciation for my Italian famiglia.
Clockwise from left: Maribeth holding Lennox, 8 months; Collin, 15; Xander, 3; Riley, 13; Mark; and Jace, 7.
And here are husband Mark and me and our beautiful grandchildren this year.
Grandfather Eugene and Laura in 1997, when she was about 9 years old.
After serving his country, a roller coaster didn’t faze him
By Laura De Bruin, Personal Banker, Shorewood
My grandfather Eugene De Bruin was one of the bravest people I’ve ever known. He was only 16 when he lied on his paperwork so he could join the Navy and serve in World War II. After his service, he worked at a mill and was a volunteer firefighter for over 30 years. When he retired, he spent most of his time at Pelican Lake, loving nothing more than a rainy day playing sheepshead with the family he’d built.
One of my favorite memories of him was when he was 87, had recently had two knee replacements, hadn’t been on a carnival ride in 40 years, and decided he wanted to sit front row on the Raging Bull roller coaster at Six Flags Great America with my sister and me. As we got off the ride, he shrugged and said, “That wasn’t as exciting as I expected.” He passed about seven years ago.
This photo of Dorothy was taken the year she died at age 91.
Blindness couldn’t stop spitfire grandma from painting
By Emily Johnson, Universal Banker, Sister Bay
My grandmother Dorothy Johnson was a 5-foot, 110-pound spitfire. She had seven kids after eloping at the age of 18. They had no money, and she raised them in the Austin District in Chicago, which is a rough neighborhood. They lived in a two-bedroom home, so my dad’s four sisters slept in one bedroom with two beds, and my dad and his two brothers slept on the porch in the summer and living room in the winter. My grandmother loved to polka dance and could make gravy out of anything! She was also an extremely talented oil painter, and even though she was considered legally blind from macular degeneration, she still painted every day and sold her work! She lived with us till the day she died, and I was so lucky to have this strong and wonderful woman in my life!
Croix, as adorable as promised.
Grandson keeps whole family smiling
By Mickey Adams, AVP/Area Branch Manager, Allouez
My grandson Croix just turned 2½ and has everyone wrapped around his finger, with his adorable face and nonstop chatter.
Dorothy and Landon.
“Sweetest kid” adores his babcia
By Dorothy Beringer, Senior Systems Analyst
I have the pleasure to have this awesome 7-year-old as my grandson. Landon calls me babcia (Polish for “grandma”) or “Booshie” for short. He just started second grade doing virtual learning. He loves swimming, riding his bike, and jumping on the trampoline. He is the sweetest kid in the world!
Barb’s Aunt Natalie, husband Tom, Barb, Aunt Rita, Uncle Pa, and Uncle Jerry at a local restaurant in Stevens Point.
Beloved “elders” share the best stories
By Barb Wisneski, VP/Commercial & Consumer Closing Manager
In the category of “other older relatives,” here’s a photo from what my husband and I call “a visit to the elders” in the Wausau/Stevens Point area, from a year ago. We try and get up there at least once or twice a year to visit and catch up over lunch. I enjoy these visits so much and miss them dearly right now. These relatives are in their late 70s and 80s and have the greatest and funniest stories to tell. Our lunches can go for hours, and the conversation is wonderful! Neither my husband nor I have parents or grandparents who are still alive, so the “elders” have a big and dear place in our hearts!
Brooklyn and Julie in 2017. “One of our best years!”
Granddaughter plans Halloween costumes
By Julie Rady, Universal Banker, Oak Creek
My granddaughter Brooklyn is 8 now and we have the greatest bond! I never wanted to be called a grandma, because it would make me feel so old, so she calls me Mimi! I just love it. Since she was about 3, she has been picking the theme for our Halloween costumes, and we have such a blast. The theme here is the Disney Channel show Descendants. I am Maleficent and Brooklyn is Mal. Just look at that face! Wow, is she going to be fun in her teen years!
Many thanks to everyone who contributed photos and stories!