Time Magazine Reprint

I just found this online re-print of a Time Magazine article from 1939 covering trucks on display at the 1940 Automobile Manufacturers Association Show.  I found this while researching my 1940 Plymouth PT-105 Pickup and I thought it was interesting enough to share.  Too bad there were no photos with this article.

Monday, Nov. 20, 1939

CARRIERS: Trucks, A.D. 1940

Periodically mankind pauses to Oh & Ah over the difference between the automobile of today and of 20 years ago. The difference between the motor truck of today and of ten years ago is even more marvelworthy—in amount of truck that can be bought for $1,000, in adaptation to the problems of modern distribution of goods. Compared to a pleasure car the modern truck is intrinsically as beautiful, engineeringly more luxurious, commercially more important. For those who appreciate such qualities Chicago last week had its annual thrill — the truck show, or rather two of them.
White, Federal and Diamond T trucks, and most trucks made by the automobile companies, went on display downstairs from the gaiety of Chicago's regular Auto Show. Sixty blocks away at Navy Pier, National Motor Truck Show, Inc. (grumbling that Automobile Manufacturers Association had hogged half of its exhibitors) put on a technical truckman's exhibit of new monsters, eight-wheelers, trucks that do two things at once. Individualist Henry Ford played along with both; until the middle of the week he exhibited at A.M.A., and then he moved his exhibit to Navy Pier and opened again.
The chief glories of the truck business, A.D. 1940 at the A.M.A. show:
Buick: sneaked into the show with a deluxe "estate wagon." Feature: 107 h.p.
Chevrolet (first in 1938 sales of light trucks): 85 h.p. at prices from $572 (half-ton pickup) to $955.45 (ton and a half stake truck with cab over engine). Feature: for $106.60 extra a two-speed axle for heavy duty.
Crosley: station wagon (called "errand-wagon") at $420, "Parkway delivery" at $350. Claims: 50 miles per gallon, cent-a-mile operation.
Diamond T: two new (month-old) snub-nosed "cab forward" models, 1½-ton chassis for $775, 2½-ton for $880. Diamond T's 1940 feature: a 100,000 mile or one-year guarantee against mechanical imperfection. Diamond T models range from a $574 1-ton chassis to a 10-ton chassis for $5,000 plus.
Dodge: a new 1½-ton cab-over-engine truck, wheelbase 105" or 129", price $825 up. Other models include 23 body styles, six engines (five gasoline, one heavy Diesel), capacities one-half to three tons, prices $465 to $3,650. Feature: horsepower higher than last year.
Federal: range, ¾ ton chassis at $595 to six-wheel, 10-ton chassis at $6,675, 37 models all told.
Ford: 42 body and chassis types, 6 wheelbases, three motor sizes (60, 85, 90 h.p.), prices from $675 to $985. Sealed beam headlights and swank Ford car hoods are features of city models.
Plymouth: built on the 1940 Plymouth car chassis, with regular 84 h.p. motor; four models, station-wagon $870, pick-up delivery $620.71, panel delivery $720, utility sedan $699. Feature: Plymouth car styling in front.
Studebaker: lowest priced model is a passenger coupé with an express body vice rumble seat —$660. Nine other models from half-ton pick-up ($733) to three-ton truck (cab-over-engine or regular) at $2,055. Studebaker also makes a two-ton Diesel for $2,605.
White: Popular animal at the A.M.A. show was White's model 200, "the White Horse." Features, 1) an air-cooled motor which is slung just ahead of the rear axle, can be unhitched and wheeled out on the rear wheels, an arrangement which claims to eliminate 551 parts, to facilitate keeping a fleet of trucks in condition, 2) a push-button door latch which needs but to be properly bumped to open, 3) an all-welded chassis (no bolts, no rivets), 4) a clutch-and-gear-shift combination which can be operated with one hand. Capacity of the truck is from 1½ to 3 tons pay load. Use, for door-to-door deliveries. Price, unannounced, probably around $1,000.
Other White models, one to ten tons, $950 to $9,350.
Willys-Overland: a new station wagon at $799, a pick-up truck for $525, a panel delivery for $799. Claim: 20-28 miles on the gallon.
At Truck Show, Inc.:
Four Wheel Drive Auto Co.: a $12,900, 200-h.p. dirt truck, powered in front and rear wheels, with ten forward speeds, ten cubic yards capacity, sensitive hydraulic steering, dual controls so that a driver can stand on its running board and drive it under an excavating shovel. Also a $13,000 fire engine that can travel at 75 m.p.h., pump 1,000 gallons of water per minute.
Fruehauf Trailer Co. (first in 1938 truck trailer sales): "differential dual" wheels, with which a double-tired trailer can swing a corner and have tires 1 and 2 on each wheel revolve at different speeds. Claim: savings on gas and tires.
Heil Co. (President, Wisconsin's Governor Julius ["The Just"] Heil): tank trailers built rigidly enough so that no supporting frame is necessary to hold up their bellies; hydraulic dump trailer for ten-wheel gravel hauling units.
Highway Trailer Co.: Duralumin trailers.
Mack Trucks, Inc. (first in sales of heavy duty trucks): the new $1,145 Mack "Retailer," snoutless, shaped like a loaf of bread, 1½-ton pay load, for door-to-door work. The Mack line has 24 standard models at prices from $675 for 1-ton chassis to some $18,000 for 60-ton; others to order. Mack's boast: 72.9% of Mack trucks sold since 1929 are still in service.
Walter Motor Truck Co.: an $11,000, six-man-cab tractor-trailer combine that can haul 20 tons over rough ground.
Gar Wood Industries, Inc.: a garbage truck body with a hydraulic ram tailboard which, as garbage is dumped in at the rear, presses it forward, squeezes garbage juice into a tank. Claims: dry garbage burns better, squashed garbage takes up less room.

• Find this article at:
• http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,762842,00.html

Funeral Service for Stub

Carroll 'Stub' Luverne Veitch

Born: July 12, 1920
Died: August 22, 2009
Age: 89

SERVICES
Funeral services will be held at 10:00 A.M. on Thursday, August 27, 2009 at the Warner Chapel in Spencer

OFFICIATING
Rev. Chuck Kellogg
Rev. Tonna Parsons

CASKET BEARERS
Kendall Mead - Jay Prather- Bud Myers - Steve Hurst
R.Dean Peterson - John Blair - Ron Sears - Jim Maxson

HONORARY CASKET BEARERS
Bill Peterson - Neal Drefke - Gene Merrill - Jerry Roberts
Everett Amis - Virgil Prather - Lane Kunath - John Hatten - David Gustin

MUSIC
"The Old Rugged Cross"
"How Great Thou Art"
By Donna Graham
Organist - Verlie Amis
Special Saw Music
"Amazing Grace" By Bob Leach

INTERMENT
Fanny Fern Cemetery
Rural Webb, Iowa

Thanks to everyone involved with the service. It was a beautiful memorial to a wonderful man.

We had over 20 antique cars from Grandpa's car club in the procession from the funeral home to the cemetery. It was quite a tribute to the number of friends he has.

If anyone has any information about the Fanny Fern Cemetery please get a hold of me.

Tribute Slideshow for Stub Veitch

Photos from this slide show can be found at:
http://picasaweb.google.com/stub.veitch
A version of this slide show was shown at Grandpa's visitation and funeral.

Grandpa's Obituary

Carroll 'Stub' Luverne Veitch
July 12, 1920 - August 22, 2009

Carroll “Stub” Luverne Veitch, the son of George Leslie and Vennetta Eldora Mitchell Veitch, was born July 12, 1920 in Greenville, IA. His childhood years were spent in Greenville where he received his early education and graduated from the Greenville High School in 1937.

In 1940, Carroll moved to San Diego where he worked at an aircraft factory. He married Margaret Ingersoll on March 8, 1943. They lived in San Diego until moving back to Greenville in 1947 where he worked at a dairy. Stub served with the Iowa National Guard from 1949 to 1952. In 1950, they moved to Clinton, Iowa where Carroll worked in a dairy and attended Barber School. He eventually owned a shop in Clinton, Northwood, Ayrshire and then Spencer in 1962 where he was in partnership with Mike Collins. On February 3, 1962, Carroll married Helen Ellis in Jackson, MN. In 1973, he went to work for SMU until retiring in 1983. Carroll was a member of the Grace United Methodist Church, Eagles Lodge and the Highland Masonic Lodge #487 of Ruthven, Iowa.

In his spare time, Carroll enjoyed restoring antique cars, golfing, fishing and traveling state side and abroad.

Carroll passed away peacefully at his home on Saturday, August 22, 2009, at the age of 89. He is preceded in death by his parents, his first wife, Margaret, his second wife, Helen, his daughter, Ruth Larsen, his step-son, Terry Ellis and a brother, Donald Veitch.
Left to cherish his memory, daughter, Merrie Olsen and her husband, Lawrence; son-in-law, Joseph Larsen; step-daughter, Kathleen Penkert and husband, Dan; grandchildren: Jonathan Olsen and wife, Jill, Heather Balderson and husband, Ken, Joseph Larsen, Jr. and wife, Dee, Jennifer Larsen and friend, Ron Rattie; great grandchildren: Chloe Larsen, Tanner DeHaai, Hunter DeHaai, Cameron Balderson, Kaitlin Balderson, Gabrielle Balderson and Jasmine Balderson; brother, Terry Veitch and wife, Nira ; 2 sisters: Marjean Gulizia and Janet Leach and her husband, Bob; other relatives and many friends.

Grandpa "Stub" Veitch, Rest In Peace

My Grandfather passed away peacefully in his sleep last night.

Jill & I got arrived in Spencer about 9:00 p.m. last night and although grandpa had been unresponsive since 1:00 p.m. the night before, Jill & I spent some time with him talking to him. Jill and Mom were sitting in with him just before 12:30 when his breathing changed and Jill recognized it as a final stage so they called us all into the room. He was surrounded by his sister, daughter, two sons in law and Jill & I. I prayed with the family that God would welcome him home and that he would join his two wives, daughter and brother who had gone on before him. Before we were done praying he was gone.

Grandpa enjoyed his last meal Thursday evening. Mom was sitting with him and asked him if he would like a chocolate shake. He did not respond so Mom just sat with him. A half hour later Grandpa Stub asked if Joe was back with that shake yet. Mom said "Not quite yet" and quickly sent Uncle Joe to McDonalds for that chocolate shake. Mom had to spoon feed the shake to Grandpa and he joked that he had feed her that when when she was a child. Grandpa kept saying that the shake was "So Good". He asked "How did you know I wanted a chocolate shake?" Mom said, " Dad I know you. Every time we went to McDonalds you got a chocolate shake". As a memorial many of the family members went out for chocolate shakes the day after the funeral.

Grandpa had some unresolved family strife that in the weeks before his death both he and the other folks involved made moves to resolve the problem. One of the last things he said was to ask mom to tell them that he loved them. After a long pause he added "And Buddy too, their cat". He said that he didn't want to die mad at anyone. Stub got his name because he was quite short, but it might as well have been because he was stubborn. If he could forgive and put the situation behind him we all can. Some other family members still may have some issues but Grandpa forgave so everyone else needs to as well. I hope that this is the first step to reconciliation.

The last time that he spoke he told my mother that he could see lots of people. When she asked him who he was seeing he listed his daughter, parents, wives and others who have already passed away. She asked him if he was dreaming. He said that he was not. I know that he is now in heaven in the Lord's presence enjoying the company of these family members. After mentioning the family members that he was seeing he started reciting the Lord's Prayer. He would take long pauses and Mom would consider giving him the next word but he made it all of the way through. When he was done praying he told Mom that he loved her. She told him she loved him. He fell into a deep sleep and never spoke again. He died almost exactly 24 hours later.

He fought this cancer for a long time, but miraculously he was only sick for a week. I thank God that he had a full life until the end and that he did not have to suffer. He did not have to resort to heavy medications for pain relief and was able to stay in his home until the end. On the Saturday prior to his death he was able to enjoy a picnic with his car club and talk with many friends. His health started taking a steep decline on Monday. He could have really suffered with the bone cancer but God was merciful and he did not have to go though that.

Please pray with me in thanking the Lord for this wonderful man who was my beloved grandfather. He will be missed so also pray for our family as we get through this coming week and as we adjust to our lives without him.

Don Veitch, Former POW

Veitch escapes from World War II prison camp
By Kris Todd, Daily Reporter Staff

The Greenville native, with expressive eyes and a subtle smile, can paint a rosy picture for even the grimmest of tales. Don Veitch's long-held philosophy is: "There are no bad days. Some days are just better than others."
The 86-year-old Spencer resident was handed a "real low number" over six decades ago, which meant he didn't have very long to wait before being drafted.
"The National Guard had just been called up in February, and I went in April of '41," Veitch said. "I was drafted (into the U.S. Army). I went into it and I ended up in a National Guard unit."
Veitch was among 10 local young men ordered to assemble at Fort Des Moines.
"They gave me the papers of the group to carry down," he recalled. "We got in there and then we shipped out to Jefferson Barracks, Missouri. That's where we got our uniforms, got ourselves put into the Army, and they said, 'You're in the Army now.'"
From there, he was shipped to Camp Claybourne, La., for basic training.
"We were there until Pearl Harbor," he succinctly said. "Then we knew we were in the Army for sure.
"We just went in for a year, because the draft was for one year. That's what they tell you, you know. But, that (Pearl Harbor) changed everything real fast. Then we knew we weren't going to go home at the end of the year, because that was Dec. 7."
Instead, Veitch found himself transferred to another battalion, bringing it to full strength. They were then shipped to northern Ireland.
"There was no place for troops to go at that particular time of Pearl Harbor, because I don't think they really had any idea how they were going to be able to start this thing," Veitch said. "I mean, it (World War II) was started, but what do we do about it right now? But they knew things were going wrong in Europe. Hitler was dancing around over there. So, we went into Ireland."
After training in Ireland from the latter part of January to the first of July, he was transferred to Scotland with his original battalion members in the 168th Infantry, 34th Division, which was part of the Rainbow Division during World War I. They underwent amphibious and commando training there.
"That's when things really started getting bad," reflected Veitch. "Of course, we knew we were going to make an amphibious landing somewhere, because that's what we were trained for. We got on the ships and had no idea where we were going, absolutely none whatsoever. We spent almost four weeks on the water. Thought we were in the Navy for awhile."
Little did Veitch and his peers know, but the naval convoys were assembling for their surprise landing.
"We went through the Strait of Gibraltar. Our company made our amphibious landings at Algiers (on Nov. 8, 1942)," he recalled. "We had to work our way from the Mediterranean shores up to into Algiers. We took that in about three days. We did a pretty good job there, I guess. Anyway, we got it done."
Tunisia is where Veitch's unit once again squared off with German soldiers and the notorious German Gen. Irwin Rommel, referred to as "the Desert Fox."
"He fought from one end of northern Africa to the other. They had all their weaponry, thousands and thousands of troops, and transportation," Veitch said of Rommel and the German troops. "...But when we came in from the further west to the east, we didn't have any equipment to speak of. We hadn't been tested or really worked out. But, the test was almost there."
The real exam occurred when Veitch's unit ran out of supplies the following February. Veitch collaborated with Sgt. Don Shea in an attempt to get back to their own lines.
"When they said, 'Get out the best way you can,' we did pretty good for about two and a half days," Veitch said. "They caught up with us (on Feb. 17, 1943). We joined a lot of others."
The then-Pfc. recalled both he and his sergeant crying upon being captured by enemy forces.
"The thing is, you've lost everything that you thought you ever had. And talk about having nothing," he chuckled in retrospect. "You have no weapons. You have nothing. But, we had our lives. No, we had no idea (if we'd keep them). But, you get yourself put back together and go on, wherever it is."
The newly captured prisoner of war remembered taking everything on a day-by-day basis. Yet, Veitch said he constantly pondered what he could do in order to escape, where he would go if he were to get away, as well as how he could snarl his captors' plans.
Over his next 27 months spent in captivity, Veitch transitioned between seven different World War II prison camps. The first, Stalag VII-A, was near Munich.
"Being a lowly Pfc., private first class, usually I got assigned to work camps, and we worked at different things," he explained.
"...You tried to drive the Germans nuts. If an old (German) got upset, he'd start screaming. And the more upset he'd get, the higher his voice would go. It would go up and up and up," Veitch chuckled. "We tried to get them there."
This was easily accomplished, he added, by simply not doing what the guards ordered.
"You're out there working and you don't understand it. You do, but you don't. And you always try to slow up the pace and do whatever you can to slow it up," Veitch said with a knowing smile. "And they couldn't understand us because the old Germans said, 'Arbeit. Arbeit. Arbeit.' 'Work. Work. Work.' They couldn't understand anything except work. That's the way they were built."
Veitch laid railroad track as a member of one work crew. It was at that particular camp that he recalled taking one guard past his point of no return. Tenderly rubbing his lower lumbar area, Veitch explained he's still paying for letting his mouth run when a train approached.
"Every fender on a locomotive had the words on it, 'Rader rollen fur Sieg.' 'Wheels will roll for victory,'" he recalled. "We were all pulled back from up on the top of this big ditch. I didn't know anybody was around, and I said, 'Yah. Yah. Yah. Rader rollen fur Sieg.' This guy behind me hit me. ... It took me awhile to get my breath. That's all there was to it. But, you know, I could have looked around and I could have let that one go."
Another prison camp detail had Veitch and others building a power plant. While situated there, he and "Doc" Streeter, another American POW, planned an escape over a three-month time period. Part of their strategizing involved trading cigarettes and whatever else they could for concentrated food, chocolate and seeds.
"We got down into one of the areas that hadn't been filled with sand and dropped out of sight. The rest of them marched up to the camp and we took off from there. We had all of our stuff stashed away, so the guys would help bring them down," he recalled of their successful escape attempt. "We were pretty lucky on that too because it was pretty well guarded and we had a small bridge to go across. We sat there for quite awhile to see what the pattern was, and then we took off."
The pair traveled at night only and remained on the lam for 17 days. They were picked up over 100 miles away in Czechoslovakia and returned to another prison camp in Dresden.
"I think it was Stalag III-B where we went out of on our work detail," Veitch said. "But we never got back to where the rest of them were that we were with. They don't let you do that. We got 30 days of bread and water, solitary. But, they let Doc and I stay together."
With his sense of humor still intact, Veitch said he ribbed the guards about how the food presented to them tasted like sawdust.
"To this day, I can not eat caraway. I bite into a caraway seed and it just runs around my mouth," he said. "They had rutabaga soup, and it was dried rutabaga and reconstituted. It was terrible. And, it was just double ugly."
"All the Germans had to feed us was 2 percent above starvation," Veitch added. "When I got out of prison camp and back to our troops at the Elbe (River) in Germany, I weighed 100 pounds."
He and other American soldiers were eventually liberated in May 1945.
"By the Russians, of all things," chuckled Veitch. "...We had a problem, because the Russians wanted to repatriate us through Russia. Our troops, when they took Russian people, they just turned them over to the Russians. But Russia always wanted credit for this or for that."
Veitch returned to Greenville on July 4, 1945.
"I could have got home earlier, but I had people to see," he grinned, referring to his travels abroad for a few months.
As soon as Veitch arrived home, he telephoned his girlfriend, Dorothy, in Oregon. The two had initially met about five months before he was drafted. They continued to correspond by way of letter during his tour of duty.
"I called her and she said, 'I'll be right home,'" Veitch said as he lovingly smiled at Dorothy. "We got married the 12th of July.
"...I wasn't out of the service yet before we got married. They sent us down to Florida because I had to go on a rest and recuperation. So, we went down there so we could have a hurricane," he chuckled.
Veitch was eventually honorably discharged from the military in September 1945.
Today, the Spencer veteran still has his discharge papers, which refer to him as a "Browning Automatic Rifleman." Although he misplaced a little red address book several years ago in which he captured special dates and maneuvers during his time abroad, Veitch's memories remain crystal clear.
"There are no bad days. Some days are just better than others," he confided pensively.

Don Veitch, Citizen of the Year

Veitch honored as 2004 Citizen of the Year
Cited for his quiet, unassuming leadership
By Paula Buenger, Publisher

While 2004 Citizen of the Year Don Veitch may argue that what he's done for the community of Spencer and the groups he's been involved with is "Not a big thing" the authors of the many letters of nomination which poured into the offices of the Daily Reporter would argue otherwise.
"Don is a person who works 'behind the scenes' and is very humble about his contributions to Spencer and its various organizations," read the nomination letter from Everett and Verlie Amis.
"Not one to stand in the spotlight, more like the person who installed the spotlight and is now operating it," is how Jay Prather of Spencer described Veitch in his nomination letter.
Veitch was honored for his contributions to the Parker Historical Society, Iowa Great Lakes Antique Car Club, Masonic Lodge, Shriners and his church. Veitch, a lifelong resident of the area, joins the list of distinguished residents who have earned the title "Citizen of the Year" since the program' s inception in 1967. Each year's honoree is selected from nominations sent in by individuals and groups. The past Citizens of the Year select the new member who will join their ranks. Don Veitch was born and raised in Greenville. In April 1941, he left to serve his country in the Army during World War II. During that service, he was captured and was a POW in a German camp for 27 months.
In a story, published in the Feb. 5 edition of The Daily Reporter, Veitch recounted his time in German POW camps as a young soldier.
One of his first calls, upon being released, was to his sweetheart, Dorothy, whom he had met several months before going into the war. She had been staying with relatives in Oregon and working through the war years, but returned after Don was released. The couple married on July 12, 1945, and will celebrate their 60th anniversary this summer.
And, as all those who know the Veitchs can attest, the pair became a very good team, working together on a wide range of activities.
"They have always done everything together," said Pat Anderson, the couple's daughter, who lives in Spirit Lake with her husband Eric. "If there is something going on, they just have to be a part of it. They don't want to just go to events, they want to help put things together."
Luckily, the pair shared an interest in the Masonic Lodge and Shrine organizations. Dorothy was "always involved" in Eastern Star, said her daughter, and the couple acted as Rainbow Parents for many years.
Clay County Fair-goers may not know the Veitch name, but they probably recognize the faces. After all, the couple began the Shrine ATV Funnel Cake stand at the fair, and worked as a team during the entire run of the fair in the stand for many, many years.
"They had gone to Hot Springs, Ark. on a trip and tasted funnel cakes," recounts Anderson. "They decided that was what the Clay County Fair needed."
So, the industrious pair made a second trip to Hot Springs, learned how to make the then-new item, and set up the Shrine stand.
"They just loved it," smiled Pat. "They met so many people at the fair and, I think now that they aren't at the fair every day they really miss it."
Don's membership in the Masonic Lodge and with the Shriners echoes his style in everything, according to those who know him well. He was a dedicated, hard-working, loyal member, who didn't look for the spotlight.
Don and Everett Amis have been acquainted for many, many years, as both Everett and Don grew up in Greenville. Their love of cars, old cars to be specific, has ensured that they have remained close.
"My dad has always been interested in cars," said his daughter. "And, he's always got quite a few of them, in various stages of repair."
Veitch's employment, as a distributor for Wynn's, an automotive additive company, meant that he was immersed in the auto world.
"It just seems like he's always had one taken apart somewhere," Pat laughed. "In fact, for years he had one by the hedge at our house."
Veitch took that interest in cars a step farther, as a charter member of the Iowa Great Lakes Car Club. He served as secretary/treasurer for many years and has assisted with exhibits and displays of cars throughout the area and participated in many parades.
L.R. "Pete" Petersen has worked with Veitch in many groups throughout the years, and in his nomination he pointed to Veitch's quiet leadership and service.
Whatever organization he belongs to he is not only a very active member, but he does, through unselfish acts, those things which many of us think about doing but never quite get done," wrote Petersen. "The only people who know of these deeds are Don, God, and oh yes, probably his wife Dorothy."
Along with sharing interests in Masonic Orders and antique cars, Petersen has served with Veitch on the board of the Parker Historical Society.
Daughter Pat said that interest most likely grew out of her father's love of going to auctions and sales.
"He's always been a great antiquer," she said. "And, when Dad was interested in something, it just seemed like he had to be a part of it."
According to Cindy McGranahan, Parker Museum Director, Veitch has been involved with the Parker Historical Society since he joined in 1973. Never one to be content simply with belonging to an organization, Veitch soon found himself deeply involved, joining the board of directors of the society in 1975. He became president of the society in 1977.
"Not only has Don been present and willing to help with many events since 1973, but he has also been a terrific cheerleader and supporter of the Parker Historical Society," said McGranahan. "His 'can-do' and 'let's move ahead' attitude has been extremely valuable, as the Society has transitioned from an all-volunteer group to a business."
While Veitch officially "retired" as a distributor for Wynn's at the age of 80, Pat said he remains involved, albeit to a lesser extent than in previous years. The job, which involved travel throughout the region, meant the Veitch family was welcome just about everywhere.
"He knows people everywhere," she said. "And even now, he'll get in the car and head to Des Moines for the day for meetings."
He also put his travel expertise to good use assisting families in taking children to the Shriners Children's Hospital in Minneapolis. "That's always been a big interest of his."
He and Dorothy have also traveled farther afield. As recently as two years ago, the couple joined an all-Veitch tour through Scotland. The Veitch's second child, son George, lives on the big island of Hawaii with his wife, area native Leann McGranahan, so the family has had another exotic locale to visit.
Pat agrees with many of those who nominated her father in saying that he will be surprised to find himself honored as Citizen of the Year.
"I think he's going to be totally shocked, totally dumbfounded," she laughed. "He sure won't think he deserves it at all." McGranahan agrees.
"Don won't believe it," she said. "He will feel that there is someone else but there more deserving. But, isn't that really what makes him a perfect Citizen of the Year? He deserves this so much."
© Copyright 2009, Spencer Daily Reporter
Story URL: http://www.spencerdailyreporter.com/story/1551763.html

Don Veitch, Great Uncle and Great Man

My great uncle Don Veitch passed away today. He and his brother Stub have both been fighting cancer for awhile now. Don and Stub are both amazing individuals, and they where very good friends. Following the photo is the newspaper article and his obituary as featured in the Spencer Daily Reporter.



2004 'Citizen of the Year' Veitch passes
Thursday, July 2, 2009
By Randy M. Cauthron, Managing Editor
Just a month before he was named the 2004 Spencer "Citizen of the Year," Don Veitch was interviewed and shared a philosophy that identified the kind of person he was: "There are no bad days. Some days are just better than others."
Wednesday, Spencer lost one of its icons. Veitch, 91, passed away at Spencer Hospital. Funeral arrangements are pending at Warner Funeral Home of Spencer.
Veitch was honored as Citizen of the Year for his contributions to the Parker Historical Society, Iowa Great Lakes Antique Car Club, Masonic Lodge, Shriners and his church.
The native of Greenville, was drafted just before the attack on Pearl Harbor in 1941. Anticipating just a one-year obligation as a draftee at the time, things changed following the bombing of the military base in Hawaii, and Veitch found himself in the midst of World War II. He served in various combat situations until February 1943 when he and others were captured by German soldiers and held as prisoners of war. He escaped once, but was detained once again, remaining a POW until being liberated at the tail end of the war in May 1945.
Veitch returned to Greenville on July 4, 1945. As soon as Veitch arrived home, he telephoned his girlfriend, Dorothy, in Oregon. The two had initially met about five months before he was drafted. They continued to correspond by way of letter during his tour of duty.
The two married July 12.
Additionally, Don and Dorothy -- recognized by many who knew them as quite a dynamic duo -- acted as Rainbow Parents for many years.
Clay County Fair-goers may not know the Veitch name, but they probably recognize the faces. After all, the couple began the Shrine ATV Funnel Cake stand at the fair, and worked as a team during the entire run of the fair in the stand for many, many years.
His employment, as a distributor for Wynn's, an automotive additive company, meant that he was immersed in the auto world. Don took that interest in cars a step further, as a charter member of the Iowa Great Lakes Car Club. He served as secretary/treasurer for many years and has assisted with exhibits and displays of cars throughout the area and participated in many parades.
"Whatever organization he belongs to he is not only a very active member, but he does, through unselfish acts, those things which many of us think about doing but never quite get done," wrote L.R. "Pete" Petersen in his Citizen of the Year letter of nomination of Don. "The only people who know of these deeds are Don, God, and oh yes, probably his wife Dorothy."
According to Cindy McGranahan, Parker Museum director, Veitch had been involved with the Parker Historical Society since he joined in 1973.
"Not only has Don been present and willing to help with many events since 1973, but he has also been a terrific cheerleader and supporter of the Parker Historical Society," said McGranahan in 2005. "His 'can-do' and 'let's move ahead' attitude has been extremely valuable, as the Society has transitioned from an all-volunteer group to a business."

Donald Veitch
Friday, July 3, 2009
Funeral services for Mr. Donald Veitch, 91, of Spencer, will be held at 10:30 a.m. Monday, July 6, 2009 at First Christian Church of Spencer. Rev. Dan Mayes will officiate the service.
Visitation will begin at 2 p.m. Sunday, with the family present from 5-7 p.m. at the Warner Chapel at Spencer.
Interment will take place at North Lawn Memorial Park in Spencer. Military services will be conducted by Glen Pedersen Post No. 1 of Spencer.
A Masonic service will be held at 5 p.m. Sunday, at the Warner Funeral Home.
Mr. Veitch passed away Wednesday, July 1, 2009, at Spencer Hospital.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be directed to First Christian Church, Relay For Life and Hospice of NW Iowa.
Donald George Veitch, the son of George Leslie and Vennetta Eldora Mitchell Veitch, was born May 24, 1918 in Greenville. His childhood years were spent in Greenville where he received his education, graduating from Greenville High School. Don later attended a business school in Grand Island, Neb., for two years. After his schooling, he entered the military and served with the U.S. Army during WW II from April 1941 until his honorable discharge in September 1945. During his military duty, Don was a POW in Germany for over two years.
Donald married Dorothy Henry on July 12, 1945, in Spencer. Following their marriage, they lived in Spencer where he was a self-employed salesman for Wynn's Friction Proofing and Don Veitch Distributing for many years until his retirement. He was a member of the First Christian Church in Spencer. Donald was a 50-year member of the Masonic Lodge, Order of The Eastern Star as well as the Iowa Great Lakes Car Club. He was also a member of Glen Pedersen Post No. 1, American Legion of Spencer.
He was preceded in death by his parents; and one granddaughter, Teresa Ann Lang in 1966.
Donald is survived by his wife, Dorothy of Spencer; one daughter, Patricia Anderson and her husband, Eric of Spirit Lake; one son, George Veitch and his wife, LeAnn McGranahan of Papaaloa, Hawaii; one granddaughter; three great-grandchildren; two brothers: Carroll Veitch of Spencer, and Terry Veitch and his wife, Nira of Albuquerque, N.M.; two sisters: Marjean Gulizia of Omaha, Neb., and Janet Leach and her husband, Bob of Dickinson, Texas; and a special friend, Joan Waller of Spencer.
Warner Funeral Home of Spencer is in charge of arrangements.
© Copyright 2009, Spencer Daily Reporter
Story URL: http://www.spencerdailyreporter.com/story/1552142.html

Jill As Furniture

Cat's have no respect for their owners.

Our cats seem to regard us as furniture.


You can't sleep anywhere without a cat on top of you.


If you do manage to get some sleep without a cat on you they just might steal your pillow.

Meet Munchkin

After spending a couple of weeks hiding either under the bed or in the basement, Muchkin has emerged.

Munchkin is a very timid but also very bitchy. She still spends most of the time hiding, but she sometimes ventures out to sit guard by the cat food. She is very passive/aggressive. She just sits there intimidating the other two cats looking all sweet and innocent.



She is a pretty little cat, kind of a dirty white color with super thick softy fur. When she isn't hiding or guarding the cat food she is very insistent that should be petted. If she sees a hand that isn't petting her she just might attack it.



Munchkin and Moe get along just fine since Moe doesn't care about anything. Sweetie and Munchkin are another story. They have daily spats, and constantly growl & hiss at each other. I hope that they start getting along better soon.

Places I Have Ridden a Motorcycle

I just found this application that allows you to create a map to show what states you have visited. This map show that states where I have been on a motorcycle. It looks like I've still got a lot of riding left to do, but I've got the Midwest and Southwest pretty well covered.


visited 17 states (34%)

Create your own visited map of The United States

Mystery Cat

We have adopted a new cat. At least I think we have. I've only seen it briefly.

I will post a photo of it the first time I have an opportunity to take picture of it.

The cat's name is Munchie (as in Munchkin), and is a white Persian whose previous family had to give her up after they had a child. The cat is quite timid and had been hiding in the basement for the last week. We have never been able to turn down a pet in need of a home so we now have another member of the family.

Grandpa & The Old Truck

I went up to see Grandpa and work on the old truck with him last weekend.

He thinks I came to work on the truck but he is the real reason I am here.

From 1940 Plymoth Truck

Grandpa is still doing mostly OK. He wouldn't admit it if he wasn't. He got pretty tired after we spent the afternoon fiddling around with the truck but his spirit is good. He says that sometimes he forgets that he is sick.

We pulled the spark plugs, sprayed some WD40 in the cylinders and to our wonder and amazement the motor turns over! We are not going to try to start it until after we get the gas tank cleaned and coated. I pulled the brake master cylinder and need to rebuild it before I head back up again.

Perfect Color For The Truck

I found the perfect color for the truck on this 1939 International Concept truck called the DMAXX. This is exactly the deep shade of red that I had in mind.



Read more about this truck here.

The 1940 Plymouth truck has been moved from my Great Uncle's garage in Greenville to my Grandfather's garage in Spencer. I can't wait to get up there and work on getting the truck started.

1979 Honda CB750L FOR SALE SOLD

This is a beautiful motorcycle that I have been intending to get running again for he last several years but I just haven't got around to it. I now have a new project to work on. (The Plymouth Truck) I just need to gain some space in the garage and free up some cash to use to fix the old truck. This motorcycle was last ridden almost ten years ago but it has been covered in a garage ever since. The carburetors will need to be cleaned and synced, and I would use some Kreme Coat on the inside of the fuel tank. Before I stored it away I put in new front brake master cylinder, stator, regulator and spark units.

From 750

There are more photos if you follow the link to Picassa.

If you are interested in this great old motorcycle please leave a comment to this post with your email address and we will discuss price & delivery.

Update: The Honda has been sold. I have a little more room in the garage and a little bit on money to spend on the Plymouth truck.

Business Cards

As I was cleaning today I came across a file that I have used to keep a copy of every business card I have ever had. It is like a history lesson of all of the jobs I have had since college.

I started a Foreman & Clark right out of college. I thought I might be able to sell something and I knew I could hem a pair of pants.

From Ole's Blog

I was recruited from Forman & Clark to be Manager of a Florsheim Shoe Shop.

From Ole's Blog

I was recruited back to Foreman and Clark to be assistant Manager at a new location they were opening.

From Ole's Blog

I was fairly quickly promoted to Store manager at Merle Hay Mall, then I was transferred to a larger location at Southridge Mall.

From Ole's Blog

Tragically Foreman's went completely out of business due to the changing business casual clothing style and due to some internal company issues. I decided that if I was going to be in the clothing business I might as well sell motorcycle clothing so I got myself hired at Zook's Harley-Davidson.

From Ole's Blog

It has been wonderfull working with Harley-Davidson Motorclothes. Zook's moved to a larger location now know as the "Big Barn".

From Ole's Blog

I got pissed off one morning and quite my job at Zook's. Someone told me the grass was greener on the other side of the fence. It isn't necessarily if the other side of the fence is New Mexico. I really enjoyed New Mexico but It just didn't work out to stay.

From Ole's Blog

So I returned home to Iowa and begged for a job at the Route 65 Harley-Davidson Shop which is a secondary location for Zooks/Big Barn. We are now in a gorgeous new facility. I couldn't be happier. Unless maybe if they paid me more then I'd be even happier still.

From Ole's Blog

Carrol's Grandkids

Jill and I are headed up to see my Grandpa Stub and Grandma Olsen later today. So I thought that it would be fitting to post this old photo from the Mitchell Family Reunion.
Stub's real name is Carroll Laverne so you see why he might prefer to be called Stub. The Mitchell reunion used to be held at an old stone WPA era park shelter at Pikes Point on Lake Okaboji. One year someone made shirts for everyone identifying how they were related in the family.

From Ole's Blog

So here my sister and I are posing on a picnic table for this wonderful photo. It may have been nice to think that we were caught in a candid moment enjoying the lake together, but get realistic! I think my sister and I got along better than most, most of the time, but you probably wouldn't have caught us sitting this close together of our own free will.
Maybe will will get up to the lake with Grandpa this weekend and see how things are thawing out for spring.

Grizzy

Our beautiful black cat Grizzy died this week. She was 17 years old. I have been telling people that we have had Grizzy longer than I have had my wife. She became quite ill Saturday and steadily declined until Wednesday morning. Grizzy was the sweetest cat we have ever had, very loving and even tempered.

From Pets

However she was the most demanding cat I have ever seen. She was Princess Grizzy and she got things her way! She only ate canned food and she only ate what had just been put on her plate. If she walked away from her food she would not eat whatever remained on the plate. As she got older and ate smaller amounts at a time she would constantly insist that you get up and get here another spoonful of food.

From Pets

Grizzy has had a long eventful life. She was born on my in-laws farm in the cold of winter in 1991. She was terribly small and under nourished. Jill went home for a weekend and met this homely little cat. Jill decided to take the cat back to college with her and nurse it back to health.
It turned out that Jill's college roommate was allergic to cats so Jill brought the cat to my little studio apartment in Des Moines until she could return it to her parents farm. My father happened to visit that week and he decided to take the cat home with him. The Veterinarian said she probably wouldn't survive. That was 17 years ago.

From Pets

When my parents moved to North Carolina a couple of years ago they decided that it would be too difficult on Grizzy to move her across country and make her live with my sister's dog and cat. Well, it turns out she had a pretty eventful live at our house living with our dog, two other cats and most recently a sugar glider. She adapted to the move very well and quickly asserted dominance over all things in the house. She was a benevolent ruler who loved her subjects but we knew our place in her world. We will miss her very much.

Should Be Studying

I'm playing with my scanner and some old pictures today while I am re-watching some lectures for my Old Testament class. The lectures are a little dry so I have a hard time concentrating on them.

I've been doing quite well in my Old Testament class and I am getting ready for the final test which is due this Friday. If I do as well on this test as on the first, and as well on the third paper which is also due Friday I should have a solid "A" in the class.

I have this cool new dual monitor setup on my computer so I'm watching the lecture in one monitor and scanning photos and posting them to the blog in the other monitor.

These old photos must be from 1972-1973. I don't know for sure. How old do I look? I just love Dad's mustache and Mom's hair. I'm sure this was the height of style and fashion.

From Ole's Blog

From Ole's Blog

From Ole's Blog

Well, I better get back to studying, I want to finish this final paper today. The New Testament class starts in a few weeks so I might have to scan a few more old photos when I start watching those lectures.

Baby Kate - Week One

From Baby Kate

Why is everyone talking to me like I'm an idiot?

From Baby Kate

Big Brother/Little Sister

Crestwood Website 2.0

I am quite proud with the way the new church website is coming together.


Check it out and let me know what you think.
Any suggestions and comments are welcome.

Stub's 1939 Buick Coupe

I've been thinking about my grandpa Stub quite a bit lately so I thought I would share this photo.

From Ole's Blog

Helen and Stub with 1939 Buick Coupe

This picture was taken in 1978 and was featured in the local newspaper along with an article about the local antique car club. I am now a member of that car club with my grandfather. I don't remember that particular car but Grandpa has had many neat antique and classic cars over the years. I now have procession of the last classic car that he owned, a 1963 Plymouth Valiant. I figure I am just the current caretaker of the Valiant, I hope it stays in our family for many generations. I have recently purchased an antique truck from Stub's brother Don and I am looking forward spending some time with grandpa this spring working on that old truck. I am hoping to get some good time with grandpa before he starts feeling ill.

Welcome Kate

I have a new niece today. My sister Heather had a beautiful, healthy 7lb. 10oz. baby girl.
After much consideration they named her Kaitlin Nicole.

From Baby Kate

It is really bright out here!

From Baby Kate

Hello World!

From Baby Kate

Still tired from the move.

From Baby Kate

Proud Parents

Grandpa Stub

My Grandpa "Stub" has just been diagnosed with bone cancer. The doctors have given him about six months to live. My grandfather is one of my heroes, I will miss him a lot when he is gone. I have no illusions about his shortcomings but I respect him greatly. He has been through some very difficult things and he has met most of his challenges with grace, style and strength. He is 86 years old, legally blind and still living independently at home.
He lost his second wife two years ago, and his daughter Ruth a year ago. His first wife died many years ago, followed by a step-son after he remarried. So he has some people in heaven waiting for him but we are not ready to let go of him down here just yet

From Ole's Blog

Ole, Stub, Uncle Don & Aunt Dorthy

This has not been a great year for the family in Spencer so far, the same week that Stub was diagnosed with bone cancer his brother Don was diagnosed with lung cancer. Both of them have been battling cancers of different sorts for awhile now. Stub has had prostate cancer for several years but it has been mostly controlled by periodic treatments. I figure that "Healthy" is just a pre-cancerous condition.
The photo above with Stub, Don & Dorthy was taken a few weeks ago, the day before Dorthy went to a full time care facility for Alzheimer's Disease. Don had been doing a fine job of caring for Dorthy but eventually she needed more care than he was able to give at home by himself.
Please join with me in praying for my grandfather Stub, his brother Don and Aunt Dorthy that they may meet their health challenges with peace and grace. I pray that Stub and Don are not overly burdened by pain as they deal with their cancer. I pray that the lord be with them all and give them peace in these times of trouble.

Back to School...

Today I started college classes again after an eighteen year break. I have enrolled in a Bachelors of Science in Biblical Studies degree program at Liberty University. This is an online program that I hope I will be able to complete before and after work each day. I'm just taking one class at a time so this may take some time to finish, but I have waited this long so I'm not in a big hurry.
I believe that God has lead me to go back to finish this degree in bible studies. I'm not sure where it may lead but I'm open to whatever God has in mind for me.
There has been some confusion that I was going to seminary, but seminary school isn't conducted as an online program so I am only enrolled in a Bachelors Degree program. If that is where God leads me that would be wonderful, but for now I'm just finishing college.
I do expect that this degree will help me in serving God and the church in some way. Please pray for me in my studies and that I hear and obey God's further purpose for my life.