What’s in a name?

Rick Wimer

Abbott, Ahrens, Alexandra, Alice, Andrews, Andreason, Bauer, Bates, Behm, Britt, Belcher, Babcock, Boney, Bair, Bertram, Beekman, Bonebrake, Bedel, Bybee, Bosley, Bridge, Buntrock, Borron, Bueb, Block, Bodaken, Carol, Camerer, Cavanaugh, Carney, Connell, Cordaman, Connelley, Constable,Cox, Coates, Cullen, Cruz, Clough, Cole, Cuncles, Carnine, Condon, Cundiff, Cederholm, Dvergsten, Douglas, Dalke, Dominica, Domayer, Dreyer, Dirkx, Dlugosch, Davidson, Den Hartog, Daniels, Demers, Erickson, Elliott, Evans, Eddie, Ehlers, Faine, Fitzpatrick, Flowers, Eades, Fischer, Flohr, Flowers, George, Grunig, Guntren, Gaffney, Gaes, Green, Grau, Gregg, Gaston, Gailbreth, Guntren, Hartwig, Haakinson, Haahr, Hoft, Hadenfeldt, Hamilton, Hartwell, Houchins, Hendershott, Hunzleman, Heppner, Harrington, Huber, Huffey, Hoffman, Hopkins, Ivis, Ingram, Ireland, Illum, Ignatius, Isaacs, Jansen, Jarnigan, Jesse, Jones, Jessen, Johnson, Jannings, Julius, Jorgenson, Kallmer, Kacmarinski, Keenan, Kolb, Korwes, Kestel, Knebel, Kelsey, Lill, Lynn, Ledoux, Laird, Launderville, Linge, Lafever, Lichtenberg, Lawrence, Lenhart, Lewis, Leonard, Lande, Lenox, Larkin, Lindsey, Mech, Malcomb, Meyer, Mernin, Main, Moritz McCoy, Muessey, McKenna, Mammen, Murray, Martin, Morgan, Malliard, Middlestadt, Mooney, McLaughlin, Miller, Mitchell, Moriarity, Morgan, Nye, Nitzke, Neuroth, Nixon, Naughton, Newman, Overmohle, Orlund, Oehler, Olsen, Otto, Paige, Peck, Preston, Perry, Parks, Pitstick, Payne, Peters, Pierce, Pendleton, Pritchard, Pigott, Peterson, Proczak, Quick, Reese, Rassler, Rabiner, Rassmussen, Rosdail, Redenbaugh, Reckoff, Renshaw, Russell, Ringenberg, Robinson, Red, Salie, Steffen, Sarita, Schuelke, Schuett, Smit, Starr, Sampers, Smith, Seivers, Stephan, Shaeffer, Strader, Schaller, Struck, Stock, Smith, Stille, Steinkamp, Statz, Strickler, Spooner, Thompson, Tillman, Tucker, Tracy, Turner, Tymeson, Tevepaugh, Utter, Vilas, Vincent, Valentine, Vance, Weigand, Wimp, Weiland, Wissink, Witter, Wimer, Whitney, Wilhemi, Wilson, Walton, Weishaar, Wall, Wolff, Yetmar, Yocum, Zubradt (No X names back then).

Since I returned to Storm Lake in August 2023, I have compiled this list of names from memories of my youth living here from 1954 to 1964. (I’m sure there are many others that I haven’t recalled yet but will some future place and time).

They represent people I encountered who set examples, provided guidance, taught me lessons — predominantly good ones, and an occasional not so much — and who contributed to the legacy of what kind of human I was over my newly acquired 80 years, and who I finally turned out to be.

Many were on my Sioux City Journal and Des Moines Register and Tribune paper routes that covered 90% of Storm Lake. Many to whom I sold the “World’s Greatest Chocolate” bars. Some were boyhood crushes. Some were police officers, fire fighters, mayors, yet another a meter maid.

Some were doctors, lawyers, no beggermen, no thieves, dentists, an optometrist and a chiropractor. Some were St. Mary’s classmates and teammates. Two were my sisters and the gentlemen who married them.

Some demonstrated and taught me the importance of a good work ethic. One was my father. Some were those who “scooped the loop” with me every chance we got. Two worked with me on the dredge. Some were friends from Storm Lake Public.

One was a telephone operator at Northwestern Bell Telephone across the street from the old Post Office on Lake Avenue. Some were those who gathered for an impromptu football (padless) game at Bradford Field on Saturdays.

Some were business owners. Some had stores downtown. Two were druggists. Some were coaches. Some were mentors. One was my brother. Some were teachers and educators who did their reading, writing (cursive, no less), arithmetic, and even civics.

Some were farmers, some bankers. Some were underage drinking buddies. Some were military veterans. One taught me how to play ping pong and real competitiveness. Some were teammates on my Little League City Championship Cubs baseball team and all others who played and lost on teams against us. Some were drag racers.

One sold me my first car, a 1950 blue four-door Dodge Dart with wide white sidewalls and fluid drive. (A beast in the quarter at 29 MPH). One was my Spanish teacher. Some were Cub and Boy Scout members and leaders. For some I mowed their lawns, raked their leaves and shoveled their sidewalks for pennies on the dollar.

Some went swimming at and honored the mystique of Bare *ss Beach. Some were neighbors. Two were prom dates. Some were parents of classmates. There are mayors, radio and sports announcers.

There are guests and staff members of my beloved Bradford Hotel. Some were on my detasseling crews. One cut hair. Some were members of the Storm Lake Chamber of Commerce, the Kiwanis, the Rotary, Wan Tan Ye, the Elks, the Knights of Columbus and other civic organizations. One inspired me to write.

One was my mother who I lost at age nine. Two were strong mother figures and two were strong father figures. Many were those who watched over us all as we grew up. One almost got me into a fight. Many demonstrated the difference between right and wrong. Some were entrepreneurs.

Some taught me to “lead, follow and learn when to get out of the way.” Others taught me how and when to Salute Old Glory. Yet others taught me about my Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. I am very thankful and grateful to one and all! And I’m very glad to be back!

Rick Wimer writes from Storm Lake.