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Ramona: Simon Makovec leaves for military duty

By JESSICA GILBERT

Ramona correspondent

(785) 965-2621

Last week Simon Makovec and his dad, Gail, erected a scarecrow together for the Scarecrows on Parade event that's happening in Ramona and vicinity. This scarecrow had special significance because it represents a poignant moment in the Makovec family — Simon leaving for military duty with the Army National Guard.

Simon departed Oct. 12 for Mississippi where he'll undergo special training for the next three months. As a member of the Army National Guard he's been through basic training and advanced training in operating howitzer tanks. "But since there's no real front-line in Iraq, Simon will be retrained for a role in the military police," said Simon's dad, Gail. Simon is scheduled to deploy to Iraq in April 2006.

"We knew this day might come," said Simon's mother, Marissa, "but when it's your child . . ." and her words drifted off as tears filled her eyes.

Listening to the Makovecs talk about this experience it was evident how proud they are of their son, a recent graduate from K-State with a degree in mechanical engineering.

"Simon did an internship at Excel meat packing plant and when he graduated they offered him a job in the engineering department," said Marissa. "He was all settled with a fine job . . ." and again her voice drifts away as her heart deals with the irrational facets of life and war.

Simon's tour of duty will be 18-24 months. Nothing is definite at this point. "We don't even know where to send mail, right now," said Gail when I asked how folks from the community could keep in touch with Simon. Simon is the first in the Makovec family to serve in the military.

"We're proud and we're also concerned," said Gail when I asked how it felt to see his only son leave this week. Then he added, "Mostly proud!"

"How can folks best show their support to Simon?" I asked. "Prayers are the best support right now," replied Gale.

We salute you, Simon, and thank you for giving all that you are in the prime of your life to serve and protect the United States of America.

Ramona was bustling and overflowing with cars Oct. 9, for Trinity Lutheran's 100th anniversary celebration. Children returned home to their roots, former pastors came back to share memories, and people with ties to the church all came back to Ramona to reminisce and celebrate.

"I was baptized and confirmed in this church," said Steve Deines, standing under some nearby trees and chatting with various folks. "I married Sandra here and was an elder in the church when we lived here in Ramona."

"I was sub-organist at Trinity Lutheran," chimed in Edna Utech Mueller. "That was a long time ago!" and then she laughed as she attempted to count the years.

Tony Meyer's sister, Magadalene Bentz, and her daughter Rosalie from Salina, came to the afternoon concert and enjoyed visiting with other family members like Magadalene's sister-in-law, Alma Meyer of Tampa. "Oh it was a terrific day," said Tony Meyer. "It was so good I'd like to live it all over again!"

"I wouldn't have missed this day," said Frieda Schubert Struebing of Wichita, who came with her daughter Becky. "Trinity always has meant so much to Ramona." Frieda commented that usually you have to go to a very large funeral to see this many friends and cousins, and it was nice to gather for a celebration instead of a sad occasion.

"They had a lovely audio-visual presentation highlighting the special events that have happened in the church over the years," said Martha Schubert Ehrhardt, who attended with her sister, Frieda.

"My favorite part of the day was seeing Pastor Troup again," said Paula Morgan, member of the church. "He was our pastor from 1984-90." The Rev. Troup was guest speaker for church.

"It was lovely seeing all the pastors again," said Orvell Brunner, who's been a member for so many years that she's known most of them.

"The turn-out for the day was very gratifying," said Donita Ryff, one of the many church members who helped pull off this impressive event. "For our little congregation, 40 people attending church is a big day, so to see more than 250 people filling the pews was wonderful."

For Barbie Hanschu, chairman of the Trinity 100th anniversary celebration, the high point of the experience was how the small congregation worked together. "It was incredible," said Barbie, "to see how viable our church really is! We had a lot to accomplish for this event and it was amazing to walk into the parish hall one day and see something done, and the following week another project would be complete."

Donita Ryff echoes Barb's sentiment. "With a church as small as ours, we all really had to take on part of the work."

During the afternoon concert by Christopher Ames, Max Morgan was tending the souvenir booth where T-shirts, mugs, and history books were being sold. The 100 years of history booklet was delightful to read — I'd heard so much about the Rev. Danitschek but never, until then, seen his picture. The confirmation class pictures through the years made me smile — seeing today's adults as young confirmands. There was even a picture of the church parsonage, from 1941, which is today our bed and breakfast.

If readers want any 100th anniversary memorabilia they can call Paula Morgan, 785-965-7164. Available are 100-year history booklets, $5; mugs, $3; T-shirts, $7; and a DVD of the Oct. 9 church service, $15. Shipping charges are extra.

Jesse Brunner of Tampa was at the afternoon outdoor concert and during intermission he sidled up to me and said, "Tampa's getting so many scarecrows, we may have more than Ramona!"

I had to laugh, because for one reason or another there's been rivalry between Tampa and Ramona through the years. When I invited other towns to participate this year I purposely constructed a format that would alleviate town rivalry, but it just seems to be a natural phenomenon.

"Couldn't the judges just name an over-all town winner, unofficially," said someone from Burdick. I thought to keep it fair (given the towns vary in size) we would make this an individual competition, not a town competition. That is how the event will be judged Saturday, but even small towns like Burdick are giving the larger towns a "run for their money" when it comes to displays. Burdick has 25 displays (some having more than one scarecrow), Tampa has 37 displays, and Ramona has 37. Ramona may have Tampa beat if one counts actual scarecrows rather than displays. How's that for egging on the competition!

Jeannie Weber and Tonya Stroda, with help from Art Stroda, were putting up scarecrows late into the night this week. "We've been so busy creating the haunted house that we haven't had time to make scarecrows," said Jeannie. In addition to making their own displays, this dynamic trio also are putting up a scarecrow display for Harold and Betty Ohm since Harold still is recovering from a stroke and Betty's caretaking Harold full-time.

Ramona's popular haunted house will be open Friday and Saturday nights Oct. 28-29 from 7:30-10 p.m. Admission is 50 cents. The house is located at the north end of D Street, just south of the former high school. Alan Bentz, chief of the Ramona Volunteer Fire Dept. will be taking folks on hayrides again this year. Catch the hayride either at the haunted house or Cheers II. This great event is sponsored by the Ramona Park Improvement Committee and the Ramona Fire Department.

Dal Beisel, whose parents, David and Mary (Schneider) Beisel, lived in the house at 501 B Street in Ramona, died unexpectedly of an aneurism Oct. 9 at the Beisel's Salina home. He was buried Oct. 12 at Lewis Cemetery

"I was at a craft show and Dal was supposed to pick me up," said his wife, Phyllis. "I got stood up," she says with a brave smile. Dal was just 68 years old.

"I was dancing the polka with him just a couple of weeks ago at the Octoberfest in Lawrence," said Martha Rudolph Albright. "When we finished he said, 'We'll have to do that again real soon!'"

Ramona folks who attended the graveside services were Warren Fike, Mervin Deines, Junior Hanschu, Lisa and Ronnnie Hanschu, and myself.

The last time many of us saw Dal was at the Ramona Rural High School Reunion on Memorial Day weekend this year. We were glad to have made a few more memories. Memories help soothe our hearts.

And that's the news from Ramona where a traffic jam is two parked cars and a dog in the road.

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