Dear Hearts and Gentle People:

 

It’s a gloomy day in the old hometown, although the trees are in bloom and the flowers are coming out. It’s an early spring here due to an extremely mild winter. We could actually have another freeze before the end of the week, but now we are getting much-needed rain. We will all welcome the return of the sun.

 

I may as well begin with the sad news. As always, we have lost some of our favorite people. I received a call Sunday night from Duane Schlueter, LHS ’49. He passed along news of the death that day of John David Kleindienst ’56.

 

Duane wrote:  John David Kleindienst passed away at the age of 78 on Sunday, April 2^nd, at the Capital Region Hospital in Jefferson City.  John grew up in Lexington and often talked about the good times and good friends he had in Lexington. Survivors include his wife, Martha, three children and their spouses and seven grandchildren.

 

Visitation will be April 6, 4-7 p.m. at Houser-Millard Funeral Home, 2613 West Main St., Jefferson City.  Funeral services will be held at St. John’s Lutheran Church, 4409 St. John’s Road, Jefferson City. Martha’s address is:  1520 Timber Trail, Jefferson City, MO  65109. 

 

Ray Miller sent a notice that his wife had passed away on Feb. 3.

 

Jim Luehrs, LHS ’61 also lost his wife. He said:  Thanks for doing this.  It keeps us informed.  My wife Berta passed away last June from a short illness with a very rare cancer. Berta was a pharmacist and worked at Rush Drug Store before we moved away.  She was friends with a lot of the Lexington people.

 

Sally Brasher Lowther died in March. She was LHS Class of 1956. I know many of you remember Dr. Brasher.

 

Heartfelt sympathy to all families involved.

 

And one final tragedy:  a terrible house fire took the life of Eugene Schlapper. I’m uncertain what year, but he was also an LHS graduate. The house, at southwest corner of 20^th and South, was the former home of Mrs. Shouse who taught many years in the Lexington school system.

 

In TLC #150 Jack Gueguen had spoken of the 1951 flood. Duncan Lee’s memory produced this story:

 

To the note from Jack about the '51 flood, I remember an incident during the height of the flood. I'm sure it was the '51 and not '53. My father was working at the water plant non-stop for several days, of course, and when things really got bad, and the National Guard unit was called out to help sandbag the reservoirs, in vain as Jack points out. My mother fixed a sack lunch for Ed around 7 or 8 pm, piled Barb and me into the car and drove down to the plant. The only road open was the one just off Highland Ave. in front of the Pioneer Mother statue. It was very rough and as we neared the curve at the bottom, we had to stop due to all the other vehicles parked there. The water was over the road in front of the plant. There were big lights to help the sandbaggers. Of course to a nine-year-old boy this was hugely exciting. Mother got out and found either Dad or someone who could deliver the food. My memory dims a little now, but I'm pretty sure Mother had to reverse all the way back up the rocky road, in the dark. Stick shift in the '51 Chevy, too.

I want to thank everyone for the nice notes of appreciation. Please do send your memories of old times in Lexington, and I’ll continue to distribute them. Here’s something on a lighter note: upcoming local events in case you decide to visit. And don’t forget we’re in the prime path for the Eclipse 8/21/17.

April

Easter Egg Hunt - April 15th, 11am, ball fields

The Lights Festival KC - April15th, Fahrmeier Farms

Tourism Dinner - April 27th at The LEX

Warrior Dash - April 29th

 

May

Lexington CONNECT - May 6th, celebrating business & opportunity

Pool Opens - May 27th

 

June

Community Wide Garage Sale - June 3rd

Big BAM: Bicycle Across Missouri - June 12th

 

July

Fireworks - July 3rd, ball field at Community Park

Porches & Peaches - July 22nd, Throughout Lexington

LHA Roaring 20’s Speakeasy at The LEX - July 29th

 

August

MO 340 river race - Aug. 8th, http://rivermiles.com/mr340/

Eclipse event @ the Lex - Aug. 19th-20th

Community Fair - Aug. 20-26

Day of the Dark • Total Eclipse Viewing - August 21

 

September

Old Homes Tour - Sept. 9 & 10th

LHA Civil War Ball - Linwood Lawn, Aug. 16th

Apples, Arts & Antiques Apple Auction - Aug. 21st

Apples, Arts & Antiques - Aug. 23rd