It is time to write '30' to "Casual Comments". When Paul Wagner hired
me back in '53, he told me if I liked my work, I would do well. Several
newspaper folk told me if I once got printer's ink in my blood I would
never shake it. How true these wise men spoke, for this year beginning
in April marked the beginning of 25 years, a quarter of a century in The
Chronicle, a good way of life. Fresh off the farm, with a yen for
writing and with knowledgeable people like Paul Wagner, Jim Hodges, A.
Earl Smith and of course, Viola Wagner, always the teachers, eager to
help others learn, it has been nothing but advanced education.
--CC--
How this field has changed since '53. From hot type to cold type,
from roller press to offset, from linotypes to compugraphics. Folks have
come, folks have gone, folks have died. Each one leaving a mark in my
life. Back when the shop had two linotype machines one was invariably
operated by transients for periods of time between stable operators. One
fella lost his boarding place, because he imbibed. Another set fire to
the Brower Hotel, and others would just up and leave. At that time there
were only three females in the place. Now the ratio is reversed and it
is nine gals to two guys.
--CC--
The Wagner relatives bobbed in and bobbed out and I came to know
them. Then there was the Richard Wagner family and I watched those
babies grow, graduate, marry and have their own children. Richard sought
a new field and Robert and LaDonna Miller took over the helm in this,
the 89th year of The Chronicle publication. It could not be in finer
hands, for The Chronicle is not merely a business, but a heritage and a
trust and it will continue to flourish for their interest in and support
of the Odebolt community is great indeed.
--CC--
In the daily contact with people in person and by telephone,
listening to and writing their news, one laughed with the merry and
rejoiced with them over the weddings, new babies and accomplishments of
their families, and wept with the sad when misfortune overtook them.
--CC--
Those who volunteered their news made the work easy, and the
understanding when the inevitable mistakes occurred was appreciated. A
newspaper is only as interesting as the people in the community make it,
for it is facts about the community that keep it going.
--CC--
One Odebolt businessman, [Charlie Nelson] when it came time for him
to retire, moved to another community with a daughter, only to return to
Odebolt to make his home in the hotel, for he wanted to live in a place
where when he walked down the street people still called him 'Charlie'.
That is how it is with most small town folk. We like to walk down the
street and be greeted by our first name, not just a stare from a
stranger, and with the daily contact with so many during my sojourn in
The Chronicle, that is how it is.
--CC--
Empty chairs and vacant places
Soon will fill with other faces;
New will come where old have gone.
Eternal change goes on and on.
--CC--
- Transcribed by B. Ekse
Thelma's Obituary
Thelma Sonksen, of Le Mars, formerly of Odebolt,
Iowa, passed away Monday, April 2, 2007, at Good Samaritan Village in Le
Mars.
Memorial services will be held at a later date in Odebolt.
Arrangements are under the direction of Mauer-Johnson Funeral Home in Le
Mars. Condolences may be sent online to
www.mauerjohnsonfh.com.
Thelma Sonksen was born Feb. 7, 1912, to Allie and Edith (Sheldon)
Paul, in Odebolt, the sixth child in a family of seven. She graduated
from Odebolt High School as valedictorian in 1930. She received a
two-year certificate from Iowa State Teachers College in Cedar Falls in
1932.
She married Marvin Sonksen on Oct. 5, 1932. They had three daughters,
Janet, Lynne and Judy. They farmed south of Odebolt for several years,
moving into Odebolt in 1953. She joined the Odebolt Chronicle staff on
April 3, 1953, as a local and social news editor. In 1962, she was named
editor of the newspaper. She worked with three publishers, Paul Wagner
from 1953 until his death in 1959, Richard Wagner 1959 to 1974 and
Robert Miller from 1974 until her retirement in September 1977.
She was a member of the Iowa Press Women and served as a district
director at one time. Her popular weekly column "Casual Comments" won
awards in the Iowa Press Women competition as did her news stories and
social page in the category of weekly newspaper in a town of less than
1,500 population.
She was a member of Odebolt United Methodist Church, United Methodist
Women, Mary Circle, Order of the Eastern Star, Past Matrons, Isis Club,
M and K Club, Odebolt Women's Club, Wheeler Improvement Club and a
Birthday Club.
She is survived by three daughters, Janet and Bill Bye of Prescott,
Ariz., Lynne Bogh of Le Mars and Judy Sonksen of Colorado Springs,
Colo.; 17 grandchildren; 44 great-grandchildren; 29
great-great-grandchildren; and a sister-in-law, Fern Chester of Odebolt.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Marvin on Sept. 20, 1993; a
grandson, Bill J. Brucker; three brothers, Verne, Archie and Milton
Paul; and three sisters, Grace Paul, Winnie Scanlan and Amy Mauer.
Memorial Services for Thelma Sonksen will be held at 11:00 a.m.
Saturday, June 30, 2007 at the United Methodist Church in Odebolt.
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