Four Years since my sister Nancy passed

I could have never imagined 4 years ago how fast four years would go by. I may have only spoken with Nancy once every couple months, but it was always very much a part of me. I will continue this post tomorrow or soon. Time to dream about Nancy

A letter from my mother 1978 found after her death!

Wednesday, May 24, 1978

My dear son, Michael,

I write this letter to you with love in my heart for you.   I want to dedicate this letter with these thoughts of you.

“MOST MEMORABLE DAYS IN THE GROWING YEARS OP MICHAEL APKE".

Michael Apke, born on October 2, 1956.   Weighed 9# 8 oz. Parents, Verne & John Apke.

This was a most happy day for your Dad & I.   We were so proud to have a son.

You were a good baby.   At 6 months, you had pnernonitis, you recovered quickly.   We gave you very special care.

You were a very inquisitive baby.   In examining any toy, you would take it apart and try to put it together again.   You preferred looking how a carpet sweeper worked then a small toy.

At 3 years old, we found you in the garage painting a small maple rooking chair.

In Kindergarten, you never wanted to take naps, but always wanted to play.

Remember 1st grade, when you told Sister Editha that the kids in the classroom could take a tour through our trailer which was parked in our back yard   it certainly was a thrill to all of them.

Remember you get the chicken pox the day before we were to leave for Florida to visit Big Grandma in our trailer?   We decided to leave you with little Grandma until we came back.   When we arrived in Florida we missed you and had you fly down by yourself in your first airplane flight (of course with the consent of the doctor).   I remember you enjoyed the plane so much; you wanted to fly back instead of going with us in the trailer.

Remember you were an altar boy, paper boy, Boy Scout, and little league. You helped shovel the sidewalks and would almost shovel half the block.

In sixth grade you one the 1^st place Science Fair award for the whole school in RADIO APPARATUS. In the seventh grade again you won second place. It was the working of an engine.   In 8th grade* you won 1st place again in. the Science Award for the "Atoms."

When you graduated 8th grade at St. Richards School, you were presented an award for "The most cooperative boy in school". We were so proud.

Your choice of high schools was St. Laurence.   You were accepted and graduated from there.   Your sports activity was wrestling.

Remember, the trailer trips we had taken, almost every year. You were always at Dad's side.   He showed you how to fish, swim and of course auto mechanics.

Remember too, hot much you enjoyed 0le in Wisconsin*   You. Loved to hear him tell tales about fishing and hunting,

When you were 16, you took your driver’s license test and passed. You started working at 16 at South End Carthage,   You enjoyed saving money.    At 18 you bought a car.

Remember graduation of High School.   At the ceremony, you were the only one without a tie.   Before they called you to get the diploma, you, borrowed the tie from the guy behind you.    We found out later, that one of your friend’s car broke down, and you were fixing it and left the tie in the back of their oar.

, Remember, when you had the toe operation.   The doctor said you should ware gym shoes*   that made you the happiest guy in high school. You even teak your gym shoes along with you to your school prom.  You wore them after the prom was over.

In1973, at our 26th wedding anniversary, you wanted to surprise us with a 1948 Ford car you purchased (the year of our wedding :,) you and Ray Kaszuba were working on it for 2 months.   You got it in front of our house but it wouldn’t start*

These are memories of you that I can never forget*

When you became 18, you wanted to be independent.   You moved away on your own*

I want to tell you that you’re Dad & I loved you and did what we thought was best for you*

Some other incidents I recall now:

                                                        •                                                                      

Remember when you took speech lessons from Mrs. Smith.   You had a

Slur that was to be corrected.   It improved your speech in the few

Lessons you took.

Remember also, the speech class had a play and your barn door was open and the white shirt sticking out of it.   That was the last time, you vent to speech classes.

Remember when you wanted to type your homework? You drew a keyboard on a piece of cardboard and learned how to type*

Remember when you had a difficult time doing fractions. I would work with you every day and then one day you said, to me “Mom thanks for allowing me how to do fractions* I'm good at. it now*

I remember when you ware camping with the scouts and you sent ma a poem on a bark, from a tree,   "Roses are red* violets are blue I miss and love you".   It warmed my heart*

Remember when the sewer in the front lawn was blocked*   Dad was sick, and we hired someone to unclog it*   you were about 11 then*   you said to Dad that the guy didn't know was a ratchet wrench was.

Remember when little Grandma broke her hip and you visited her at the hospital and told her she could have your room until she was up and around

These momenta in your young life I want to remember.

Some other incidents I recall now:

                                                        •                                                                      

Remember when you took speech lessons from Mrs. Smith.   You had a

Slur that was to be corrected.   It improved your speech in the few

Lessons you took.

Remember also, the speech class had a play and your barn door was open and the white shirt sticking out of it.   That was the last time, you vent to speech classes.

Remember when you wanted to type your homework? You drew a keyboard on a piece of cardboard and learned how to type*

Remember when you had a difficult time doing fractions. I would work with you every day and then one day you said, to me “Mom thanks for allowing me how to do fractions* I'm good at. it now*

I remember when you ware camping with the scouts and you sent ma a poem on a bark, from a tree,   "Roses are red* violets are blue I miss and love you".   It warmed my heart*

Remember when the sewer in the front lawn was blocked*   Dad was sick, and we hired someone to unclog it*   you were about 11 then*   you said to Dad that the guy didn't know was a ratchet wrench was.

Remember when little Grandma broke her hip and you visited her at the hospital and told her she could have your room until she was up and around

                                                     These momenta in your young life I want to remember.

Dive Master Michael Apke

^Six months hard work

Saint Richards Grammar School Chicago, IL Class of 1970 class Predictions

                      St Richards Grammar School Chicago, IL                          

              1970 Class Predictions

.      

 Mike Apke is now a technical engineer_.

Eugene Baoulic is the owner of a famous night club

Zenon Balchunas is a professional soccer player _.

Rhonda Barron was an artist and is now married and has twelve children_.

Karen Bartosek is a first grade teacher.

Angelita Batara is the current ambassador for the Philippine

Embassy.

„             '                 ' 

Paul Bonderski is a professional hunter_.

'Richard Bojko is a comedian (star attraction) at Eugenes night

Club

Kenneth Boyes is a goal tender for the La Kings

Daniel P. Brannan is now a naval officer (in the Navy)

Deborah Bukowski is a dancing instructor at one of Fred As-satire’s studios_.

Jim Buttney is a cattle rancher and has his own plane.

Gloria Can© is now a world famous soprano singer.

Cathy Cardiilo is an elementary school teacher.

John Carli is now a veterinarian₀

Teresa Carrillo is the "sole" owner of a Mexican Restaurant

Michael Cegielski is a popular cartoonist- for one of Chicago Largest newspapers_.

Michele Cholewa is the owner of a horse ranch „

Kathleen Concannon is a professional dancer on Broadway.

David Conrad is the owner of a franchise restaurant .

Claudia Cyr is nationally famous.   She has her own morning talk show which is broadcast on radio and television.

Gerald D⁸Angel© is a goalie for the Chicago Blackhawks.

James Demiskis is now owner of the fourth largest supermarket and is in stiff competition with Sladek's Finer Foods"

Cathy Diviggiano is now an interior decorator.

Susan Donahue is a stewardess for T.W.A.

Cathy Dsielski is a nurse .

Kevin"Elstner is now director of the Army Marching Band and Drill Team

George Esposito is a professional soccer goal tender.

Robert Gagner is a flight controller for American Airlines.

Anna Garcia is a veterinarian

Joseph Gibbons is a top professional racing driver and is competing in the Indianapolis 500_.

Cathy Givilanez is a poet

James Glyda is a cartoonist for Chicago Today_.

Mary Glyda is a housewife and is raising a family.

Charles Gondek is a manufacturer of diesel engines_.

Linda Gruehot is now making headlines₀   She is now the first: girl to break the barriers and become the first girl to play baseball in the Major League.  

Mary Theresa Grygorcewicz is an assistant owner of a horse rancho

Glenn Hawkins is an architect and has designed some of Chicago newer buildings_.

Kathy Headtke is an interior decorator and has furnished some Hawkins buildings_.

Ricky Hiearo is an electrician who owns a trick store_.

Walter Jakobezyk is a veterinarian for l0000 Labadors

Gary Jendryeaka is a hockey player and owner of Arbie's Beef_.

Karen Jesse Is now q bank teller₀

Corrine Kallsh is a veterinarian for a local animal hospital

Dennis Kanaverskis is a bartender of high quality, for Joe’s tavern

Karen Karac became a model for Cover Girl magazine.

Thomas Kash is now following his father’s footsteps and work-at the family service station_.

Ray Kaszuba is a pilot for United Airlines

Louise Kempski is a beautician_.

Jim Klimek is a musician and director of his own band.

RICH Kling is now a producer of his own show_. “The Undersea World of Richard Kling”

Timothy Knowski is now center for the Chicago Bulls_.

Karol Kowalczyki  is a professional soccer player on Zenons team_.

Robert Lendecky is a basketball player for a Midwestern team_.

Donna Leno is now a nurse at General Hospital.

Michael Lesniak is a proffessor at Yale University_.

Cindy Lullo is married and raising three children_.

0

Bill McGrath owns a top rate liquor store in Beverly Hills₉ Californiao

Gerald Malok is a pilot for United Airlines„

Carol Maks is a part-time dancer and model for Ingenue magazine

 Sharon Martinek is a secretary and works in the John Hancock Buildlag.

Karen Menoni is a champion figure skater

Kevin Mensik is a top notch auto mechanic at a gas station Archer and Tripp.

Thomas Milani is holder of the heavy weight wrestler championship

Jackie Miller is a secretary for the Johnson and Johnson Company o

Bob Miller is now a member of the Chicago Police Department

David Niels is a part-time drummer and professional ball player.

Cathy Olson is a nurse at Holy Cross Hospita.

Thomas Qriik Is an office clerk for a loop firm_.

Mary Lou Pachla is an add designer for an advertising agency.

'Nancy Paroubek is a pedlatrition_.

Chris Peca is a major league baseball player.

Jean Pesavento is a fashion model for Vogue magazine_.

Carol Piotrowski is married and works as a data computer operator

Mark Piotrowski is a pharmacist and owner of his drug store.

Donald Pryzblowski is a bank teller downtown.

Frank Baublskls Is an airplane pilot and owns his own plane_.

John Rolla is a hockey player for the Chicago Blackhawks

Robert Rosa is a baseball player for the Chicago Cubs_.

Alan Saele is a professional hockey player₀

Tony Sanfilippo is  a counselor for young children and is also a member of a rock band.

Karen Schreiber is a professional model_.

John Selio is a professional baseball player and a part-time comedian.

Gayle Seminara is a model for Vogue.

Daniel Skowron is the official sports announcer for all Sox games.

Celeste Skowronski was a professional model and is now a

Housewife.

Rich Skrobanski is a professional carpenter.

Mike Skupski is part owner of a night club on Rush Street_.

Judy Smith is now married and living in the western suburbs

Of Chicago   She is also treasurer of the local P.T.A.

William Tarsa is a championship bowler_.

Ennedy Toledo is a Journalist and feature story writer for one of Chicago^’s top newspapers.

Philip VanGeertry was and still is the replacement for Ernie Banks on the Cubs team*

Thomas Vari is a pilot for Ozark Airlines„

Carmen Velazquez is the owner of her own palmistry parlor₀

Theresa Sals is a writer for Chicago Today.

Kathy Wensel is a model for Cover Girl magazine and will be a bride in the near future.

Daniel Wolski is editor and chief of the Chicago Tribune.

Donald Wolski is now a business executive and works for his brother.

Craig Zamaolewicz is a judo expert and has his own studio where

he gives lessons_.

Susan Zivolic will own a horse ranch in partnership with Michele  

Pat Zurawski is now married and is a practicing pediatrician.

About Ma for Mothers day (posted a couple years after her death)

Ma Reading about the 97 year young woman in Texas that got arrested, and had actually been handcuffed, mugshotted and bonded out, it makes me think of you. Her name is Dolly Kelton. Dolly is 15 years older than you and is old enough to be your mother. (Bet you haven't heard that for a while).

Dolly was arrested for not renewing her license plate and missing court. At first I thought to myself "They shouldn't have handcuffed her and arrested her but 97 years old wow, she is too old to drive and they should get her off the road."

This morning Dolly was on the Today Show on TV. Dolly was so sharp and presented herself so well you wouldn't guess her age in a million years. I still think someone should verify her age. Dolly looks great and is sharper than a lot of people my age. As far as I am concerned if Dolly thinks she can drive it is ok with me.

Ma, I and (Judy, Nancy, Marie, Louise Greg and Scot) feel the same way about you. Although we are all selfish, each one of us would like you to move next door or in with us. You do what you like Ma.

You have been so generous to us just not Christmas or when we need money, but buying that catastrophic insurance policy is just another way you think of your family and refuse to be a burden.

Recently, up until seeing Dolly on TV (a woman I don't even know), I was worried about how old you were getting. Not even thinking how old I am getting myself. This was so foolish on my part almost living in a worry box. I should be like someone I know (Verne Apke) and Live every day like she dose, rarely complaining not asking for a lot going to work every day taking care of her friends and family. On Verne Apke days off she can't be found because she is busy with her friends.

Verne Apke doesn't really need anything. Verne's children can't think of anything. So here is another Mother’s day with flowers again. Not those flowers are bad.

I know what to give Verne Apke. Our LOVE in writing.

WE LOVE YOU MA (Verne Apke) HAPPY MOTHERS DAY.