Doris Fieg Holm's Daughter Resting At Home

After several inquiries from the family, your editor contacted Doris Fieg Holm about her daughter, Nancy Wiley, who was this year diagnosed with terminal lung cancer.

Here is the reply that was received:

"Thank you for your message asking about Nancy.  We are waiting with her, since she has been given some time - about six to nine months, and this was in June.  She is at home with hospice care, lots of family coming and going in an odd schedule. (Husband) Gary's family (son and sister), (Nancy's) sister Janet (McHenry), brother Matt, sister Roberta and husband Steve (Martinez) and I were (all) with them in July.

"Janet went down (Nov. 7) for a four-day weekend off from school.  Nancy's daughter, Rachel, visits from Fullerton, Calif. and (is able to) bring her work with her on the computer.  She does computer drafting for a design company in L.A. 

"I appreciate your loving concern for Nancy.  She says she is at peace and is resting comfortably at home.

"That is really all I can report right now.  It is hard to accept, and so painful to think of losing my daughter.  But Matt just returned after two weeks there, helping as best he could.  She sleeps a lot, is sweet and with good care.

"She elected to not accept any more radiation or chemo, since the after-effects last spring were so difficult.  We don't want her to suffer any more either.

"I am having trouble getting around, too ... using a walker, etc.  I had an MRI yesterday, and the results will go to a surgeon.  We shall see about that, too, soon, I hope.

"Sometimes life is hard, just plain hard."

Doris loves to hear from family members - please drop her a line, as they say!

Dr. Jeffrey Whiteside Dies at 63

Fieg cousin Dr. Jeffrey Whiteside, age 63, died during the summer of 2015.  His passing took his family painfully unaware and the entire clan grieves with his siblings Marsha Whiteside Adams, Robert Whiteside and Anne Whiteside Still, and with his wife Kathi (Amick) and children Matthew Whiteside, Juliana Corderman and Andrea Cataldo.

Jeff was the second oldest child of the late Dr. Robert and Maxine Fieg Whiteside.

Jeff was board certified in internal medicine, critical care medicine and sleep medicine with special expertise in thirteen areas including asthma, lung cancer and sleep apnea.  He and Kathi, with partner Dr. Kevin Garrett, founded Fox Valley Pulmonary Medicine in Appleton Wis. in 1982.

To quote from the eulogy delivered by Dr. Maria Aristigueta, a colleague at Fox Valley Pulmonary, "Jeff was passionate about education.  He was actively involved in the Fox Cities Family Practice Residency Program and in the Northeast WI Technical College Respiratory Therapy Program.  As a result of this, many of these graduates have remained in the Fox Cities and we are a stronger community because of this."

Jeff was a member of many committees and president or chairman of countless medical boards but, in the office, he never lost sight of his patients as people and became more than just their physician.  He was their friend.

Jeff's life was celebrated by Pastor Jane Anderson at 2:00 p.m. on July 31, 2015 at the First Congregational Church of Christ in Appleton.  The service was, according to cousin Sue Fieg Williams, a very emotional one.  Sue, her husband, Ed, and her brother, Doug, attended the memorial.  Said Sue, "Rev. Jane Anderson spoke about Jeff's life accomplishments and family history.  Jeff's son, Matthew, added some memories of Jeff's life as a great father to his three children and grandchildren....  The service was followed by a reception in the church's lower level.  The receiving line of attendees was lined up out the door, another testament to Jeff's life.  God bless Kathi and family members...."

Both the program from the ceremony and Dr. Aristigueta's eulogy are available upon request to your editor.  Memorial contributions may be directed to Headwaters Search and Rescue, P.O. Box 332, Eagle River, WI 54521, or on-line at www.hsark9.org and clicking on the "donate" button.

Arwen Bookhout Comes Home

On Monday August 10, Miss Arwen Charlotte June Bookhout was released from the hospital and her proud parents, Dan and Jenny Bookhout buckled her into the car for the ride home.

After a harrowing delivery, Arwen has grown stronger over the past four weeks, and no wonder - the last post on Facebook showing the family departing the hospital had 330 Likes!  With support such as  that, Arwen couldn't help but improve rapidly and now she joins her parents and two dogs in St. Augustine, Fla. for a tube-free life filled with love!

One question:  how does her mommy look so dang good so soon after having a baby?

Another New Fieg Leaf

You would think that it is spring time, what with all the new babies in the Fieg family!  Here is the roster of the most recent descendants of Carl and Emilie Fieg, who planted the seed of the Fieg tree in America in 1900:

NUMBERS ONE AND TWO, PLAYING FIRST BASE
On July 7 at 2:38 a.m. Chance Michael Cross was born to parents Cory and Jessica Roman Cross.  The story was published in the FFN shortly thereafter, but little did your editor know that there was a contender for this position!

Also on July 7, 2015 Judah Mwebaze Kasibante entered the world at 4:16 a.m. at the Kennestone Hospital in Kennesaw, Ga.

The baby was delivered by C-section, and was just over 6 pounds in weight and 18.5 inches long.

Judah joins brother Maxwell Kasibante as the second child born to Laura and Chief Kasibante.  Laura is the great-granddaughter of Carl and Emilie, and her dad is Douglas Fieg. 

You can see how much big brother adores the baby!  These two gorgeous kids are a wonderful addition to our family tree.



NUMBER THREE, ON SECOND BASE
Jenny Bookhout (whose hubby, Dan, is also a great-grandchild of Carl and Emilie) went into labor on the afternoon of July 10 for a planned home delivery, but had to be transferred to Flagler Hospital in St. Augustine due to a low fetal heart rate.  The baby's heart rate recovered en route and, on July 11, Jenny gave birth at 5:38 a.m. to Arwen Charlotte June.

Arwen was immediately sent to Shands Hospital in Jacksonville for intensive treatment, including cooling her body temperature (a technique that is new to your editor!), to insure that she was ready to hurtle healthily into the world.

Eventually she was off the respirator, radiating her own body heat and beginning to nurse normally.  Once she can take 75 ml from a bottle she will be on her way home.  Nothing but the best thoughts and prayers go to the fledgling family!

Any more out there??

Romans Welcome New Leaf on Family Tree

Thanks to cousin Anne Roman for this breaking story!

 

Cory and Jessica Roman Cross welcomed a baby boy at 2:38 a.m. on July 7, 2015 at Greater Baltimore Medical Center in Towson, MD, the hospital where Jess works as a nurse in the Oncology Unit.  The name chosen for him was Chance Michael Cross.

 

To their credit, Jess and Cory did not want to know whether their new baby was a boy or girl, stating that there are few happy surprises in life and they wanted the baby's sex to be one such revelation.  A surprise he was, arriving about two weeks early (surely taking after the Cross family, for, as many of you know, the Romans are not known for being early).  

 

Chance weighed in at 8 lbs. and was 21 inches long.  

 

If you are wondering about the baby's name, here's the story.  Last fall, Jess and Cory went to Las Vegas to hear their favorite band, Phish.  They arrived back home with a bonus and the lucky little guy was named Chance since he was conceived in Las Vegas and born on 7/7.  

 

This is the first child for Jess and Cory, who were married one year ago.  Jess's dad is Fieg cousin Mark Roman.  Mark's two other grandchildren are his son Robert's daughters Emily and Lydia.

 

Below is a picture from the hospital and his one-week-old photo in the froggie outfit.

 

Our very best to the family!

 

 

Shields Family Reunion Scheduled for July

This e-mail was received from Midge McClenon, whose great-aunt Florence Shields married Lothar Fieg Sr., the son of our original Fieg family pater familias in America.  I hope some twigs from that family will be able to attend.

The 80th Annual Shields Reunion will be held on Sunday, July 12th, 2015, at Nathaniel Cole Park (shelter #2) in Harpursville, NY.  

Lunch will begin at 12:30 PM.  Please bring a covered dish to share, and beverage and table service for your family.  Charcoal will be available for those who wish to grill.  

There will be a brief business meeting after lunch.   

Nathaniel Cole Park is open from 8:00 AM to dusk, offering swimming, boating, hiking, sports areas, and picnicking in a beautiful setting!  If you've never been there come see for yourself!  You're going to love it!!  

Call Vera 570 - 729 - 8621 or Midge 607 - 441 - 0475 or e-mail midgemcclenon@lycos.com, if you have any questions or need directions. 

See you on the twelfth!! 

Midge

House of Prayer Progresses Toward Completion

In Nkumba, Uganda there is a hum in the air from the activity at the House of Prayer Community Church.

Laura Fieg Kasibante, daughter of Doug Fieg and Susan Untiedt, is working side-by-side with her husband, Chief Kasibante, to establish a new place of worship in this town near Entebbe in central Uganda. 

The project began taking shape recently when the couple was advised they would be allowed only one more year to rent the church that had been their home for several years.  As Laura wrote on Facebook, "the Holy Spirit put it on our hearts to launch a land campaign last month (March). This is the promise God gave us: 1 Chronicles 17:9, 'Moreover I will appoint a place for My people Israel, and will plant them, that they may dwell in a place of their own and move no more; nor shall the sons of wickedness oppress them anymore, as previously.'  We never could have imagined how fast this promise would be fulfilled."

Within a few weeks, property was found only one minute from their then house of worship and a campaign was launched to raise the needed funds.  The money was quickly secured and then the work began.

A team of volunteers from Calvary Chapel Oceanside in California flew in via Dubai to assist with construction.  They had sent what was termed an Ark - a container full of supplies, furniture and even playground equipment (which was the first thing to be installed) for the new facility.

Work began right away and today the congregation enjoys a much larger building with room for all who wish to come and enjoy the services and events presented by this hard-working, dedicated couple and their family and friends.

Eddie Fieg Jr. Publishes Children's Book

Eddie Fieg, Jr., the son of Ed Fieg, Sr., has published his first book called Benny and the Lost Roar.

Eddie, who studied graphic design in college, illustrated the children's book, collaborating with his mom, Karen White Fieg, who wrote the story for her home economics class in 7th grade!

The book is currently for sale on Etsy, "the world's most vibrant handmade marketplace," according to their official website.  Here is the sales pitch:

"Benny is a little pink lion who just wants his roar back.

"Originally created in 1968 by a 12-year-old girl from upstate New York, this delightful, simple story has been lovingly reimagined by her adult son nearly fifty years later.

"Handwritten by Karen White in 1968 at age 12; illustrated and designed by Eddie Fieg in 2015 at age 30

"This is a 38-page, 9.75" x 8.25" landscape hardcover book with original illustrations in full color. Ideal for ages 2 to 4.

"Each copy is signed by the illustrator and comes with a free bookmark! "

This will certainly be a collector's item and a welcome addition to the Fieg family bookshelf, to sit proudly beside Das Buch von Pferde, a book about horses illustrated by Great-uncle Hermann Fieg and Why There Aren't Many Witches, a book of children's stories written by FFN founder V. Philip Fieg.  Congrats, Eddie!

Facebook Flash

Fieg cousins around the country have been really busy over the past few months.  Here is one great story gleaned from your editor's Facebook wanderings:

Brian and Emily Fieg, along with their two children Caleb and Lily, recently moved into their newly built home.  Brian is on the Lothar "Bud" Fieg, Jr. branch of the family tree, son of Doug Fieg and Susan Untiedt.

Throughout the process they kept their Facebook fans apprised of the progress with photos of dirt (Jan. 10), then framing (Feb. 10), then there was a roof with windows and plywood walls (Feb. 17) and a little siding on the garage (Feb. 25).  Their old house went up for sale in March and a contract on it came through March 11 ("super fast" said one Facebook Friend). 

On March 25 there appeared a photo of a lovely home, painted pale grey, with a spindly sapling in the yard.  Wrote Brian, "Grass laid and driveway poured; the exterior is really starting to look like a home instead of just a construction site! Sooo excited about our new back yard, too--wait till you see it!"

April 11 - giant yard sale!  April 23 - closing, and the key is pictured in Brian's hand so it's official!

Their new address is 2083 Tweed, Acworth, GA 30101.   Our very best to them in the home of their dreams.

 

Where's the Liquid Paper?

Cindy Haney Fieg is the wife of Richard Fieg, not Doug Fieg.  My deepest apologies to all injured parties!

Cindy Fieg Receives Service Award

This past January, several members of the Ste. Genevieve (Mo.) Women's Club were recognized for their service to the community.  Among them was Cindy Haney Fieg, wife of Fieg cousin Richard Fieg. 

Among the myriad acts of community service in its 66 years of existence, this remarkable club has planted 100 trees that now shade Pere Marquette City Park, supported tourism in the city by conducting tours of the Bolduc House and running the gift shop. They have supported local students with various scholarships totaling over $117,000 and offered many other opportunities to enhance education.

The club has donated cash and in-kind gifts equivalent to more than $130,000 to an institution for girls in crisis called Girls Town in Fulton, Mo., and helped raise $75,000 for the Girls Town sewer system in 2008.

Cindy Haney Fieg, second from left, receives five-year service award
from the Ste. Genevieve Women's Club in January.

The January meeting highlighted the International Outreach Programs which has raised thousands of dollars for Heifer International, which helps impoverished communities make a new start, and Operation Smile that offers cleft palate surgery to children.

Cindy was among eight recipients of the club's five year service award, presented at the close of the meeting.  Well done, Cindy!



A full account can be viewed at http://www.stegenherald.com/community/woman-s-club-celebrates-th-anniversary-with-review-of-community/article_8f1c7b9c-b22b-11e4-84db-abb9c5accdb9.html

Doris Holm Receives Tributes

Fieg Cousin Doris Holm has responded to a query by your editor and shared some delightful data about kudos she received in 2014 and 2003 from two local organizations.  Here is the scoop:

I think that the award you referred to was a tribute by my local Elk Grove Inner Wheel Club. They honored me with a luncheon after a work party day, surprising me with a framed photo with all the members' personal notes and some gifts. I am secretary of the EG club.

Inner Wheel is an international service club of women in 100 countries, founded in England in 1924 by wives of Rotarians. It is now currently only connected with Rotary through tradition, and has open membership. The national philanthropy, IWUSA Foundation, provides myoelectric limbs for children who were born without or have lost arms or hands though accident, when their insurance cannot pay. They have transformed the lives of unfortunate children.

At our recent meeting, the first recipient of an arm and hand about 17 years ago talked to us about his experiences. A now-grown college graduate, he even played baseball. Our fundraising efforts pay off.
This story has multiplied many times over. It takes a lot of money.

Our Rotary Club of Elk Grove did honor me in 2003 when I became the District Chairman of Inner Wheel for one year. They made me a Paul Harris Fellow, their honor named for their founder. The club gives $1,000 in your honor to the international Rotary Foundation, which supports the world-wide effort to eradicate polio in the entire world. The honoree get to wear a medallion on a ribbon and a little lapel pin, and lots of applause.

I was the first Inner Wheel member of Elk Grove to become Inner Wheel District Chairman. The District had 15 clubs that year. My husband (Bob) was Rotary president of EG, I think it was '93-94, but I am not a member. I've been a member of Inner Wheel since I retired from teaching in '88.

Our local club helps the Food Bank, Strauss Festival, Historical Society, Chicks in Crisis, etc, We have fun doing it, too.

Our family certainly knows how to give back.  Thanks for the story, Doris!

Surprahz, Surprahz, Surprahz!

Here is an email received from Sue Williams:

Hi Judy,

 

Yesterday (1/9/15) Greg was coming thru the Chicago area and surprised us with another visit.  Here's my report.  Please use, change or do as you see fit w/the FFN:

On 9 Jan. 2015 Ed and Sue Williams had just finished dining out after a movie and the cell phone rings.  Surprise!  It's Greg Fieg calling Sue to take them out to dinner at one of his favorite Chicago restaurants, Portillo's.

 

Ed and Sue drove to the truck stop to pick him up and headed to Portillo's where Greg enjoyed a Chicago hotdog with all the trimmings. Ed and Sue just visited and wished they had had room for a hotdog themselves.

Greg was headed for Michigan but, due to a bad accident, the expressway was closed for several hours.  Now all he could do was sit and wait.  It gave Greg the perfect excuse to stop in Orland Park again.

 

 

Belated Las Vegas Mini-Reunion Re-cap

On November 2, 2014 several members of the far-flung Fieg family met in Las Vegas, Nev. for a small family get-together.

Cousin Sue Williams booked the Red Rock Resort on the western edge of the city and all the twigs on the family tree were invited to attend.  Those who made it were Sue and her husband Ed, Richard and Cindy Fieg, Russell Fieg, Steven and Eleanor Fieg, Douglas Fieg (all of them the children and children-in-law of Uncle Bud - a.k.a. Lothar Fieg Jr.); Diana Doyle, middle daughter of Bud's brother - and FFN founder - V. Philip Fieg, and her friend Tish; Doris Holm, who is Bud's first cousin, the daughter of Max Fieg; Greg Fieg, son of Bud's brother Frank; and, daughter of Bud's baby sister Dorothy Roman, Samantha Theobald and her husband Chuck.

Here is Sue's travelogue of the trip, lightly edited:

The Bud Fieg family decided it was time to get together again.  Too many months and years had passed them by since they were all under one roof together. 

 

Susan decided to get her brothers to pick a date that would work for everyone to be in Vegas at the same time and Nov. 2 was picked by default.  Once the date was confirmed, the balance of the Fiegs were invited to join them.  Diana Doyle, Samantha Theobald, Doris Holm and Greg Fieg all RSVP'd to attend, which was three more cousins than Susan thought would confirm.

The reunion was held in Las Vegas, NV at the Red Rock Resort.  The festivities of the weekend started with Doug's 60th birthday on Oct. 31, which was celebrated at Lucille's BBQ with a great meal, cake, laughs and fun down memory lane.  At this point in time the only "out of towers" in attendance in addition to Doug were Susan, Doris and Richard along with spouses Ed and Cindy.

On Saturday Nov. 1, Steven and Diana flew into town and Greg drove in.  The group was getting bigger!  Doris hosted a great luncheon at Lucille's BBQ and afterwards she had luck on the machines. We think she was the only winner for the whole time we were in Vegas.

The reunion began "formally" on Nov. 2 in the lobby bar of Red Rock Resort with cocktails at 4:00 p.m.  This was the first time that Doris, Diana, Greg and Steven had meet Samantha and Chuck and all were so surprised at how much Samantha looks like her mother.  Samantha was also excited to meet more family.  Greg surprised Samantha and Doris with a beautiful bouquet of pink roses.

The cousins passed around pictures and copies of letters written to the family by Uncle Bud during WWII.  Diana brought the book about William Tell that she had purchased from Europe (written in German), illustrated by Uncle Hermann.

 

Time went by too fast!!  Dinner was at the Grand Café (Red Rock Resort) where the conversation and laughs continued.  No one was ready to interrupt the happy memory-making so they all headed back to the lobby bar.  This is the quietest bar in all of Las Vegas where there are plenty of seats for all to visit.

(Descending from top step) Cindy Fieg and Ed Williams; Russell Fieg, Richard, Doug
and Steven Fieg; Eleanor Fieg, Diana Doyle and Sue Williams; Doris Holm, Greg Fieg,
Samantha Theobald and Chuck Theobald

Monday Nov. 3 we had to bid farewell to some.  Ed and Susan helped get Doris off on the shuttle to the airport and Susan yelled out to Doris, "Don't take any wooden nickels!" which was a popular saying from years gone by (and a reminder of her luck at the gaming tables).  Lo and behold, when Doris got home she found a 5-cent voucher in the bottom of her purse that she forgot to cash in!  I'm sure it showed up because Philip was with her on that shuttle.

Ed and I went to Disney only one week after Vegas and the time got away from me…  That's my story and I'm sticking to it! (Ed. note - Sue was apologizing for not sending me the details sooner.  Your editor is doubling down on that apology.)

All agreed that this should be a yearly event and that Vegas was the perfect spot.  It's that great destination where after two nights you have had enough!  Good prices, great resorts, lots of restaurants and an easy location to get to make it a great choice.

Surprise Visitor at Thanksgiving in Orland Park

Susan Williams sent this to your editor who has been lax in posting it.  Sounds as if a wonderful time was had by all!

Thanksgiving at the Susan (Fieg) and Ed Williams home in Orland Park, Il. had a nice unexpected surprise: Greg Fieg arrived in time to help eat up the turkey dinner!

After dinner, Susan shared with Greg all the family memorabilia in their home.  One antique of particular interest was a wood tool box from (Uncle) Bud's home in Missouri that must have been used by one of the carpenters at Grandpa Fieg's shop in Oneonta, N.Y. at least six decades ago.   (Ed. note:  a video of Ed's expansive workshop in the home was also forwarded and can be shared upon request.)

Great Uncle Hermann's paintings were discussed, though no decision was made as to what to do with the two paintings that Doug brought to the Las Vegas reunion. The family also reviewed pictures from the Las Vegas reunion and talked about the fantastic memories.

 

 After dinner picture: (left to right) Greg Fieg, Ed and Susan Williams, Cindy and Richard Fieg, Douglas Fieg, Brenna Ferguson (Richard's youngest step-daughter)