Word Paintings From November, 2016

Judy and Joe Kestner were hosts to their daughter, Emilie V., who came in from Abilene for the Thanksgiving holiday.  They also had a surprise - and very enjoyable - visit from Cade Dangca.  Cade, the number one grandchild of Greg Fieg, is currently stationed in El Paso, in his last year in the U.S. Army.  His paternal grandparents live in Corpus Christi and he and a buddy drove the 14 hours in to visit.   In all the excitement of watching him eat pumpkin pie and then a plate of turkey and all the trimmins, the thoughts of taking a current photo flew out the window.  Suffice it to say, Cade is a remarkable young man!

Kathy Boggs Clancy's turkey was done an hour and a half before the rest of the meal!!  So they all sat around and admired the pretty holiday table she set. 

Tommy and Tamara Bradford, Brenna Rose, Cindy, Richard

Richard and Cindy Fieg had their girls and son-in-law over for the holiday.  Peace out, dawgs!





Jean and Phyllis Fieg, in Greensboro, N.C., pulled a "Christmas Story" stunt and had Chinese for Thanksgiving.  Phyllis said the meal was from a new restaurant in town and was pretty good.  Judy and Emilie Kestner will be visiting in December -- hope we get to try it out!

Greg and Doug Fieg Enjoy Chitown Thanksgiving Celebration

The stars aligned and the peripatetic Greg Fieg (and his little dog, too!) was able to alight for a while to eat turkey, chat up the relatives and take a break from flattening out our nation's interstate highways.  Also, making the trek from the Show Me State to the Windy City was Cousin Doug Fieg, 

On Thanksgiving Day Greg and Doug joined cousin Sue Williams her home in Orland Park, Ill.  Sue's hubby, Ed, and his mom Eleanor rounded out the happy group. 

Greg reports that he had a most pleasant time, the food was delish, the company charming and the conversation sparkling.  Who could ask for anything more?

Recent Word Paintings

Maren Corkery, eldest child of Sarah and Kevin Corkery, was delivered to Northeast Catholic College in Warner, N.H. on August 21.  Maren earned a scholarship to the Catholic liberal arts institution which occupies 135 acres on Mt. Kearsage.  Maren will be missed, especially by her mom who can't believe she's old enough to have such an elderly kid!

Your editor and cousin Anne Roman both opted to receive their Social Security in the very same month!  They are now rolling in the dough, eager to use the shiny new Medicare cards they recently received in the mail. 

Shields relatives Peter Collier and his two kiddos, Will and Libby, are visiting upstate New York from their home in England.  They have visited the Delaware County Fair in Walton, gorged on barbecued brisket and enjoyed the beautiful scenery in Upstate New York and New England.  Peter is related through marriage to Midge McClenon, director of the annual Shields family reunion.  Midge's mother was a Shields.

Diana and Bill Doyle have decided they want to live on Little Peas Porridge Pond in New Hampshire, so they loaded up the cat and, on the third try, set off for the Granite State.  Originally this was to be an experiment: if Diana could continue her travel business from New England, they would sell their properties in New York and make it permanent.  Looks like the experiment was a success -- anyone want to buy a home in Lake Placid or Croton-on-Hudson?

In keeping with her birding-related activities, your editor has purchased what her husband, Joe Kestner, terms "the ultimate tree-hugger's car," a Subaru Forester.  It is jasmine green and just gorgeous!  We also have a new roof with a hint of green in the shingles, so, just sayin'....

With characteristic generosity, Eddie Fieg Sr. has purchased three commemorative bricks that are installed at the National World War II Museum in New Orleans.  The bricks honor his dad, Frank Fieg, and his uncles Lothar "Bud" Fieg and V. Philip Fieg, who all served in that armed conflict.  On a recent trip to Louisiana, Ed and his youngest, Max, went on an airboat ride through the bayous and Max made a friend -- two in fact:

JUMPING FOR MARSHMALLOWS

MAX AND BABY ALLIGATOR

Daniel P. Corkery Is In the House!

On Flag Day, June 14, 2016, Daniel Peter Corkery entered this world.  He joins his parents, Sarah and Kevin Corkery, and his nine brothers and sisters in their Oneonta, N.Y. home.

Dan was born at 8:24 a.m. weighing 9 pounds and measuring 20 inches long.   He is the third boy in the family.

To your editor, he bears a resemblance to his maternal grandfather, Greg Fieg, who noted that even shortly after birth Daniel exhibited an alertness that is rare in one so tiny.

Something else sets this kid apart: his very sweet Kirk Douglas chin.

Our congratulations to the entire family!

What Happens in Vegas....

In early May Sue Williams, only daughter of Lothar "Bud Fieg and Catherine Shafer Fieg, took a trip to Las Vegas to visit both her brother Russell and his wife Heny, and our cousin Samantha Theobald and husband Chuck.  Here is the news that was allowed out of that city:

 

Hi family/friends,

 

We are home.... It sure is nice to travel when the shuttle, TSA, flights, bag claim, drive home etc. work out perfect - it can be fun to travel!

 

Vegas family looks great. We met up w/ Heny once for dinner, Russell twice and Samantha/Chuck once. Russell is looking good (hopefully he'll give up the smokes and look even better............I know how hard it is to do). Chuck has kept off his weight and Samantha is still doing the beautiful smile she always has when we show up. Hopefully we will get back out there Sept./Oct when the weather is good. We want to stay longer next time.....this trip was too short.

In the picture, from left, Sammie, Sue and Chuck.

 

 

The Fieg Name Lives On!

On Friday May 27, 2016 Brian Fieg of Acworth, Ga. sent an email to your editor as follows:

Our newest son, Nathan Daniel Fieg, was born this morning (at home) at around 2:41am. We are both doing well, just tired. We are a little fuzzy on the numbers, but we think he was 6 lb 4 oz and 19 inches long. Will send a correction if those aren't quite right.

He is nursing well. His brother and sister are very excited about him. We adore him!  

We love you all!

And from Facebook:

 Caleb and Lily are so happy to have another sibling to love. This time, I got to catch the baby, which was a pretty cool experience. Thank you Lord for a great birth and for our wonderful midwives Debbie, Lacey and Ashley!

Brian is the son of Doug Fieg and Susan Untiedt.  He and his wife Emily and their two children Caleb and Lily have been waiting for what seemed like nine months for the newest addition to their - and our - Fieg family.  Hugs and congrats to this burgeoning family!!
 

Anne Elinor Bookhout, 68, Dies Suddenly

Anne Bookhout

Anne Bookhout, an Oneonta native who, with an Ivy League education and a nursing degree from Hartwick College,  launched a county-wide public health agency, died unexpectedly May 28 at her Brooktondale, N.Y. horse farm.  She was 68.

Bookhout was born March 23, 1948 in Oneonta, the fourth child of  Judge Richard J. and Florence Fieg Bookhout.  She attended Bugbee School and Oneonta public schools, graduating from Oneonta High School in 1966 and from Cornell University in 1970.  She worked in various capacities in the healthcare field in Oneonta after receiving a nursing degree from Hartwick College.

In 1984 she returned to Cornell to earn a master's in healthcare administration. Anne founded a key city-county public health agency, Visiting Nurse Service of Ithaca and Tompkins County, serving 20 years as chief executive officer.

Having owned and loved horses since the age of 12, she later founded Quickland Stables, a commercial equestrian riding and boarding facility at her residence in the Ithaca suburb of Brooktondale.  She operated the business until her death.

Anne is survived by her husband of 25 years, Robert Morgan, whom she assisted in running a commercial trucking fleet.

She is also survived by her son and daughter-in-law, Andrew and Denise Shedlock of Tallahassee, Fl., and their children Madeline and Ryan; a step-daughter and her husband, Janice Morgan-Solano and Nickie Solano of Edmonton, Ont., and their son Kyle.  Anne also leaves siblings Kathryn Bookhout Biggerstaff of Delmar, N.Y., William Bookhout of St. Augustine, Fl., Mary Bookhout Wolcott of St. Augustine, Fl. and Richard Bookhout, Jr. of Troutman, N.C.

She was preceded in death by her parents and a sister, Elizabeth Bookhout Boggs, of Oneonta.

Funeral services were held June 5 at Bangs Funeral Home in Ithaca.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in her memory to the Cornell School of Veterinary Medicine.

Historic Fieg Photos Available On-Line

Great news!  Don Roman has set up an account on Shutterfly containing scanned photos from the first four albums of historical Fieg photographs dating from the 1890s through 1994. 

The albums were created by the founder of the Fieg Family Newsletter, V. P. Fieg.  He wanted to be sure these treasured images and other documents were preserved and, since this was way before anyone ever even dreamed of something like Shutterfly, affixing the actual photos to construction paper, punching holes and putting them into a notebook was the most cutting-edge method of preservation available.

You can see the faces from the past that look like the faces of today, use it as a great resource for a school project or just take a walk down Memory Lane.

Our thanks go to Don and brother John Roman for their dedication in scanning the 300+ pages and transferring them to the cloud-based storage site for our enjoyment, and the pleasure of future Fieg generations!

If you need one, create an account with Shutterfly.  This is a free service, though photos can be ordered and printed from the website at a competitive price. Better yet, they can be downloaded to your computer for free.   Once the home page pops up, click on the 2016-03-20 link. 

After some brief experimentation, your editor found that, to see the photos at full-screen size, you need to click on "slideshow," then click the pause button (two vertical bars in the circle) and last click on "full screen" at the top right.  You can scroll through the pictures at your own pace using the arrows to the right and left of the photo.

Many pages have multiple pictures on them  When they are downloaded to your computer they are saved as jpg files which are easily edited, cropped and saved individually.

Here is the link to view all the pages of these tomes.  Enjoy a blast from the past!

Fieg_Historic_Photo_Albums
https://fieghistoricphotoalbums.shutterfly.com/

 

Maren Corkery Wins Scholarships, Prize

Maren Corkery of W. Oneonta, N.Y., eldest daughter of Kevin and Sarah Fieg Corkery, is contemplating accepting a scholarship to Northeast Catholic College in Warner, N.H.

The seventeen-year-old, who recently got her driver's license, wrote an essay which won her a $1,000 annual scholarship from the school and an all-expenses paid trip to the Dominican Republic, the home country of her great-grandmother Marina. Maren was one of six recipients.

She also has been offered a $9,000 annual scholarship from the college, a $5,000 home-school annual scholarship and a $3,000 annual scholarship from the St. John Newman Society.

Maren is also considering attending school in Virginia.

Maren's grandfather is Greg Fieg.

And Babies Make Three....

You editor belatedly announces a new addition to the Fieg family tree, and two more to come.

First, Laura and Chief Kasibante welcomed a new baby brother to keep big brother Maxwell company.  The Kasibantes came back to the U.S. last year for the birth, and stayed in Georgia with Laura's brother Brian and his family.  Judah Mwebaze made his appearance on July 18, 2015, less than a month after his parents celebrated three years of wedded bliss.

The family returned to Uganda in September and, though the fall of 2015 saw some illnesses and even a hospitalization for Maxwell, they are now healthy and happy and working hard at the prayer center.  They have purchased more land and are building a larger facility, slated to cost $100,000, and donations toward that goal are welcome.  

Funds can be wired to Barclays Bank Uganda Ltd., Kampala; Swift code BARCUGKX; for the HOPCCN - House of Prayer Community Church, Nkumba, account 6004755837, Branch Plot 32 Luwum St., P.O. Box 2971, Kampala, Uganda.  You can see the construction progress at www.houseofprayermkumba.com.

 

The "two more to come" to which your editor alluded in the first sentence are also boys! 

The first, due in May 2015, will be Laura's nephew, son of Brian and Emily Fieg.  From the photo below, you can see that the reaction of the baby's brother, Caleb, is quite different from that of his sister, Lily.  (Greg Fieg is also elated that another male Fieg twig is sprouting on the family tree!)

In a November 2015 email to her Aunt Sue Williams, Emily writes, "Caleb is really starting to use advanced sentences.  He can count to 10 and identify all numbers 9-0.  He is almost able to do 10-20, too.  He can also say the whole alphabet.  We are in the process of potty training....  As soon as he can go without an accident for 2 weeks we will be enrolling him in preschool.  He is growing up so fast!

"And speaking of fast, Lily had grown immensely in the last 4 months.  When she turned 1 she wasn't saying any words, wasn't walking without support and only had 2 teeth.  Now she says more than 20 words, is walking and running and climbing like a pro and has 11 teeth.  She loves shoes more than anything and knows how to throw a heartbreaking tantrum when she doesn't get her way.  

"They love each other so much and enjoy making each other laugh, especially at meal time."

  
The second baby boy will be Greg's fourth grandson and child number 9 for Sarah and Kevin Corkery.   The due date is in June.  The new baby will be the third boy in that family.  The baby's father is partial to the name Daniel, though a final decision has not yet been made.

The Corkerys are planning for radical logistical alterations to make room for this ninth child who, in essence, will replace his eldest sister, Maren, when she goes off to college in the fall.  The baby's  siblings, in addition to Maren, 17 are Colette, 14, Grace, 11, Karoline, 9, Frances, 7, Sean and Seamus, 4, and Gemma, 2.

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)

Kennedy Konnections

1.  During a 1966 campaign appearance in Oneonta, Greg Fieg not only got to shake the hand of former U.S. attorney general Robert F. Kennedy, who was running for senator, but also:
A.  got his autograph
B.  rode on the trunk of his car w/ him
C.  joined a group of hecklers urging him to return to Massachusetts
D.  Greg wasn't at the rally

2.  In 1970 the opera star Maria Callas was being interviewed by David Frost in the NYC theatre district.  Greg Fieg and his friend Billy Wells sat in the audience and heard Callas say that, after nine years of living with him, she had been had been summarily ordered off Ari Onassis' yacht to make room for his new bride, Jacquelyn Kennedy.  Asked by Frost about this she replied:
A.  she would file a palimony suit and take Ari for every franc he had
B.  scratch out the eyes of her new rival
C.  remain Ari's best friend and confidante, and he hers
D.  Greg wasn't at the interview

3.  Before Black Friday, which marked the beginning of the Great Depression in 1929, Joseph P. Kennedy, who cashed in before the crash and became a millionaire, moved his family to
A.  Hyannisport, Mass.
B.  Chappaquiddick, Mass.
C.  Nantucket, Mass.
D.  Bronxville, N.Y.

4.  Teddy Kennedy was rescued from being pulled into a throng of wildly out of control admirers by New York congressman Sam Stratton, who grabbed him around the waist and kept him from losing his footing.  Sam Stratton was known best, before his almost 30-year career as a congressman and ranking member of the House Armed Services Committee, as:
A.  captain of the USS Enterprise
B.  test pilot of the Air Force X-15 rocket airplane
C.  Sagebrush Sam, a cowboy character who introduced cartoons to viewers on WSYR-TV
D.  the songster who introduced the hit single "Mr. Lonely"

5.  While visiting Oneonta on a campaign stop, Robert Kennedy slept in a house the size of a lake steamer at the corner of Watkins Ave. and Grove.  This house later became the possession of Judge Albert Baldo, who is best known by the Fieg family as:
A.  the man who performed the marriage ceremony of Greg Fieg and his first wife, Jackie
B.  the man who convicted Fieg family friend Joe Wright of making an illegal left-hand turn
C.  the man who helped bring to life the housing development known as Balford Park
D.  A and C

6.  Judge Albert Baldo had a brother, Patsy "Pat" Baldo, who was a master shoemaker.  He was not bashful about remarking that Albert bore a striking resemblance to one of the Kennedys, that being:
 A. John F. Kennedy
B.  Robert F. Kennedy
C.  Edward M. Kennedy
D.  Edgar Kennedy 

7.  Dutch Schultz and Jack "Legs" Diamond made their fortunes by running illegal liquor during the Prohibition as did:
A.  General Douglas MacArthur
b.  Governor Al Smith
C.  Ambassador Joseph P. Kennedy
D.  New York City Mayor Fiorello LaGuardia

8.  During a number of trips to St. Louis, Steven Fieg and his father were able to see and meet future Hall-of-Famer Stan Musial, the St. Louis Cardinals slugger.  In 1962 Musial was invited to the presidential box at the all-star game in Chicago where he met JFK and:
A.  Bloodthirsty mobster Jack "Legs" Diamond
B.  Bloodthirsty mobster  Dutch Schultz
C.  Bloodthirsty mobster Sam Giancana
D.  None of the above

9.  Sam Giancana, who was thought to be influential in bringing in the 1960 Chicago vote for JFK, died on June 19, 1974 by:
A.  overdosing on sedatives and bourbon
B.  jumping off the Chrysler Building
C.  dying peacefully in his sleep
C.  being assassinated by a mob hitman

The Phantastic Fiegs Quiz

1.  In 2010, Lisa Fieg was strolling past the St. Regis Hotel near Central Park and she bumped into yet another celebrity face to face.  This individual was:
A.  Pop singer Bruno Mars   
B.  "Star Trek" actor Leonard Nimoy
C.  Jazz musician Sun Ra
D.  Former Beatle Ringo Starr

2.  The number seven train of the New York city Subway system stops at the corner of Lisa's block, a few short feet from her door.  She takes the train west to work every day.  If she were to take the train east, it would go directly to Shea Stadium which was, in addition to the venue of the N.Y. Mets baseball team, also host to:
A.  Rock and roll legend Elvis Presley
B.  Opera legend Enrico Caruso
C.  Legendary soprano Maria Callas
D.  The Beatles

3.  The Beatles, in their early years were known as:
A.  The Quarrymen
B.  The Flintstones
C.  The Rockhounds
D.  The Drywall Hangers

4.  If Lisa takes the seven train east to see the Mets she will pass through:
A.  an Irish neighborhood
B.  a Spanish neighborhood
C.  a Chinese neighborhood
D.  all of the above, in succession

5.  While out on the hustings,  congressman Sam Stratton one day tore his pants on a nail.  He retreated to his mother's house in Cooperstown, home of the Baseball Hall of Fame, and removed his pants while she fetched a needle and thread.  Before her return a number of guests appeared unexpectedly and he:
A.  wrapped a shawl from the back of the couch around his waist
B.  shrieked and ran out of the room
C.  sat down and crossed his legs, smiling pleasantly
D.  ordered the visitors out of the house because he was indisposed.

6.  When Jean Davie first met her future husband, Philip Fieg, in the living room at 10 N. Sixth St. he was wearing:
A.  only his boxer shorts
B.  a bear costume, as he was on his way to a Halloween party
C.  a mortar board and gown on his graduation day
D.  his mother's frilly apron, as he was washisng dishes in the kitchen

7.  Philip's brother, Frank Fieg, had a life-long best friend, Joe Wright.  While returning from the Majors Inn in Gilbertsville in a 1934 Ford Cabriolet V-8, Joe was ticketed for speeding 75 in a 50 mph zone.  Sitting beside him in the passenger seat was
A.  future mayor Roger Hughes, drunk
B.  future judge Albert Baldo, drunk
C.  Gilberstville town constable Carloga Klemm, drunk
D.  Maxine Fieg, sober

8.  The Majors Inn was best known as a hideout for
A.  Dutch Schultz
B.  Al Capone
C.  Jack "Legs" Diamond
D.  George Raft

9.  Jack Diamond died 12/18/31 when he
A.  died peacefully in his sleep
B.  overdosed on barbituates and bourbon                  
C.  was suspected to have been shot by Dutch Schultz 
D.  jumped off the Chrysler Building

Not So Great

Your editor got carried away in the previous post and after further review on the slo-mo cam, finds that many of the great-grandchildren cited there are just grands.  I think everything has been corrected but please alert me if there are still some relationships out of whack.

Can You Feature That? Word Paintings from October 2014

OH GREAT!
(Ed. note:  Rats!  I meant to post this Friday.  Please turn on the Way Back Machine and return to Halloween!)

Caleb Fieg, great-grandson of the FFN's editor emeritus Lothar "Bud" Fieg, "begged for and ate carrots for breakfast" the other day.  Good bunny!

Cindy Haney Fieg, in preparation for the Halloween festivities, took it one step too far.  She fell on an uneven sidewalk breaking a front tooth and suffering a lip the size of Denver.  Masks aren't that expensive, ma'am....

Andrew Shedlock, grandson of Florence Fieg Bookhout, is preparing to compete in the New York City Marathon on Nov. 2.  Andrew's bib number is 40471 and proud mummy Annie Bookhout informs us that she has downloaded a free TCS NY Marathon app to her cell phone to follow his progress.  Annie likens watching the marathon from a distance to viewing the Super Bowl "where it is warm and dry."  Run, Andrew, run!

Andrew's wife Denise Egan Shedlock mentions that she has a couple of friends raising funds for ALS during the running of the marathon.  Visit events.carolinashealthcarefoundation.org to make a donation.  Annie adds that "Andy's grandfather Bookhout became a prisoner in his body due to ALS. His verbal strength was ripped away from him. To watch someone with ALS try to communicate because their brain is still sharp is horrible torture for the patient and those that love him/her. Thanks for alerting all of us."

Emilie Kestner, granddaughter of FFN founder Philip Fieg, is president of the Psychology Club at Stephen F. Austin State University in Nacogdoches, Tex.  She also stays busy planning events for her service-oriented sorority Phi Theta Gamma, mentoring a freshman psych major and taking notes in class for students with disabilities.  Emilie wished everyone "Happy Day of the Cat" on Oct. 28.  She will graduate in May.

Eddie Fieg, grandson of Uncle Bud's brother Frank, will escape the bonds of his twenties in less than a month.  It's not that bad on the other side....

Uncle Frank's great-grandson, Cade Orion Dangca, graduated from basic training at Ft. Jackson, the U.S. Army base in South Carolina.  His mom and dad, Anna and Alan Dangca, and sisters Eva, Rosa and Marta, were on hand to watch as Cade and his classmates marched across the field.  They shared some lovely photos on Facebook.

Cade spent several months with cousin (and your humble editor) Judy Kestner in South Texas earlier this year.  He worked with Judy's husband Joe in the oilfield and proved to be a valuable asset to Joe's business.  We miss you, Cade, and are so proud of you!

Brenna Rose Ferguson, one of Uncle Bud's granddaughters, visited Charleston, S.C. this month.  Most interesting thing learned?  It's "Chaaaaaston."

What a great aunt!  Nancy Fieg, who is also a granddaughter of Uncle Frank, absolutely L-O-V-E-S her nieces and nephews.  The birthday greetings and other photos she posts on Facebook just radiate affection.

Speaking of nephews, Emilie Fieg Harvey, still another Frank Fieg granddaughter, gave birth on October 22 at 10:25 a.m. to the newest Fieg cousin, Thomas Edward Harvey.  Mother (looking smashing the next day BTW) and baby are healthy and Tommy's sisters Hannah and Paige, brother  Mikey and dad Matt are ga-ga over him.  Congrats, Harvey family! 

As if she didn't have enough on her mind, Emilie entered a Preggers in the Pumpkin Patch contest.  (Really, all that was required was a photo of the baby belly next to a wagon of punkins, and asking friends to vote for her.  Not too strenuous, I guess!)

Cindy Harris, wife of Uncle Bud's son Doug Fieg, co-escorted her lovely daughter Megan down the aisle into the arms of  her new husband.  The ceremony took place at the Montecito Sequoia Lodge in King's Canyon National Park in California.  The bridesmaids wore emerald green, a tip o' the hat to the gorgeous outdoor surroundings. 

St. Louis Gateway Arch Approaches Milestone

1.  While changing planes during a two-hour delay in St. Louis some years ago, Dr. Ed Fieg sat down for a snack and found himself at the same table with:
A.  Former Cincinnati Reds catcher Johnny Bench
B.  Former Green Bay quarterback Bart Starr
C.  Hockey Hall of Famer Bobby Orr
D.  Tennis great Jimmy Connors

2.  The St. Genevieve Fiegs, from their home less than an hour away, witnessed the St. Louis Gateway Arch rise from nothing to its current height of  630 feet.  Next year the number of candles on the arch's birthday cake will be:
A. 10
B.  25
C.  30
D.  50

3.  The initial bond issue for the construction of the arch was floated in:
A.  1935
B.  1949
C.  1954
D.  1960

5.  The Gateway arch, the tallest man-made arch in the world, is how wide?
A.  630 feet
B.  150 feet
C.  200 feet
D.  430 feet

6.  The amount of land that was condemned for construction of the arch was:
A.  10 city blocks
B.  15 city blocks
C.  25 city blocs
D.  40 city blocks

7.  On November 22, 1980, at about 8:45 a.m. CST, 33-year-old Kenneth Swyers of Overland, Missouri, parachuted on to the top of the arch where he:
A.  slid down the north leg into a fireman's net
B.  slid down the north leg to his death
C.  was arrested by FAA officials in the Observation Room
D.  was warmly greeted by the mayor in the Observation Room

8.  From their fourth story attic window, Stephen and Eleanor Fieg can look out and see:
A.  the airplane warning lights at the top of the St. Louis Gateway Arch, blinking in the night.
B.  the entire arch, illuminated in silhouette against the sky on a clear day at sunrise.
C.  aircraft flying  underneath the arch, west to east
D.  nothing - they have no fourth floor window.

Kevin Corkery Among Last to See Oneonta Mayor Alive

Kevin Corkery, husband of Fieg cousin Sarah Fieg Corkery, exchanged a wave of the hand with Mayor Dick Miller as the two passed each other at the bank Friday afternoon, never guessing for a moment that he would be among the last to see the city's chief executive.

Miller, 71, was found dead the next morning having shot himself to death with a .22-caliber pistol..  Police found a suicide note but have not revealed the contents.

"He had a serious look on his face and was somewhat distracted," Kevin said.  "Maybe he was making plans for what he was going to do."

The community is in shock, with many grieving over the loss.  Miller was a popular figure with a garrulous and effervescent personality.

In 2009 he became Oneonta’s 20th mayor for the first of two terms.  He was a decorated U.S. Army combat veteran, Hartwick College President, SUNY Vice Chancellor, Vice President at the University of Rochester and President and CEO of Case-Hoyt Corporation.

Greg Fieg left a message at City Hall about a year ago concerning a minor traffic issue.  A few days later he was surprised to receive a return phone call from Mayor Dick Miller.  "I was amazed that he paid that much attention to detail," Greg said.  "I have known many mayors - Roger Hughes, Sam Nader, Jim Lettis, Dave Brenner and so on, several of whom I counted among my friends.  All of them were outstanding men who devoted much personal time to their community but none seemed to enjoy being mayor more than Dick Miller."

A service to celebrate the life of Mayor Miller will be at 4 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 2.

Run for the Hills! It's the Killer Bees!

Last Saturday while helping a friend cut brush on her ranch,  Joe Kestner, husband of Fieg cousin Judy Kestner, was attacked by a swarm of Africanized honey bees.

The noise of the chain saw he was using disturbed the insects, known throughout the southwestern states as aggressive and dangerous predators, and they set upon the first living thing they saw: Joe.

He ran toward the house nearby but the horde pursued him, a trait that separates them from regular honey bees.  They all poured into the bathroom, where Joe turned on the shower and stuck in his head.

Though this discouraged some bees, many others had gotten inside of his clothes and were stinging him under the arms and on the back.  Probably because of the venom entering his body under the arms, where are located many lymph nodes, Joe began to lose consciousness.

The other people there came running into the bathroom, receiving the wrath of the bees as well, and tried to get Joe to stand up so they could get him to a vehicle and away from the scene of the massacre.  Because he was virtually dead weight (sorry!) they struggled mightily, but eventually were successful in righting him. 

They took off his clothes, poured a bottle of ammonia over his body (can you envision them using an After Bite pen on every one of the 40+ stings?), loaded him into a car and drove to the ranch gate, calling 911 on the way. 

To make a long story short, after an ambulance ride and a few hours in the hospital in Laredo, Joe was discharged, wearing an attractive hospital gown with stylish back tie, and our friend Janice drove him back to the ranch.  He was fine after a couple of days, though his glasses have not been discovered.  (Maybe the bees are learning how to use them to focus the sunlight into a little pinprick of heat to fry ants.  It wouldn't surprise me.)

The End.

Out of Africa

Thanks to Fieg cousin Sue Williams for sharing a blog address for her niece, Laura Fieg Kasibante, husband Chief and their child Maxwell Musoke. 

Laura is the daughter of Doug Fieg, who is the son of Lother "Bud" Fieg who is the son of Lothar Fieg Sr. who is the son of Carl Fieg of Pforzheim, Germany, the man who planted in America the sapling from which fell all the nuts in our family.

You can read about the family's life in Uganda, watch the baby growing up and feel the passion these three have for their mission by visiting http://kasibantes-in-ug.blogspot.com/2014/08/june-july-2014.html.

See if you can recognize Laura's grandmother, Catherine Shafer Fieg, smiling out from Laura's face!

Brenna Rose Ferguson Graduates

Thanks to proud aunt Sue Williams for the following great news:

After three years of hard work and dedication Brenna Rose Ferguson will graduate with a Bachelor of Fine Arts in digital photography from the Illinois Institute of Art in Chicago.

Brenna, daughter of Cindy Haney Fieg and step-daughter of Cindy's husband, Richard Fieg, went to Chicago in the summer of 2011 to pursue a degree in photography.  She has been working part-time for TK Photography in Chicago (http://tkphotographychicago.com/) ("We photograph people through life’s journey, wherever that journey may lead.") as well as free-lancing on her own for weddings, graduations, family portraits and the like. 

For her final school project she has chosen as her subject Eleanor Williams, her uncle Ed Williams' mother. They have had fun getting to know each other a little better and getting some great pictures for Brenna's portfolio/project.

The graduation date is Sept. 26, 2014.  Well wishes, roses and engraved pocket watches may be directed to Brenna at www.BrennaRosePhotography.com  or brenna.ferguson2010@gmail.com. 

The Lothar Fieg family is very proud of her accomplishments and happy to have her in the family.

Hoppy Hedder's Hearsay

WHAT FIEG COUSIN and spouse are about to embark on a sailboat cruise from Cape Cod through the Intracoastal Waterway?  (Hint:  it's NOT Carol and Bob Ramagosa!)

WELL DEARS, in just under six weeks there will be a new arrival at the home of a very appropriately named Fieg cousin whose two girls (initials H. and P.) can't wait to be big sisters!

IN UPSTATE NEW YORK a lanky red-head is off to third grade.  I can't divulge the name, but the initials are K.M.  Hats off to this child and best of luck!  (Well done, also, with the ice water challenge in memory of Hizzoner the grandfather.)

NOW MY DEARIES, you all should know that there will be an event -- THE event -- in Sin City on November 2.  Fiegs from around the country will converge for a hug-fest in the West with the best of the best, and, darlings, you do NOT want to miss it.

That's all I can divulge at this moment.  It's time for cocktails!

100th Wedding Anniversary Observed by Fiegs

Sept. 3 marks the 100th wedding anniversary of Florence Shields and Lothar Fieg who famously were married while holding hands through a window overlooking a porch.

Florence May Shields Fieg

Hermann Lothar Emil Fieg

Florence, who was suffering from scarlet fever, an often fatal disease at the time, was taken from the boarding house run by her mother, Celestia, in Corbett, N.Y. to the Mary Mason house, a resort on the Delaware River in nearby Colchester, where she was kept under quarantine.

Lothar, a foreman at the Corbett and Stewart Acid Factory in Corbett, climbed up on the roof of the porch and took Florence's hand while the vows were recited.

 

The boarding house in Corbett had been operated by Celestia, and Florence and all her sisters had domestic chores to perform there as part of the operation.   "My mother was a good cook and a good baker," said Thelma Bost, daughter of Florence's sister Nettie.  "She was about 6 or 7 when she had to start making cakes to serve to the boarders."  Thelma, age 88, recalled that the girls had to go to the company store for supplies and sister Marie insisted on carrying the heavy goods back to the house, to Nettie's delight. 

It is believed that the boarding house, which was owned and operated by Corbett and Stewart from the 1920s to 1930s, when the company folded, is still standing.  The remains of the Mary Mason house are under 50 feet of water in the Pepacton Reservoir.

Florence and Lothar's eldest child, Emilie, was born June 29, 1915 (yep, that's nine months!).  The couple later moved to Oneonta, where the other six were born. 

Max Fieg Enrolls at Iowa State

Max Fieg has enrolled as a freshman at Iowa State University in Ames, Ia., where he will study engineering.

Max, 19, son of Edward L. Fieg, Col. U.S.A.F. Ret., and Dr. Teresa Hennessey, will follow in the footsteps of a number of captains of industry who graduated from this leading institution for the education of individuals in the engineering field.

Alumni include astronauts, scientists, Nobel laureates, Pulitzer Prize winners, statesmen, academicians, CEOs, entrepreneurs, athletes, film and television actors, and a host of other notable individuals in their respective fields. Some of the more recognizable among them are scientist (and the original recycler) George Washington Carver, suffragist and League of Women Voters founder Carrie Chapman Catt, candy magnate Russell Stover (who attended for a time but did not graduate), Iowa Senator Tom Harkin and NASA astronaut Clayton Anderson.

Max's sister Nancy also graduated from Iowa State and is working for American Girl in Manhattan.

Shopping for school -- so much fun!

Maren Corkery Wins Voice Scholarship

Following a recent audition, Maren Corkery has won a Dox Apprentice Scholarship with the Catskill Choral Society based in Oneonta, N.Y.

Sixteen-year-old Maren will sing first alto in the fifty-member choir under the direction of Prof. R. Colin Armstrong.  Accompanied by an orchestral ensemble, the group plans a major presentation called "Carols and Lullabies: Christmas in the Southwest" on December 5 and 6. 

The society's focus has been on choral music of all periods since its founding in 1970.

Maren is the eldest daughter of Kevin and Sarah Corkery of Oneonta and granddaughter of FFN editor Greg Fieg.  Kevin is a semi-professional percussionist who plays regularly throughout the area and the Fieg family is notoriously musical, so Maren appears to have been cut from the same cloth.

Congratulations, Maren!

Fieg Cousin Scores Personal Home Run

Greg Fieg meets with Major League Baseball's all-time hits king Pete Rose in Cooperstown
during Hall of Fame Induction Weekend in July.  Greg, his brother Ed and sister Lisa
spent the 4-day weekend together and met with childhood chums John, Billy and Bobby Wells. 
Ed was accompanied by his wife Barb.