Oh Windschitl family,
I was so sorry to hear this news this morning when Maggie shared it. I have passed it on to my siblings as well.
Clete-y (as my Ma and Pa, Mildred and Bill Groebner always referred to him) was just such a great guy. I’m sad that I didn’t get to see him more recently, tho I do fondly remember a long phone chat we had one night when he and Van were either out here in WA visiting or about to come/just back from a visit. It’s so hard to stay connected in such a busy world.
My memories of him, and your whole family are nothing but stellar tho. I remember the visits at the farm and so much great conversation and laughter, or at Leonora’s farm, or even those occasions when the Groebner’s would trek down to Carroll usually to attend a wedding. I was always so shocked by how many people were always around as it was so very different from my reality, kinda growing up as an only child cuz I was so much younger than my sibs. And there was Gretchen, my same age, but just enmeshed in this big beautiful loving fun family that Clete and Van built. (Yes, there was some envy on many part). I’m sure your sense of loss is immense, and I’m sure even more so in this crazy pandemic time.
This weekend (and this winter) my hopes are to dig thru family pics as well as diaries and calendars and I know I’ll uncover lots of Clete and Van-related items (I’m picturing your wedding photos even as I type this as well as other activities – like the work on the farmhouse, or Stephen holding my niece Becky as an infant in our kitchen).
Please know that my heart is there with all of you, and will be thinking of you and holding you all in my heart in the days to come as well. So very very sorry for your loss – and knowing it is all our loss cuz the world needs more people like that, not fewer.
Mary Groebner
Oh Windschitl family,
I was so sorry to hear this news this morning when Maggie shared it. I have passed it on to my siblings as well.
Clete-y (as my Ma and Pa, Mildred and Bill Groebner always referred to him) was just such a great guy. I’m sad that I didn’t get to see him more recently, tho I do fondly remember a long phone chat we had one night when he and Van were either out here in WA visiting or about to come/just back from a visit. It’s so hard to stay connected in such a busy world.
My memories of him, and your whole family are nothing but stellar tho. I remember the visits at the farm and so much great conversation and laughter, or at Leonora’s farm, or even those occasions when the Groebner’s would trek down to Carroll usually to attend a wedding. I was always so shocked by how many people were always around as it was so very different from my reality, kinda growing up as an only child cuz I was so much younger than my sibs. And there was Gretchen, my same age, but just enmeshed in this big beautiful loving fun family that Clete and Van built. (Yes, there was some envy on many part). I’m sure your sense of loss is immense, and I’m sure even more so in this crazy pandemic time.
This weekend (and this winter) my hopes are to dig thru family pics as well as diaries and calendars and I know I’ll uncover lots of Clete and Van-related items (I’m picturing your wedding photos even as I type this as well as other activities – like the work on the farmhouse, or Stephen holding my niece Becky as an infant in our kitchen).
Please know that my heart is there with all of you, and will be thinking of you and holding you all in my heart in the days to come as well. So very very sorry for your loss – and knowing it is all our loss cuz the world needs more people like that, not fewer.
Mary Groebner
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