Stories from Wednesday, December 19, 2001

The children of Guy and Shirley Pierce of Danbury are hosting a card shower in honor of the couple's 50th wedding anniversary. They were married Dec. 24, 1951, at Ottawa, Kan. Cards will reach them at P.O. Box 94, Danbury, NE 69026. Their children are Glen Pierce, Michael Pierce and wife, Cheryl, Charles Pierce, all of Kansas City, Kan., David Pierce and wife, Mindy of Powell, Tenn., and Guylia Pierce of Ogallala. They have numerous grandchildren and great-grandchildren...

Orlan and Norma (Walters) Cole are celebrating their 60th wedding anniversary today, Dec. 19. They were married in 1941 at Trenton. Cards of congratulations will reach them at RR 3 Box 33, Culbertson, NE 69024.

Felice and Bill Coe of McCook will celebrate their 60th wedding anniversary on Dec. 27. They were married in 1941 in New York City, N.Y. Cards of congratulations will reach them at 502 Apollo Street, McCook, NE 69001.

Steve and Darcy Eckhardt of McCook announce the birth of their son, Brandan James, on Monday, Dec. 10, 2001, at Community Hospital of McCook. He weighed 7 pounds, 5.8 ounces. He has one brother, Marcas, age three years. Grandparents are Darrell and K.C. Eckhardt of McCook, and Roger and Donna Loop of McCook. Great-grandparents are Bill and Dorothy Loop of McCook, Elsa Potter of Stratton, Helen Rice of Kimball, and Alex and Freda Eckhardt of Kimball...

So much to do, so little time. With Christmas only six days away, many of us are scrambling to get everything done in time. School programs, church services, family gatherings, office parties -- as enjoyable as they all may be, they all create demands on our time and carry expectations...

The Christmas tree is finally up, the lights are strung and the wreath is in its place on the front door. Finally. By the time you read this, faithful readers, the ornaments will be hung and the tinsel carefully applied to each green bough. We typically wait until after the 13th of December to put up our tree, other family celebrations taking precedence over the annual crowding of the living quarters. ...

John W. Walz INDIANOLA -- John W. Walz, 85, died Tuesday (Dec. 18, 2001) at Community Hospital of McCook. He was born July 21, 1916, at Sauk Centre, Minn., to Adolph Frank and Anna (Santer) Walz. On Nov. 20, 1945, he married Mary C. Kometscher. They made their home on a farm near Indianola...