Louise Ethel Barkdoll

Memories:

On Wednesday, December 28, 1910, I entered the world weighing in at five pounds. I was born at home and delivered by a midwife named Mrs. Moran. I was also slightly jaundiced. My parents named me after my grandmother, Louise Peterson and Ethel after my father's Sister. At that time I only had one older brother named Leslie and later, six younger siblings - Ed, Jim, Elmer, Art, Marion, and LaVerne. We all grew up in Chicago. The first home I remember was at 2554 Washington Blvd. My parents were the best parents anyone could ask for.

When I was little, my favorite toy was a china doll with blonde hair and moveable legs and arms. I liked playing with my dolls, jacks, jump rope, and I also liked to play hopscotch. I loved to read and used to roller skate to the library. I read all kinds of books but some of my favorites were Elsie Dinsmore books and the Bobbsy Twins. My most cherished book was Uncle Tom's Cabin. My father gave it to me and it was leather bound.

My chores around the house were usually doing dishes and baby sitting my younger brothers and sisters. Aunt Ethel and Uncle Howard would sometimes baby sit all of us if my mother and father went anywhere.

The Charleston and the Bunny Hop were my favorite dances and I once had a crush on Mark Fisher who was a band leader. Gone With The Wind was my favorite movie.

Schools: I went to Dr. Cameron School until I entered the fourth grade. From fourth grade through eighth grade I went to Lafayette. My father also attended Lafayette and I had the very same principal he had. Lucille Merker was my best friend all through grammar school. I graduated from John Marshall High on January 26, 1927. Ruth Nelson was my closest friend in high school. She was very smart and liked to write. We still exchange cards and keep in touch.

Romance: How I met Roy: I was only 10 when I met Roy for the first time. Roy's Grandma and my Grandma were friends and sometimes I went with my Grandmother to visit and sometimes he came with his. I played out on the farm with Roy and his brothers. As we got older we started to date. I remember he asked me if he could take me for a buggy ride and of course I said yes. In February of 35 he proposed to me and I accepted. He bought me a ring and gave it to me on Valentine's Day right before we left for the Aragon Ballroom to celebrate with Uncle Maynard, Aunt Virginia, Uncle Nathan, Bernice (one of my friends that Uncle Nathan was dating), Aunt Julia and Uncle Stanley. Roy and I were married on the fourteenth day of September in the year of 1935 in River Grove. Julia Pluta was my maid of honor and Nathan Barkdoll was Roy's best man. Grace Nelson was my bridesmaid. Our ushers were Maynard Barkdoll, Leslie Enger, Edwin Enger, Elmer Enger and James Enger. We had a lovely reception with all our friends and relatives. Our first home was at 725 East Chicago Avenue in Naperville. Then we moved to Elmwood Park for 2 years until Lois was born. After she was born we lived with grandma until Bette was born. On July 7th, 1940, we moved into the house we now live in (53 years).

Employment: After graduating from John Marshall High School, I went to work in a doctor's office located at 2501 Washington Blvd in Chicago. I was a bookkeeper, typist, and also ran the switchboard. I worked there for 10 years right up until Nancy was born. She was born in May and I quit in December. I used to have to get up every morning at 5:15 am and take the train and two street cars to get to work.

Politics: I'm a democrat. My father was a democrat and I guess he passed his beliefs down to me. Republicans always seem to be for the rich so I almost always vote Democratic. I believe it is an honor to be able to vote and think everyone should always take advantage of that privilege. Presidents in office during my lifetime: The 27th President - William Howard Taft 1909-1913. He was in office the year I was born (1910). The 28th President - Woodrow Wilson 1913-1917, 1917-1921. He was President during World War I. the 29th President - Warren G. Harding 1921-1923 (died in office). He came to office in the aftermath of World War I and voiced a national desire to forego further crusades and a "return to normalcy" but his administration is mainly remembered for it's corruption which was revealed after Harding's death. The 30th President - Calvin Coolidge 1923-1925, 1925-1929. The 31st President - Herbert Clark Hoover 1929-1933. The 32nd President - Franklin D. Roosevelt 1933-1945. He died in office. The 33rd President - Harry S. Truman 1945-1949, 1949-1953. The 34th president - Dwight D. Eisenhower 1953-1957, 1957-1961. The 35th President - John F. Kennedy 1961-1963. He was assassinated by Lee Harvey Oswald while in office. His death stunned the nation. The 36th President - Lyndon B. Johnson 1963-1965, 1965-1969. The 37th President - Richard Nixon 1969-1973, 1973-1974. He resigned the Presidency due to public pressure after Watergate revelations (Watergate was a scandal indicating that some of the President's closest associates, and perhaps the President himself had engaged in criminal misconduct). The 38th President - Gerald R. Ford 1974-1977. The 39th President Jimmy Carter 1977-1981. The 40th President - Ronald W. Reagan 1981-1985, 1985-1989 (Reaganomics). The 41sat President - George Bush 1989-1993. President during Operation Desert Storm, (coined the phrase voodoo economics). Lastly President William Clinton.

World Events: I was only about eight when World War I ended so I really don't remember anything about it on a personal level - just what I learned from history books.

The Great Depression - I was just nineteen during the "great depression." Production and sales were quite low and there was a high rate of business failures and unemployment. I remember reading about all the people who committed suicide because they lost everything they had.

World War II - I was 30 and living in Naperville when the Japanese attacked Pearl Harbor on December 7th, 1941, the day that will live in infamy. Their attack brought the United States into the war on December 8th and brought it in determined to fight to the finish. It was really scary to hear that our country had been bombed and I was so worried about my brothers, Jim, Art, and Ed who were in the service at the time. My sister Marion's husband Bill was in the air force. Jim, a Lieutenant Colonel and Ed were both stationed in Germany. Nancy, Lois, Bette, and Marylou were our only children born at that time.

The War in Vietnam - This war took place in the 60's and 70's and I was always worried that Donnie or Keith would have to go and fight. Every night the news was full of the casualties and the horrors of the war.

Operation Desert Storm - This whole war was broadcast over Cable network and was over very quickly due to our advanced technology, missiles, and jets.

Television - The first public television broadcasts were made in England in 1927 and in the United States in 1930. Most households did not have TV sets until the late 40's and early 50's and those were in black and white. Color sets didn't come out until the late 50's or early 60's. As additional millions joined the television audience, other entertainment industries suffered severe declines of patronage. The motion picture industry, which experienced the most serious reverses closed thousands of theatres. Roy and I liked to watch the Lawrence Welk show, Mitch Miller, and Ed Sullivan. Ozzie and Harriet was another favorite.

My life has been happy and is filled with many good memories. I am so fortunate to have had 9 healthy children, 18 grandchildren, and so far 6 great-grandchildren (her total as of 1998 is 13). Since Jimmy was married a little over a year ago and Bobby is anticipating his wedding this June to Cindy - I believe that number will soon increase. I have enjoyed baby sitting for all of the grandchildren and great-grandchildren and even traveled all the way to Colorado to take care of Ray and help Nancy when Julee was born. I was proud when Nancy received her nursing degree and felt to some extent she took after me in that way because I have also done a lot of nursing in my lifetime. I took care of and nursed Grandma Barkdoll, Daddy's father, my own ma and pa, and Mrs. Cromer. More recently I have been taking care of Roy since he broke his leg. Besides baby sitting and nursing, Roy and I have kept the farming tradition alive that has been passed down in the Barkdoll family. Every year we plant and harvest a huge garden and grow the best vegetables around. Everyone in the family worked the garden at one time or the other. The younger children liked to pod the peas.

I feel truly blessed with my life and all God has given me.

Written in Louise Enger Barkdoll's autograph book by her brothers:

Dear Louise,

I wish you luck,

I wish you plenty,

I wish you a husband

before your twenty.

Edwin Enger

When you get married

and your husband gets cross

just come over to my house and eat applesauce.

Leslie Enger

Written by Judy Enger for The Naperville Sun (Mama's 85th Birthday)

Gift of family, a precious present

When I was growing up, my family would go over to my Aunt Louise's house almost every Sunday evening. Other relatives would often drop in also. The adults would sit and talk while the children played. There were plenty of children since my aunt had nine children, and we added four each time we came over.

The kids had great times playing Monopoly and flashlight tag. Some evenings I would just sit on my dad's lap and listen to fascinating stories about their childhoods. My dad was also from a large family with eight children, and they grew up in Chicago. The stories were so colorful that my dad would often tell me to go play so I wouldn't hear about the mischief.

My relatives saw me often enough to notice things like lost teeth. One of my aunts would set up in the basement and cut everyone's hair about once a month. Being able to get together with relatives so frequently is fading fast in today's world where everyone lives so far apart. Feeling connected to extended family is hard when visits are so rare.

On Sunday, we stopped in at my aunt's house once again. She celebrates her 85th birthday tomorrow. Her house, the same one from years ago, was filled with her children, grand-children and great-grandchildren. It was one fantastic jumble of noise, food and presents. Everyone was making a visit to see her out of a sense of tradition.

Aunt Louise notices if anyone is missing, and so everyone tries to stop to see her. She was sitting quietly in a chair amid the confusion. She smiled as everyone greeted her and would occasionally take several careful but always quick steps to another room to be sure she saw everyone.

I was standing near her as someone asked her what she got for Christmas. She stopped for a moment, patted her white hair as she always does when she is thinking and then gazed around the room where two great-grandchildren were tossing a ball into her Christmas tree and a daughter was rescuing ornaments. On one couch, a grandson sat bouncing a great-granddauhter up and down. Two other grand children were opening gifts. "Well, she finally answered, "i have everything, I don't need to get too much."

The best gift from my aunt is to see all the family that she already has. Nothing new is needed because all she really wants is to enjoy her family. I have always heard it said that the best gift sometimes is just a visit, and I really am beginning to believe this is true.

I hope everyone is able to connect with a family member or close friend over this holiday season and share the best gift around, the gift of time.

Eulogy for Grandma Louise Barkdoll

Written by Thomas James Herman Jr.

There's an old Greek proverb that says, "The heart that loves is always young." So, I think it is safe to say my grandmother was about the youngest person any of us knew.

I would first like to share with you some of the events that Grandma lived through and raised a family through which are truly remarkable.

She was born in 1910 so we'll start there. Her early years (1910 - 1919) saw the sinking of the Titanic, WW1 and the rise of Communism. The decade ended with one big disappointment for Grandma: No Cub championship.

The 20's came and so did Women suffrage, Prohibition, a Stock Market crash and the beginning of the depression. The 20's also ended without a Cub championship.

The 30's came and so did marriage, some children and the creation of social security. But the 30's ended without a Cub championship.

The 40's came and so did WWII, the bomb, more children, TV and with the Cubs in a World Series. But still NO Cub championship.

The 50's saw the last of her children's births, the Korean War and the beginning of the Civil Rights movement. Yet the 50's ended with NO Cub championship.

The 60's came and so did the assassination of JFK, RFK, and Martin Luther King, along with the escalation of the Vietnam War, her first grandchildren and a moon landing. But the 60's ended as did the others with NO Cub championship.

The 70's saw Nixon resign, more grandchildren, disco and still no Cub championship.

The 80's saw the last births of her grandchildren, the births of her great grandchildren, the shooting of John Lennon and Ronald Reagan, the tearing down of the Berlin Wall, the fall of Communism and the Cubs in the playoffs in '84 and '89. But the 80's ended like the others - NO Cub championship.

The 90's have seen the Gulf War, the movie about the Titanic, the rise of the internet, and more great grandchildren. And as of now, the Cubs are only 3 and 1/2 games out of 1st place in the National League Central so we can only hope.

She lived while 16 Presidents held office.

These times have shaped and molded all of our lives. This is an accomplishment in and of itself to have lived during these times. However, her greatest accomplishment, greatest source of pride, was her family. So, I have no better words that describe her than these 7 statements as follows:

She was first a loving daughter to: Harold and Mabel Enger

She was second, a dedicated sister to: Leslie, Edwin, Elmer, Arthur, Jim, Marion, and of course LaVerne.

She was third, a loving wife to: Roy.

She was fourth a wonderful mother to: Nancy, Lois, Bette, Marylou, Sharron, Sandra, Donnie, Keith, and Darlene.

She was fifth a loving mother-in-law to: George, Dan, Lonnie, Jim Stanley, Jim Pratte, Charlie Brunk, Art Godfrey, Teri Pflum, Sue & Tom Herman.

She was sixth, a loving and proud grandmother to: Ray, Julee, Cathy, Donnie, Bobby, Amy, Jeff, Beth, John, Joey, Kimmy, Jimmy, Michael, Jason, Tommy, Becky, Laura, and Brad.

She was seventh, a loving and proud great grandmother to: Amber, Steven, Jenny, Michael, Austin, Lauren, Joe Jr., Little Eddie, Kyle & Nicholas, Lexy, Tyler, and the latest arrival little Sabrina.

That is 60 names, and I would swear all 60 plus another 100 or so, give or take, would somehow pack into the kitchen and living room at Grandma's house at Christmas time. This does not count who she was as an aunt, cousin, sister-in-law, godmother or friend. Not that these relationships weren't as important to her. It's just I figured if I listed them all, I'd run out of paper.

Of all the things I admired about my Grandma, her wry sense of humor, her cooking which I admit there were some things I didn't like that she would make me try but would later come to appreciate, her devotion to family and God; the one thing about my Grandma that most impressed me was her strong memory. She could recall events vividly as if they had happened yesterday. I just hope my memory will be that strong so that I may remember details of family and friends as often and as fondly as she did. She was a woman that loved to be loved a, and loved to love.

Written by Judy Buchenot for the Naperville Sun

A loving gift

Every year at Christmas, the nine Barkdoll children bring their children and their children's children to their mother's home in Naperville to exchange gifts and eat an enormous meal in shifts around the long dining-room table.

Children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren were led to Grandma Louise , who welcomed hugs, marveled at how the little ones had grown and rocked each new baby in her arms. She had held dozens of babies during her 80-some years, and despite failing eyesight she declared each new baby the most beautiful blessing she had ever seen.

But things will be different this year at the Barkdoll house. Louise Barkdoll passed away in July after presiding over Christmas for decades.

"It will be different and difficult," said her daughter, Darlene Herman.

While the loss of a loved one is especially painful during Thanksgiving and the winter celebrations marked by family gatherings, local clergy and other groups offer support and comfort during these times.

The article goes on with coping strategies. To read the whole article - See the Naperville Sun, Friday November 13, 1998.