I entered this life on June 24th, 1933. I was born at home in a house on Jefferson St. on the south side of Hannibal. My parents were Russell and Velma Hartsock and I also have one brother, Kenneth Hartsock who is just one year younger. Around three years of age we moved to Hope St. I entered the first grade at Field School, from this point on I met and kept many of my classmates as lifelong friends.
In 1941 we moved to St. Louis, Mo. This was the beginning of WW11 and the need for workers in the field for supplies to our troops was tremendous. My Dad worked in a "Small Arms Plant" and my Mom became "Rosie the Riveter" for McDonnell Douglas.When the war ended in 1945 we returned to Hannibal, Hope St., and Eugene Field School. I remember being elated because we were returning "home." My many friends included Betty Shaw, Neleta Lewis, Betty Reese, Elaine Jackson, Lou Ann Jones, Katie Huff, and then there were the guys. Leo Hill, Millard Reed, all the Don's, Don Crane, Don Hardy, Don Jeter, (Jeter was the pround owner of a motor powered scooter which was called a "Doodle Bug." Prince Charming took me for a ride on Chestnut St. and I have a scar as a memento from that little episode!) These are just a few of the kids that were to become forever friends. We played games and would stay outside at night as long as we were allowed. After dark we would play hide and seek and the fireflies would be out and the weather was warm. We had so much fun.
We moved again, this time I was in the eighth grade and Los Angeles, CA was the destination. We stayed about a year and I returned home in time to promote from Field to HHS. The summer between schools I worked at the Dairy Bell as a car hop.
It was a fun job and added more friends who have endured over the years.
HHS the greatest of years. We studied, crammed, cried, danced, played sports, fell in and out of love, roller skated, went to movies, acted in plays and spent many hours being social and learning about life. We relied on each other and spent many hours after school socializing. New friends such as Carolyn Chatfield, (still my closest friend), Maggie Utterback, Marion Williamson, Mary Alice Cribb, Joyce Swearingen, Evelyn Chaney, and Patty Lear (class of "50"). Now my grandkids are coming and going from HHS. Oh if the walls could talk. (Maybe not!)
In September of my senior year I married Dale Tischer. I was seventeen years old by three months. I ponder the wisdom of that age but God is good and gives us what we need even when we are young and not real intelligent. Predictions were made and most assuredly I would never graduate. Dale and I were adamant that that I would finish my senior year. And you, my fellow classmates and friends, know the rest of the story. I did graduate with my class in May of 1951.
November of 1952 our first child, a son, was born and he was followed by two brothers, and in November 1963 our daughter was born. That completed that bit of labor��.or maybe should say we were just starting our "labor." These were the best of busy days.
In 1953 we bought a little house on Park Avenue and remained there for 32 years. This is where the children were raised and is their �memory station.� I was able to stay home with the kids most of the time. In 1965 we ran into a few hardships and I had to go to work. My first employment was at the �Boat Factory� in New London. (Neleta and I worked the night shift together and believe me that was an experience.) Didn�t last but about 6 weeks. I received a call from Western Printing and worked their for a couple of years. Dale had been employed by American Cyanamid in this period and our livelihood improved immensely and I returned to my �calling� -raising the kids. A rewarding and very active job!
The years flew by and when I realized the �nest� was going to be empty I decided to enter the �Real Estate Sales� business. Back to school, homework, and testing. I remained in this business for 15 years. During this time we became the grandparents of 12, step grandparents of 2, and great-grandparents of 4.Twelve girls and six boys. The nest filled back up but they didn�t do all their roosting at our house. Just some of it.
Dale retired in 1995 and I followed a year or so later. If he doesn�t have to work neither do I! We purchased a pontoon boat and spent many hours at Mark Twain Lake. I absolutely love to fish-most women don't but my family fished when I was small and it rubbed off. We traveled to Germany, took a Carribean Cruise, vacationed in St. Thomas, and spent time with our family. The last couple of years were spent working on our new church, Clover Road Christian, formerly known as South Side Christian. Dale was very active in the manual part of the building and lived to see it completed but never made it to a service as he became ill.
We celebrated our 5oth anniversary in 2000 with a gala celebration and a trip to the New England States. In the summer of 2002 Dale developed cancer and passed away in October of that year. We had 52 years of marriage which was wonderful only not long enough. God had deeply blest us and our marriage.
I still have such close connections to my classmates. Carolyn and Bud Schulten, Patty Scott, Evelyn and Harley Hirner and myself just returned from a tour which took us to Seattle, Washington. We made trips to Victoria, BC, Canada, Mount Ranier and many other points of interest. It is awesome to think that these "kids" are now senior citizens. We had a great time and are still kids at heart.
The years have tarnished a little, but I still have a life to live. I walk daily, do volunteer work at the Church and also the Mark Twain Musuem. I am also volunteering as a mentor to a school child this year. I am the keeper of the web site and love doing it-it is a labor of love. Spend lots of time with my family and my friends. Java Jive has become a favorite hang out for we gals. Every once in awhile I do a little housework and have been known to even cook. (But not lately!) This sums up a life that is not very exciting but has been filled with God's love and and his blessings. Life is still good, interesting and just like a box of chocolates-you never know what is next!