We moved from Duluth seven years ago returning to Wisconsin Rapids because Ron's dad Melvin lived here in his original home, flanked by his original memories and too because Ron was offered a position to start a practice at Riverview Hospital in conjunction with the University of Wisconsin his Alma mater.
This month after a long and not improving stroke his dad passed. He is in a better place. I just wish he didn't need to endure the last three months. Here is a man who just wanted to die immediately, and peacefully, on his porch after a brisk morning spent chopping wood.
This didn't happen.
He was a very private man who lead a very solitude life for the entire time of his existence. He wasn't gregarious, nor generous but he was articulate, kind, thoughtful, friendly, and happy. When Mel got something in his mind he held on tight. It can be said he had a stubborn German streak. He negotiate several electrical union contracts with the mill and avoided ever striking. He didn't often change his opinions but he always did consider and valued others' positions. As in voting; pretty much he voted democratic, with a few exceptions. . .including this last presidential election. He was always up-to-date on current events although he wasn't much of a reader except for the local paper. (I say so, with bias; as Ron is a veracious reader. (No one reads more than Ron except for Greg.)) He sourced the radio and later the television news and enjoyed O'Reilly. Picking him up on the way to meet Ron I would ask if he had heard the latest happenings. He would volunteer current events from Afghanistan to Washington adding weather disasters.
Melvin said to me on several occasions over the last several years, "I never thought one of my children would ever move back here." For Thursday nights Ron would say, "Dad you want to get a 'bite to eat?' ' and he would pick him up or I would if Ron was in clinic "lock down." and we would go to Baker's Street Cafe, The Mead, The Sky Club, @1800, Pizza Hut, Portessi's or Lake Aire. Melvin would not go to Apple-bee's in Rapids because the "one in Point was better." He loved sitting at the bar in Lake Aire because "the Old Bartenders were fascinating " (Melvin was 20-30 years older so calling them old was fair) He seldom had more than a glass of Zinfandel or one beer. I only got him one time to join us and friends here on our porch.
We quit taking him to El Mezcals because he would only eat the chips and "one beef taco." He had an eating dedication in that he was a very small eater. Unless it was salmon or pizza. He seldom took home left overs as he said he had a lot of food in the fridge. More often than not Ron finished his entree as he frowned on wastefulness He was a "Depression Era tipper" so Ron took over the checks. Melvin only forgot once in seven years to be ready at 6:00 p.m. Everything he did with us was written down on his calender to avoid the risk of forgetting. (Ron is picking me up tonight and the next few Thursdays in memory of his dad. It is the only way to get Ron out of the office before 7 p.m.)
There were times where he came here for supper. Ron would drive him both ways. Mel still drove but preferred not to at night. In earlier years he came for the World Series and when the Packers were playing. On Easter I made lamb shanks and he questioned what he was eating. He had never had lamb. He would not eat rutabaggies, cucumbers or brussel sprouts. He always said I was a tremendous cook which wasn't necessarily true and then would add. . ."Your mother was a pretty good cook too."
He was the dessert man. Pecan pie was his proclaimed favorite, chocolate anything, fried ice cream, coconut cream pie, cranberry cake which he hadn't seen in years, and Andes mints. (Well, chocolate in any form, with tea because the British taught him to drink tea in Africa during WWII.) We took him to a couple movies cuz all Kirschling men need cinema buttered popcorn. He never feel asleep.
He always rode "shotgun." I broke hard and missed a deer driving out of La Crosse. He was grateful not to have to walk home that night.
He talked of all the times he drove home from "dance jobs" down this county road or that. He told of the time he sat on the hood of the car with his feet on the bumper, to direct the driver in the fog. He told of flailing his arms like an air traffic control officer to keep the car between the white lines. "If I made twenty dollars I would keep ten and give Marie ten." that was the deal he'd say. When she died in 1997 he told me he "found phone books full of 100 dollar bills. . nothing smaller."
Four and five years ago we had Brewers' Season tickets. If we left early on the three hour ride to Milwaukee, Ron would say to me, "We will stop for lunch, Barb." We never did. At the Milwaukee city limits the truck went to auto pilot. Batting practice took precedence. I'd buy a Brewer Tater! Ron saw to it dad got to a Packer's Game and a Badger Football game. He was a good sport sitting through a few humid La Crosse Michael swim meets too! Lincoln High School and Assumption Football were Ron's excuse to pick up dad on a cold fall Friday night. Ron played football in high school but his dad never saw him play. (Melvin played in a dance band almost every Friday and Saturday night for years. Melvin enforced Ron's short buzzed hair until Ron left for the academy and then Melvin let his hair grow too.)
For the last three years we have had Rafter season ticket along the first base side per Mel's request. I think the Rafter's should paint his name on his transplanted Brewer Stadium seat Mel was always ready in his full sleeved wool shirt even if it was still 100 degrees after seven! I often drove myself because he and Ron were not leaving early. Extra innings were brutal. . .rain delays were my men's excuse to sit patiently. Rafter ball games for Melvin were one hot dog, popcorn and a diet mountain dew. Although the beer was free he seldom partook. I could always get him to share a frozen snicker bar. Upon leaving the game Melvin would always proclaim, "No need to drive to Milwaukee. . .This is fine baseball."
Mel looked forward to and was always grateful for the presence of his family in Rapids. Wayne and Jane came often and Mel would always tell us of their pending arrivals. When Ron asked him to join us for dinner, a game or a show he would say, "I'm not doing anything else but sitting on the porch and I can always do that." If we stay out later Mel would say, "Fine with me, I can sit at home anytime." He went once to Nelson's Resort with Mike and Ron to fish on Crane Lake with a guide who took great care of him yet "That was nothing I need to do again." He felt the same about a tandem ski doo ride in the Rockies with Wayne. . .a frigid golf cart ride in Kentucky. He refused to get on the back of Ron's three wheeled motorcycle. But he enjoyed the Duluth pontoon boat and told us he often went with Marie and friends on the river "above Biron." He was a man who enjoyed people and knew his limits.
He also enjoyed Big Band Music. And he knew his fellow musicians. (It is rumored Buddy Rich let him sit behind his drums.) He listened to miles and miles of recorded tapes. Had an extensive library of LP's. In later years he enjoyed satellite radio on car trips. I would ask him to "Name that Tune" to pass the miles. . .he did. (I'd check his accuracy by hitting the "Text" button.)
Finally we watched the swan on the Wisconsin River. The single swan and Mel would tell me swan stories. I didn't see the swan from October to February this year but I saw him yesterday. I will think fondly of Melvin every time I see this or any lone swan!
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