Two Deaths in the Family

Amidst the joy of the holiday season is a strong mix of sadness today as I have to report the passing of both Uncle Bud Jonas and Aunt Betty Schield. The details are still coming in as I write this post but from what I’ve heard, Uncle Bud died last night in Milwaukee, having been diagnosed with terminal lung cancer just a few weeks earlier. Aunt Betty died at the retirement home at which she and Uncle Carroll have lived for several years in Port Richie, Fla.

This double dose of sad news is reminiscent of the holidays in 1993 when my dad, Uncle George Mullins, and Uncle Dan McCorry died on Dec. 22 and 24, respectively. I hope for all of you that as you gather together for Christmas this year that you remember all of them and especially gain mutual support from your loved ones.

For Uncle Bud (pictured here with his son-in-law John T. Williams), I remember the tradition of the annual Toilet Bowl on Thanksgiving Day. Bud was not just the referee and coach but emcee of the awards ceremony back at the house on Wentworth Street where he needled various players, but always included a prayer at this important family gathering. Bud was 88 when he died, worked for many years at Ladish Co. in Cudahy and was married to Aunt Therese McCorry for 64 years.

A remembrance of Aunt Betty (pictured here on her husband Carroll's 94th birthday) wouldn’t be complete without a mention of Never Never Land, the Schield’s cottage outside Neillsville. We had loads of fun without the expense of an entry ticket to Disneyland. I remember my mom and Aunt Betty busy preparing lunch in the cottage kitchen, serving it to all of us kids, and then promptly getting to work preparing dinner. I remember swimming in the creek and boating on Lake Arbutus.

Thanks to Marypat Groth for the photo of her dad and to Pat Werth for the photo of her mom.

I’ll update this post with new information as I get it and will prepare the 2011 Christmas Letter to post and mail out this weekend. Feel free to comment here with your memories of Uncle Bud and Aunt Betty.

Love and condolences to you all.

Robert Mullins