The Brunsville Blitz Brunsville, Iowa Edition 110 February 2020

Glimpses of Brunsville’s

past

Right: Aerial view of Brunsville looking north.

Visible are the long-gone railroad tracks (upper

left), Reese Oil Service and Gas Station (bottom

left) and the lumber building (slightly right of

center). Trees cover the area where playground equipment stands today.

Below: Unloading coal just south of where the

elevator is today. Photo is dated March 28,

1951.

Prairie Rose Golf Course

Casino Night Fundraiser Fri., Feb. 21, 6:30 p.m. at the Brunsville Legion

Catered meal • Gaming • Cash prizes

Tickets available from Reno or any board member

(tickets will also be sold at the door)

For more information contact

Keith Koerselman at 712-540-0143

or Justin Kellen at 712-540-2536

Gene Dickman’s mother,

Katherine Dickman, was one of

the employees of First State Bank

(see photo on right). Gene would

ask her for a penny and Gene’s

friend George Marienau would

ask his father, the town blacksmith,

for a penny and the two boys

would buy Baby Ruth candy bars.

Gene remembered when there

was no phone at his house but

there was one at the bank. In 1962

First State Bank promoted the

grand opening of their new

building on the east side of the

north side of main street (below). Above: The Bank of Brunsville was located on

the west side of the north side of main street.

The building burned down in the fire of 1931.

See GLIMPSES on the next page for more photos

Photo information courtesy of the late Gene Dickman.

In Memory of… Gene Dickman, who passed away January 2

Leo Ludwigs, who passed away January 12

Griz Schiltz, who passed away January 8

Shirlee Wells, who passed away January 13

In Our Prayers Judy Bowman

Donna Cornish

The family and friends of Gene Dickman

Shelly Hunt (Kim Sherlock’s mother)

Kim Johnson

The family and friends of Leo Ludwigs

Martha & Tom Morley

John Lambert (Lonesome Jack) - John has

been recovering from a fall on Dec. 26

Janice Renken

Sarah & Rod Renken

The friends and family of Griz Schiltz

Carol Schmitz

Mary Singer

Charles Stremick

Rich Taylor

The friends and family of Shirlee Wells

Birthdays Eric Lubben Feb. 2

Michaela Burkard Feb. 2

Zachary Burkard Feb. 2

Addison Babcock Feb. 2

Vernon Harrington Feb. 3

Brenten Bruscher Feb. 3

Karen Oetken Feb. 5

Chris Waterbury Feb. 7

Steve McHale Feb. 8

B.J. Rieken Feb. 8

Bowen Rieken Feb. 8

Joslyn & Jayde Sieburg Feb. 9

Gwenith Montgomery Feb. 9

Charles Stremick Feb. 10

Brystol & Rahlyd Gabel Feb. 10

Rob Von Hagel Feb. 12

Tim Rollinger Feb. 14

Peggy Dickman Feb. 17

Dave Burkard Feb. 17

Keaton Koerselman Feb. 18

Dick Harms Feb. 19

Colan Borchers Feb. 19

Jerret Westhoff Feb. 23

Elliot Kroll Feb. 27

Lincoln Renken Feb. 28

Angela Von Hagel Feb. 28

Mary Jane Tapper Feb. 28

Laura Willer Feb. 28

Lisa Livermore Feb. 28

GLIMPSES continued from front page

Above: Members of the Four Seasons Garden Club dressed up for

each month of the year. The line begins with January on the right.

Left: Cheryl and Gene

Dickman enjoyed dancing. At

one time the couple learned

how to polka in Le Mars.

Right: Al Willer stood in the

doorway of the jail, a building

over 100 years old that still

stands just west of the Legion.

Above: The long-gone school on a yard filled with snow. The car parked

in front belonged to the superintendent. Visible in the background on

the right are the swings.

Below: Building of the Brunsville Park shelter house. The shelter is located

across the street from where the Brunsville school once stood.

Citizen of the Month: Nancy Schlichte

Upcoming events at the Legion

Feb. 1 Euchre 7 p.m. Note the date change

Feb. 3 Sons of the American Legion meeting 7 p.m.,

Legion meeting 7:30 p.m.

Feb. 3 Democrat caucus 6 p.m. (in the hall)

Feb. 9 Pancake breakfast 8:30 a.m.-1:00 p.m.

Feb. 21 Prairie Rose Golf Course Casino Night, 6:30

p.m. (see front page for details)

March 2 Sons of the American Legion meeting 7 p.m.,

Legion meeting 7:30 p.m.

March 8 Pancake breakfast 8:30 a.m.-1:00 p.m.

March 14 Euchre 7 p.m.

March 16 Southern Sioux Rural Water

Corner Café Coverage

Watch the Super Bowl with us on Feb. 2 Enjoy a potluck—bring a dish if you’d like

Early festivities: Texas Hold ‘Em game

Corner will provide prime rib chili and boneless

chicken tenders with dipping sauces

Evening specials Sun. Blaine Boy (loose meat) $2.50

Mon. Alicia’s Mexican Specialties 5-8:30 p.m.

Tues. Corner burger & fries $7.50

Wed. Whole chicken (no substitutions) with fries or

mashed potatoes & gravy $15.99

Thurs. Blaine’s choice

Fri. Prime rib with potato & salad

Sat. Prime rib with potato & salad

1909 IOWA PRAIRIE BANK 2020 The Old Reliable

110 Years of Service

to Your Grandparents, Parents & You

Stop In and See How We Can Help with Your Financial Questions

Full Line of Banking Plus Service First Insurance

Farm — Home — Auto—talk to Mike

CLOSE — CONVENIENT

Pioneer Village photos

The Pioneer Village Christmas celebration was

held in Century Hall at the Le Mars fairgrounds

the first two weekends in December. Top far

left: Isabel Trobaugh (at piano) and singer

Elaine Peacock, both of Elk Point, S.D. Top

middle: Henry Renken of James, Iowa and

Marlyn Renken of rural Brunsville. Top left:

Guitarist Bruce Butcher of Le Mars.

Bottom: Attending the Veterans’ Tribute were

veterans (L-R:) Marlyn Renken, Brunsville; Tom

Paschal, Cherokee; Ken Berke, Woodbury

County; Ed Ritz, Westfield; Mike Vander Molen,

Struble; Jay Willer, Akron; Bill Renken, Brunsville;

Steve Harrington, Sioux City; Jacki Kajewski,

Sioux City; Ray Whitmore, Le Mars; and Morrie

Blum, Merrill.

Photos and information courtesy of The Akron

Hometowner.

Deadline to submit information to be published is the 25th the month before.

Free pickup & delivery to & from Brunsville, Le Mars & Merrill.

Sites to visit

To learn more about Brunsville history and read previous

editions of The Blitz, go to brunsvilleiowa.com.

To learn more about St. Peter Lutheran Church and view

old church booklets, go to stpeterbrunsville.com.

Be sure to like The Brunsville Blitz, Brunsville Centennial and

Beyond and St. Peter Lutheran Church, Brunsville, Iowa on

Facebook.

Susan Willer wears a funny hat while at the former ballfield

(presently the Scooters location) circa 1986.

Submit info, subscribe, donate

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note we don’t send renewal notices

Staff

Susan Willer Publisher/Editor/Composer/Reporter/Ad

Rep, susanwiller@hotmail.com or brunsvilleblitz@

gmail.com; P.O. Box 187, Brunsville, IA 51008

Gisela Dittman (G.D., Scoop) Newshound/Copy

Editor/Public Relations, 712-533-6493

Barry Poe Sportswriter/Circulation/Copy Editor,

thecubswin@frontier.com

Bowen Rieken Staff Photographer

Quote ‘Ems

If I had a flower for every time I thought of you ... I could

walk through my garden forever.—Alfred Tennyson

We should certainly count our blessings, but we should

also make our blessings count.—Neal A. Maxwell

The fear of death follows from the fear of life. A man who

lives fully is prepared to die at any time.—Mark Twain

Above quotes submitted by Ruth Zembsch

Many a parent wishes the schools would do a better job

of bringing up her children.

We don’t stop having fun when we’re old; we’re old

when we stop having fun.

A grouch looks as if he were weaned on a pickle.

It takes all kinds of people to make the world: right-

handed, left-handed and underhanded.

Lonesome Jack says…

If you laugh too much, they say you’re silly. If you don’t

laugh, they say you’re a grouch. That makes me a

laughing grouch.

My dog keeps bringing me the same toy. Makes me

wonder if that is his favorite toy or if he thinks it’s my

favorite toy.

The end

Fun Brunsville facts

• At one time Brunsville had three grocery stores. When

the highway was paved a mile south in the 50s, the

grocery stores took a hit.

• There were also three taverns in town at one time. The

farmers sometimes sat on the sidewalks and talked.

• Near the corner of Elm and Locust streets there used

to be a pond created from melted snow that ducks

would enjoy.

Courtesy of the late Gene Dickman

Please note Blitz staff members are volunteers

and The Blitz does not make a profit.

Thanks to those who donate!

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cake pans, puzzles and more!

Open Mon.& Wed. 2-6 p.m., Tues. & Thurs.4-7 p.m.,

Fri. & Sat. 9 a.m.-noon

608 Main St., 712-938-2503, merrilllibrary@mtcnet.net,

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