THE{FULL}LIFETOUCHMARK ON WEST PROSPECT

June 2014

Former POW shares story of survivalIt’s almost 70 years ago, but Philip Muth can remember nearly every detail of his experiences during World War II, especially the 213 days he spent as a prisoner of war.

Phil was a navigator with the Army Air Force when German forces near Vienna shot down his plane on Oct. 17, 1944. Since his experience is one that many people never hear firsthand, Phil is always willing to talk to different groups, including Touchmark residents last fall and Neenah High School students in May.

The Germans first took him to Vienna—“They even took me on a tour of the city”—before moving him to a prison in Budapest, Hungary. “I think that was the worst. They keep you in there, and you don’t know what time of day it is or anything. There’s hardly any lights, and you don’t see the sun,” he says.

After Budapest, Phil was put with a group of British POWs—“we had good tea”—and was moved to Stalag Luft 3 in Poland via boxcars. “It was so

cramped that half of the men would stand and half would sit, and then you would switch,” he recalls. “And yes, that was the camp that the movie The Great Escape was about.”

As the Russians advanced from the East, Phil and his fellow POWs were moved to southern Germany. “We had to walk from Nuremburg to Germany. It was very hard and very cold. We took cardboard and made signs to hold over our heads saying POWs as we walked so we wouldn’t be bombed by the Americans,” says Phil, who is now 90.

Then one morning, the POWs woke up and found that the Germans had left during the night, as the US and French troops approached.

“I was about six feet away from General Patton when he came into our camp. It was an amazing experience. He was this huge, tall man,” he says. “We were so hungry, but we had to be careful that we didn’t eat too much right away, because your body can’t handle all that food after you’ve been starved.”

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Research on cognition and memory is finding that people who participate in more mentally

stimulating activities have a slower rate of decline in memory (Wilson, et al, 2013, Journal of Neurology). Apps and websites like Fit Brains, Lumosity, Tetris, Sudoku2 all work on your computer, tablet device, or smart phone. Touchmark recently conducted a webinar with team members that covered cutting-edge ideas for activities and cognitive stimulation. We now are working to develop programming throughout Touchmark communities that takes advantage of this technology for enhancing memory.

If you own or intend to purchase a computer, tablet, or smart phone and would like to participate in learning how to use it, please let us know. Also, if you have a favorite website or app that helps build the brain, please send an email to FullLife@Touchmark.com. Let’s learn together what can benefit all of us as we exercise our brains and boost memory.

Do you have a computer, iPad, or smart phone?

Connect with community

This month, we’re featuring the Roosevelt single-family home at 2553 Touchmark Court (pictured above). It includes 1,712 square feet, two bedrooms, and two bathrooms. Apartment 242 is also available with 604 square feet, one bedroom, one bathroom, and a balcony. (shown right) We invite you to tour Touchmark and take part in an event or activity—and see how being part of a community can enrich your life.

138820 Nov. 2013

Apartment

242604 sq. ft.1 Bedroom | 1 Bath

W.I.C. DW

During his time in captivity, Phil was able to send two letters through the Red Cross to his family back home, but he said it still took months before his family knew what had happened to him.

Many soldiers did not return, and Memorial Day always holds great meaning for Phil. “You go through a lot when you’re a prisoner, but I made it,” he says gratefully.

After the war, Phil married Joan, who he had met before heading off to Europe, and they had two children. Living in Wisconsin Rapids, he found work as a middle school science teacher and later worked for Veterans Affairs. He was active in different veterans and POW groups as well as interviewing candidates for the four military academies. In 2012, the Muths came to Touchmark in Appleton to be closer to their daughter, who lives in Combined Locks.

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Brian PryorExecutive Vice President

CAPTURING DELIGHT{FULL} MOMENTS

Mary Kesler

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Jean Ormson and Nancy Bodway

Ginny Johnson and Ed Ellenbecker

Don a hat! From left: Donna Garvey, Leslie Brandt, and Carmen Lindberg joined the Kentucky Derby Happy Hour and Hat Contest.

Donna Schultz

Joyce Edwards

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TOUCHMARK ON WEST PROSPECTFull-service Retirement Community

2601 Touchmark Drive • Appleton, WI 54914920-832-9100 • Touchmark.com

EVENT HIGHLIGHTS

Contact a Full Life team member for additional details, including registration, transportation information, and participation requirements.

Thursday, June 12, 3:30 pm The Goodtime Music Review with folk guitarist and songwriter Michael Gruber. Enjoy sing-along songs as Michael plays his guitar and sings.

Mondays, June 16, 23, and 30, 1:30 pm Spanish 101. Life Enrichment/Wellness Director Rachel Watkins-Petersen will teach this informal class. The group will go over basic conversational Spanish, and on the third week, all are invited to visit El Azteca for drinks and appetizers—and to practice their Spanish. It will be muy divertido (very fun)!

Tuesday, June 17, 3 pm You Must Answer This, presented by local author Gary Beyer. Drawing from 60 years of life’s happy accidents, Gary sees them everywhere around him. This outlook has become more important to Gary since he was diagnosed with a little-known, debilitating disease in January 2008. Gary drew on many of his own happy accidents as source material for his self-published book, You Must Answer This. Spend an afternoon enjoying Gary’s hopeful presentation.

Tuesday, June 17, 11 am Lunch ’n Learn: Aging: Change Your Perspective,

Change Your Life! If we changed our view of aging, what would it look like? Would you like to discover a more active side of yourself? Come learn more—and be inspired. Lunch is provided. No charge to attend, but seating is limited. Please call 920-225-1013 to reserve a seat by June 15.

Wednesday, June 18, 2 pm Guided Meditation. Haven’t you earned an afternoon of relaxation? Guided meditation is a form of stress relief that is conducive to relaxing the whole body in part by finding a way of peaceful and calming relaxation from within the body.

Saturday, June 21, 6 pm The Longest Day Sunset Celebration with Island Magic. On the Longest Day, teams around the world come together to honor the strength, passion, and endurance of those facing Alzheimer’s with a day of activity. Held on the summer solstice, this event calls on participants to raise funds and awareness for the Alzheimer’s Association. As the Touchmark team finishes a day of fundraising and bowling, join us for a party with a Caribbean theme and refreshments as well as the music of Island Magic, a steel drum band.

Tuesday, June 24, 3 pm Iced Tea and Poetry Open Mic. Join Sandy White, owner of Botanical Indulgence, for a

delightful afternoon of sampling iced loose-leaf teas. What could possibly make an iced-tea social better? Poetry! Bring poems to share, poetry written by others/yourself, or simply listen to the creativity.

Wednesday, June 25, 3 pm Wine and Canvas. Join us for an afternoon of creativity and cabernet (we’ll have white wine, too!). Local artist Karen Lee will give step-by-step instructions to help you complete your masterpiece. Canvas, acrylic paints, and beverages will be supplied. Cost: $15.

Thursday, June 26, 4 - 6 pm Fox Pointe Neighborhood Block Party. Enjoy a taste of summer fun. Mingle with neighbors and enjoy musical entertainment by TJ & Lynn as you sip on cocktails and enjoy a backyard barbecue prepared by Touchmark Food Services Director and Executive Chef Chip Kerscher and his team. Tours of homes will be available. RSVP by June 24 to 920-225-1013.

Monday, June 30, 11:30 am Picnic and Yard Games. After a picnic-style lunch in the new courtyard, engage in some friendly competition with yard games, including beanbag baseball, ladder ball, and washers.

See the full calendar of events online: TouchmarkAppleton.com/pdf/community-event-

calendar.pdf