Den Dempsey Updates from Irene Dempsey

December 21
I bought Den a leather recliner for Christmas and he enjoys the change from the wheel chair.  He is eating a little, but keeps saying he wants a Sub sandwich.
January 7

Den had surgery on his right eye yesterday. Den and the doctor were great. I was a nervous wreck.  Anyway, it went well and in two weeks the stitches come out and his eye should be much improved.
Tiny steps, but in the right direction. He has eight therapies a week and every one moves him a little closer to a better life.  He's so strong and determined!  Love to you all. Irene
January 15
When we woke up yesterday I put my hand on Den's face and knew immediately he had a fever. I grabbed the thermometer and found it was 101. I called the doc and he said "Probably pneumonia, Take him to ER".  So I did.  
But the good news is it isn't pneumonia. He has a kidney stone in the left kidney that has stopped up plumbing and caused a very serious infection. So he been in ICU again and has been flooded with liquids and antibiotics and they put a tube into the kidney to drain the infection.

Poor Den !  Another tube! Anyway, tonight he is better and out of ICU. When he is stable, I can bring him home and monitor the kidney tube for some time until the infection is gone. Then he'll go back for a surgery to remove the stone. It is very fortunate that we discovered it right away.
So, my sweet Den is back in the hospital and dealing with tubes and doctors again. He has definitely had far more than his share of the hospital scene. When I left tonight he said, "I want to go home with you." It broke my heart to leave him.
But we will prevail! He is the strongest fighter I know and he is determined to win.
Please keep him in your thoughts and prayers.  Much love to all. Irene
January 19
Den is home today. Very weak and quiet. The infection and the antibiotics are battling in his kidney. But his numbers are all pretty good. Keep thinking of him. Love to all

January 23
Den is home. Very tired and weak with the bugs and antibiotics battling inside, but he is a strong and determined fighter and doing well. Thanks for the many messages of love and support. We have some wonderful friends. Love to all.
February 8
Den is home again from another stay in the hospital with very serious Sepsis. He's had so many tubes and meds and needles, he's exhausted and very lethargic, but still up for therapy. I've never seen such a strong will as his. Anyway, he's home again and loves to get cards, visits and phone calls. Our love to you all. Irene

Verne Alexander HO Railroad

Verne Alexander first emailed me in April of 2011 and I posted his information on this blog in February of this year.  This report repeats his description of his relationship with Paul and Glenn Staeheli.  Also included are photos from his HO railroad layout featuring the Addy Creamery.

I am not a member of the Staeheli family per se.  Paul Mathias Staeheli was my uncle, having married my father’s (Robert Alexander) sister Erma.  Glenn Albert was my cousin. 

In reading the section on Paul Mathias I noted some errors, and my intent here is to offer more accurate information.  Paul served his entire NP career in Spokane.  The nomadic career path listed for Paul properly belongs to his son, Glenn (spelled with two “N’s”).  Glenn was a road foreman of engines, not an inspector.  I am almost certain that his wartime service was in the Navy, not the army.

Paul had a one car garage on our property in Spokane, which was but a three block walk to the NP roundhouse.  I thus saw him frequently during my childhood as he came by on his way to or from work.  He had a gruff exterior, and I was afraid of him.  As I grew older I got a better handle on what he was like, which led to a greater appreciation of the man.  He had a Calvinistic work ethic, and believed that everyone should.  He was reserved around people until he was satisfied that they had the right character.  If ever one got a sign of approval from Paul, it meant a lot. 

 

Paul lived in a house he built on our original homestead property during my father’s childhood and youth.  My father’s father (Elmer E. Alexander) had been out of my father’s life since he was 6 years old.  Paul stepped in as a father figure, and remained my father’s principal role model for the rest of his life.  They were frequent companions on the railroad, hunting and fishing, and at the Staeheli house. 

 

I moved away from Spokane to attend school, but was privileged to be able to visit Paul on what proved to be his death bed.  There was a lot of denial going on in the family at the time, but without using the words Paul made it very clear that he knew he was dying and that this would be our last contact.  I felt genuine affection from him, and I was inspired by the manner in which he was facing his death head on, just as he faced everything in his life.

I did not get to know Glenn until after he retired from the railroad.  He shared many of his father’s characteristics.  We talked railroading extensively; he as a professional and me as a fan and modeler.  Before he died, Glenn absolutely insisted that I ride my bicycle on a stretch of abandoned Milwaukee road bed In the Bitterroot mountains of Idaho.  I shall forever be indebted to him for urging me into one of the greatest experiences of my life!

I am extremely happy to have had the opportunity to read so many things about the Staeheli family that I did not know.  I have Addy on my HO scale model railroad and I run a milk train that collects raw milk in cans as it works its way up from Spokane.  At the Staeheli creamery in Addy it exchanges its can car of raw milk for another car of finished dairy products.  These are unloaded at the team track in Spokane, one of the principle customers being the Davenport Hotel.  In real life the creamery never had rail service, but having it on my layout is a nice way of preserving memories.

My best to you as you continue in your pursuit of family history.

Verne Alexander

CRAP is the acronym for my HO scale Colville, Republic and Palouse railroad.  The CRAP runs north and south out of Spokane.  To the north it resembles the GN Kettle Falls branch; to the south it resembles the NP Palouse and Lewiston branch.  It is harvest time in 1944, and the war is still going on.

 

 

 

 

The Staeheli Creamery in Addy

In June of 2010 I received a packet of news clippings from JB of the Stevens County Historical Society in Colville, WA.  Among the clippings is the only photo I have seen of the Addy Creamery.  There is no evidence of that building now.

I was aware of Souvenir Editions of the Colville newspaper but could not find them among the newspapers kept as records at the newspaper office.  These clippings must be from copies with the historical society.

While visiting Colville, my father and I ate at the restaurant which occupies the former Staeheli Creamery there.  Attached is an article describing the opening of the Colville creamery.

 

 

 

Jack E. Staeheli Obituary

Jerry Staeheli presented this information on his facebook page.  I include it here.

From the Everett Herald of November 7, 2013:

Jack E. Staeheli passed away on October 24, 2013 after a long and productive life. He was born in December, 1918 in Spokane, WA to Caspar and Gertrude Staeheli. As a lifetime Washington resident he lived the outdoor lifestyle he loved so much.

 

Jack met and married his wife of 63 years, Thelma (Nail) Staeheli, in 1940. They moved to Everett where he had a long career at American Boiler Works, while they raised their children, Larry Staeheli and Sharon (Staeheli) Hansen.

 

After 40 years he retired and they moved to Soap Lake and enjoyed a life filled with hunting, fishing, gardening, family and friends. A kind and capable man, Jack was preceded in death by his wife, Thelma, and siblings, Harry and Frieda.

 

He leaves behind a loving family, including his children, Larry and Sharon, three grandchildren, eight great-grandchildren and three great-great-grandchildren.

 

The family wishes to express their gratitude to the staff at Columbia Basin Hospital for their support and care during the past three years of Jacks life. At the request of the family there will be no services.

 

The family suggests that donations be made in his name to the Columbia Basin Hospital Foundation, % Alayna Lodi, 200 Nat Washington Way, Ephrata, WA 98823.

 

Please leave a memory for the family or sign their online guestbook at: www.scharbachs.com. Scharbach's Columbia Funeral Chapel, Quincy, is assisting the family with arrangements.

     

Den Dempsey Update for October 31

Hi friends, and family. 

Den is home now at the condo and we are getting into a routine.  Lots of doctor appointments this first couple of weeks, but things should settle down.  We have a new German Shepherd. We lost both Slippers and Zada during Den's hospitalization. 

Den seems content to be here and is aware that we can no longer take care of the big property in Snohomish.  His friend, Kem Hunter, Is helping decide what to do with it. Den's address is now 5915 Highway Place, #404, Everett, 98203 and will be indefinitely.  Cards and letters are welcome, and visits too whenever you can make it. 

Our phone is 425-353-5905.  Den no longer has a cell phone, and I'll let you know when he gets one. I have help every day and they are great. When we go out I sometimes take Den in my car and sometimes use a cabulance. 

Feel free to invite us to galas.  Den's email is denatwestwick@aol.com, and he does read messages though replying takes time and he often doesn't want to do it. Using one hand, the "wrong" one in his case, is very slow. 

He is making good progress, and I'm very happy to have him home again. Thanks to all of you for your prayers, cards, support and good wishes. 

With love to all, Den and Irene

A Visit from the Jaeger's

For some time I have been in email contact with Ian Jaeger who lives in south Australia.  Ian and his wife, Catherine, have been traveling the US visiting family and visited my wife, Kathy, and I on October 9 and 10. 

Although this was our first time together we found that we have much in common and stayed up late having conversation.  Ian and I share an interest in beers and sampled a few. 

Ian and Catherine are back in Seattle seeing Daphne Dempsey who is Ian's only living relative of her generation. 

The Jaeger's are active travelers who have seen much of the world and will vacation in Germany, Switzerland and Italy next summer.

 

Den Dempsey Update for October 8

Den is using email to communicate with friends and family and informed me he will be going home on October 18.  He said he is doing well.
You can email Den at denatwestwick@aol.com