Recipes for Living Ryan Seeberger

If ever there was a bona fide Osceola United Methodist, it is Ryan. Although neither of his parents are native Osceolians, according to Beverly's life story in the 1998 Recipes for Living, they met in Osceola, when Spencer was the industrial tech/automotive teacher and Beverly was the physical education teacher at Clarke Community Junior-Senior High School. They were married in the Osceola United Methodist Church. Ryan was born at 3:30 a.m. on April 17, 1982, in the Methodist Hospital in Des Moines, and baptized on September 12 of that year - in the Osceola United Methodist Church, of course. For all of his 20 years, Ryan has lived in the same house built by his dad and grandfather in 1978. This is his story:

I'm not certain why I was back in the hospital in May 1983, but I know I had tubes put in my ears when I was around four years old, and wore ear plugs until I was about eight. For my first birthday I received a Radio Flyer red wagon, which I still have. In October 1984, when people began asking if I was a girl or boy, Mom knew it was time for me to get my first haircut. I kind of remember the haircut, and I felt a little bit scared. In 1985, I got my first bicycle with training wheels. Our road was graveled at that time so my parents took me to the high school to ride around and around in the parking lot.

The Eddy family has been really important to our family. Oral and "Grandma Eddy" (Lois) still live across the road and one of my very good friends has been Susannah Eddy, Marlin's and Sandy's daughter, who lived down the road a mile or so. We went to the same church, and were the same age, so we went to each other's birthday parties. On November 10, 1985, Susannah was the flower girl and I was the ring bearer for Melanie Webb's and Brian Eddy's wedding. I still have pictures, and I have told them I feel I had a very important role. If I hadn't brought the rings down the aisle, they couldn't have gotten married.

In 1986, Nathan was born. I don't think I was ever jealous of him. My parents spent just as much time with me as they ever did. They didn't have favorites then or now. Nathan was only four months old the summer when our family went to San Antonio to visit my aunt and uncle, Mom's brother. We went by car with Mom and Nathan in the back seat. That meant I got to sit up front, so I saw a lot of the country.

While we were there we went tubing down a river. The story was that while floating along on an inner tube from a tire, Mom suddenly realized that I didn't have my ear plugs and expressed her main concern: "Don't go underwater!" Just floating down the river was a nice, calming experience. While we were there, we also saw fireworks. Thinking they were to be shot several blocks away, we went to the top of a car garage, and lo and behold, they were being shot right at the base of the garage we had chosen. We laid down as flat as we could but they were right on top of us.. Because of the wind, the top of a nearby building caught fire. I remember the whole evening very vividly - the crowd on top of the building, the fire department that came - it was kind of scary! And here was little Nathan who slept through the fireworks and all, even though they were right above us.

I had my first ocean experience that summer when we went to Padre Island. It was very windy and we ate a lot of sand with our sandwiches. We went into the water but not deep enough to taste the salt water in our mouths.

Two other important people in my life were Sophia Bennink and Chad Meyer. Sophia was the babysitter at the Meyer home. Chad has known me since I was born and is my best friend. I remember an experience I had at his house . They had a stationary exercise bike and I got my finger caught in it. It ripped open my finger and I still have the scar. Chad used to baby-sit me and after he went to school. Sophia came to our house as my babysitter. It was a good arrangement.

In the 1986-'87school year I attended Kiddie Karousel. My teachers were Mrs. Buesch and Mrs. Wignall. In the summer of '87 I started piano lessons and continued through eighth grade. I played special numbers at church many times as a young student. This early start helped me become the musician that I am today. Piano lessons also gave me a head start when it came to learning the saxophone, and reading notes helped me in choir.

In the spring of 1988, I was in my first car wreck. It happened at the comer of highway 34 and South Ridge Road, which is where we live. Sophia Bennink, my babysitter, was driving and we were rear-ended by a bus driven by Ron Ogan. My neighbor, Chris Binning, was on the bus. Her class was going for a tour of McDonalds. Sophia's car was totaled. The back doors wouldn't open and we had to pull Nathan out through the front. That was probably the scariest moment of my life at that age.

In the fall of 1988, I started school at East Elementary. Mrs. Raines was my teacher, and my best friend was Brianna Underbakke. I remember we spent many hours reading, but I actually don't know if I was able to read or if she was reading to me. We had PEP boxes that gave us things to do. Brianna and I would go off together to do them.

In the summer of '89, when I was seven years old and Nathan was three, we went to Branson, Missouri. We camped in our pop-up camper on the Shepherd of the Hills campgrounds. That was the name of a play we saw, which is live entertainment performed outside. They make everything realistic by setting buildings on fire, and having gunfights in the streets - with blanks, of course. We also went to Silver Dollar City and took many of the rides, but the one I remember most was called "Fire in the Hole." It was a roller coaster which was smooth and gentle. The pictures along the way, however, were terrifying because they showed different things burning. At the end of the ride there was a drop into water that sprays you - like putting out the fire.

In the fall, when I was in first grade, I had the honor of being chosen Crown Bearer for Homecoming, along with Tricia Goos. My job during the coronation of the Homecoming King and Queen was to take the crown to the front and stand there until everybody was in their places. That went well. We sat down and the camera started. After they had crowned both the prince and princess, Mr. Goos came over to me and had a hard time untying the King's crown from the pillow. The student next to me, Jody Coenen, offered to help. After Mr. Goos finally untied the crown, he stepped back, looked at all the candidates and walked right next to the one I was sitting by. That was the king! After the ceremony was over, I was placed in a car with the prince and princess. The princess, Kelly Frizzell, teased me about being her date for the dance and kept me in high spirits for the day. I still know Kelly and see her at Student Health at ISU (Iowa State University) every now and then.

My teacher in first grade was Mrs. Swarthout. My best buddy was Erik Lowe. I remember learning how to count by two's, five's, and ten's in first grade. Also in that grade we started creative writing. Thanks to my mom, I can go back and read my stories because she kept some of them. I suppose it was because of my dad's line of teaching that I liked to write about cars.

The following summer of 1990 was busy. I was eight years old and there were a lot of "firsts." Dad brought home my first big toy that I shared with my brother. It was a go-cart which we still have and have fun riding even now. I joined my first Little League team, Breadaux Pizza, and was coached by Mr. Neil Goos. Having him as my coach made me want to play baseball even more. Like every beginner, I played outfield the first year. Later that summer, I went with Hans Klein to my first church camp at Camp Aldersgate. Even though it was just one night, this was the first and last time I ever got homesick,. We went swimming in the afternoon shortly after we arrived, had church that night, and some fun activities the next day before our parents came to pick us up. After church camp I came home and went to Cub Scout camp with my dad. It was an overnight at Camp Mitigwa near Boone and we camped outdoors. Those were my first camping experiences, with many more to follow.

Our family vacation was in August, when we went to a lake in Minnesota - a typical arrangement with a lodge and cabins. This is where we first used our tube and boat for recreation and fishing. I also learned to "kneeboard," which is being on your knees on a board, being pulled behind a boat with a ski rope. This was an exciting experience for me because it was a challenge that I conquered.

In the fall of 1990, I started second grade taught by Mr. Boldon. Birthday parties were the best because he would always end the birthday song saying, "A pinch to grow an inch and a tickle to be stronger than a pickle." That fall was my first hunting experience. Dad let me go along when he hunted deer with a bow. I got to see a deer run across the field.

I was on the Breadaux team again in 1991, with Mike Schinzel as our coach. I was moved from outfield to second base. I went to both Cub Scout and Church Camp, the latter being at Wesley Woods for three days. My uncle on my mom's side lives in Crawfordsville, Iowa, and is a fanatic about RAGBRAI (Register's Annual Great Bike Ride Across Iowa). He has his own team, and that summer he invited us to join him on the ride. The route was from Winterset to Knoxville. I ended up riding half-way, maybe 40 miles, from Winterset to Medora. Our family vacation in August was to South Dakota where we saw many sights - Mt. Rushmore, Wall Drug, a water park, and we also visited Warren and Linda Bachman while they were on harvest. That was fun to see.

I had Miss Adams for third grade. In her classes the students write stories and make books. My favorite part of the class was that we always had a "star of the week." Each week a new name was drawn out of a hat and that person brought pictures of their lives and/or their families, told people who they were and what they were about, and the other students filled out forms about them. I can remember some of them and they were hilarious.

In the summer of '92, I was traded from Breadaux Pizza to Hardees' team. I was moved up from second base to catching and first base. This was the year when my team was season runner-up and first place tournament champions. Our coaches were Brian Oswald and Todd Kale. One weekend I went to Lake Okoboji to the baseball camp with Jack Chesnut, Jeff Denley, and Eddy Lundquist. Later that summer Mom, Dad, and I did RAGBRAI from Osceola to Des Moines. Nathan joined us outside of Des Moines and rode into the city with us.

In early August we went to the Field of Dreams at Dyersville. Anyone who wanted to could join in the baseball games. We ended up playing ball with many people. During the school year, Nathan had done some research about Abraham Lincoln's life, and in the TAG (Talented and Gifted) program, I portrayed Tom Sawyer in the "Night of the Notables." Later in August, as a follow-up to research I had done on Mark Twain, our family traveled to Springfield, Illinois, and to Hannibal, Missouri, places closely associated with those men.

North Elementary was closed down the year before I would go into fourth grade, and we traveled to the Weldon school for that year. The bus trips were fun. My teacher was Mrs. Spear and the best part of that year was learning the states and capitals. We learned a song that listed the states in alphabetical order. I can still quote it.

In the summer of 1993, I was in fourth grade and I played on Hardees’s team. This was the year of the flood, and we swam in the ditches filled with water and had mud slides down the neighbor's hill. The flood also affected our experience at the Wesley Woods Farm Camp. Because of it, we didn't have showers, so in the middle of the week we had one shower for which we traveled to Indianola. I also attended Webelos Scout Camp this summer.

We had an unusual circumstance when I was in fifth grade. East Elementary School was under construction and our classes were held in the basement of the United Methodist Church, which meant that I was there six days a week. My teacher was Miss Korporal. I was a member of the Student Council, and started playing the saxophone. I also began working for Melvin Goeldner, mowing, doing other yard work, and helping weed his garden. To this day we have irises from his flower bed on the south side of my parents' house. Melvin was always teaching, and a famous quote that I remember is "Is that as clear as mud?"

The summer of my fifth grade year, I played ball for Querry Motors. Our coaches were John Lowe and Marvin Rychnovsky. We were in first place for the season. Our family went on RAGBRAI again, and I went to Ranch Camp at Wesley Woods with Bryan Lloyd.

The new school opened in 1994, my sixth grade year. Miss Body was my teacher. There were several memorable experiences in that year - I got braces on my teeth, and during youth season, I killed my first deer with a shotgun. I started singing in sixth grade choir and I met one of my new best friends, Trevor Deforest, whose family had just moved to town. Trevor and I sang together and we both played the saxophone. We were and still are music buddies.

The summer of sixth grade I was on Querry Motors team and my head coach was John Lowe. My position was catcher in both my fifth and sixth grade years - that's why my knees are bad. We placed first in both the season and the tournament. Later that summer Trevor and I went to Ranch Camp at Wesley Woods. I attended Boy Scout Camp this year, where I earned merit badges. Our family trip was to Florida to see Disney World, and we also toured Universal Studios. We drove in order to see the Indianapolis Speedway, the Smokey Mountains, and the Daytona Raceway.

During seventh grade I played football, basketball, baseball, ran track, was in choir and played saxophone in band. My coaches for the year were Tim Cannon, John Huenemann, and Neil Goos; my vocal instructor was Ann March, and my music instructor was David Twombley. I continued in these activities throughout my junior high and high school career. In the fall I was
selected for the Iowa Opus Honor Choir. This gave me an opportunity to sing with an all-male choir in Ames at CY Stephens auditorium.

That summer was my last time at Ranch Camp at Wesley Woods. Again I went with Trevor. John Lowe taught seventh grade social studies and for eight years he took students to Washington, D.C. I was fortunate to be in seventh grade during the time he did that. We saw all the monuments. At the Smithsonian, I was particularly impressed by the science, air and space area. We didn't get to go in the White House.

In eighth grade, I was in Opus Honor Choir again. I had the first of several broken bones in my hands from football-they get crushed between helmets. I broke other fingers in my sophomore or junior year. The good part was that it didn't ever interfere with playing the saxophone. In track season I set the hurdle record for eighth grade both the seven-flight and the 200 hurdles. People seemed to enjoy seeing me go over the hurdles.

During this year I met with Rev. L. Duane Churchman for Confirmation classes and I became a member of the Osceola United Methodist Church in the spring of 1997. To this day he bugs me about becoming a pastor. I have given it thought and at the present time I plan, when I am through college, to pursue being a lay minister.

In the summer of eighth grade, I went to Boy Scout National Jamboree at Fort A.P. Hill in Virginia. I was elected scribe for my troop which came with bonuses. Many activities required rappelling, which is descending a steep decline with a rope around the body and one above. We also had classes in archery, shotgun, and scuba diving. There were concerts called Arena Shows, and I got to see President Bill Clinton come in his helicopter and to hear his speech. My reaction was that it was nice he showed up. According to rumor, the last time he was scheduled to be there, he didn't make it.

Two bonuses were: I had my second trip to Washington D.C. and this time we could go inside the White House and up into the Washington Monument. During the summer I was also elected into the Order of the Arrow, which is a branch of Boy Scouts, and I became a certified Life Guard at Robinson's Pool in Osceola. I still am a life guard at our new Aquatic Center. I intend to apply again this summer. If I am accepted, this will be my seventh year.

In ninth grade football, I chipped a bone in my right hip, which put me out for the rest of the season. After that I had my appendix out. It happened to be on the same day that the septuplets were born in Carlisle. I tried out and was selected to be one of the dancers in the school's spring musical Chorus Line. This was my first musical and a great one to lead me on to more.

During the summer I had an exceptional experience being chosen for the Iowa Ambassadors of Music. There were 200 in the choir and 200 in the band. We traveled by air, bus, and took a ferry across the English Channel. We toured throughout Europe and performed in five countries including England, France, Switzerland, Austria, and Germany. People in Switzerland seemed the most appreciative of our presence. The souvenir I bought for myself was a German Hummel collector's piece. These are like Precious Moments, hand painted by different artists, so every piece in the collection is unique.

My tenth grade was adversely affected by a tear of my right ACL (anterior crucial ligament). This changed my next six months of sports activities, and my audition for the spring musical, Grease. Instead of a part that called for a dance I was given two parts - Teen Angel and Johnny Casino - in which the characters could stand and sing. Whenever I could, I also helped build the sets.

I worked toward earning my Eagle Scout award beginning in sixth grade and received it in the spring of 1999, when I was 16. This was a great moment for me, helping me realize what I can do in my future. Gene Powell was my scout master. He held this position for many years and helped a lot of boys get this award. He died a few years later. I was one of the six Eagle Scouts selected as pall bearers for his funeral.

A big event of my junior year was the prom. I was allowed to drive my dad's '57 Chevy and my date was Jessica Grandfield from Afton. I had met her at Ranch Camp at Wesley Woods my sixth grade, and we have kept in touch ever since. I see her now and then at Iowa State. Her mother is Shelly (Patterson) Grandfield, who was a student at Clarke Community School under my mom. During the school year I was elected into National Honor Society and was given one of the lead roles in the spring musical Anything Goes.

During the summer I was elected to go to Boy's State at Camp Dodge with Luke Amdor and Trevor Deforest. At this event we learned about the operation of the government our country is based upon. Doing my best, I was on the state ballot for auditor. I lost to a guy who was not serious about what he was doing. He just did it for fun, while I was being realistic. Trevor and I both played in the Boys' State band and I also sang in the choir.

That summer our baseball team were Conference champions, and at the awards banquet I received the Coach's award for all the extra help I put forth for the team.

In my senior year, I was involved with seven different events at solo and ensemble contests - four instrumental, and two vocal. In band, I received a one rating with a quartette of saxophones which involved Trevor Deforest, Jessica Wood, and Stacie Seelinger. I received three two-ratings, which involved a solo, a duet with Trevor Deforest, and another duet with my brother Nathan. In chorus I received a one-rating for the double quartette, and a two-rating for Chamber Choir. I also was the Rabbi in the spring musical Fiddler on the Roof. This was the first musical to be performed in the new auditorium, which made it an even greater experience. At the end of the year, with all my musical achievements, I received the National Choral Award from Clarke Community High School.

I graduated in May, 2001. Even though I had fun pursuing all the activities throughout the years, I didn't neglect my studies. I was able to get good grades and take advanced math classes, physics, and drafting classes to prepare me for my future in Landscape Architecture. I ended with a 3.5 GPA (grade point average).

In the summer of 2001, I worked both at the new Aquatic Center and for Osceola Drug. For the latter, I was included in J.B. Hamilton's working crew, refurbishing the front of their building. At the close of the baseball season, I received another award which was called the Don Dougherty award. It was an honor because it is a special award given by Clarke Community School for baseball. The reasons named were my always having a positive attitude, never giving up, and always wanting to succeed.

In the fall of 2001, I went to ISU to pursue a degree in Landscape Architecture. I lived in the dorms my first year in a learning community, which was for design majors. This way we could compare each other's work and have guidance from a senior design student as to what we needed to do to pursue our major. During the year I did many drawings and projects. At the end of the year I was to photograph the projects and make a portfolio for the year. The portfolio was the application to the landscape program at Iowa State. I put a lot of hard work into my projects, and I was successful in being accepted into the program. There were 36 accepted out of the 48 who applied.

I didn't find the transition to college as difficult as it seems to be for some students. I am fortunate to have associated with a wide group of people throughout my life and I continue with many aspects of my life begun in Osceola. I attend church in Ames and share my talents in music and leadership. I am very active in the Collegiate United Methodist Church, where I am involved with several activities including the Faithspring Band, which performs for a weekly contemporary service. I also play in the Collegiate Bell Choir which has 13 members and five octaves of bells. During my sophomore year I have become a Junior High Youth Group leader at First UMC in Ames, so I have a variety of tasks in both churches.

During the spring of my freshman year I joined Theta Chi Fraternity in Ames. I live in the fraternity house and I currently hold two positions - recruitment chair and historian.

The fall of my sophomore year I went on what is called a Traveling Studio. During the semester the group of 36 plus four graduate students and two instructors went on several trips for three weeks each. The first three weeks we traveled to the north including Iowa, Minnesota, Illinois, Wisconsin, and Indiana. The second three week trip was to the south and included Oklahoma, Texas, and a little of Mexico. During these trips we learned about the natural vegetation of the area. It is called savannah, which includes 75% prairie and 25% trees. We also learned the failure and success of a plaza/courtyard/park concept. Being on the road with 40 people, traveling in five 15-passenger vans, creates a new family to rely on.

Before this trip I was in a 3-on-3 basketball tournament raising money for a cancer awareness program. While playing my first game, I tore my left ACL and that was the end of our tournament. I had surgery on December 18, 2002, and now I am in four months of rehabilitation while attending the second semester at ISU.

I am aware that all my life I have been surrounded by a loving family, starting with my grandparents who were there when I was born and throughout my life. Both sets live approximately three hours away - in Mason City, Iowa and Columbus Junction, Iowa - but they have attended my activities when they were able, and we traveled to both places often, helping me to become closer to them. I have always known they supported me in whatever I have done, and they always worried about me when I was in the hospital. They always called to check on me when I was hospitalized or returned home. As I was growing up, I would help them run errands to the grocery store or deliver meals-on-wheels. My grandparents have shown me how to be a giver of what I have - my time and my talents.

Next to my grandparents comes my immediate family, my mom Beverly, my dad Spencer, and my brother Nathan. There would have been another brother, Casey Joe, but it was necessary to terminate the pregnancy. I often think of what would have happened if Casey Joe had lived, having brothers two years apart instead of four. I wonder if there would have been more competition between us or more bickering at each other, but I feel that I would have been very close and a mentor to Casey.

Having my brother Nathan has been a blessing to me. We have grown up doing many things together and teaching each other different views of life. Growing up, we were very similar and competitive with each other. Whenever we would wrestle in the living room, it always seemed that I would win unless he pulled my hair or bit me. Today the tides have changed and he is bigger than me now, which means I have to pick my fights carefully. Today we are still very similar but very different, becoming closer every day.

My father, Spencer, has led me to be the nit-picky person I am in what I do. For instance, helping Dad in the garage for many summers when I was young, I learned that if you do it right the first time, you shouldn't have to do it again. Growing up with Dad video recording my sports activities, I always had a person to critique whatever I did, trying to help me improve. I thank my dad for pushing me to my limit and always encouraging me to strive for more.

My mother, Beverly, has been my inner strength. She has always been able to tell what kind of mood I am in, or if something is wrong. She knows just what to say to help me become myself again. She always encourages me to have an optimistic view on my life. A quote that has been passed down from her father to her and to me is, "Many hands make light work." This is what she would tell me when we cleaned the house, made my bed, or weeded the garden together. I know that if I ever need anything, she will always be there for me.

I credit my families - both my immediate family and my church family - with my achievements because they have always given me positive influences that in turn gave me the confidence to pursue my dreams.