Clara Rose (Hauber) Doubek

Jean (Doubek) Losen (13 Apr 1923-20 Feb 1991).

Joe and Clara lived all their married life in a big house on the north city limits of Calmar. They started out having a small farm by this house. They had a cow, pigs and chickens. They also raised pigeons that Clara baked with sage dressing. Delicious!

They had a large vegetable garden by the house and even larger garden below the barn for corn and potatoes. Many home canned products came from those gardens. Joe and Clara carried on their gardening tradition well into their late 70’s, including doing all their own yard work.

Joe worked at the sash and door factory as a carpenter for many years. He was well known for playing his concertina ("Squeeze Box"). You did not need to ask him twice to play. On Farmers’ Days and many weekends Joe worked as Calmar’s policeman. He also worked for the Bucheit Produce in the 1950’s and early 1960’s.

Clara was a well known seamstress and, also, took in roomers from the factories and the railroad. She always had a filled cookie jar for the children, grandchildren, friends and visitors. She baked many loaves of homemade bread every week.

Joe and Clara loved having visitors and playing cards - especially euchre.

In 1954 the upstairs of their house was made into an apartment for their granddaughter Patricia (Sphar) Pankow and her husband, Norman. Pat had lived with Joe and Clara for 8 years and attended St. Aloysius grade school. Norman worked at Bucheit Produce during the time they lived in the upstairs apartment at Joe and Clara’s.

Pat and Norman became the parents of 3 children: Katherine “Kathy”, Norman, Jr. “Butch" and Kenneth “Kenny”.

Pat, Norman and their children lived at Joe and Clara’s until the summer of 1962. They then moved to Decorah. In 1965 they moved to Postville, IA. Norman passed away of a heart attack 28 Nov 1994. Pat still lives in Postville. She is a Licensed Practical Nurse and works at the Good Samaritan Center in Postville.

At one time, Joe, his daughter Gladys, his granddaughter Pat and grandson-in-law Norman Pankow all worked at the Bucheit Produce at the same time.

Dresselhaus, Elmer and Gladys (Nordheim)

(Gladys Dresselhaus)

Elmer Franklin Dresselhaus was born 31 Oct 1902 in Canoe Twp., Winneshiek Co. He was the son of William Edward and Emma (Dieters) Dresselhaus. Elmer had 2 brothers and 2 sisters: Edward Dresselhaus, Willard Dresselhaus, Lilly Dirks and Luella Borne. On 13 Jun 1931 Elmer married Gladys Lucille Nordheim at the Methodist Church Parsonage, Decorah.

Gladys was born 21 May 1908 on the family farm near Sattre in Pleasant Twp., Winneshiek Co. Her parents were Edwin and Clara (Hover) Nordheim. Gladys had 2 brothers and 2 sisters: Victor Nordheim, Wallace Nordheim, Esther (Mrs. William) Wilkins, and Beatrice (Mrs. Willard) Dresselhaus. Gladys and Beatrice married brothers.

Gladys and her sister, Esther, graduated from Decorah High School in 1927. In high school Gladys took a normal training course. After graduation she taught country school in Madison Twp. and later in Canoe Twp.

When Elmer and Gladys were first married they lived in Waukon, IA for 7 years. In Waukon Elmer was a baker. They then moved back to Winneshiek Co. and for many years farmed in Canoe Twp. Their farm was located about 3 miles north of Decorah on the Locust Road. Part of the farm is now the location for the Country View Public Golf Course. Elmer died 11 Aug 1990. Elmer and Gladys had 3 sons: Elton Wayne, Decorah); Richard Lowell, Waukon); and William Edward, Decorah).

Elton married Joyce Ann Pinch 22 Jun 1956 in Charlotte, Ml. He died 4 Mar 1983. Elton and Joyce had 3 children: Steven, Kimberly, and Juline. Elton was a missionary in Venezuela.

Richard married Elnora Mae Klingsheim 19 Dec 1958 in St. Paul, MN. Richard and Elnora live in San Diego, CA where he is the pastor of the San Diego First Assembly of God. They have 2 children: Timothy  and Ann.

William married Kris Bakewell Jun 13 1976 in San Diego, CA. William and Kris live in Julian, CA. Both teach school. They have 2 sons: Matthew and Daniel.

Gladys and Elmer were members of the Assembly of God Church in Decorah. Gladys now makes her home at the Aase Haugen Home in Decorah.

Dresser, Wilbur and Martha (McMartin)

(Delinda M. Tenney)

Wilbur "Web” C. Dresser was born 27 Mar 1866 in Postville, IA. He was the son of Francis Dresser and Harriett Auhenbau. Harriett was born 28 Mar 1841 in Read-