Diary

Final Christmas On The Farm

by Editorial Team
In Osceola on Friday, December 22, 1950, after his father’s funeral, Dale wrote, “Helen and I went to Muscatine and back, after Christmas tree and presents.  Nice day.  Kids decorated the tree at night at Grandma’s.  Marie and Susan came out to stay all night.”  Above: ‘Grandma’ Jettie’s home two weeks earlier, for their farm sale.
Diary

Osceola Post Office

by Editorial Team
On Thursday, December 21, 1950, Dale wrote, “Got my check at the Osceola post office.  Brought Marie out to Mother’s.  Lloyd here for dinner.  Went to the bank in the afternoon to settle Mother’s sale account.  Warmer today, 44°.  Marie came out in the evening.”  That’s the post office above.
Diary

Grieving

by Editorial Team
On Wednesday, December 20, 1950, Dale wrote, “No check today, yet.  Still at Osceola.  Brought Marie & Susan out to Mother’s at 10 A.M.  Helen, Dalene & I went out to Louie’s in the afternoon to visit.  To the cemetery to look at flowers on Dad’s grave.  Dalene & I went to a church program at night.”  Susan was the daughter of Dale’s sister Marie, married to Ralph Kimmel.  Helen’s brother Louie was married to Ruth Cherington.
Diary

Williams’ Final Rest

by Editorial Team
In Osceola on Tuesday, December 19, 1950, Dale wrote, “We buried Dad today at Maple Hill Cemetery.  Services were held at the Christian Church by Rev. Miller.  Lester Webster in charge of funeral.”  Williams would have been 70 years old had he lived one more month.
Diary

More Final Preparations

by Editorial Team
In Osceola on Monday, December 18, 1950, for his father’s funeral, Dale wrote, “Up at 8 A.M. & I got breakfast at Mother’s.  Jack & Ina were here for dinner.  Took Marie to Wilma’s to wash.  To Webster’s in the afternoon to see Dad.  Mother paid $609 complete funeral & lot expenses.”  Ina was Jettie’s sister, married to Sanford ‘Jack’ Hook.  Wilma was a sister of Helen’s, married to George Casey.  Webster’s was the funeral home (above).
Diary

Making Final Arrangements

by Editorial Team
In Osceola from Muscatine on Sunday, December 17, 1950, for his father Williams Gardner’s funeral, Dale with brother Lloyd, sister Marie, and mother Jettie made funeral arrangements and bought cemetery lots side by side.  The burial would take place two days later.  Above: the headstone for Williams.
Diary

A Sad Day

by Editorial Team
On Saturday, December 16, 1950, my grandfather Williams McBain Gardner died on his farm near Osceola, Iowa.  Dale’s sister Marie called us in Muscatine and Dale drove his family to Osceola that day.  Above, about 1931, left to right: father Williams, older brother Lloyd Norval Gardner, mother Jettie May Short, younger brother Lawrence Dale Gardner, little sister Marie Belle Gardner.
Diary

Junior High Play

by Editorial Team
In Muscatine on Friday, December 15, 1950, Dale wrote, “Worked 8 to 4:30.  Took family to school at night to watch Stanley’s school play.  Watched TV until 12:30.”  I was in the 8th grade at Muscatine Junior High (above).
Diary

Pile Of Money

by Editorial Team
In Muscatine on Thursday, December 14, 1950, Dale wrote, “Worked 8 to 4:30.  Wrote a letter to the folks.  Their sale totaled about $14,000.  Watched our TV shows at night.” That $14,000 from their December 7 farm sale would be over $138,000 today.
Diary

Williams Still Failing

by Editorial Team
In Muscatine on Wednesday, December 13, 1950, Dale wrote, “Worked 8 to 4:30.  Letter from Mother all about the sale prices.  Dad is still not so good.  Watched TV at night.”
Diary

School Open House

by Editorial Team
In Muscatine on Tuesday, December 12, 1950, Dale wrote, “Worked 8 to 4:30.  Loaded 1 tank car & 4 tank trucks.  Helen has a backache.  Stan, Dalene, & I went to a school open house at night.  To bed at 10:30.”
Diary

New TV

by Editorial Team
In Muscatine on Monday, December 11, 1950, Dale wrote, “Worked 8 to 4:30.  Car cost $18.71 – burnt out generator & regulator.  Jack Owens got a new TV set, 16” Motorola.  Watched TV until after 9 & then went to bed.”  Jack was a co-worker.
Diary

Letter To Santa

by Editorial Team
In Muscatine on Sunday, December 10, 1950, Dale wrote, “Rested all forenoon.  Had chicken for 6 P.M. supper.  Dalene wrote a letter to Santa Claus.  Watched TV all evening.”
Diary

Longhorns Beat Bulldogs

by Editorial Team
In Muscatine on Saturday, December 9, 1950, Dale wrote, “Went to the store in the morning.  Paid telephone bill of $10.66.  Took Helen to the library in the afternoon.  Saw Texas beat Georgia 20-10 on our TV in the afternoon.  Watched it all evening too.  Good programs.”
Diary

Good Supper

by Editorial Team
In Muscatine on Friday, December 8, 1950, Dale wrote, “Stayed home on annual leave all day.  Went downtown in forenoon.  Watched TV all afternoon & evening.  Had a good supper (steak).”
Diary

A Cold Farm Sale

by Editorial Team
On Thursday, December 7, 1950, Dale was in Osceola for his parents’ farm equipment sale (above) and drove back to Muscatine that afternoon.
Diary

House Call

by Editorial Team
In Muscatine on Wednesday, December 6, 1950, Dale wrote, “Took 8 hours annual leave.  Paid bills – $30 coal, $4 doctor, $19 M. Wards, $10.05 Blue Cross.  Doctor gave Stan a shot at home for his cold.  I drove to Osceola.  Very cold & snowing.  Broke left tail light against garage.  Slept in the front room at folks.”  He went to Osceola for Williams and Jettie’s farm sale the next day.
Diary

Where The Books Are

by Editorial Team
In Muscatine on Tuesday, December 5, 1950, Dale wrote, “Worked 8:30 to 5.  Snow & colder today.  Mrs. Will Lease died this morning, our next door neighbor.  Helen got neighbors to get flowers.  To the library in the evening.  Watched TV all evening.”  That was the Musser Public Library above.
Diary

Oh, Shoot!

by Editorial Team
In Muscatine on Monday, December 4, 1950, Dale wrote, “Worked 8 to 4:30.  Paid milk & light bills.  Took Stanley to Dr. Swayze for a cold shot in the afternoon.  My legs don’t feel so good.  Watched TV all evening.  Good programs.”
Diary

Watching TV

by Editorial Team
In Muscatine on Sunday, December 3, 1950, Dale wrote, “Up at 8.  Helen & I washed clothes.  Dalene & I went to the store.  Called Mother.  Watched TV all afternoon & evening.  Stanley sick with head cold.  Everson called from the plant about a leak in the base of an alcohol column.”
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