Years on the Farm
(1960 - 1982)
Christmas 1960 - Cherokee, Iowa
“At the time of these 1960 Christmas pictures, we'd been on the farm for a little over 8 months. Janet Hahm, who took the pictures, sent them to me several years after Mom & Dad passed away. At her request, I made copies & returned the originals to her.
The PIck's always got dressed up for Christmas, Mom's favorite holiday. And her faux fur coat...so in style (and warm)! And kinda heavy. Not as heavy as her raccoon coat! Mom, Gma & Delores are in Gma's bedroom. The living room, where the 1st 2 pictures were taken, was off of the bedroom.”
~ Mary (Pick) Wagner
The detail behind this family portrait from Dennis Pick:
“I remember that day riding to the photographers in LeMars. We were all piled into the red VW Microbus and headed west on Hwy 3 fighting a very strong westerly headwind. While going uphill, I think we were struggling to hit 45 mph.”
The detail behind this family portrait from Mary (Pick) Wagner:
“The photo was taken at Naef Studio in Le Mars, IA in November of 1963 (President John F Kennedy was assassinated in Dallas TX that month/year).
I (Mary) was working at Aalfs Manufacturing, Inc/LeMars IA; living at home, and dating Jim (Wagner).
David - home on leave from the Navy; Nov 15th completed 9-week Navy recruit training in San Diego - from Remsen Bell.
Joan - high school senior; part of the Senior Triple Trio/St. Mary's - Remsen Bell.
Barbara - junior; yearbook's Art Editor - Remsen Bell.
Richard - freshman
Connie - 7th grade
Dennis - 5th grade
Guy - 4th grade
Kathy- kindergarten
Eight of nine children under one roof. Dad & boys were farming 160 acres/Remsen IA & 80 acres/Alton IA farms. (One hundred acres farm/Marcus IA was in the future - mid 1960s.)
Did you know? In her most productive years, Mom sent upwards of 200 Christmas cards each year.”
Easter Sunday on the Farm - March 29, 1964
David is home on leave from the Navy,
David in the Navy/home on leave.
David In the living room.
Kathy in the living room.
Connie in curlers!
Barbara almost finished
Curlers out and Connie is ready.
Barbara & Connie goofing.
Connie, Dennis, Kathy goofing.
The birthday twins...Connie & Kathy.
Joan isn't sure she approves!
Joanie and Kathy.
The tablecloth was in lace and ready for table settings in the living room. Notice the pink wrought iron patio sofa in the "living kitchen." Could it be the refrigerator we moved from town still in use?
The 'kids'...relegated to the kitchen.
Counterclockwise: Connie is seated on Barbara's left, the back of Dad's head is in the picture, I'm taking the picture (my place is on Dad's left), Jim Wagner is holding the platter of food.
Mary cleaning up after the Easter feast. Not a great photo from a negative with backlight, but a good representation of the end of a day on the farm.
Grandchildren on the Farm
The Pick grandchildren loved spending time on the farm with their grandparents and uncles and aunts.
“We walked beans June 1974 - Aug 1978. This is us in 1976-the year based on Jim growing a mustache for America's Bicentennial celebration that summer.” ~ Mary (Pick) Wagner
“At the time of this gathering, Sr. Bertilda was living in Remsen keeping house for her brother, Fr. Henry, whose longtime housekeeper, Katherine Krapfl, had passed two years earlier. Sr. Marius & Sr. Lea were both stationed in Dubuque IA, presumably at the Franciscan order's motherhouse. Typically, for the "every 5 years home visit", Lawrence, Sylvester & Elmer drove the nuns around making sure they visited, at a minimum, each sibling. Could be one or more nephews helped. Sounds like a scheduling nightmare to me!
The sister's personalities are expressed in the way they dressed. After Vatican Council II (1962-1965), nuns were allowed to "kick the habit." The Pick Sisters ditched the long veil & heavy wool habit. Sr. Bertilda & Sr. Marius, conservative throughout their lives, stuck with more traditional apparel - below-the-knee dress & short veil. Not Sr. Lea, always the bush shaker. Her headdress & skirt was brown with a contrasting color blouse. Still pretty daring for ladies whose face & hands, for decades, were the only body parts visible for the world to see.”
Contributed by Mary (Pick) Wagner
The Pick Sister’s Home Visit - 1975
Stamps were 15 cents from 1978 to 1981
Marvel was the bookkeeper for both Elmer’s vet business and Pick Farms. The envelope was written by Marvel.
“These photos were taken on my birthday (a Sunday afternoon)...the day Uncle Frank died. I believe Dad received the news after the pictures were taken. Frank's passing was expected at any time. The photos were taken on the east side of the grove; by the corner of the northwest bedroom.” Mary (Pick) Wagner
