I was born in Merrill, Wisconsin when my dad was in the Battle of the Bulge in Europe. I was a year and a half old before we saw each other.
My first trip north might have been when I was four. I don’t remember it, but I have heard family stories. There was talk of staying at Whispering Pines on Lake Nokomis, at the Northernaire in Three Lakes, at King’s Gateway in Land o’ Lakes. I vaguely remember a gigantic room with bears, wolves, deer and a woman who spoke with an accent–was it Shrimp’s? Did I really get to Aqualand or was that the Walt Disney movie about otters?
During the 1950’s and early 1960’s our family stayed either with our maternal grandparents in Merrill or at various housekeeping cottages at Tug Lake near Irma, WI or at Whispering Pines on Lake Nokomis.
Until the 1970’s Up North ended in Tomahawk for our family and for me.
By 1975 Jack and I had been married seven years. Our Milwaukee area neighbors bought a fixer-upper housekeeping resort on Birch Lake in Winchester. Jack and I stayed there in 1975 and 1976; we enjoyed our two weeks vacations in the area.
In spring 1977 male family members came to Boulder Junction for spring fishing and stayed at Wildcat Lodge, an American Plan resort. My favorite fellow said, “You can truly rest there. You won’t have to cook; we can fish, we can both relax.” Wildcat was our summer home for two summer weeks for years and two short winter trips. We met wonderful people–the list would be long. We found great shopping in town. We met people who became fast, lifelong friends with whom we shared many laughs and fishing adventures. And, yes, the food was outstanding. I would cry if I listed names, so know I cherish the memories of many–friends and stores! In fact, Father Bill Horath’s (pastor at St. Anne’s Church in Boulder) site is six sites away from the site where my parents and Jack are at St Francis Cemetery in Merrill. You know where I’ll be some day.
From 1977-1995 might be better as a timeline.
1977-1995–Jack and I spent two weeks a year at the end of June into July at Wildcat Lodge–growing up years in some ways. We had great meals, fished often and had fun every day. In autumn, 1994 Jack had two major surgeries a month apart. We knew we’d have to think ahead. Our primary care doctor said, “Think of each day as a bonus.” We’d spent time in 1992-1994 looking for a place in Boulder that we could afford… We finally found what we didn’t want, but could afford–an off-water, one bedroom, 3/4 bath Gabert-built house. Bill, Sr. built it for his dad, Joe, a retired shop teacher in the West Allis-West Milwaukee School District. We were thrilled!
1995-2020 held many wonderful months of late springs, long summers, early autumns. There was time to enjoy more of Boulder Junction after retirement in June, 2000–fishing, shopping, visiting, learning, Mary’s volunteering at the Lions Flea Market at the library tables, a new well, a new furnace, enclosing a screen porch that became Jack’s “office” after computer service was added, adding a small room with those horrid vinyl windows we kept telling people to avoid.
In 2020 we questioned whether to come north in late spring. We had our Covid shots. We came cautiously and masked and then…NOT Covid…but Jack was stricken with a challenging and debilitating illness…Great EMTs from Boulder and Presque Isle, difficult hospital stays in Minocqua, Eagle River, Weston and later in the Milwaukee area for another seven weeks. We had amazing help from family and Boulder friends and neighbors. We were, and are forever, grateful for their concern, help and love.
2021-2022 brought cautious and shorter stays in Boulder Junction.
2023–Jack died quietly and without pain in Mequon, WI in May, 2023. Mary had tears as Boulder friends and Father Joseph from St. Anne’s came for Jack’s committal service at St. Francis Cemetery in Merrill. Mary had driven up with the funeral director who had to return for a 4:00 funeral in Milwaukee. Neither had thought of a luncheon… In true Wisconsin fashion we went across Highway 64 to have lunch at Culver’s in Merrill! Jack would have loved it. He probably laughed.
2026–Many memories, many friends, many stores, many stories, so much of my life with family in Merrill, in the North Woods, in Boulder Junction at the flea market library tables, in my heart.
A FOREVER THANK YOU, ALL!