Here is another posting from my grandmother Jessie Lehmer’s 1959
journal. Jessie kept her journal for at least 29 years. You can find the
first post in this series here.
Jessie (age 57) is recovering from a lengthy hospital stay for a sore back and has yet to return to her job at Kilpatrick’s Department store in Omaha. Her husband Harry (age 60, who she refers to as Daddy), a boilermaker’s helper at Union Pacific Railroad in Omaha, was recently hospitalized with an unknown illness.
Other people mentioned this week include Harry and Jessie’s daughter, Agnes Grosvenor (37), who lives across the street with her husband, Jack Grosvenor (40) and their three children – Judy (18), Linda (16) and Jackie (3). Another daughter Phyllis (35) lives in Pasadena California, with her husband, Don Lidikay (42). Also mentioned are their oldest son, Walter (referred to as Jack, age 38), his wife Elsie (36), Harry’s brothers Ray (58) and Ralph (55) and Harry and Jessie’s youngest child, Calvin (29), Mrs. Harriman (supervisor at Kilpatrick’s), Dr. McDermott, Dr. Murphy, Dr. Jones, Dr. Muehlig and Dr. Aita (Harry’s doctors), Rev. Miller (their pastor), and Ernie Jensen, Gladys Corzine, Inez Phipps, Ernie Larson, Mr. Brown, Bill Glaser and Verne Welch (friends),
May 13, 1959 (Wednesday)
“9:10 p.m. I just came home, was over to Agnes’s. Had to force myself to come over and stay. I know I have to get used to it, just as well start now. It has been a long, long lonesome day. Felt rotten this morning because I took a sleeping pill, wore over finally. I took some clothes over for Daddy, almost broke my heart to know I was so close and couldn’t see him. Went uptown, took care of Daddy’s check, a few bills. I talked to Calvin & Jack. Gladys Corzine and Inez Phipps called. I took union books down to Verne [Welch] tonite. He said he will take care of his union dues, check Travelers Insurance for me. I am tired and sleepy, hope I can sleep.”
May 14, 1959 (Thursday)
“A beautiful morning, 43 degrees. Oh, so lonely without my Daddy. 9:15. Just got home from the hospital. Dr. Aita called about 11:30, said they were going to send Daddy to St. Joseph Hospital so after lunch I went over to St. Joe. Talked to Dr. McDermott, then called Dr. Aita. He said I could go see Daddy, so I did. The ambulance got him at 5 p.m. Agnes & Judy came, which helped a lot. I rode over with him, Agnes fed him his supper, I finished. Jack G. came over & shaved him. He seemed so glad to see us, I hated to leave him. I am going over and feed him his meals.”
May 15, 1959 (Friday)
“35 degrees at 6:15, a pretty morning. Got up at six a.m., going over and feed Daddy breakfast. Linda stayed with me again. Daddy ate a pretty good breakfast. [Hospital worker] Mrs. Morton told me not to come over any more for morning and noon meals, was too hard on me. She said they will see he gets fed and I will feed him his supper. 4 doctors were in to see him today, going to x-ray his chest again. Dr. Murphy, Jones, Muehlig, McDermott – still nothing definite. Got his form to fill out for sick pay. I went to headquarters, they took care of me, sent me to Retirement Board to sign papers so I can sign for him, cash his checks. … Got receipt from Mercy where New Amsterdam paid bill, $441.31. Calvin mowed the lawn this a.m. I got tire fixed, had to put a tube in it. I am so tired, going to bed. Hate to leave Daddy so bad. Pastor Miller came over to see him. Daddy said I am trusting the Lord to take care of me, I don’t know if he will. I said he will. He said, I know it.”
May 16, 1959 (Saturday)
“Another lonely, sad day. I got up about 7 a.m. Judy ate breakfast with me. I was so low, went up to see Calvin & Opal. We had prayer, read Hebrews, 11 Chapter, Daddy’s favorite, one of them. Mr. Brown is in town. He came over to see Daddy this p.m., Daddy didn’t know him. Calvin is staying with me tonight. It would make Daddy happy to know he is here, so wonderful of him. Daddy is weaker today. What report we had isn’t good. Going to take another x-ray, study them. I feel better today. With God’s help, I will carry on. God bless Daddy. Just pray that he will be comfortable tonite.”
May 17, 1959 (Sunday)
“9:45 p.m. Just got home. Daddy was sleeping sound when we left. They inserted a catheter in his bladder so he won’t get sore from wetting the bed. So pitiful when I got over there. They had his hands tied to side rails so he wouldn’t pull it out. I know he was in misery for awhile. He knew Ernie Larsen, Bill Glaser, talked good. Even knew me when I kissed him, said Jessie for first time. He was awake for 4 ½ hours, ate all of his soup, sherbet, ½ glass milk. Even swallowed better, praise the Lord.”
May 18, 1959 (Monday)
“A dreary morning. I am so lonely for my Daddy. Oh God, help me to keep going so I can be near him. I am so weak. Oh, give me strength, both physical and spiritual. I just couldn’t eat this a.m. so went over and ate at Agnes’s.”
May 19, 1959 (Tuesday)
“Washed out some clothes, some of my sweetheart’s. Just had a bath. I had a call from Mrs. Harriman. I have to go to the store and sign some insurance papers so will stop on my way to the hospital. I am so anxious to see my Daddy. … 10:25 p.m. So hot & sticky. I just got home from the hospital. Finally got our report, not good either way. Our only chance & hope is surgery so my darling goes in at 12:30 tomorrow. The children and I feel as this is our only hope, so dear God, be with him and take charge, thy will be done. I called Ralph. He came over, Daddy knew him. The children brought Ray, Ernie came. I called Phyllis. Dear God, just take over. He is in your hands.”
Jessie (age 57) is recovering from a lengthy hospital stay for a sore back and has yet to return to her job at Kilpatrick’s Department store in Omaha. Her husband Harry (age 60, who she refers to as Daddy), a boilermaker’s helper at Union Pacific Railroad in Omaha, was recently hospitalized with an unknown illness.
Other people mentioned this week include Harry and Jessie’s daughter, Agnes Grosvenor (37), who lives across the street with her husband, Jack Grosvenor (40) and their three children – Judy (18), Linda (16) and Jackie (3). Another daughter Phyllis (35) lives in Pasadena California, with her husband, Don Lidikay (42). Also mentioned are their oldest son, Walter (referred to as Jack, age 38), his wife Elsie (36), Harry’s brothers Ray (58) and Ralph (55) and Harry and Jessie’s youngest child, Calvin (29), Mrs. Harriman (supervisor at Kilpatrick’s), Dr. McDermott, Dr. Murphy, Dr. Jones, Dr. Muehlig and Dr. Aita (Harry’s doctors), Rev. Miller (their pastor), and Ernie Jensen, Gladys Corzine, Inez Phipps, Ernie Larson, Mr. Brown, Bill Glaser and Verne Welch (friends),
May 13, 1959 (Wednesday)
“9:10 p.m. I just came home, was over to Agnes’s. Had to force myself to come over and stay. I know I have to get used to it, just as well start now. It has been a long, long lonesome day. Felt rotten this morning because I took a sleeping pill, wore over finally. I took some clothes over for Daddy, almost broke my heart to know I was so close and couldn’t see him. Went uptown, took care of Daddy’s check, a few bills. I talked to Calvin & Jack. Gladys Corzine and Inez Phipps called. I took union books down to Verne [Welch] tonite. He said he will take care of his union dues, check Travelers Insurance for me. I am tired and sleepy, hope I can sleep.”
May 14, 1959 (Thursday)
“A beautiful morning, 43 degrees. Oh, so lonely without my Daddy. 9:15. Just got home from the hospital. Dr. Aita called about 11:30, said they were going to send Daddy to St. Joseph Hospital so after lunch I went over to St. Joe. Talked to Dr. McDermott, then called Dr. Aita. He said I could go see Daddy, so I did. The ambulance got him at 5 p.m. Agnes & Judy came, which helped a lot. I rode over with him, Agnes fed him his supper, I finished. Jack G. came over & shaved him. He seemed so glad to see us, I hated to leave him. I am going over and feed him his meals.”
May 15, 1959 (Friday)
“35 degrees at 6:15, a pretty morning. Got up at six a.m., going over and feed Daddy breakfast. Linda stayed with me again. Daddy ate a pretty good breakfast. [Hospital worker] Mrs. Morton told me not to come over any more for morning and noon meals, was too hard on me. She said they will see he gets fed and I will feed him his supper. 4 doctors were in to see him today, going to x-ray his chest again. Dr. Murphy, Jones, Muehlig, McDermott – still nothing definite. Got his form to fill out for sick pay. I went to headquarters, they took care of me, sent me to Retirement Board to sign papers so I can sign for him, cash his checks. … Got receipt from Mercy where New Amsterdam paid bill, $441.31. Calvin mowed the lawn this a.m. I got tire fixed, had to put a tube in it. I am so tired, going to bed. Hate to leave Daddy so bad. Pastor Miller came over to see him. Daddy said I am trusting the Lord to take care of me, I don’t know if he will. I said he will. He said, I know it.”
May 16, 1959 (Saturday)
“Another lonely, sad day. I got up about 7 a.m. Judy ate breakfast with me. I was so low, went up to see Calvin & Opal. We had prayer, read Hebrews, 11 Chapter, Daddy’s favorite, one of them. Mr. Brown is in town. He came over to see Daddy this p.m., Daddy didn’t know him. Calvin is staying with me tonight. It would make Daddy happy to know he is here, so wonderful of him. Daddy is weaker today. What report we had isn’t good. Going to take another x-ray, study them. I feel better today. With God’s help, I will carry on. God bless Daddy. Just pray that he will be comfortable tonite.”
May 17, 1959 (Sunday)
“9:45 p.m. Just got home. Daddy was sleeping sound when we left. They inserted a catheter in his bladder so he won’t get sore from wetting the bed. So pitiful when I got over there. They had his hands tied to side rails so he wouldn’t pull it out. I know he was in misery for awhile. He knew Ernie Larsen, Bill Glaser, talked good. Even knew me when I kissed him, said Jessie for first time. He was awake for 4 ½ hours, ate all of his soup, sherbet, ½ glass milk. Even swallowed better, praise the Lord.”
May 18, 1959 (Monday)
“A dreary morning. I am so lonely for my Daddy. Oh God, help me to keep going so I can be near him. I am so weak. Oh, give me strength, both physical and spiritual. I just couldn’t eat this a.m. so went over and ate at Agnes’s.”
May 19, 1959 (Tuesday)
“Washed out some clothes, some of my sweetheart’s. Just had a bath. I had a call from Mrs. Harriman. I have to go to the store and sign some insurance papers so will stop on my way to the hospital. I am so anxious to see my Daddy. … 10:25 p.m. So hot & sticky. I just got home from the hospital. Finally got our report, not good either way. Our only chance & hope is surgery so my darling goes in at 12:30 tomorrow. The children and I feel as this is our only hope, so dear God, be with him and take charge, thy will be done. I called Ralph. He came over, Daddy knew him. The children brought Ray, Ernie came. I called Phyllis. Dear God, just take over. He is in your hands.”
Larry Lehmer is a professional personal historian and chief legacy planner at When Words Matter, Ltd., who connects generations through their stories. To learn more, visit his web site, send him an e-mail or follow him on Twitter.
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