Herman and Marcheta Steebs opened Herman’s Market the week before Christmas, 1956, after long weeks of scrubbing, painting, stocking shelves and praying for a good turnout at our grand opening A half page ad announcing the event had already been picked up by the genial John Kopitzke, owner of the Door Reminder, who by buying a nickel candy bar had inadvertently become our first customer.

A good friend, especially to my aunts, Gretna and Elaine, Robbie Kodanko was a Norwegian bachelor who was a farmer and a fisherman. He had a big laugh and it rang out loud, along with Al Johnson’s, at the counter in Al’s restaurant. This was a common place for locals to gather for a coffee break and a time to shoot the breeze. Elaine could keep up with the storytelling and jokes without even trying.