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The snowstorm she barely survived. Travel to Europe. Her wedding day. A love of crossword puzzles.
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Ardith Bahr, 89, is accompanied by UW-La Crosse students John Dregne (left) and Kyle Borg as she looks through a scrapbook based on her life Tuesday. The students made the scrapbook after visiting with Bahr weekly since September for their family communication class
PETER THOMSON photo
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They even had a page decorated in green, dedicated to the green shoes a 12-year-old Simon had begged her father to buy because they perfectly matched the green dress she had sewn.Lara Craft and Katie Kaltenbach created the scrapbook in their Family Communication class at UW-L. They gave it to Simon, who now lives at Bethany on Cass., on Tuesday.
Many other students in the class did the same for other seniors living at Bethany on Cass and Hillview Health Care Center in La Crosse.
The project, which included three interviews with Simon, helped Kaltenbach and Craft become more familiar with what life was like years ago.
“I think you learn a lot about others experience, and you can use it in your own life,” said Kaltenbach.
She admired Simon’s close-knit family — sister Margaret is her roommate and longtime friend.
“I hope I am as good of friends with my sister down the road as Hazel and Margaret are,” said Kaltenbach.
Seeing life through the eyes of someone who has spent nearly a century on earth was a learning experience, added Craft.
UW-L seniors John Dregne and Kyle Borg said they could have listened for days to Ardith Bahr, also at Bethany on Cass, talk about her past — particularly how she met her husband, Robert.
Bahr told them she and her husband were pen pals for two years before they married, while Robert served in World War II.
“At first, it wasn’t romance — it was just two people trying to get through the war years,” she said.
But the two stayed in contact even after Robert returned, and one day, he showed up at her workplace, where she saw him for the first time.
Bahr’s scrapbook includes photocopies of the letters and photos of a youthful Robert in his uniform, just as Bahr saw him that day.
The book even has a photograph of Bahr as she waited to board a plane to California to visit Robert, where the two later became engaged.
Borg, who was married 11 months ago, said he enjoyed hearing about Bahr’s relationship and seeing her excitement as she spoke of her marriage and late husband.
Borg said the project helped him feel connected to the community and a wonderful person in it. Kaltenbach agreed.
“I love being around her,” she said. “I hope I’m like Hazel when I’m 96.”
KJ Lang can be reached at (608) 791-8226 or klang@lacrossetribune.com.
