Now & Then by Lorna Marquardt

Over the years, many men and women from Shawano, Menominee, and the surrounding area have served in the military. Some returned from war, while others did not. On November 11, 2026, (Veterans Day) we will honor all American military veterans who served in the U.S. Armed Forces. I fondly remember my late uncle, Sgt. Gary…

Halloween is one of the world’s oldest holidays, dating back 2,000 years to pagan times. It is one of the most popular celebrated holidays, second only to Christmas. Children enjoy putting on costumes for school parties and trick-or-treating. Families love going to a pumpkin patch to select a perfect pumpkin to make a jack-o-lantern. Halloween…

The 13 folds of the United States flag represent a cherished military and patriotic tradition during funeral and retirement ceremonies. A veteran of the Vietnam War gave me a reading of why the flag is folded 13 times. I decided to share it with all of you. The 1st fold of our flag is a…

It was a difficult September in our house. In the 62 years we have been married, hubby has rarely been sick. He worked at Shawano Paper Mill (Little Rapids) for 45 years. The only time he missed work was for a work-related accident and funerals. In all those years he never once called in sick.…

I wonder how many of you remember some of the unique and clever sayings your grandparents used to say.  Language changes quickly, but some expressions are just too endearing to be forgotten. Old fashioned phrases aren’t just about nostalgia, they add a certain flavor to conversation. Often they are humorous, and have a way of connecting…

My dad rarely talked about what life was like for him growing up in the 1920’s and 30’s. I am so glad his sister, my late Aunt Arline (Robenhagen) Roggenbuck, kept a notebook. Her daughter Lynn, knowing I write articles about the “good old days,” shared her mother’s memories with me. The pages from her…

During my lifetime, 14 presidents have been elected: Harry S. Truman, Dwight D. Eisenhower, John F. Kennedy, Lyndon B. Johnson, Richard Nixon, Gerald Ford, Jimmy Carter, George H. W. Bush, Bill Clinton, George W. Bush, Barack Obama, Joe Biden and Donald Trump. There have also been numerous local elections, state elections, and federal elections. I…

Ole and Lena jokes are a popular style of regional humor in the Upper Midwest, featuring fictional Norwegian-American characters named Ole, his wife Lena and their friend Sven. Once a year I dedicate my article to humor. I find that it is so important to add humor and laughter to our daily life. There is…

I enjoy autumn, the season between summer and winter. I remember learning in school that here in the United States we often call the season fall because leaves fall from the trees during the season. The European language connects autumn with the harvesting of crops. In many cultures, autumn is marked by rites and festivals…

I met my hubby while vacationing at the home of my grandparents who lived on East Lieg Avenue. I was 16 at the time and he was 18. Although he had a car, he usually rode his horse, Beauty, when he came to see me at Grandma’s.  Her name was quite fitting; she was a…