11/17/2008

By GORDON D. FIEDLER JR.

Salina Journal

FALUN -- Older folks living in Saline County had no official organization of their own 40 years ago this month when Edna Kvacik and Irene Dauer began knocking on doors in around Falun.

The then vibrant community in the southwest corner of the county was home to many retired farmers, particularly farm widows in their 80s whose main source of entertainment was listening in on party-line phone conversations.

Why not start a club where they could meet face to face, socialize, perhaps share a meal and play cards?

"They were lonely. We were trying to get everybody together," said Kvacik, who at the time was less than half the age of the target audience.

She and Dauer secured the Falun Lutheran Church as the location. The first monthly meeting attracted more than 60 people. At its peak, the Falun Senior Citizens club boasted an active membership of about 95.

Those from the Falun area were joined by residents from Marquette, Lindsborg, Assaria, Gypsum, Brookville, Mentor and Salina.

Now its dwindling rolls have shrunk to about 25, still enough at its anniversary celebration to support three tables of pitch players and one Scrabble match.

But in its prime ....

Kvacik opened a recent meeting of the club with reminiscences, most of them humorous and punctuated with her infectious cackle.

Kvacik recalled one member who fled from a meeting when out came the playing cards, which the member viewed as toys of the devil.

Another woman enjoyed her first meeting but said she could not join because her husband refused to let her return. And then there was mention of club member Sadie Applequist, who, when in her 80s would still climb her farm's windmill to make repairs.

"She was a strong old woman," Kvacik said. "You could tell that woman worked hard for a living. She enjoyed coming."

The club was large enough in its heyday to field a string band.

"We had some good music," Kvacik said. "Too bad you couldn't dance in church."

Lavina Daily played the piano, Ray Applequist played the accordion and banjo, Lester Richards also played the banjo, John Mattson was on the violin, P.W. Blomberg played guitar and harmonica and Percy Spencer brought his fiddle.

That wasn't all Spencer brought, Kvacik said.

Usually he showed up with his "recipe," a concoction whose two main ingredients were grain alcohol and brown sugar.

Kvacik said he'd play for awhile then invite people out to his car.

At first, the club met monthly at 7 p.m. and went to 9 p.m. or later. Later if the band was playing.

Now, its members gather at noon on the second Tuesday for potluck dinners and fellowship.

The band is long gone and the strongest recipe offered to members now is black coffee.

But the purpose hasn't changed from the first meeting organized by Kvacik and Dauer who now lives in a nursing home. It was the first senior citizen's organization in the county, and as such, the two women had no model to refer to.

If Kvacik was going to be involved, it had to be easy.

"If I had to fill out paperwork or forms, forget it," Kvacik said.

Being more outgoing, it fell to Kvacik to run the show.

"Irene didn't want to get up in front of anybody to do it," she said.

She's been doing it single-handedly ever since, much to the appreciation of the members.

"She does so much for us," said 95-year-old Almeda Ryding between plays of her Scrabble tiles. "She goes above and beyond the call of duty."

Fellow gamer Marie Nelson agreed.

"I took over for her once and I found out what a job she does," Nelson said.

Nelson, a resident of Bethany Home in Lindsborg, is a longtime member who in her younger days baked cakes for the group.

"When I was old enough, I joined," said Nelson, who lived out of town then.

"When you live on a farm by yourself, you're glad for the company and companionship. And I like to play Scrabble."

The women are worried about the club's future when Kvacik calls it quits.

Kvacik said she has health problems and her days at the helm are numbered.

"She's held it together and I hope she keeps holding it together," Nelson said. "She's so good at it and we like her."

The feeling is mutual.

"I get more out of this than anybody," Kvacik said. "I've enjoyed it immensely. I know my kids and sister want me to stop, but I hate to. I really don't want to because I enjoy all of them."

nGordon D. Fiedler Jr. can be reached at 822-1407 or by e-mail at gfiedler@salina.com.