Pike Township Family Stories
BURT CARTER FAMILY
Nichols, Iowa Centennial Book 1884-1984, pages 235-236
By Nick CarterBurt Eugean Carter, son of Vernie Carter and Marie Carter, was born 21 July 1931. He died 3 December 1981.
Having served four years in the U. S. Navy aboard the USS Bexar during the Korean war, Burt returned to Nichols. He married Mary Schallau. They bought a farm from Richard Sindt near Nichols, but Burt continued to commute to Iowa City where he was employed at The University of Iowa power plant.
In June of 1967 Burt and Mary bought Bernie’s Tavern in Nichols, renamed it Burt’s and operated this business until November 1979. Burt started farming his father’s farm after Vernie’s death in November 1956. Expanding the operation with the purchase of Gertrude “Peggy” Kammerer’s farm, Burt continued in agriculture until his death.
Mary Esther Schallau is the first born child of Paul Schallau and Elsie Boddicker Schallau of Newhall, Iowa. She graduated from Williamsburg High school and as a registered nurse from the Mercy Hospital School of Nursing in Iowa City. After her marriage to Burt, she worked at Muscatine General hospital where she held the position of operating room nurse supervisor. With the purchase of Burt’s Tavern, she joined Burt in operating that establishment. In 1975 she started working for the postal service and was named postmaster of the Nichols office in 1978.
Burt and Mary are the parents of three sons: Nick James Carter, Bret Robert Carter and Andy William Carter. The boys each attended Nichols school and graduated from West Liberty Community High school.
Nick Carter joined the U. S. Navy after high school graduation. He was a student at Iowa State University in Ames, working toward a degree in business administration [1984].
Nick’s life was changed considerably when he purchased a one dollar lottery ticket in Michigan and instantly won $100,000.00. He had gone to Michigan for the summer to work for a Navy friend at his farm. He bought one ticket each of the six weeks he was there, the winning ticket was to be his last one. The inevitable question – since he had been in the U. S. Navy and later attending college, income averaging was very helpful in paying his income taxes. He was also able to invest it at a time when banks were paying 15% plus interest.
Bret Carter was born to Burt and Mary. He graduated from high school and went to Iowa State University, earning a degree in animal science and became assistant vice president at the Brenton State bank in Eagle Grove, Iowa. While at Iowa State, Bret’s activities included Veishea General co-chairman, Alpha Gamma Rho social and professional fraternity, and Cardinal Key honorary.
Andy Carter graduated from high school and joined the U. S. Navy. He is stationed aboard the USS Puget Sound, which is home ported in Gaeta, Italy [1984].
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