followed by card games and stories about Grandma and Grandpa Kjome and growing up on the farm.

Thanksgiving and Christmas dinners were always at Aunt Olga's on 5th Avenue, with new and old stories, memories recalled and memories made. In the summer there were early morning trips with Dad to the pool to pick up the laundry, then to the laundry to pick up the clean towels and swimsuits, past Phil Johnson’s Standard to patch an inner tube, and finally breakfast at Sam and Glady’s at the Springer Hotel - wonderful opportunities for little Kjome kids to go along and listen to the grownup’s stories. If you were up that early and could keep up the pace you could go along. And there was always a chance that there would be a nickel for ice cream.

As the children grew another interest developed which he could share with them - archaeology which meant field trips to the country after the first plowing had been done in the spring, the treasures found, and a whole new batch of stories. But there were chores to be done at home. Their strawberries and raspberries had to be picked, and the grass needed mowing. George loved to pick strawberries and mow the lawn. It was his way of relaxing -being on his own for awhile - with his own thoughts. But he spent most of his time in the company of others. He was generous and considerate, always had time for conversation.

In 1968 his eldest son, Mike, was reported missing in Vietnam, presumed captured by the Viet Cong. The waiting and uncertainty took their toll on his health. A circulatory condition was further aggravated by the stresses of the situation. In 1969 he lost a leg to gangrene. He gave up his coaching duties but continued to teach. In 1971, a lifelong dream was fulfilled when George and Agnes took their first trip to Norway to visit their daughter Midge who was teaching in Trondheim. They visited the farms of his ancestors and met his Norwegian cousins. He watched the excavation of the old city of Trondheim and talked Norwegian with anyone who would pass the time with him.

In the winter of 73, good news came with the signing of the peace agreement in Viet Nam: Mike was alive! At the end of the school year George retired. Well, not quite. He continued as a regular sub until after his 81 st birthday in 1989. An annual two-mile-race, known as the Kjome Invitational Meet, was held at Luther College in his honor.

He made two more trips to Norway, in 1974 for Mike's wedding and again in 1977 to visit Midge in Trondheim and Mike’s family in Berlin. Retirement gave George time to collect and record data on the family he loved so well. He loved to visit the old farm places and talk to other old people who remembered the old days. He studied the genealogies of not only his own ancestors but was often asked for information about other families in the area. This gave him hours of pleasure when his mobility was diminishing.

Mike's death from cancer in 1985 was a devastating blow. In the spring of '89, George suffered two heart attacks from which he recovered. In the fall he made a last trip with his wife and daughter to Kansas to visit old friends and family in Republic. On 6 Dec 1989 he visited friends at the Eastern Star Home, lunched at Senior Citizens’, and while discussing with Agnes the events of the day, slipped away in the middle of the story.

Kjome, Gustav and Thea (Anderson)

(Mildred Kjome)

Gust and Thea Kjome, Thurston and Norton.

Gustav Nelson Kjome was born 29 Apr 1871 to N.N. Kjome Jr. and Anna Marie Nelson Bakke in Highland Twp, Winneshiek Co, IA. He grew up on his parent's farm, later learning the butter maker’s trade. In 1895 he married the girl next door, Thea Anderson (b. 15 Dec 1877), daughter of Tosten and Maria Anderson, at the Big Canoe Lutheran Church. Shortly after their marriage they moved to Decorah where Gust went into partnership in a grocery business with O.J. Ness who was married to Thea's sister Martha Anderson. The Kjome-Ness Store partnership lasted several years - until Gust sold his interests to Mr. Ness and purchased the Ice Cave Creamery. He operated the creamery for about 10 years. After selling the creamery, Gust opened a grocery store on Washington Street. Eight years later he sold out and opened a grocery at 121 East Water Street. This business, which started out as the Ode-Linnevold grocery store in 1898, had changed owners several times. He sold this business to his son Norton in 1935 when a stroke reduced his health. His life record was ever a commendable one and many of his staunchest friends were those who knew him from his boyhood. He was honorable and upright, lived a useful life which gained him the confidence and esteem of all who ever came in contact with him in a social or business way. He served as alderman of the first ward on the city council in an efficient manner for a number of years. He was a valued member of the Norske Selskab, a well known Norwegian society in the area.

The Kjomes were members of First Lutheran Church in Decorah.

Gustav and Thea were the parents of five children. Two sons, Norton Harry and Gordon Thomas, passed away in infancy. Their other children were: Thurston A.; Norton