"Uncle Mike"

Uncle Mike died yesterday
the last of the Daniel Spengler clan.
His smile is what I remember best,
a smiling, friendly good looking man.
Before him came others, after as well;
William, Walter, Edwin and Ida
James, Wilhelmina, (Anna) and Julia
Jacob, (Infant Daughter), Harold-Uncle Mike
Christian and (David)
I remember well moms stories
about life on the farm
in the beautiful, rich flat land
which brought their ancestors
from the hills of Schaffhausen, Switzerland
to their farm near Elmira, Ohio.
There was a wood burning stove in the kitchen
the dog slept under during the cold, Ohio Winters.
There were warmed stones from this stove
put in their beds on or under the feather ticks
that kept them warm.
There was a Summer kitchen near the big farm house
where their mother cooked during the hot Ohio Summers.
On Monday many loaves of bread
were baked for the coming week.
One story mom told us about Mike
was that he was headed into town one day
with his father, which was a big treat.
On the way they met one of the older brothers
coming home in a new surrey with a fringe on the top.
Do you want to go to town with dad Mike
or come ride with me in the new surrey?
Needless to say a tough decision.
When he was still a small child
he use to crawl up high on the wind mill
scaring everyone to death.
Mom also use to tell about the little boy
who use to run out around the wind mill
yelling fire, fire, fire.
When they all ran in from working in the fields
there was no fire.
Well one day there was a fire
and no one left the fields to check it out.
Someone was in alot of trouble.
I remember seeing Mike and his wife
and cousin Dan at the Spengler reunions
at Archbold, Ohio every year.
Then the reunions were moved
to the school in Elmira, Ohio.
Tables of food down the hallways so good
I can't describe it. Boys playing basket ball in the gymn.
The women in the school kitchen with the big food mixer whirring
making a big batch of mashed potatoes. Lots of children
just big enough to see what was being done.
The aroma of the food was wonderful.
A family laughing and eating together,
what fun for my two sisters Nedy and Janny and I.
It might be Mike was alittle spoiled
by all the older brothers and sisters.
I don't think so. However, as I recall that wonderful smile,
there might have been just a slight twinkle of mischief in his eyes.
As luck would have it I see that same smile
was passed down from father to son.
We see that same beautiful smile in cousin Dans eyes.
We know this is a sad time for all of us. But the memories
we have are of good times. We go back to look at our lives,
so maybe we will get a glimps of where we are going.
We will remember Uncle Mike and continue to feel fortunate to have known him.