Christine Van Schyndle Memories

Memories of Christine Lynn Van Schyndle Perry

I REMEMBER.... Our family picnics at Little Chute.

Learning how to swim there. My mother (Alice Angst Van Schyndle) holding me up in the water, while Rick and Rob (Balza) swam circles around me, giving me their advice on how to swim.

Uncle Loren (Scheer) trying to teach Steven (Scheer) , who he always called Lefty, to play baseball.

I REMEMBER.... When I was four or five years old, my parents went to a Jaycee Convention. My parents divided the five of us up to go to either Aunt Grace's (Grace Angst Balza) house or Aunt Joyce's (Joyce Angst Scheer) house. Howard and I went to Balza's and Mary Craig and mark went to Scheer's. I always wondered why I had to go to Balza's where they did not have any girls. Craig and Mark should have gone there because they had three boys. I remember Howie playing Indians with John, Rick and Rob, while I watched. I remember Aunt Grace tucking me in bed in the twin's room. Even though Aunt grace did her best to make me feel comfortable I felt lonely and wanted to be with my sister Mary. I also remember sitting at the table having to eat a casserole (which I disliked, I was a very picky eater) wondering what mary was eating.

Since my mother had two sisters, it seemed like most of our get togethers were with Aunt Grace's or Aunt Joyce's families.

I REMEMBER... The Balza's

The Balza's always knew the best guessing games. We would sit around their living room playing some really neat games, but when it came to board games I hated to play. We frequently went to Balza's for Easter. We would always watch "The Ten Commandments" on TV. One year I remember, Mary and myself walking around the block wearing our new tent dresses. I remember that mine was yellow and twirling around in it to make it flare out. I just loved that dress! Sitting in the living room listening to John (Balza) play the piano. How I hated this! (sorry John) As a youngster, I did not appreciate John's piano skills, or the music he played. I vowed I would never make my kids listen or watch their cousin's accomplishments. I always felt so untalented. This is not a good thing for a child.

I REMEMBER... The Scheer's

That the girls always had to do the dishes after the meal, while our parents played bridge.

I REMEMBER... the rides home from anywhere that took twenty minutes or more. We always had to say the rosary. I never knew a family that said the rosary, as much as mine. I found out when I was in my forties, why we said the rosary so much.-- My father was missing in action and then became a prisoner of war in World War II. My mother promised Gad that if Elton (Mike Van Schyndle) came home safely, she would pray the rosary everyday. She kept with this promise, i can remember hearing my parents at night, in their bedroom, praying the rosary together. I only wish I would have known when I was younger, why we said the rosary, it would have meant a lot more to me.

I REMEMBER... my times with Barbara Angst. We are the same age, and went to SS Peter and Paul School together until I moved and changed schools in third grade. I remember making my first Communion with Barb. During the masses we would race through our prayer book, trying to be the first one to read through it. This past Holiday season (1999) Barb, my sisters mary and Debbie and I went to many craft shows. I found out that every time Barb sees a bell, she has to ring it. Now whenever I see a bell I ring it for Barb.

I REMEMBER... the Pizzazza Club. I think if you asked any of the older cousins, they remember the Pizzazza Club the most. We spent many Thanksgivings there. I remember the baseball games, where whenever, Lynn Angst came up to bat, everyone backed up. When I came up everyone moved in. Lynn was also very good at ping-pong, no one could beat her at that game. We had wonderful talent shows. Mary and I always had a new dance to perform, as we took lessons from Shirley Van.

I REMEMBER... my teenage years as my favorite time growing up in the Angst family. There were a lot of cousins who were close in age: Sue (Scheer), Barb (Angst), Chris (myself), Rick and Rob (Balza), Tom (Scheer) and Tom (Angst). We all got along pretty well together. We used to play the game "Twister", listen to music, or just talk. One year we had our own Christmas gift exchange, Tom Scheer had my name. Tom gave me some earrings and chocolate covered cherries. Aunt Joyce (Scheer) thought that he did a wonderful job picking everything out by himself. The earrings were nice, but, I hate chocolate covered cherries!!!

I REMEMBER... at my sister's wedding. Aunt Eunice (Iverson Angst) tried to get me to get my cousin Tom Angst out on the dance floor. He was pretty shy and I had to drag him out there. About five years after the wedding Tom was in Virginia on business, he called my husband Ray and me to see if we could get together. We met in Norfolk, Virginia and went out to eat, then Tom asked me to dance. In those five years Tom sure learned how to dance. He was fantastic.

I REMEMBER... going to many wedding showers for my cousins. It was here that I noticed how talented Sue (Scheer) and Barb (Angst) are - they always gave something homemade. I always thought these were some of the best gifts.

I REMEMBER... baby-sitting for Carolyn and Danny (Angst). When Carolyn was a baby you always had to stay in the room until she fell asleep. You couldn't do much in the dark, so sometimes I fell asleep also.

I REMEMBER... Jason, who is the youngest of all the cousins. Jason died on November 10, 1995. jason was on the same baseball team as my son Ray. I got to know Jason a little bit more during those games. He was a very sweet and caring guy. He also brought Ray home from Steven's Point, where they went to college. Jason was a very special person, at his funeral the priest said many things that mot many people knew about Jason. Jason is truely an angel up in heaven.

I REMEMBER... our recent family get togethers (1990's). Most of the Aunts and Uncles are there, but very few cousins. A lot of them live out of state, or they are busy with their own families. It would be nice if we could try to pick a year, and have everyone get together. I would love to get to know some of the younger cousins better.