A monthly look at the lives, lifestyles and adventures of the senior citizen community in Putnam County and surrounding areas.

Senior Life Odyssey January 2016...our later life adventures Banner Graphic/ERIC BERNSEE A vibrant hub of activity for the senior community of the area, the Putnam County Senior Center is a welcoming spot for retirees in Putnam County. A sign of that welcoming spirit overlooks the dining area at the downtown Greencastle location. A monthly look at the lives, lifestyles and adventures of the senior citizen community in Putnam County and surrounding areas. Presented by the Banner Graphic Friday, January 29, 2016 Issue 1

Senior Life Odyssey Page 2 The Banner Graphic introduces monthly Senior Life Odyssey By JARED JERNAGAN Assistant Editor A devoted patriot who served his country in a time of war. A former beauty queen who proudly bore the crown of Miss Indiana. Our seniors in Putnam County have led some exciting lives and have amazing stories to tell in most cases stories that are still being written about long, vibrant lives. The Banner Graphic is looking to highlight these stories, while also providing a resource for seniors looking for issues that are important to them. In this issue of Odyssey, you ll find a feature on Miss Indiana 1940, who lives right here in Putnam County, at a local healthcare facility. She is the oldest living Miss Indiana. You will also get a look at a Korean War veteran who, at 86 years old, remains heavily involved in Greencastle VFW Post 1550. It s just the sort of story that Banner Graphic General Manager Daryl Taylor hopes to tell with each edition of the publication. Taylor also hopes to get some feedback on people to feature in upcoming editions. I think it s great to highlight some of the older people in the community, Taylor said. If you know an intersting person in the community who you think we should do a story on, please send it to us. He is especially looking forward to stories about America s Greatest Generation. SENIOR LIFE ODYSSEY is a look into the lives, lifestyles and adventures of the fifty-five years and older population of Putnam County and the surrounding areas. SENIOR LIFE ODYSSEY is a monthly publication, written to bring enjoyment, entertainment and information to the Banner Graphic s older population and their supportive families. The Banner Graphic will publish appropriately-related news information regarding events, programs, human interest stories, accomplishments and activities of this segment of our area society. Please send your information, articles and pictures by the second Friday of the month to news@bannergraphic.com. Appropriate acknowledgement will be extended to all contributors. We re losing a lot of our World War II veterans and people who lived through the Great Depression, Taylor said. I d like to see some of those stories told while we still can. Other highlights of the inaugural issue include a story about the services offered by and the characters who hang around the Putnam County Senior Center, as well as upcoming events at local nursing facilities and general information for our aging population. We are also featuring a monthly column by a local attorney who focuses on elder law in his practice. So peruse these pages, see what they have to offer and what you d like to see in the coming months. Send your ideas to news@bannergraphic.com or call 653-5151, ext. 24. SENIOR LIFE ODYSSEY OUR LATER LIFE ADVENTURES Monthly senior trips to begin in March Mill Pond and The Waters of Greencastle are teaming up for the third year in a row to host Senior Bus Trips. These trips/events are monthly ways for local seniors to get out and do things they may not normally do. Organized in conjunction with the Putnam County Senior Center, the trips function as a fundraiser for the non-profit center at 9 W. Franklin St., Greencastle. The two nursing facilities foot the cost for transportation. In turn, the money that participants pay in transportation is donated by the nursing facilities to the Senior Center. It s a nice fundraiser for us. We greatly appreciate that, Senior Center Executive Director Sharon Pitcock said. On top of that, it s a nice activity for the seniors because a lot them don t drive. Getting seniors out and about is the main benefit, Pitcock said. This is an opportunity about once a month to get our people out of town, she said. It s just nice to get out of town once in a while. The first trip of 2015 will be to the Flower and Patio Show, set for March 17. More details about the first trip will be available in the February edition of Senior Life Odyssey. This year s trips are: March: Flower and Patio Show. April: Indiana Grand Casino. May: Trip to Nashville, Ind. June: City Market and World War II museum. July: Beef and Boards. August: Overnight trip. September: Metamora. October: Mystery Cafe lunch. November: Thanksgiving dinner December : Beef and Boards Christmas Show. For questions or more information call Pitcock at 653-8606, Brooke Trissel at Mill Pond at 663-4397 or Amy Gharbi at The Waters at 653-2602.

Courtesy photo Now a resident of Mill Pond Health Campus in Greencastle, Carolyn (Black) Schenks was crowned Miss Indiana in 1940. Now in her 90s, Schenks is the oldest living Miss Indiana. She still fondly recalls her days representing her home state as Miss Indiana, but takes even more pride in talking about kids, grandkids and great-grandkids. Senior Life Odyssey Page 3 Carolyn (Black) Schenks, Miss Indiana 1940 By CHELSEA MODGLIN Staff Writer Carolyn (Black) Schenks was the most beautiful Hoosier woman in 1940. Winning the hearts of the judges against 92 contestants, Schenks was the first Miss Indiana to have won under so much competition. Now in her 90s, she is the oldest Miss Indiana living. There were all these girls at state, she said, and they chose me. I went to visit her in her room at Mill Pond Health Campus, where she told me her story and showed me pictures of her children and 16 grandchildren. Schenks came from what most today would consider a large family, having three brothers and two sisters. She came before the judges in a formal dress her mother had sewn for her, but represented Evansville City alone, even when she went on to the Miss America pageant. But she did not leave alone. While she was there, she met her future husband and they soon married after going on one date. He was a sweetheart, she said. He flew planes in the service. He was wonderful to me. Although he later died of throat cancer, Schenks and her husband had a son, Thomas Black, who is now a doctor here in Greencastle, and a daughter, who teaches at an after-school tutoring program. As Miss Indiana, Schenks was asked to appear at important events, train dedications being what she remembers most. Anytime anything like that was going on, with dignitaries, they asked me to sponsor it. Before going on to nationals, Schneck had to quickly learn a talent, since that had not been part of the state competition. I had never tapdanced in my life, she said with a laugh. I had learned a few steps in high school, so I brushed up on it. But when I did my talent, it was awful. Still, Schenks had a good time. That place was so big, and they had dinners for us. We had train rides, and when we got to places like Florida we could go swimming. Monuments Pre-Planning 602 E. Washington Street, P.O. Box 882 Greencastle, IN 46135-0882 765-653-6511 FAX 765-653-2417 The Miss Indiana pageant has been held since 1920, when it was hastily thrown together so the Hoosier state would be represented at the Miss America pageant. Anna Owens of Gary, one of the first Miss Indianas, placed in the top five at the national competition. Pat Patterson, also of Gary, was the first black Miss Indiana in 1971, and was the second black woman to compete in Miss America. Katie Stam of Duneland was named Indiana s first and only Miss America in 2009, 88 years after Miss America got its start. Schenks smiles when she thinks of her time as Miss Indiana, and keeps pictures of her days as a contestant on her shelves. But, like any proud grandma, she has the greatest pleasure in talking about her descendants as she points out their pictures on her walls and turns the pages of her photo albums. Monuments Pre-Planning 4 Percy L. Julian Drive, P.O. Box 882 Greencastle, IN 46135-0882 765-653-6262 FAX 765-653-1732

Senior Life Odyssey Page 4 Senior Center cooks up homey, welcoming atmosphere each week Banner Graphic/ERIC BERNSEE Scooping up a ladle full of potato soup, Putnam County Senior Center kitchen regular Diane Sanders (right) gets ready to transfer the soup to a crock pot so it can be brought to the serving line. Later, with final preparations made, hungry diners move down the Senior Center serving line, picking out desserts to go along with their hot Friday meal as servers include (from top) Marjorie Bowman, Sanders and (seated) Bonnie Roberts. By ERIC BERNSEE Editor Exercise for the mind. Exercise for the body. Food for thought. Food for nourishment. Active minds and active bodies keep the Putnam County Senior Center a lively place on the north side of the Courthouse Square in Greencastle. On a recent Friday morning, for example, the kitchen was a virtual beehive of activity. Broccoli and potato soup were coming to a boil on the stove as Center Director Sharon Pitcock dumped chunks of cheese into the broccoli recipe. Meanwhile, Diane Sanders stirred the potato soup and ladled it into a waiting crock pot for delivery out front to a hungry group of seniors huddled around Bill Eggers and already massing at the lure of a hot meal. Food and fellowship all rolled into one. Back in the kitchen, Carolyn Carrell was peeking out from under her white visor to flip over the three dozen grilled cheese sandwiches in the oven, checking for just that right crispness as Marjorie Bowman and Bonnie Roberts waited to cut the sandwiches into halves (diagonally, of course). Ila Reeves and Thelma Bumgardner were busy preparing the dessert cart with Ila slicing up a tasty-looking homemade dessert Thelma had created. It joined options of mince meat pie, chocolate eclair pie, red velvet cupcakes and other treats that might tempt the palates of diners of any age. These ladies are our kitchen regulars every week, Pitcock said. Faithfully they produce a wonderful meal. That hot noon (or 10:30 a.m. for the early bird special) meal is a Friday staple. A $5 donation is asked but no one is ever turned away. It s always a good, hot meal, Pitcock added, noting that the Jan. 29 menu was a choice between liver and onions and baked ham. Of course, it s not just the food and fellowship that bring people to the Senior Center at 9 W. Franklin St.. Friday is also the day the Center takes delivery of leftover bread and baked goods from Kroger. Specialty breads, buns, muffins, day-old doughnuts and more were piled high for the taking. Pitcock was forced to sound a warning, however, as the bread was piled on a sideboard at the west end of the dining room. Please, just three items apiece, she told those gathering around the table, later stressing that meant three per household, so if husband and wife were both present, they were still limited to just three items in order to be fair. See CENTER, Page 5

Banner Graphic/ERIC BERNSEE Cutting a homemade dessert created by fellow Senior Center kitchen regular Thelma Bumgardner (rear), Ila Reeves gets ready to load the dessert cart for the Friday lunch crowd at the Senior Center. Autumn Glen sets annual Valentine Wine event for Feb. 11 Autumn Glen Assisted Living will be hosting its third annual Valentine Wine on Thursday, Feb. 11 from 5:30-7:30 p.m. The event features wine and chocolate pairings from Almost Home Restaurant in Greencastle and will be set to the music of Anthony Mullis, a local musician also known as Gus Moon.. It is a free, public event and RSVPs are appreciated, but not required. Persons may call 653-6999 to do so. Autumn Glen is located at 98 N. 10th St. (Round Barn Road), Greencastle. Senior Life Odyssey Page 5 Center Continued from Page 4 Thursday (the day a church provides a supply of paper and cleaning products at low, low prices) and Friday are the exceptionally busy days at the Senior Center, which is open from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. Monday through Friday. But any day of the week sees 100 or more visitors coming to the Center. And we don t even have our name on the windows (or the door), the director said. Right now because we did the new windows, we re waiting to have our name put on them until all the sandblasting and construction work is done (nearby) and the windows can be properly cleaned. Exact numbers of Senior Center visitors are difficult to figure. An astounding number of people come in over the year, Pitcock said, also amazed at the wealth of volunteers who aid the seniors who visit. They come from the community in general, area nursing homes, DePauw University, local businesses and more. Cleda Janke Invites You To Save! Ginger N Spice Ladies Fashions A TREASURE CHEST OF FASHIONS Special SaleS 50% - 80% OFF CLEARANCE ALL WINTER MERCHANDISE 20% OFF ALL MOTHER OF THE BRIDE / MOTHER OF THE GROOM DRESSES The upstairs of the Center features a bargain shopping area, which offers deals that many more than seniors are discovering. You see some people come down out of the elevator with two great big bags of things, Pitcock noted, and some of the gals from the courthouse know about it and just love coming over here to see what we have. All in all, it helps keeps things hopping. The upstairs traffic helps the downstairs traffic, Pitcock said, while the downstairs activity helps the upstairs traffic as well. Of course, access to the upstairs wouldn t be possible if not for the foresight of the founding Senior Center Board of Directors who arranged to have an elevator added to the building in 1975 at the then-handsome sum of $44,000. Recently, Pitcock said, one of those men charged with making the elevator project a reality gave SPECIAL GREAT SALE TAKE AN ADDITIONAL 20% OFF ALL SELECTIVE ITEMS! We pride ourselves on our Personal Service and have enjoyed 35 years of experience in the Fashion World. Let us share our Professional Expertise and Service with you in planning and selecting your Wardrobe. Prestwick at the Crossing 5201 East U.S. 36 Avon, IN 46123 317-745-3175 WE ACCEPT a current-day donation to help fund the new doors at the Senior Center. One of the busiest spots in the building is the back room that houses convalescent items that are loaned out free of charge. That s probably the No. 1 thing, Pitcock said. We have people every day coming to borrow items or coming to give them. We have hundreds of pieces out there in the community right now, and it s totally free. A retired Greencastle Middle School English teacher, Pitcock still enjoys the interaction of the group dynamic, whether it be a classroom of kids or a roomful of retirees. They have such a great sense of humor, that s one thing that amazes me, she said of the seniors who frequent the Putnam County Center. It s such a nice blend of people. Things constantly are happening up here that absolutely amaze me. It s just a wonderful place.

Giesen flies into Indiana s heart By NICK WILSON Staff Writer For one Putnam County man, a desk job seems inappropriate. Especially for someone who has spent much of his time off the ground. Roy Giesen, originally from central Wisconsin, has traveled the world both personally and with the military for more than a half-century. Ultimately settling right here in Putnam County, Giesen said the decision wasn t an effort to be closer to home, but because he picked it out of the blue. Giesen was born Jan. 11, 1930 and attended a rural school district in New Holstein, Wis. Senior Life Odyssey Page 6 After graduation, Giesen briefly worked as a Ford mechanic before joining the Army in 1951. Completing his basic training in March of 51 at San Marcus, Texas, Giesen was placed in the 25th Division of the 69th Field Artillery-Air Section in Korea. Citing that no armistice was ever signed, he said the war is technically ongoing and he therefore likes to keep up-to-date on the conflict s status. Something not everyone knows is that there are still about 50,000 U.S. troops stationed there, Giesen said during a brief interview with the Banner Graphic. It s still a pretty tense situation. Giesen described his Roy Giesen military experience, saying he never saw direct, front-line action. Instead, he had a view of the war that was still somewhat new at the time. My division was (used) for observation with light aircraft to give coordinates for artillery, Giesen said. You didn t want to blast your own guys. Giesen also cited how, even though leaving the country may seem like a vacation, Korea was not a highly-sought destination. We had such unbelievably cold weather over there, and in the summer you get monsoons, Giesen said. It s just a miserable place. South Koreans were essentially enslaved by the Japanese, Giesen added. Now South Korea is the second-largest ship producer in the world and they have skyscrapers and cars. Once the U.S. and North Korea agreed to a cease-fire in 1953, Giesen returned to the states and was married in 1954. See GIESEN, Page 7 Neighbors Taking Care of Neighbors Banner Graphic/ERIC BERNSEE Bearing the stars and stripes, Roy Giesen of Greencastle serves as part of the honor guard during the 2013 Veterans Day ceremony at the Putnam County Courthouse. The older we get The number of people in the U.S. over the age of 90 has grown precipitously over the past several decades, according to the Association of Mature American Citizens. There were only 230,000 American nonagenarians in 1960. By 2010 the number of 90-plus citizens had grown to 1.8 million. Long Term Care Private Rehab to Home Suites Out-Patient Therapy Physical Therapy Occupational Therapy Speech Therapy Respite Care Call for a Personal Tour (765) 653-3143 Whether you are considering a short-term visit or a long term stay, let us help make your choice a little easier. Hickory Creek at Sunset provides a full range of services and personalized care at reasonable rates. Accepts Medicare, Medicaid, Private Pay & Most Insurance 1109 S. Indiana Street Greencastle, IN 46135 (765) 653-3143 www.hickorycreekhealth.org.

Mill Pond sets lantern release in honor of World Cancer Day Mill Pond Health Campus, a provider of senior health and hospitality services, will be recognizing World Cancer Day with a memorial lantern release on Thursday, Feb. 4 at 6:30 p.m. World Cancer Day is a global event that aims to save millions of preventable deaths each year by raising awareness and education about the disease. Community members who have lost a friend or loved one to cancer are invited to join Mill Pond Health Campus, 1014 Mill Pond Lane, Greencastle, in Monthly brunch highlights events calendar at The Waters The Waters of Greencastle is planning a pair of February events to which the public is invited. The Waters will host its monthly Sunday brunch at 10 a.m. on Feb. 21, with a Valentines theme. The Waters will also supply chili for the annual Red Cross Chili Supper, which is planned for Friday, Feb. 26. More details on the chili supper will be available at a later date. In addition to these, The Waters is already planning three larger celebrations for later in 2016, including the March 19 Easter egg hunt, the annual Fourth Making your trip to the doctor easier illuminating the sky in honor of those who have passed. Remembering those who have been lost, and honoring those memories, is an important part of World Cancer Day. Through ceremonies such as Mill Pond s lantern release, community members can raise awareness, find solace, and reignite hope as we search for a cure. To learn more about Mill Pond and its events and programs, persons may visit www.millpondhc.com or call 653-4397. Senior Life Odyssey Page 7 Giesen Continued from Page 6 of July celebration and a new fall festival. More details on all three events will be available later. To learn more visit www.watersofgreencastle.com or call 653-2602. Worried about nursing home costs? Get the help you need. Protect the assets you have. Giesen then decided to further the skills he picked up in the Army by studying at the Spartan School of Aeronautics in Tulsa, Okla. He acquired a job with TransWorld Airlines (TWA) in Los Angeles and lived there until 1980 when TWA went out of business. Asked about his transfer to Indianapolis in 1980, Giesen said there were openings in Indianapolis and I just came. Giesen and his wife settled in the Plainfield area before again transferring to another area of the country in 1983. This time the destination was St. Louis where he spent about 10 years with his family until his retirement in 1993. Although retired and out-of-action, Giesen still managed to form new military exploits all the way up to 1990 when Desert Storm occurred. I had spent some time in Rome helping unload supplies for our guys, Giesen said. We got the call from there and went to Saudi Arabia as soon as we could to deliver supplies for planes and guys fighting there. Since 1993, Giesen has been heavily involved in both Hendricks and Putnam counties, taking part in a number of organizations. Giesen spent three years as commander of Greencastle VFW Post 1550 and is still very much involved with its events and maintenance. Giesen s involvements also include, but are not limited to: The Over 50 Club, Senior Club, the Greencastle Senior Center and is an active member of Peace Lutheran Church in Greencastle. Giesen, now 86, says one way to stay healthy is to simply stay active. In fact, he said he still attends parties and dances, though the latter has admittedly somewhat subsided. Stay active and do as much as you can -- every chance you get. Giesen plans to spend much of his time traveling the world, proving that a body in motion tends to stay in motion. Tips for making your next trip to the doctor a little less stressful: 1. Arrive 10 minutes early. 2. Bring all your medications, including overthe-counter medications, vitamins and supplements to every appointment. 3. Have a list of all providers you see, along with specialty and phone number. 4. When scheduling an appointment, be specific in what you need to be seen for. If you call to be seen for sinus issues, then don t also ask the doctor to look at your knee and want to discuss sleeping issues. That puts doctor behind as you were scheduled for a 15-minute appointment. To give all these issues the time they deserve, you will need 30 minutes or more. Submitted by Lou Fordice, Putnam Pediatrics and Internal Medicine Team Lead Attend one of our FREE Estate Planning seminars: Seven Threats to Your Family s Security Attorney Michael Goss, LLC Your Senior Partner Please call 765-301-4494 for reservations

Senior Life Odyssey Page 8 A will may not be enough to make your wishes come true By MICHAEL GOSS Greencastle Attorney Want to be sure the things you ve worked hard for all your life go to the people you choose after you re gone? You might think a properly prepared and signed Last Will and Testament is the way to make your last wishes come true. And it can certainly help. But did you know that a will or a trust might have nothing to do with who gets your assets when you die? It all depends on how you own your property, including real estate, bank accounts, investments, vehicles everything you have. That s because a will only controls who gets the assets you own individually, without any beneficiary designations, when you die. And a trust only controls the assets owned by the trust. There are lots of ways to own property, including: Individually Jointly With a beneficiary designation With a payable on death or transferable on death designation Using a trust If you own things individually (in your name only), a will controls who gets those assets when you die. (Though there are even exceptions to that.) If you own things in any of the other ways listed above, your will may have absolutely nothing to do with who receives those assets when you die. A will only controls the things you own individually, and without beneficiary designations. Suppose your will says everything goes to your children when you die. But suppose you own your home jointly with your spouse. In Michael Goss that case, your spouse is entitled to the house when you die even though your will says everything goes to the kids. And even if your will says everything goes to the kids, assets like life insurance or retirement accounts will go to the people you named as beneficiaries on those assets. So if you named your wife, or brother, or anyone other than your children as beneficiaries, the kids won t receive those assets. Making assets payable on death (POD) or transferable on death (TOD) is a relatively new option in Indiana. These designations are similar to naming beneficiaries. If you wish, you can have your bank account, your real estate, your vehicle, or nearly any other asset automatically go to the people you choose when you die. To do that, you change ownership of those assets so that the items are in your name, payable on death to the person or persons you choose. Banks and investment firms can help you do that with accounts, Certificates of Deposit or other investments. The license branch can help you title vehicles so that they transfer on death to whomever you choose. For real estate, a new deed must be prepared and recorded to transfer the property on death. Do you have additional goals, over and above getting assets to the right people when you die? Maybe you d like to protect your children s inheritance from creditors or lawsuits or divorce. Maybe you d like to be sure the kids have a lifetime of income, rather than spending their inheritance all at once. Or maybe you want to protect your assets while you re still alive, from nursing home costs or other threats. A living trust can help you make these and other wishes come true. But a trust only controls assets owned by the trust. Once again, how you own your assets matters. To sum up, a will, or trust, or both, are key elements of your estate plan. But how you own your assets is also very important. Be sure that joint ownership, beneficiary designations or POD/TOD designations accurately reflect your wishes, too. This overview is provided as a public service, not as legal advice to any individual. Be sure to speak to a qualified attorney who can answer your questions, analyze your goals, and give personalized advice. Michael Goss is a Greencastle lawyer who focuses on elder law. Show your Support for our local Senior community! We can advertise for you in the Banner Graphic, The Brazil Times, Greene County Daily World or The Shopper. Call Us Today!!! Kandi collins Marketing Consultant Office: 765.653.5151 ext: 31 Cell: 765.720.1190 Fax: 765.653.2063 email: kcollins@bannergraphic.com Montica Pingleton Marketing Consultant Office: 765.653.5151 ext: 30 Cell: 317.694.9913 Fax: 765.653.2063 email: mpingleton@bannergraphic.com