On Sunday, August 22, 2004 the annual luncheon and reunion of the Madison Chapter of the Veterans Association of the Chicago a

VETERANS’ ASSOCIATION

of the

CHICAGO & NORTH WESTERN RAILWAY

Madison Chapter Luncheon

August 28, 2011

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Submitted by Don Mundth

The Annual Luncheon Meeting of the Madison Chapter of Veterans Association of Chicago and North Western Railway was held on Sunday August 28, 2011 at Rex’s Innkeeper in Waunakee, WI.

This year we invited the Milwaukee Road Employee Group, and several of these members attended.

The meeting was called to order at 11:55 A.M. by President Mundth. Members and Milwaukee Road guests were welcomed to the Annual Luncheon. A moment of silence was observed for members who have passed on over the past year including Michael Kinney, Donald Margraph, John Wilcox, Herold Wind and Milwaukee Road Employee Group President Bob Connelley.

President Mundth gave thanks for the opportunity to get together to renew acquaintances and make new ones and then said a blessing for everyone’s safe return home after the luncheon and for the food we were about to receive.

A delicious meal was served at Noon by the staff of Rex’s Innkeeper serving a total of 74 people.

After the meal, president Mundth gave a financial report of the Chapter. The Chapter Finances are in good order. An introduction of guests was made. The following persons were introduced: Rodney Kreunen, Wisconsin Railroad Commissioner- Emeritus, Larry Bunce, President of the Milwaukee Road Employee group, Rod Ewert from the Green Bay Chapter, Curt Schmidt, President of the Milwaukee Chapter and his wife Barb, and Dan and Yvonne Sylvester of the Waukegan/Kenosha Chapter. The Green Bay Chapter Luncheon is to be held on Friday September 16, 2011. Rod Ewert has copies of the invitation. The Milwaukee Luncheon will be held October 15, 2011 at Alioto’s in Milwaukee. The Milwaukee Road Employee Luncheon will be held at Rex’s Innkeeper in Waunakee on October 3, 2011 and all are invited.

It was reported that Don and Joan are actively looking for someone to replace them as they took over from August and Edith Troia in 2000 and want to retire. Ron and Dixie Marquardt graciously agreed to assist with some of the details of the Annual Luncheon.

There will be no raffle this year, only door prizes.

Rodney Kreunen spoke briefly on the need to contact our Wisconsin Legislators on both side of the political arena to insure our voices are heard. There are several important railroad crossing safety issues that need to be addressed and he urged everyone to let their voices be heard.

Numerous door prizes were dispersed. A special thanks goes out to Duane Van Haren for providing several door prizes of his handmade woodworking items and for his donation of a replica steam locomotive he designed and built. Duane’s creations are always the highlight of our luncheons.

President Mundth invited everyone to the monthly breakfast meeting of the Madison Chapter held at the Monona Garden Restaurant located at 6501 Bridge Road, Madison, WI. This is at the corner of Bridge road and Broadway in Monona. The meeting is held this first Tuesday of every month at 8:45 A.M.

The 2012 Annual Luncheon will be held at Rex’s Innkeeper in Waunakee, WI on Sunday, August 26, 2011.

Respectfully submitted,

Donald G. Mundth, President

Here’s the Waunakee Depot as it looks today after a fine job of restoration.

Behind the hedge at the left side of the first picture is a brick-paved area where many

North Western men are remembered. Some of them are:

Tony Hansen, Section Foreman

Ellis Hollman, Conductor – 1945-1976

Leo F. Karasek, Engineer – 1946-1982

Robert L. King, Last Agent at Baraboo

William L. McIlwee, Conductor – 1913-1944

William H. McIlwee, Conductor – 1943–1960

George Richards

William F. Richards

Manvel Shanks, Boilermaker – 1927-1958

R. Sullivan, Sr., Conductor – 1929-1967

R. Sullivan, Jr., Engineer – 1946-1984

Ted Thompson, Crossing Gateman – 1920-1951

D. Van Haren, Switchman – 1950-1991

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Posted: 08/28/11