Minnie graduated from Octavia Public High School in 1931 and attended Wayne State Teachers’ College in the fall. Her first teaching job was at District #3 in Butler County. She taught there three years prior to starting a family.
Four children and a few years later, Mom returned to teaching. District 53 was east of Octavia and was known to our family as the “chicken coup”. It was small and may have been a chicken coup at one time. She loved everything about it…the students, the parents and the coziness. She then returned to District 3 for a few years before taking a position in the Abie Community School District…a two-room school where she taught the primary children. After a number of years in Abie, Mom had the opportunity to teach kindergarten in the David City Public Schools where she taught until she retired. During that time, my sister Lilas Lou also taught in the same elementary school. They enjoyed many rides together during their tenure at David City. Mom’s love for her many students was unsurpassed. She remained friends with students and families throughout her lifetime.
During those many years of teaching and raising a family along with my dad, Mom took extension classes and night classes and graduated from Wayne State College in April 1966…the same year I graduated from Wayne State… in August 1966. We both received our BAE the same year at the required credit hous…125. A few years later, Mom signed up for a math methods class at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln and had her daughter Dr. Novotny, as her instructor. That was pretty fun.
After retiring, Mom served as an Assistant in the Octavia Elementary School and later worked at a Preschool in Schuyler. I guess she wasn’t quite finished working with her students.
Mom loved everything connected to teaching. She had a designated room in our basement that was just for “school” items. There were dozens of labeled boxes for the holidays, academic areas along with bulletin board items, worksheets, hands-on items and tons of books for centers. I did tell her prior to her passing that we were not keeping her “treasures” (needed to rid any guilt I might have) but would celebrate her life in education by having a family hotdog roast!
Three of Mom and Dad’s kids went into education. Lilas Lou remained in the classroom at David City until retiring; Glenn taught pre-school reading and PE in Fort Calhoun, NE for 13 years prior to attending Oregon State University where he received his Ph.D. in Higher Ed and went on to be a College Professor at Northern Arizona University; Marianne “Kay” went on to be a School Superintendent in New Haven, IN; Gene received a Ph.D. in Genetics from the University of NE-Lincoln and worked for several major seed companies prior to retiring.
It is truly a blessing to honor our Mom as an outstanding one-room, two-room school teacher. Her passion for working with children was passed on to her children and many of those whom she taught. She had a gift!
Love you, Mom.
Lilas Lou (Hookstra) Grotelueschen (deceased), Marianne Kay (Hookstra) Novotny-Yost, Gene H. Hookstra and Glenn M. Hookstra along with seven grandchildren, 12 great grandchildren and two great, great grandchildren.
Four children and a few years later, Mom returned to teaching. District 53 was east of Octavia and was known to our family as the “chicken coup”. It was small and may have been a chicken coup at one time. She loved everything about it…the students, the parents and the coziness. She then returned to District 3 for a few years before taking a position in the Abie Community School District…a two-room school where she taught the primary children. After a number of years in Abie, Mom had the opportunity to teach kindergarten in the David City Public Schools where she taught until she retired. During that time, my sister Lilas Lou also taught in the same elementary school. They enjoyed many rides together during their tenure at David City. Mom’s love for her many students was unsurpassed. She remained friends with students and families throughout her lifetime.
During those many years of teaching and raising a family along with my dad, Mom took extension classes and night classes and graduated from Wayne State College in April 1966…the same year I graduated from Wayne State… in August 1966. We both received our BAE the same year at the required credit hous…125. A few years later, Mom signed up for a math methods class at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln and had her daughter Dr. Novotny, as her instructor. That was pretty fun.
After retiring, Mom served as an Assistant in the Octavia Elementary School and later worked at a Preschool in Schuyler. I guess she wasn’t quite finished working with her students.
Mom loved everything connected to teaching. She had a designated room in our basement that was just for “school” items. There were dozens of labeled boxes for the holidays, academic areas along with bulletin board items, worksheets, hands-on items and tons of books for centers. I did tell her prior to her passing that we were not keeping her “treasures” (needed to rid any guilt I might have) but would celebrate her life in education by having a family hotdog roast!
Three of Mom and Dad’s kids went into education. Lilas Lou remained in the classroom at David City until retiring; Glenn taught pre-school reading and PE in Fort Calhoun, NE for 13 years prior to attending Oregon State University where he received his Ph.D. in Higher Ed and went on to be a College Professor at Northern Arizona University; Marianne “Kay” went on to be a School Superintendent in New Haven, IN; Gene received a Ph.D. in Genetics from the University of NE-Lincoln and worked for several major seed companies prior to retiring.
It is truly a blessing to honor our Mom as an outstanding one-room, two-room school teacher. Her passion for working with children was passed on to her children and many of those whom she taught. She had a gift!
Love you, Mom.
Lilas Lou (Hookstra) Grotelueschen (deceased), Marianne Kay (Hookstra) Novotny-Yost, Gene H. Hookstra and Glenn M. Hookstra along with seven grandchildren, 12 great grandchildren and two great, great grandchildren.