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What year was it ? Reference sheet

1994

  • Jim gets Ph.D. from Univ No. Colorado.  4 Olsens move to Macomb, IL.
  • Jim starts job at WIU, fall 1994.

2001

  • First mission trip to Reynosa, Mexico (with Rodney Fink). Jim and Diane. After Diane’s 4th grade year.

2006

  • 2nd mission trip. Macomb/Savoy/Jerseyville go go Soto La Marina, Mexico (on our own without Rodney). After Diane’s freshman year.

2009

  • Diane graduates MHS.

2010

  • Spg break Opa, Oma, and 5 Olsens travel to Domincan Republic for spring break.
  • Walt (Opa) passes away May 2, 2010

2011

  • 2010-2011 Lukas Wandelt with us for the entire academic year as an exchange student. Eric’s junior year. Heinz Wandelt come the the US in early summer. Lukas and Heinz take driving trip to CA (and fly home separately.)

2012

  • Eric graduates MHS.

2013

  • Diane graduates Drake. Starts at McGladry Oct. 2013

2014

2015

  • Rachel graduates MHS.
  • I was inducted into Phi Kappa Phi honorary society.

2016

  • Eric graduates Drake.

2017

  • Oma to Lake Okoboji. Rode wave runner. Realized she didn’t like being there by herself. July 16, 2017 on Facebook.
  • August fell in her apartment (after a swim).
  • 5-6 weeks to skilled nursing/rehab.
  • Then she got Home Instead.

2018

  • Diane and Luke Delgehausen Married 6/2/18. Oma goes to both weddings. Using walker.
  • Early August Jim and Marilyn big loop. To ranch; to Denver for MathFest; to Cheyenne (nice family gathering at Roberta’s house); to Bill Owen and Lincoln/Oma on return across I-80.
  • Eric and Jordan Married 8/25/18

2019

  • March: Jim and Marilyn to Lincoln for Samantha Bower wedding (March 2). Jim and Marilyn to Landing. Temporary eating arrangement in basement (to eat with Eric and Jordan). Oma using walker, but opts for wheelchair. Cold, needs sweater. Food doesn’t arrive quick enough. Oma struggles with phone. Home Instead lady takes her back to apartment (wo eating) for a nap. After the nap, Oma more alert and talkative; had conversation. Marilyn hands over the binder photo album to Oma.
  • Oma health issues, goes down hill.  After being in rehab facility moves into the Cove.
  • Rachel graduates Drake, May. Family trip to Hawaii.
  • June 21-23 finish opening at Lake with Schulenbergs.  Following we take pictures of Landing apartment.
  • July, Jim and Marilyn and truck to Lincoln to move things out of the Landing apartment. Marilyn drives truck to Omaha and Des Moines to drop things off (U-Haul left in Des M.). Marilyn drive through to Macomb for 4H Fair. Jim stays in Lincoln to ‘finish up’ apartment.
  • To Dilsaver Reunion and to Lincoln to see Oma.
  • Marilyn and Jim go to Educating the Educators III (Oct. 7-8) in Freiburg, Germany. 3 nights in Freiburg. Lukas Wandelt comes to travel with us. Rental car to Koblenz for 1 night. Ride ferry across the Boden See. 2 nights with Emily Wandelt and family outside of Munich. Fly home 10/12/22.
  • Awarded WIU College of Arts and Sciences Outstanding Faculty Award in Teaching with Technology.
  • Awarded the WIU Provost Award for Academic Excellence for Enhancing Learning with Technology

2020

  • I play Table Tennis in Quincy about 5 times, prior to the pandemic.
  • Spring Break in Washington, DC. 3/7 to Thurs. 3/12/2020. Diane and Rachel join us. Museum of the Bible and African American Museum (both new). Pandemic hits March 11, 2020. We, luckily, had planned to fly out March 12. Plane already 1/3 empty. ISMAA Bd mtg for 3/12 cancelled. ISMAA Centennial meeting cancelled.
  • WIU spring break extended 1 week. We return to classes 3/30/20 fully online for the semester.
  • NCTM Centennial Annual Mtg in Chicago cancelled. I was to present with Alex Rangel and Jesus Aguirre (but cancelled).
  • No mission trip 2020.
  • Jim starts three-year term as assistant chair in the Department of Mathematics and Philosophy. 7/1/2020 to 6/30/2023.
  • Selah Marie Olsen born 7/11/2020.
  • Marilyn and Jim to Bed and Breakfast in Dubuque, IA.
  • Marilyn and Jim to Belvedere Inn (B&B) Oct. 9-11, in Hannibal, MO.

2021

  • May 25-31 NE and WY (back to NE) trip for Brandi’s wedding. Ruth goes with us. See Oma in Lincoln.
  • June 30-July 2 Jim and Marilyn to Lake to fix picnic table. Then to Bentonsport B&B (IA) for 3 nights (3rd B&B).
  • Begin preaching at Point Pleasant UMC and New Philadelphia UMC March 14, 2021. Roughly once a month.
  • Preach at Walnut Grove (roughly once a month) from October 24, 2021 to Jan. 30, 2022.
  • Mission trip to Little Grassy (and Carbondale, IL).
  • Fall ’21 and Spring ’22 play table tennis in Quincy.

2022

  • Nora Jean Delgehausen born January 15, 2022.
  • Spring break to Tuscon, AZ.
  • Ruth Olsen passes 2/14/22.
  • ISMAA has face-to-face meeting March 25-26, 2022.
  • Uriah James Olsen born April 11, 2022.
  • Celebration of Life for Ruth Olsen in Lincoln, NE, Mary 7, 2022. Entire Alan Lorig family there for the weekend. All six of Oma’s great grandchildren present.
  • Alan Lorig passes 6-1-2022.
  • Iowa Senior State Games Table Tennis, June 10. I get 3rd place. Bronze.
  • Mission trip to Granite City, IL.
  • Jim teaches Math 656 online/synchronously 8 weeks in summer.

2023

  • Mary (Olsen) Steiner passed away January 17, 2023, of blood cancer. Myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS) are a group of cancers in which immature blood cells in the bone marrow do not mature or become healthy blood cells.
  • April 14, 69th Annual Western Illinois University Mathematics Teachers Conference. Jim is closing speaker. Kids surprise dad and attend the talk ( and Nora too).
  • Jim’s first day of retirement is 7/1/2023.
  • Mission trip to Granite City, IL (18th mission trip)