Along Our Way

KMA radio in Chuck Offenburger’s hometown of Shenandoah celebrated its 85th birthday on August 12. The station, owned by the May family for three generations now, honored its history of having big “jubilees” by putting up a big tent, broadcasting outdoors throughout the day, giving visitors free pancakes and sausages, inviting listeners to “face dive” in an 85-foot-long cake, airing lots of vintage audio clips, and doing special interviews.
[TO SEE THESE PHOTOS IN LARGER FORMAT, AND TO READ A BRIEF STORY, CLICK HERE.]
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A conversation
LIVING WITH CANCER
with the Offenburgers
Chuck Offenburger was diagnosed with non-Hodgkins follicular lymphoma cancer on July 10, 2009, had six months of chemotherapy & is now doing well in a “maintenance” program. Carla Offenburger underwent surgery on April 26, 2010, for removal of a jaw tumor which was found to contain adenoid cystic carcinoma cancer. She underwent six weeks of follow-up radiation in June and July, and continues under close medical observation. We post updates frequently here, including brief insights from Chuck, Carla and at least one of you readers.
“If the sedative makes normal people balmy, I wonder what it’s going to do to you since you have been balmy ever since I’ve known you, except for the last days of your first two marriages.”
FOR THE LATEST UPDATE, CLICK HERE.
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What’s the deal with the black & white saddle shoes?

Click here for the story of our farm in Greene County, Iowa.
Here's looking at life
at Simple Serenity Farm

Carla’s sister & brother-in-law Chris and Tony Woods, of Des Moines, were at the farm on Sunday, August 22, helping Carla do the lawn mowing and other yard work that we’ve struggled to keep up with lately, with all our medical appointments. The Woodses brought along their 18-month-old granddaughter Ari, who was a delight watching all the action from the porch with Chuck, catching up on her reading and then getting a moment on the lawn tractor seat!
Click here for larger format
Earlier photos in this series
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Chuck Offenburger's
new book on sports
legend Gary Thompson
gets excellent reviews
FOR INFORMATION ON WHERE & HOW TO BUY THE BOOK, CLICK HERE!
 ''GARY THOMPSON: All-American'' is the new, 352-page biography of one of the state’s genuine sports icons. From 1950-’53 Gary Thompson led the Roland Rockets to high school sports glory in basketball and baseball, giant-killers from one of Iowa’s small schools. Then he led the Cyclones at Iowa State from 1953-’57, becoming the college’s first two-sport All-American. He’s had major success in broadcasting and business, from his home base in Ames. And he and his wife Janet have a family as solid as they come. “I’m the luckiest guy around,” Thompson says.
TO READ CHUCK OFFENBURGER'S COLUMN ABOUT THE BOOK AND THE ''BOOK LAUNCHING'' HELD EARLY IN DECEMBER, CLICK HERE.
TO READ DES MOINES REGISTER SPORTSWRITER RICK BROWN'S REVIEW OF THE BOOK, CLICK HERE.
TO READ CEDAR RAPIDS GAZETTE SPORTS COLUMNIST JIM ECKER'S REVIEW OF THE BOOK, CLICK HERE.
TO READ AMES DAILY TRIBUNE SPORTSWRITER DICK KELLY'S STORY ABOUT THE BOOK, CLICK HERE.
TO READ DOUG BURNS' STORY ABOUT THE BOOK IN THE CARROLL DAILY TIMES HERALD, CLICK HERE.
TO READ ANDY GOODELL'S STORY ABOUT THE BOOK IN THE OSKALOOSA HERALD, CLICK HERE.
WANT TO SEE AND HEAR THE OLD ROLAND HIGH SCHOOL FIGHT SONG PERFORMED? CLICK HERE!
FOR INFORMATION ON WHERE & HOW TO BUY THE BOOK, CLICK HERE!
FOR PHOTOS FROM OUR BOOK LAUNCHING EVENTS, CLICK HERE!
SEE BOB MODERSOHN'S PHOTOS OF OUR BOOK CHAT AND SIGNING AT BEAVERDALE BOOKS IN DES MOINES!
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Our Partners & Patrons
Iowa Hall of Pride
netINS, Inc.
Butler House on Grand B&B
Sam's Barber Shop
Douglas T. Bates III, Attorney
KMA Radio's ''Chuck & Don Show''
Barack Obama story & coloring book
The Monks of New Melleray Abbey
RELATED LINKS
About Offenburger.com
Biographies
Want to Reprint?
Want Updates?
ARCHIVES
Chuck Offenburger's columns
Christie Vilsack's columns
Carla Offenburger's columns
Carla's book reviews
Jared Strong's columns
Guest Columns
The Simple Serenity Farm
columns
Farm Photos, 2006 - 2008
Our Iowa News Digest
Along Our Way
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| Archives: Here's looking at life at Simple Serenity Farm
Here are the archived photos from the farmstead and three acres in southern
Greene County, Iowa, that the Offenburgers bought in the fall of 2003, had
rehabbed and, since the summer of 2004, have called home.
Ari Farm Visit - August 24, 2010
 Gorgeous Garden - June 26, 2010
Spring Yard Work - April 19, 2010
Snow Melt - March 15, 2010
More Snow - February 10, 2010
Christmas Eve - December 28, 2009
Christmas Tree - December 8, 2009
The Varsity Drive-In - October 28, 2009
Fall Flowers - October 15, 2009
Garden Produce - September 27, 2009
Great Pie - August 9, 2009
Flower Tour - July 28, 2009
Farm Work - July 14, 2009
Clothes on line - June 21, 2009
New Farm Dog - June 7, 2009
John & Jenny Wedding - May 28, 2009
Angela Holbrook King - May 20, 2009
Arizona Visit - April 20, 2009
Offenburger Reunion - February 24, 2009
Plants in Winter - January 30, 2008
Carla Birthday Dinner - January 14, 2009
Christmas 2008 - January 5, 2009
Tree Hunting - December 15, 2008
Thanksgiving - November 30, 20008
Sue Burt Moving - November 17, 2008
Work Release Weekend - November 7, 2008
Vegetable Eating Dog - October 29, 2008
Lindsay at 15 Months - October 20, 2008
Garden Harvest - October 5, 2008
Soybeans Turning - September 22, 2008
Lindsay Cubs Fan - September 16, 2008
Giant Zucchini - September 2, 2008
Carla Canning - August 25, 2008
Farmers Market Supper - August 8, 2008
Farm Visitors - July 28, 2008
Birthday Donut - July 14, 2008
Lindsay 1st Birthday - July 3, 2008
Dogs and Cats - June 24, 2008
Flooding 2008 - June 9, 2008
Spring Flowers - June 2, 2008
Visiting Turtle - May 18, 2008
Farm Cleanup - April 21, 2008
Historical Society - April 6, 2008
Spring Soaker - March 31, 2008
Holy Week - March 23, 2008
Winter Thaw - March 2, 2008
Last Snowfall - February 26, 2008
Hoar Frost - February 3, 2008
Sledding Adventure - January 27, 2008
Tractor Practice - January 6, 2008
Christmas Gatherings - December 31, 2007
Christmas Views - December 24, 2007
Christmas Tree - December 10, 2007
Ice Storm - December 2, 2007
Lindsay Thanksgiving - November 22, 2007
Painting Garage - November 12, 2007
Lassie Remembered - November 5, 2007
Halloween Spiderman - October 30, 2007
Pretty Days - October 24, 2007
Corn Harvest - October 15, 2007
Woodses At Farm - October 8, 2007
Ditch Spiders - October 2, 2007
Granddaughter visit - September 18, 2007
Fall Flowers - September 10, 2007
Foggy Nights - September 3, 2007
Storm Damage - August 29, 2007
Farm at Night - August 20, 2007
Garden Produce - August 12, 2007
Lindsay One Month - August 6, 2007
Blooming Hibiscus - June 30, 2007
Flower Garden - July 23, 2007
Birthdaying 2007 - July 17, 2007
Farm Visit - July 8, 2007
July Crop Scouting - July 1, 2007
Flower Garden Tour - June 25, 2007
Prairie View B&B - June 18, 2007
Beni Boy the Farmer - June 4, 2007
Memorial Day - May 28, 2007
IPTV Interview - May 14, 2007
Farm Update - May 7, 2007
April Showers - April 30, 2007
Tulip Update - April 23, 2007
Easter Eggs - April 12, 2007
Cooper History - April 2, 2007
Pancake Fundraiser - March 26, 2007
Cooper Post Office - March 18, 2007
Spring Runoff - March 13, 2007
Blizzard Aftermath - March 4, 2007
Snowed In - February 25, 2007
Snowy Scenes - February 19, 2007
Super Cooper Pie - February 12, 2006
Super Bowl Party - February 4, 2007
Stuck in the Snow - January 30, 2007
Snowy Scenes - January 22, 2007
Snowy Weekend - January 14, 2007
South African Vacation - January 8, 2007
On Vacation - January 1, 2007
Favorite Christmas Decorations - December 24, 2006
Cat and Dog - December 17, 2006
Postmaster Jenny Davis - December 11, 2006
Trail in Early Winter - December 4, 2006
Thanksgiving 2006 - November 27, 2006
Big Turkey - November 22, 2006
First Measurable Snow - November 13, 2006
First Measurable Snow - November 13, 2006
Political Signs - November 6, 2006
New Garage Roof - October 30, 2006
Cooper Sign - October 16, 2006
Barn Chat - October 9, 2006
Farm Cleanup - October 2, 2006
Cooper Lake - September 18, 2006
Carla Canning - September 11, 2006
Farm Pets - September 4, 2006
Flowers & Soybeans - August 28, 2006
Sunrise Fog - August 21, 3006
Garden Weeding - August 13, 2006
August Gardens - August 6, 2006
Visiting Bikers - July 21, 2006
Old Bikes - July 13, 2006
Church Service - July 2, 2006
June Growth - June 26, 2006
Father''s Day - June 19, 2006
Jefferson Parade - Monday, June 12
June Garden Report - June 5, 2006
Travis Peony - May 29, 2006
Painting Quilts - May 22, 2006
Mother''s Day - May 15, 2006
Farm Visitors - May 8, 2006
Weed Hound - May 1, 2006
Farm Blooming - April 24, 2006
Judging Easter Eggs - April 16, 2006
Signs of Spring - April 9, 2006
March Views - 3/27/06
American Gothic 2006 - 3/12/2006
Old Buildings - 3/5/2006
Freddie Cat - February 26, 2006
Sunrise Sundogs - February 17, 2006
To read Chuck's original column about buying the
farm, click here.

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