President’s Message
Guten Tag! Welcome to summer and some interesting weather. I hope everyone is enjoying themselves. As I looked back over the last six months and my last article, I realized how many things I left out of it. First, many thanks to Rita Gehagen for taking the time to come to visit us from Florida. Also a big thank you for the generous donation she made to our organization. Next thing I forgot to mention was about our website, which is now being hosted and maintained by Digi Search. A big thank you goes to our Vice President John Huinker for overseeing the transition.
It is a work in progress, but please check it out at gapachicago.org Moving along, I see we are coming to the end of spring. That could only mean one thing, the annual GAPA Golf outing. Once again our Golf Meister, Joe Kurchins, with the help of Jeff Schuck put together an excellent outing. Over one hundred golfers participated in our 25th, yes that’s right, the 25th, not 26th golf outing, at Renwood Golf Course. Everyone appeared to have a great time and are looking forward to next year’s outing on Monday, June 19, 2023. Moving into summer means that the GAPA meetings come to an end for the months of July and August. But that doesn’t mean the work and gatherings stop. The Officers and Board of Directors will continue to meet in order for our organization to continue to move forward. Members may attend if they desire. The meetings are on the second Tuesdays in July and August, with a start time of 7 p.m. Summer also means the annual GAPA picnic.
We are back at Bunker Hill, Grove #3 on Friday, July 8, from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Come on out and enjoy a day of friends, food, refreshments and much more. Don’t forget our annual Cubs vs Brewers outing in Milwaukee. This year’s event is set for August 28. Please contact our Trip Meister Tom Moritz regarding purchasing tickets for the event. There is some super and sad news to report on the health and welfare of our organization. First, Erin President Hans Hunger (under the direct supervision of his wife Kris Hunger) is recovering nicely and has been attending our meetings. I’m glad to see that he is recovering nicely. However, on a sad note I must inform you that long-time member Bill Ruck left us and went to GAPA Eternal. Bill was a great member, officer and Board Member. Our sincere condolences to the Ruck family for their loss, he will be greatly missed.
The Ruck family and friends have made donations to the GAPA Scholarship fund in his name to be used as a scholarship in his name. Well, I hope to see all of you this summer at our events. If not, we will see you at our next meeting on Tuesday, September 13.
Health & Welfare
by Art Oswald
Lord hear our prayers. GAPA was very sad to learn of the passing of some of our members, and wishes to extend our sincere condolences to the spouses and families of: William Carney (Edwina Carney ), who retired to Grayslake. Joseph Freels (Linda Freels), who retired to Elgin. William “ Bill “ Ruck (Sue Ruck ), who retired to Phoenix, Arizona. All of these fine gentlemen will be missed by their many friends at GAPA. If I have missed anyone, my apologies and please contact me with information. On a happier note, Ehren President Hans Hunger is up and around — having attended the last two regular meetings — and looks forward to a long but hopefully full eventual recovery from his very grave COVID infection at the beginning of 2022. We hope for all of us that this year will be good for ourselves and our families. Good luck and God Bless. –Art Oswald P.s. I have avoided mentioning anything about politics or the economy or crime so as not to get on the DOJ’s radar, truly God help us all with even a short list of the problems we face in these areas.
Upcoming Events
On Deck:
- GAPA Picnic July 8
- Germanfest Milwaukee July 30 & 31
- Cubs/Brewers August 28
- German Day Parade September 10
- Oktoberfest October 21