Clark County Press (Neillsville, Clark Co., WI.)

June 18, 2008, Page 2

Contact: Dolores Mohr Kenyon

Advice, jokes and hugs standard when visiting Danielson

By Peter Spicer

Visitors who ask how Memorial Medical Center (MMC) Health & Rehabilitation facility resident Ottillie Danielson is doing will receive a specific answer from her.

"Between fair and midlin’," said Danielson.  Not expecting younger people to completely understand her response, midlin’ means in between great and poor.

After helping residents for 17 years with the Gray Ladies - a branch of the American Red Cross - Danielson has been a resident since 2006.

Danielson became the third of nine children when she was born in the Town of Weston in 1914.  She grew up with five sisters - two older - and three brothers.

Danielson fondly recalls growing up riding in her family’s 1918 Model T.

"It started with a crank," explained Danielson, 93.

Danielson proved to be no slouch in the classroom.  As Neillsville High School class valedictorian, Danielson also won a pin - which she still owns - from the Monday Progress Club for earning the highest class GPA during her senior year.

After completing a year at teacher training school, Danielson decided to help others have success in the classroom by teaching.

Teaching during the Great Depression was not an easy task, however.

Danielson was the lone teacher at Happy Hollow, a rural school located on CTH C, east of STH 73.  She was responsible for teaching up to 38 students, grades one through eight, and was paid $65 per month.

Danielson arrived at school early each morning to build a fire and allow the building to warm before students arrived for their first class at 9 a.m.  She was also required to handle all janitorial duties.

After three years, Danielson quit teaching when she married Otto Kunkel.  The couple farmed for many years and eventually moved to La Crosse for seven years where Otto Kunkel worked as a janitor.  The couple moved to Menomonie Falls for one year, but the fast-paced lifestyle in a large city didn’t suit Danielson.

"This is horrible," Danielson told her husband after watching hurried people and heavy traffic.  The couple moved back to Neillsville in 1963.

After Otto Kunkel passed away several years later, Danielson remained a widow for 10 years.

One lonely evening, Danielson asked herself how many more evenings she would have to spend with just the television set.  Danielson soon found the answer.

After much hesitation, Danielson decided to attend a social event held in a Catholic Church basement.  At the event, she met Arendt Danielson, who also nearly decided not to attend.

Six months after the two Lutherans met in a Catholic Church basement, they married and enjoyed over a decade of marriage before Arendt Danielson passed away in 1988.

As a member of the Gray Ladies, Danielson helped residents enjoy life at MMC’s Health & Rehabilitation facility.

Danielson helped make artificial corsages for all residents who had a birthday during the month.  She also helped the Gray ladies bring in live music and auctions. The Gray Ladies also held special events, such as old-fashioned school day and everything-round day, where residents identify as many round items as possible.

Now a resident herself, Danielson enjoys reading the Bible, daily devotions and other books, watching game shows and completing word searches.

Danielson has one daughter, two grandsons and three great-grandchildren. She also has two younger sisters.

Danielson isn’t afraid to offer her best advice to those who visit her.

"Keep your sense of humor," advises Danielson, whose favorite joke involves two skunks named In and Out.

In addition to hearing advice and a joke or two, those who visit Danielson may also have difficulty leaving without granting her request for a hug.

Memorial Medical Center Health & Rehabilitation facility resident Ottillie Danielson poses in her room.  Danielson assisted at the Neillsville facility for many years before becoming a resident in 2006.  Danielson uses her sense of humor to put a smile on the faces of those who visit her.