A Short Biography
It's important to know something about a person's past
to enable you to know the person better. My intention in putting up this Site was to familiarize you with me as
best I can, through pictures and the written word.
My past is 61 years in the making (as of October,
2004). My life began in St. Joseph's Catholic Hospital in Milwaukee, Wisconsin on July 15th, 1943.
World War II was now Two years old, and the Marines
were landing at Guadacanal this summer, and soon Okinawa. My dad was working in Defense Work with Reliance Boiler
Works in Milwaukee, and being a family man with two kids he was classified 4A and his bos had put in for a Deferment
due to the fact that he was working in Defense Work. My dad tried to join the Marines, but because of his Defense
Work status, he was unable to do so,and was very angry with his boss for taking away his right to serve in the
Marine Corps.
Later, my parents moved us to Oakland, California,
where I was christened. These are some of my earliest memories in 1944 - age 1. But we soon returned to Wisconsin,
and in 1949, my parents again moved to California, to the L.A. area, where we stayed until I was 19, having graduated
from Herbert Hoover High School, Glendale, California. During the summer between my Junior and Senior year, I joined
the Naval Reserve and attended meetings every week.
Upon graduation, I was activated and joined the 1st
Fleet in San Francisco. You can read my Naval Memoirs by clicking on the Button:
When I was released from Active Duty in March 1964,
I returned home for awhile, and found work at various places. Then later in 1964, I moved to Milwaukee again on
my own. But such a move was not very successful because by now, I had become a dyed in the wool Californian, and
missed the casual ways of the California Mystique. Wisconsin - at least in Milwaukee - was too stuffy for me. I
craved the sunshine and easy going lifestyle of the coast. I returned to my beloved California after a year's try
in Milwaukee.
I lived in California working
at various places until 1969, when I once again moved to Wisconsin. This time, however, I did not go to Milwaukee.
I chose a smaller town about 30 miles north, in West Bend. It was at this time, that I bought a farm house on an
acre in rural Campbellsport. I met the girl I was to marry that year (1969), but we didn't tie the knot just then.
Again, I returned to California. I as very unsettled
then, and still wasn't sure where I was going in my life (read My Aspirations)
for a clearer understanding of this dilemma.
Returning to California, I stayed with my brother
Scott for a few months, when on February 9th, 1971, California was struck by a devastating earthquake - the Sylmar
Quake - which nearly scared us to death. It wasn't long before my brother and I both left for Wisconsin again!
By now you are thinking what a "Mixed up person"
I was - well, this probably is true; it's hard to find peace when you have none inside. That could be answered
by reading about "My
Faith" but it was a good experience,
none-the-less, because it was some good quality time I spent with my brother, and second, it brought me back to
Cindy, the girl I was to marry.
My brother only stayed in Wisconsin for a month, and
was back in California, where he stayed until his death in 1989 at the age of 48.
I, on the other hand never again returned to live
in California, though I had tried several times in the ensuing years, I was destined to live in Wisconsin over
30 years.
My lady and I were married on July 1st, 1972 in Kewaskum,
Wisconsin. Four years later, my daughter Melissa Arlene Jaccard was born and became our only child. The wife and
I never had the blessing twice. We tried, but it was not to be.
Due to this and other reasons, including my unrest
with work, etc., the wife and I split up - that was in October 1985. I have remained single ever since. My X went
on to remarry and have another child from her second husband, but they, too, eventually divorced and she now lives
singularly, though our daughter and her other daughter still live at home.
In 1998, I left Wisconsin for the final time, and
moved to Florida. I lived in Bradenton, Florida, where I was employed for Kings Wholesale Florists, Inc., for 6
years.
In 2004, I called it quits and decided to retire and
my sister, her husband and myself purchased 8 beautiful acres in the Tennessee Woods, where we plan on a peaceful
retirement.
Those when you think of a person being retired, you
think of Blue Hairs and White Hairs and wrinkles, and Rocking Chairs. Not so with me yet! I refuse to get old.
I have thrown AARP's request for my membership in the garbage every time they try. I'll probably give in one day
for the benefits, but for the time being, I refuse to be referred to as a "Senior Citizen" - and so it
will be until they wrap me in an old sheet and throw me in a hole in the back acre of my Wooded Paradise. To see
these pictures go to "My
Aspirations"
