Text from Jan. 13, 1977, “Meet your Neighbor” column in the Tri-County News. Determination is “the power or habit of deciding definitely and firmly.” It is not difficult to discern the determined from the irresolute. A firm individual can be recognized possibly by his set expression of resolve, his hands placed firmly on his hips, his unyielding shake of the head, or his decided step. The latter trait is the one most immediately visible in Dora Mielke. Before I ever knew Dora, I used to watch her walking downtown or to St. John’s Church, and I admired her very upright posture, her sure step, and healthy stride. I then followed Dora and her stately stride to the weekly Prayer Group and wondered at that quiet determination which was accompanied by a very sincere sensitivity to others. But it was not until last week that I discovered what really does make Dora determined. I must admit that I was very pleasantly surprised at the previously unrevealed sense of humor and the dogged resolve that were divulged in our interview. In fact, I found myself yearning to have been a part of Dora’s youth or part of her 14-member German household, or at least part of her gaiety. Maybe some of you have been able to share some of those things with Dora, but for those of us who are less fortunate, I would like to disclose some of the neat things I now know about Dora Mielke. It is not important to know just WHEN Dora was born to the family Gerstenkorn in Iowa because, except for the white hair on her head, it would be difficult to determine her age. (She certainly doesn’t ACT it!) When Dora was 4, she moved to the Georgeville area with her family. Attendance at country school was possible for all the children, but high school for rural residents meant tuition and money for books. Dora’s determination won out! She fought and argued and worked until she was able to pay that tuition and buy those books. (Dora shakes her head as she reflects on those struggles and “now children have the chance to go to school and just waste their time.”) One of Dora’s earliest demonstrations of her determination came when she, along with the other rural students, staged a “walk-out” after the school sought to raise the tuition. However, the school board quickly convened and reversed their decision. During her senior year, Dora was called to the home of her sister’s family where the entire family of eight had contracted the flu. Dora was only 18 years old when she nursed that family back to health (and then came down with the flu herself). Determination then carried Dora to Teacher’s College in St. Cloud where she worked her way through enough courses to enable her to teach in a rural school. She was fortunate to teach in her home school, where she had 63 pupils, one of whom was her youngest brother. When she taught in Kimball, Dora met Walter Mielke and the newlyweds lived and farmed with his folks. Three years later, the Mielkes decided to move to the city, so Dora became a beauty operator and Walt a mechanic. However, a year later they were back on the farm for another three-year stint. Finally, Walt began working at the Pure Oil station and using his mechanical skills. Business was good and enjoyable for the Mielkes who worked well together. Dora smiles at some of the more memorable experiences. One day Butch Knaus came by. When Dora asked him if he wanted some gas, he replied, “Yep.” She thought he had said, “Pep” (the high-octane gas) and filled his car accordingly. When he balked at the price, he remembered saying “Yep” … but it turned out to be such good gas that he bought Pep from that day on. Circumstances forced the Mielkes to give up their station and move across the street (where the rock shop stands) and they had 30 days to convert the hog pen there into a station. Walt must have had some of Dora’s determination, too, for with the help of friends the job was done. When Walt died of a heart attack in 1964, he left behind a widow who was determined not to give up her zest for life. She cannot understand how people can be bored. “Why, I don’t have TIME to be bored,” says Dora. She had two opportunities to sell their house, but was determined to remain in her town. However, she has traveled to Florida, Arizona, California and Wisconsin (just to name a few places). It must be true that Dora has “restless blood,” a trait attributed to her by her mother when Dora was a child. In fact, it must be that restless blood that keeps Dora going, for when I remarked that she is the picture of good health, she just laughed and replied that she is only a “shell” and went on to describe all the hospital visits she has made. I think I would just lie around in bed if I had been through the number of surgeries Dora has survived – from tonsils, thyroid, bleedings, infections to cancer. “Why, I even belong to the Presidents’ Wives Club,” Dora said proudly. Determined? Wow. And what a sports fan! (Not just the TV-watching type, either.) She has been a champion pitcher of both horseshoes and baseball since she was young, but started out on the town’s basketball team at 35, and entered the bowling alley for the first time at 70. When Kimball had a Dramatic Club, its director was Dora. “We used to draw pretty big crowds, too,” boasts Dora. Her Sugar and Spice Club occasionally put on plays, too, but now “we just have fun … but mostly we eat,” Dora laughed. Dora enjoys many hobbies and reads a great deal. She prefers historical novels (“that’s history with an umpf”). She is a member of St. John’s Kennedy Evangelism Team which involves witnessing and Bible study every Tuesday night. One of Dora’s most rewarding hobbies has been – for 20 years – her stamp collecting. This is not the usual type of stamp collecting, however, for Dora sends stamps to missions. In fact, last year the missions collected $10,000 from the stamps which were received from people like Dora, “The Stamp Lady” (a name she has acquired over the years). Since Dora is still involved in this “mission,” she is always pleased to receive your cancelled stamps – especially commemorative, airmail or foreign stamps. Dora enjoys talking vivaciously about her 12 brothers and sisters and their families. (In fact, she talked so much about her family that I compared her to 5-year-old Brian Harff, with whom I spent several hours one day and learned all their family secrets. Coincidentally, Brian is one of Dora’s favorite little people.) Someone once asked Dora if she would show her the house in which the Gerstenkorns were raised, and then commented that she bet that house could talk. “I bet it could, too,” replied Dora, “but I sure hope it doesn’t.” One of the lifelong burdens that Dora has had to bear is her driving skill. It is not that she cannot drive; she just has some trouble getting into and out of that “narrow” garage. Even Shelly Wenzel could attest to that, as one day, some years ago, when Dora backed out of the garage with a crash, Shelly overheard her daddy say, and later repeated to Dora, “Oops, Dora – don’t go so fast.” In fact, Dora doesn’t even bother to get her bent fenders straightened anymore. And when asked by some well-meaning friend how it happened, she replies, “I just do that all by myself.” So, the next time you see Dora Mielke determinedly striding down the street, first of all be thankful that she is not driving (I’m just kidding, Dora) and then reflect on the history behind that stride and posture, and stand in awe with me, of the determined Dora Mielke! oooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo Dora Mielke passed away May 22, 1983. It is such a joy to feature wonderful life stories like Dora Mielke’s. Thanks to everyone who attended the “Supper in the Park” and 2004 history exhibit during the Kimball Days festival August 13-15 presented annually by the Kimball Area Historical Society. Special “thank-yous” go to our generous supporters including Gohmann’s SuperValu, State Bank of Kimball, Tri-County News, Stanley’s Family Restaurant, Knaus Sausage House, Schiefelbein Farms, members and friends. Our “sister” in Dasse
l, the Dassel Area Historical Society, invites you and everyone in the Kimball area to the grand opening of Peterson’s Drug Store, a permanent exhibit marking the significance of pharmacies to the life of Dassel. You are warmly invited to the event at 10 a.m. Saturday, Sept. 4, at Universal Laboratories, 901 First St. N., Dassel. See you there! For more information about the Kimball Area Historical Society, write us at P.O. Box 100, Kimball MN 55353, or call (320) 398-5743 or 398-5250, or (800) 252-2521 from out of the area. Protecting Kimball’s heritage from generation to generation.
