7/25/79 Rain threatening all day and at 4:00 p.m. all hell broke loose. At 5:00 the rain stopped and Sally, Layna and I to Les Cleveland’s “wake”. He is packed up and practically moved. At 5:30 I ran to landing and picked up Jim and Nancy. They joined party at Clevelands as did Jimmy & Roger. Les talks about what good neighbors we are getting in the Arnold Johnsons but we know they will never equal him. Brad called to say he will be here Friday night. According to Sally’s head count for that night we will have 28 people on island. One more won’t make that much difference.
7/26/79 Jim, the 3 boys and I to north end of island and did good stroke of business in cleaning up 4 big balsam windfalls. Burned same . It has been bothering me for 2 years. Heilmans boat, Jimmy’s boat both ran constantly all afternoon pulling water skiers. No energy shortage from what we can see. Kruskopf and Hodel came for short visit. They had 1 ½ horse Johnson on canoe. Conservation there!
7/27/79 Florence Veranth called to say that Wayne Judy had died early this morning. The end of a valiant fight. Sally and Jim’s church group came in p.m. Some by canoe - 5 canoes - the rest by boat. A total of 30 people on island tonight. Weather perfect and much time spent on dock. Long active cocktail hour, good meal, good singing. Broke up at midnight. A good gang. My thoughts with Wayne - and Opal - all day. No matter how well we think we are prepared for death news, it always comes as a shock.
7/28/79 The weather cooperating for Sally and Jim’s party. Much activity on NWI. Sailing, swimming, canoeing, hiking and most of all talk, talk, talk. A well-knit gang, obviously good friends. Another good happy hour, a turkey feed, cribbage, then more singing. We went to bed at 11:15, partying lasted until well after midnight.
7/29/79 Layna and I to town at 11:00 a.m. to talk to Donavon Dilworth, who is writing up Wayne’s obituary. Home at 2:00 p.m. to meet Reverend Laramie for same purpose. He had most of the vital statistics but wanted to know more about our old friend. I didn’t have the heart (or guts) to tell him that Wayne Judy and Don Johnson had many times discussed death and agreed that when the time came we - and all mankind - would go into oblivion even as the ducks we shot or the fish we caught. Sally and Jim’s group still having a good time on NWI
7/30/79 Much confusion when gang began preparing to leave after lunch. Boats loaded and canoes launched when black cloud scurried in from west, bringing a heavy shower. Everybody, carrying their stuff, took shelter. It only lasted a few minutes. Finally all hands and gear, 3 boats and 5 canoes, at our mainland landing. We hurried home, changed clothes and off for funeral home and Wayne’s visitation. Sharon, Robin, Kenneth, Gil, Helen and Gertrude there. People coming and going. Wayne lying in state - very peaceful. Although I was choked up much of time, I knew well that he was better off than for some time. Masonic service at 7:30. To Spot for dinner with family.
7/31/79 Sally, Layna and I picked up Grace Harrison and off for Wayne’s funeral at 10:45. Rev. Laramie in fine form and delivered an inspiring eulogy. Back to church for lunch and visit with family and friends. I worked out a scheme to keep from bawling at service. The pall bearers sat within touching distance of casket. It was a fine piece of workmanship and I visualized Wayne building it, knowing well that he could have done the job.
8/1/79 Les Cleveland came to say the new owners of Bever Island were out for a picnic and he felt like excess baggage. The official closing tomorrow so he came to say goodbye. He stayed about an hour and left very casually. I caught up with him as he left dock. He came back and I grabbed his hand and said, “I can’t let you go without telling you that you were a helluva good neighbor”. He said “You were the good neighbors!” He got the $90,000 he was asking for.
8/2/79 Sally, Jim and I to Hapgood Island for blueberries. Poor. On to end of Dahlberg Island where we finished off two Texas gallons in about an hour. Picked up Burrocks and Schneiders at 3:00 p.m. They came for drink and dinner. It was Layna’s effort to show somewhat our appreciation of their treatment of us in Texas.
8/3/79 Off for Duluth by noon - after Layna had seen clerk of court and was excused from jury duty. We met Karen and kids at Mall, later joined by Robin. Some quick shopping and on to their house. Robin and I worked on assembling swing set that we had bought for kids. Made good progress until mosquitoes damn near carries us away. Not since Buck Lake days have I seen such numbers of the pesky bastards.
8/4/79 The baby sitter arrived at 6:00 a.m. and we were off for Grand Portage soon after. Arrived in time to board the Voyageur II with Captain Roy Oberg in charge. A moderate east wind stirred up some respectable waves as we crossed the big stretch to Isle Royale. The boat trip took 8 hours. Beautiful, rugged scenery. Karen had not received confirmation for reservation at Rock Harbor and she was worried. No need. We had a pleasant room waiting for us. A good meal, a short hike, an interesting lecture by a park ranger. Skies clearing as we went to bed - giving promise for a good day tomorrow.
8/5/79 Skies clear when we got up at 5:30. A good breakfast and an hour’s hike before we boarded Voyageur II for return to Grand Portage. The trip more interesting than yesterday. More stops at fish camps, camp grounds, private homes. The south side of island less formidable than yesterday’s north shore. Arrived on mainland by 4:00 p.m. Stopped for dinner at Kerfoots’ Kove at Grand Marais. Excellent. On to Monahans by 8:00. One of the better weekends of all time.
8/6/79 Shortly after saying “goodbye” to Karen, we discovered our rattle. The tail pipe loose. We decided to chance it to Falls and made trip with no problem. Drove into Gray’s station at 1:00 p.m. and drove out - all repaired at 2:30 - $80.00 poorer. So goes it. All well at NWI. Finished reading Jim Mundy - one of the better ones.
8/7/79 The Larson has been in water since early June. I have almost painted it several times since. Today I made it. Tired tonight but no severe aches. The boys tore old swimming dock apart and reassembled it. A good job.
8/8/79 Jimmy remarked to Steve - so that Layna heard it - that they had put $60 worth of time repairing swimming dock. Goddamn, but it made me mad. Felt like presenting both of them a bill for board and room. Thought it over and kept quiet. Only a little peed off tonight.
8/9/79 We had Harry and Bern out for lunch - a good gathering. Took them in at 2:00, then Amidons picked us up at 5:30 and off for dinner with Daveys at Island View. Laverne Walter joined us for a drink at Island View.
8/10/79 Had a willing crew of 3 Jernbergs, Steve and Robin and we cleaned up area back of sleeping cabin. Altho everything explosively dry, we kept hose handy and burned tons of stuff. Didn’t do much more than watch fire all day. Karen & Robin and kids came at 9:30. All doing well.
8/11/79 Our family - all 4 kids - and their spouses (except Dale) had meeting on deck of sleeping cabin to discuss future of NWI. It got pretty emotional at times. Many different viewpoints but unanimous opinion was that we should hang onto island as long as we could handle same without too much outside help. Byrne, Sally and Karen said they still felt the island their home but Buck maintained his home was at Jackfish Bay. He added that he would get together with old folks no matter if it was here, at 265, or Phoenix. When it was over I said “ I think I could have written the script for this gathering.” We are proud of our kids, and their mates - and told them so.
8/12/79 Moving day at NWI. The Jernbergs, Jim, Sally, Nancy, John gone by 10:30. Jimmy and Steve at 1:00 p.m. Then Karen, Robin, 3 kids, Byrne, Carole, Brad, Sheila, Layna, Don to Gene Monahans for Dalley reunion. A picnic lunch (feast), some talk, storm threatening so Johnsons off for home. Monahans off for Duluth. I walked over to see Clara Finstad who said Rays were not coming to Rainy Lake. Very disturbing. Brad and I played cribbage. I won 4 out of 7. Good. Short rain squall in evening. We need the moisture.
