June 21, 1941, my mother was brought into this world to Forest and Magdalene Schafer in Marion, Wisconsin. Mom spent her childhood in central Wisconsin before meeting my father, David, in Oshkosh, Wisconsin. Mom and Dad settled in Clintonville, Wisconsin, where Dad became an integral part of the development and success of Urban Telephone Corporation.
Mom and Dad started a family and on October 30, 1965, the keeper of Happy Camp Ontario came into this world! All hell has broke loose and will as this dude walks quietly with his new Best friend and small stick in the wilderness, but today is about Mom!
Mom loved Speckle Trout and in her later years, I remember a Birthday she was at Happy Camp. Mom was treated to fresh Speckle Trout that all came from a 8 foot, 4 weight Fenwick Fly Rod. Royal Humpy #12 were the dry fly that day. Catfish was checking out the Skunk River in the Happy Camp Region. Mom devoured the trout like she had never eaten before, but if one ever saw a pile of bones that Mom left after eating Trout, you would know without a shadow of a doubt how she loved the meat as there never was one shred of meat left on the bones!
Mom, I remember like it was today how we watched Dad fade away during those struggles. I also remember many adventures after we lost Dad. Furthermore, the way Happy Camp grew on you, seeing you outfish all of us with the Weed walleyes that hung onto your bait, the Bucket of Blueberries from our Hot Spot, or Magoo loving you up on the Deck, those memories will be etched in my mind forever, thank you. Sadly, the memory of losing you will also be etched forever deep in my mind, that terrible sight I do not think ever leaves anyone, certainly not me.
It seems like yesterday you joined Dad, and left us to struggle for ourselves! I hope that you were able to share your day with Dad, both of your parents and pawed pals doing whatever you chose to do. I can hope that you had fresh Trout for Dinner, not the dreaded Zuchinni Boats we had far too often as kids!!!
I miss both of you very much, thank you for trying your best to steer me in the right direction! I hope that one day we can all stand in the creek again, enjoy a Mayfly hatch like no other, and the big Specks tug on our lines like Elephants pulling Peanuts away from the Peanut Tree! Until then, I will try my best to be the best steward to all that encompasses the Happy Camp Region!
Happy Camp will be alive very soon, Rook is soon to embark on his first adventure of the Bugs, one can hope that he is ready, time will tell! Ahoy Boys, lets get the show on the road, looking forward to the laughs, tales of old and new and seeing you all again! Let’s all pray for lots of fun, sun, fish, birds, and so much more!
As we look to the future, I have a bed open for a Moose hunter, it is a cot, but by then the Skeeters should be hiding for the year. If not, good luck and Happy Swatting. Tight lines everyone, take care, Catfish Chris and Rook signing off for the 1st day of Summer and Mom’s 84th Birthday, Happy Birthday Mom!!