The Deppe Homecoming – Waterloo, WI

The Waterloo WI Town Hall

Forty three members of the Deppe family attended this year’s homecoming in Waterloo, WI. Held each year on the last Sunday in July, it coincides nicely for us when we attend the EAA Airventure in Oshkosh.

The Deppe family tree

The picture of the family tree shows Bob on the right long column next-to-last. He’s a legitimate Deppe!

Bob, Cousin Chuck (Charles Anthony) and Lucy

Honey has no concept of what large family is like. I can’t trace my family back beyond my immediate grandparents. But then, no one seems to know where the Magyars (Hungarian in English) came from anyway. So I guess they really don’t want to be found. When your parents were the first-born on US soil, there isn’t much to trace.

John Deppe, winner from Chicago

But alas, not so for Bob’s family; Bob’s mother’s family, the Deppe side, has been in Waterloo for generations. When we first married, the homecoming was held in Fireman’s Park, and hundreds attended. Recently the homecoming has changed to the town hall.

Prize going to the littlest Deppe

Everyone brings a dish to pass & each year a different family organizes the event. Here is where I owe all the Deppe’s a huge apology. I have no idea which Deppe is whom. So, with apologies to all, I present these pictures for all to enjoy, & if you’re related, you will know who you are looking at.

Mid sized Deppes win prizes too!

All sorts of prizes are awarding each year, along with door prizes – lots of them. Bob even won one, but we don’t know why. He also was awarded the prize for coming from the greatest distance, but he couldn’t accept as he won last year, and that is an unfair advantage. Therefore the prize went to John Deppe from the Chicago area.

Bob wins a door prize

Pictures are included of the littlest and mid-sized Deppe, both prize winners; and of Bob’s Cousin Chuck (Charles Anthony) and his companion Lucy; and a few random shots of all.

The prize for guessing the correct amount of Tootsie Rolls

After the organizer tried to get everyone’s attention, I finally utilized years of singing lessons to my advantage & managed to out shout the whole crowd to get a group photo. I hope everyone enjoys this hard won photo.

No one pays attention to this Deppe

I had to out-yell them all, but bagged the photo!

Finally, after all the goodbyes, we drove over to the Waterloo Historical Society & took another tour. Next year they will add an elevator and rest rooms so all can enjoy the effort which has been made by all the townspeople.

Waterloo Historical Society Building

Interior Shot

Bob gets a history lesson

They’ve done a terrific job and should be proud of their efforts. Much congratulations and thanks to all for agreeing to my picture taking.

Coming up next – The EAA Airventure in Oshkosh WI – largest air show in the world!

The Mississippi Queen

While in La Crosse, we take advantage of The Mississippi Queen. Technically MQ #7, she is only two months old and is a true sternwheeler boat; that is, only the paddle wheel provides power.

Waiting to Board

The trip is quite short, only up to Dam & Lock #10, but fun none the less.

A view through the paddlewheel

RR bridge getting ready to turn

Turning mechanism for the RR bridge

Since many pictures of the MS River have already been posted, only a few are included which show our progression through the rail road bridge which had to swing open for us, and the dam & locks up river.

Traffic

Lock & Dam #10

Coming up next: The Deppe Family Reunion

The Great River Road & McGregor, IA

On July 23 we take a 3 state tour in our Honda to visit a place we have always wanted to visit. When we first started RVing back in the 1990s, we had the occasion to visit Pike’s Peak State Park in Iowa, at the point where the Wisconsin River joins the Mississippi. As we would leave, we came into the little town of McGregor, Iowa, but never had the chance to stop & visit.

Bob overlooking Lock #9

Many years later, Popeye is too large to fit into Pike’s Peak State Park (and yes, if you’re wondering, it’s the same Pike as the famous peak in Colorado); instead we take a car trip to visit McGregor, a charming town just off the bank of the Mississippi & south of where Iowa borders Minnesota.

A diagram of the Locks of the Mississippi

As we drive down the Mississippi on the Wisconsin side, we come to Lock & Dam #9. The Coast Guard is towing a barge (yes, it’s called towing even though it’s pushing) through the locks. This provides an opportunity to watch & take pictures. The Coast Guard always has priority, so commercial vessels must wait, but they do fit in as many small pleasure boats as space will allow.

Opening the gates to go up river

This Coast Guard tug can now go out

View down river, just south of Lock #9

Following the river road down to Prairie du Chien WI, we cross at the bridge into Iowa, Marquette. We planned to stop for lunch at Prairie du Chien, but the towns roads are completely torn up for construction. So we drive the few miles from Marquette into McGregor.

We arrive in Iowa

Bob goes into the visitor center for information on good places to eat, & inquires of the woman in charge where to go if her boy friend were taking her out for a nice lunch. The woman replies, “My husband would take me to the doggie diner on the left when you come into town.” Whereby her assistant chimes in, “Her boyfriend would take her to the Old Man River Brewery!” The Brewery it was.

Downtown McGregor, Iowa

While Bob was in the visitor center, I was madly charging through town taking photos. Not paying careful attention to where I was walking, I stepped out in front of a very big white car in front of Uncle Sam’s Saloon.

Jim Boeke & Tim Woolsey

As it turned out, this gentleman’s name is Jim Boeke, owner of Uncle Sam’s Saloon & the River Junction Trade Company, which provides period clothing & fixtures for various functions. If you saw the movie “3:10 to Yuma,” he provided (among others) the outfit Peter Fonda was wearing, & confided to me he does a pretty good business with the motion picture industry.

Interior Uncle Sam's Saloon

His friend and artist Tim Woolsey greeted both of us, and soon I was whisked into the Saloon for a tour & to see the mural Tim painted on the west wall. Both gentlemen are advocates for promoting the town of McGregor & I highly recommend you check them out. Tim can be found at Tim@woolseyarts.com and Jim at theboss@alpinecom.net. Jim is doing much research in finding the original Uncle Sam. He believes it goes back to a man whose birth name was United States Church.

Tim & Jim stand in front of Tim's mural

After lunch, we walked the town, and then went up to Pike’s Peak State Park for some picture taking. The park overlooks the point where the Wisconsin River flows into the mighty Mississippi and makes for some pretty nice picture taking. We hope you’ll agree.

Bob enjoying the overlook at Peak's Peak State Park, IA

The WI River joins the MS

After our tour of Pike’s Peak State Park, we drive up the Mississippi on the Iowa side to the Effigy Mounds National Monument. These mounds exist in much of this part of the US, and were used for both ceremonial & burial purposes. The round mounds were for burials, and the animal shaped mounds for ceremonial purposes. Of course many, perhaps most, of the mounds were not recognized as the Midwest was settled & have been lost.

Entrance to National Monument

Mounds are either round or in animal shapes

The park has several really nice walking-hiking trails and we take advantage of these to both view the mounds & take in the views of the Mississippi.

A hiking trail

A bear shaped mound

More spectacular views

One of many wildflowers

Watching the river traffic

Leaving Iowa, I turn around to get a shot of the sign for southbound traffic

Travelling north in Iowa along the Mississippi, we come across the town of Harpers Ferry. I spot an unbelievable street sign & ask Bob to stop so I can get a picture. How would you like to explain this street if you were a resident?

Sir, how do you spell the name of your street?

A few miles north we leave Iowa and enter Minnesota. We come upon several signs. The views of the Mississippi are not as scenic as on the Wisconsin side, but I take one final picture of the day which I think you will enjoy.

No excuse for not knowing where you are!

Near the MN border

We made it back to MN

More signs, less scenery

We like this colorful sign

Final shot of the day

Coming up next: Join us on a sternwheeler ride up the Mississippi!

The Great River Road & La Crosse, WI July 21 – 26th

The Great River Road on the MN side is especially attractive, with area’s to stop & view the river in all its glory. A stop for lunch is a must & the views pretty terrific. The land across the river is the Wisconsin side. Someday we’d love to travel up & down both sides of the Mississippi, at least down to St. Louis. The northern MS is the pretty part. After St. Louis, it becomes known as cancer alley.

Lunch on The Great River Road, MN side

View towards Wisconsin at our lunch stop

Lake Pepin, MN (The Mississippi River)

Our home is at Pettibone RV Park, on an island in the Mississippi River just west of La Crosse. The other good park in the area is 10 miles downriver, on Goose Island, where we stayed last year.

Pettibone RV Park Greeter

Great parking place on the West branch MS River

View down the Mississippi River

Boats along the channel

The Pettibone RV Park is a favorite stop, & this year I called early enough to secure space for 6 nights, prior to leaving for Oshkosh. Notice the wood carvings & views of the west channel of the Mississippi. The east channel is deep enough for commercial cargo, so although we can’t see the big barges, we enjoy plenty of private boats & even a few fancy party boats passing by.

Pettibone boat dock

Party Time!

La Crosse is a college town, & has attractive shops & buildings, at least in the summer months. The town is named after the game, which the Native American’s learned from the French. There is a wonderful statue of the Indians playing La Crosse when you come into town.

The wonderful wooden statues welcome you

Next, we hit Starbucks, which arrived just last year. We needed a burr grinder for all the espresso beans we carry, so not expecting to fine one, we inquired at this store. To our surprise they had just what we wanted, even though it was $125. After fooling around with other brands & not being pleased with the result, Bob went ahead & made the purchase anyway. We were shocked when she rang up the purchase & told us our grinder was on sale for $49. I was jumping with joy & had the whole crew line up for a picture with Bob, grinning from ear to ear. With all these pretty girls, it’s no wonder!

No explanation needed!

The Cass St. Bridge

Afterward we take a drive on Pettibone Island, where the Cass St. Bridge connects to La Crosse. They have a wonderful old gazebo here which is booked months in advance, at least for the summer.

Pettibone Island Gazebo

Tomorrow we get to take a day trip to a place we’ve wanted to visit for years. Stay tuned!