September 1986: 6th Grade

My 6th grade teacher at Lincoln Park was Mrs. Boonstra.      She was our teacher half the year, but had some illness, so we had alot of substitute teachers.   I remember being voted in as President of the class for a month, which I was so happy about. I got to sit at the desk at the front of the class next to the teacher.   I got to grade papers for the teacher, which I thought was awesome. Some of my good friends were:   Shannon Rynberg, Tania Smith, Kristen Vogas, Brooke Nason, Kara Filius, and Matt Johnson.   

I still hated to go out to recess, especially when it was cold and snowy outside.  That is when I got the opportunity to work in the office for the secretary during her lunch hour. I took phone calls, scheduled appointments, and made copies for the teachers.   I loved it because I didn't have to go outside for recess after lunch.    I also took messages for our principal, Mr. Howe.  I felt very important in this position.  Mr. Howe seemed to like how well I did in the office.     

Summer 1986: Wisconsin Dells

Mom drove us to Wisconsin for this summer vacation. We visited the Wisconsin Dells, Baraboo (Barnum and Bailey circus), House on the Rock in Spring Green, and the Frank Lloyd Wright Architectural home. I thought it was pretty neat that we got to go on this boat that would change into a motor vehicle when it came out of the water.

We had a hard time getting a hotel in Wisconsin Dells, as there was a convention in town. We drove for miles looking for a place to stay and found nothing, so we ended up sleeping in our Ford Tempo at a truck stop. That was so uncomfortable. The next night, we were able to find a hotel at the Dells, which was much nicer.

1985: John Kulikowski's Wedding

Had a good time at the wedding reception for John and Debbie Kulikowski. Had fun dancing with Alexia, Alissa, and Aleah. Usually, I get bored at weddings, but this wedding was fun.

My Mom was real sad. This was the first wedding she went to without my father. When it got to the slow dancing, she just started to cry and got upset. I don’t remember her crying a whole lot when my father died, as she was trying to be as strong as possible. But, I think she needed to cry and get it out of her system. I felt bad for my mom at the wedding. I didn’t want to leave as I was having fun, but I knew I needed to be with her. She had been so good to me.

October 11, 1985: Dad's Ashes

On October 11, 1985, my friends and I were looking at my dad’s ashes in this urn. I think it freaked my mom out. It was weird to see my dad’s bones and such all made into small pieces. It was sad for me to see those ashes.



My mom knew how my dad loved Lake Michigan so we decided to throw his ashes out into Lake Michigan. We went out at night and walked the Pere Marquette Pier in the dark and spread his ashes at the end of the first stretch of the pier. I remember the two of us crying as it was so hard to do that. Who would have ever imagined that my father would take his life.

Before he died, we were thinking about moving to Florida, as he couldn’t find a good job in Muskegon. Plus, his parents were living down there in the winter months.

Sometime around that night, my mother had this vision, which I truly believe to this day. It wasn’t a dream, but it was God and my father letting her know that she was going to be OK and that she was going to find a job that she truly enjoyed. They also told her not to worry about her daughter, Amy, as I would be successful.     To this day, I always believe in that.  I don’t think it was a dream, but truly God and my father talking to us.

Dad's Last Gift to me - 1985

Played with Kim Daugherty.  Talked to my cousins on the phone.  I had a nice pink fashion coat.  I had 4 Cabbage Patch kids.    Tracy was the doll that my mom gave me. She had blond hair.  Manuela was the little preemie doll that my father got me from the toy story in the old Muskegon Mall.   My Grandpa and Grandma Gonyo gave me the cabbage patch kid named Joe.  Then, my Grandpa and Grandma Thomas got me a cabbage patch doll named Jacob.  

September 1985: First Day of 5th Grade

I started 5th grade at Lincoln Park Elementary school. My school teacher was Mrs. Throne. I really don't remember much about this teacher.  I know this year was a tough year for me after my dad's death and all.   I was more shy.    I was good friends with Kara Filius, Cathy Ayers, Bill Daugherty, Shannon Rynberg, and Angela Balcom.    I started to hate going out for recess during this year.    This was the year I met Joe Bailey, whom I had a crush on.   

August 1985: Gerber Baby Food Company

Mom and I went to the Gerber Baby Food Factory in Fremont.   We took a tram tour around the facility which was pretty neat.    I liked to see how products were made at the factory, before being shipped to the stores.   Then, we went over to Pauline Kimball’s apartment.  She was my Dad’s aunt (Grandma Gonyo’s older sister).