WEDNESDAY, MARCH 20, 2019 | ALBERTLEATRIBUNE.COM | PAGE 1
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Backyard birding at St. John’s provides one resident with eagle-watching experiences By Sarah Kocher
sarah.kocher@albertleatribune.com
One St. John’s resident has an eagle eye. Or, rather, she has an eye out for an eagle. St. John’s Lutheran Community on Fountain Lake resident Irene Weber, 93, can keep tabs on the bald eagle couple living in a nest just outside of her room window in a third-floor corner of the building. Weber moved to the Fountain Lake campus after living at Luther Place. She said the St. John’s administrator mentioned there was an eagle’s nest on campus. So when residents were asked if they would volunteer to move, “I raised my hand first,” Weber said. Her son bought her a book about eagles, but Weber’s interest in birds goes back much further. Weber was a member of the Albert Lea Audubon Society with her husband. She has been an Audubon Society member since 1976, she said. When she was young, her mother helped her watch for different robins. She loves birds — especially chickadees and cardinals. Both are represented by decorations on display on her room’s window shelf, along with a bluebird and two chickens. The calendar on her wall, turned to March, features a busily buzzing hummingbird. But thanks to her
St. John’s residents keep tabs on the eagles all year. PROVIDED
With help from a nursing assistant and volunteer, Irene Weber completed an eagle puzzle gifted to her by her family. The puzzle is on display at St. John’s Lutheran Community on Fountain Lake. SARAH KOCHER/ALBERT LEA TRIBUNE relatives, her birds are now decorating more of St. John’s than just her own room. For Christmas, a family member asked what she would like as a present. “I said, ‘An eagle puzzle,’” Weber said. Her daughter-in-law bought the puzzle, which
is a shaped profile of an eagle’s head and neck. It now stands, framed, in a St. John’s on Fountain Lake residential community area, and will be displayed throughout the premises, St. John’s Lutheran Community Director of Fund Development, Marketing and Public Relations Diane
Going bananas for the ’80s
Employees of Good Samaritan Society of Albert Lea celebrated 2018 with a year-end 1980s party. PROVIDED
Wichmann said. “I couldn’t hardly wait to get it open,” Weber said. A nursing assistant and volunteer helped put the puzzle together. Weber said she saw the female eagle settle in on Feb. 28. An eagle egg takes just over a month to hatch. Watching the birds is
The eagles live in a tree just outside Irene Weber’s third floor room window. better than watching TV, she said. “(They’re) part of my life,” Weber said. She said she likes how the woodlands behind St. John’s, butting up to Edgewater Park, were kept natural, so she can watch the eagles, other birds and deer. She said society needs to do
more to save things in their natural state. Wichmann said Weber is “such a good host,” opening her room to those who visit to have a peek at the eagles themselves. “What a treat to have, in my sunset of life, an eagle as one of my best friends,” Weber said.
Senior Spotlight: Shirley Chryst Name: Shirley Chryst Age: 92 Native of: Garden City Place of residency: Knutson Place Apartments on Luther Place in Albert Lea Family: Shirley is the daughter of Lee and Luola Fleming of Garden City. Shirley’s family consisted of seven children, four boys and three girls. While growing up, Shirley lived on a farm, where her father milked cows and did his field work with horses. Shirley’s mother, who was a homemaker, loved to garden, sew, cook and care for her children. Shirley was always by her mother’s side, helping her where ever she could. Education: Shirley attended grade school and graduated from Garden City schools, she later furthered her education, graduating from Mankato with a degree in teaching, which she greatly loved and cherished. Former occupation: Donald and Shirley Chryst were married after a twoyear courtship. Donald worked for Bell Telephone Co. in Albert Lea and Shirley was a homemaker, caring for and raising her three boys, Randy, Jeff and Mark, and one daughter, Katherine. Shirley also worked as a preschool educator. Her love for children
Shirley Chryst PROVIDED and learning has always been a highlight in her life.
events for the family, keeping everyone busy.
What is your favorite childhood memory? Her mother made the girls rag dolls, and she played house and school for hours with her sisters. Everything then was homemade by her mother. She also loved being on the farm and playing outdoors, helping with the garden and checking out her mother’s beautiful flowers. Growing up in grade school, she also learned to play piano from her aunt, who could play by ear. She is still playing at the age of 92 and enjoying it.
What would you say is your greatest accomplishment? Being a good wife, mother and teacher over the years.
What is your favorite memory from adulthood? She and Donald raising their family together and being involved with church events and 4-H activities. Donald was always planning
What do you enjoy most about where you are living now? You have a secure life here — no worries, no problems. Knutson Place has wonderful staff and friends.
Is there a piece of advice you wish someone had given you or you would have listened to when you were younger? Her advice is, “Live each day; God has a purpose for us all.” What is the greatest lesson life has taught you? To live life to its fullest and be kind to all people.