Page Title

Lori Treff * Chaska * 952-368-4440

Flowers. Dresses. Tuxedos.

Chanhassen * 952-934-3434

“Trees Are Our Roots”

8099 Bavaria Rd * Victoria * 952-443-2990

For all your home financing needs.

Bob Merrill 952-746-9555

Dolce Vita

Wine Shop

Hwy 41 & 212

Chaska

952-361-0044

The Victoria Gazette Archives

Past issues are pushing up daisies at

www.VictoriaGazette.com

To the Editor:

Thank you for the forum. I enjoyed the latest missive from Ardes Koehnen [January 2009] as I am very fond of both her and Lenny. Ardes has a very unique writing style which I find very appealing.

I was among a legion of Victoria youth who, at various times, worked for Lenny and Ardes at their service station in town. Some of my coworkers from that era included Tim Diethelm, Steve “Rooster” Volby, Joe Boll, and Bob “Willy” Williams.

It was approximately 40 years ago that I worked for Lenny. Think how much things have changed since then. Remember when people had their summer tires changed to winter tires with studs? How about the expectation of getting all of your car windows washed and your oil checked with every fill-up?

I remember that Lenny would leave the women’s restroom door unlocked at night, which he did as a courtesy for late night travelers. Despite this, I can never recall any vandalism or destruction that occurred.

There were also a couple of very competent mechanics there at that time as well -- Dick Jeurissen and Jerry Hilgers. I still remember Jerry dropping a completely different engine in my first car for the princely sum of $25. There may have been a couple of beers involved as additional compensation.

Lenny could be very tough to work for. Oh how I dreaded when the Tire Truck would arrive and we’d have to lug what seemed like thousands of tires upstairs, traversing the steepest narrowest stairwell in my memory. If this occurred in the summer, you would be rewarded at the summit with a blast of the most humid hot air one could imagine.

It was only later that I came to appreciate what he had done for me by making me realize that hard work wouldn’t necessarily kill me. (I was convinced otherwise at the time.)

Ardes was the “good cop” that we could confide in as she tried to explain what the “Old Man” was expecting and looking for in his employees. All the Koehnens wanted was your best effort and an honest day’s work as they both led by example by never doing anything less than that.

I didn’t realize it at the time, but I am quite certain that both Ardes and Lenny Koehnen took a certain amount of pride in helping to mentor so many young people at a very impressionable stage of our lives. I am so grateful to both of them and wish them many more years “at the lake.”

John Chapman

Victoria, Minnesota

To the Editor:

Enclosed find our payment for the Victoria Gazette. We enjoy it very much, especially all the interesting pictures. We are so glad Victoria is getting a new grocery store. We have three daughters living in that area. Thank you and Happy New Year.

Jim and Janis Whittemore

Glenwood, Minnesota

To the Editor:

Good news again this year! We are extending the opportunity to purchase a 2009 Deer Run Golf Club Season Pass to all residents of Victoria. They will be available on a first come, first served basis. Because we are not a private country club, we must limit the number of passes we can sell. When you have a minute, take a look at the home page of our updated website.

Tom Abts

G.M./PGA Head Professional

Victoria, Minnesota

To the Editor:

Hi, Sue. Thanks for the paper and the good reading. Found the fishhook on page 16 by the diaper of Baby John.

Carol and John York

Waconia, Minnesota

To the Editor:

Thank you 4 ah GREAT News-Pay-Per. Enclosed is $30 for a two-year subscription.

Cy and Madonna Kerber

Chanhassen, Minnesota

To the Editor: