This blogs sole purpose has transitioned to one of keeping in touch with each other. Over the years it has been primarily for letting everyone know what is happening and also for promotion to add more folks to our Winter Texan family. The core of things has changed and we must change along with it. We still want to know what is happening with our friends no matter where they may be located. So continue to let us know where you are and what is on your plate.
Barb had posted this on her blog which I look at every day and I thought it was so pretty I swiped it to put on the Magnolia Blog. Even though there really isn't much we can post any more both Barb and I wish all our Magnolia friends (who really are more like family) a very Happy New Year along with our best wishes for good health and much happiness to come your way in the upcoming year.
Lloyd William Frank Sachs September 25, 1928 – November 7, 2022
Lloyd was born on September 25, 1928 in Inver Grove, MN to descendents of Dakota County pioneers Albert and Helen (Bester) Sachs who preceded him in death. He had one sister, Donna Mae who was called home in 1944. He was baptized on October 14, 1928 and confirmed on May 10, 1942 at Trinity Lone Oak Lutheran Church in Eagan, MN where he remained an active member and served as a Trustee for a majority of his lifetime.
Lloyd grew up and worked on the family farmstead, which still remains today, on South Robert Trail in Inver Grove Heights. He later worked in construction before meeting LaDonna (Erickson) during a circle two step at Schlief’s Little City on Highway 55 in Inver Grove Heights, MN which is now the location of a Target store. They were married on January 31, 1953 and shortly after the birth of their first daughter, Joyce, Lloyd was drafted into the Army serving in Germany as a Cook/Baker Specialist June 1954-June 1956. As untimely this experience was for a young husband, father, and only son, he was grateful for the opportunities that were afforded him by serving his country. It was during this time that he completed his High School education and received his diploma in April 1956. This set him up with the opportunity to continue his education and training through the VA programs when he was discharged and attended the Labor & Industry Apprenticeship course to receive his qualifications as a journeyman tool and die maker. He worked at several different shops over the years and developed numerous lifetime friendships. This was a career that provided well for him and his family throughout the years and into retirement.
He and LaDonna were blessed with a second daughter, Valerie, in 1958 and in 1960 broke ground for their new home to be located on a parcel of the original farmstead in Inver Grove Heights. Sadly, that house was recently taken down for the expansion of County Road 26. Son David was born in 1962. During those years of raising their family together, they enjoyed many camping trips and vacations, a Couples’ Card Club and hosting an annual Halloween costume party. Lloyd was also an avid bowler and loved fishing. Raising coonhounds and hunting also became a favorite pastime highlighted with his annual barbeque. Many good times and memories of fishing and tubing at Lee & Marilyn’s on Clearwater Lake in Annandale and a few cruises were captured before LaDonna’s death on September 24, 1986.
On January 6, 1990 Lloyd married Violet (Stensgard) at Bethesda Lutheran Church in Inver Grove Heights where he became an active member. Together in retirement they enjoyed many wonderful travels to Florida, Panama Canal, Hawaii, Colorado, New York and Niagara Falls and many other places before making the decision to head south to winter in Donna, Texas. They both worked and volunteered for DARTS, enjoyed Kampers Klub and Inver Grove Heights Seniors, where Lloyd served as President. He participated in a Senior Bowling League as well as pitched and won several awards while competing in a horseshoe league. He always enjoyed gardening, feeding the birds and watching the antics of all the squirrels right out his front door. Lloyd’s interest in woodworking really peaked in retirement and remained a passion and activity until his death. His years as a tool and die maker had honed his skills for accuracy and detail, as his expert craftmanship found in crosses, Celtic spoons, old shoes or boots, or a hummingbird has been appreciated by many over the years. He was very proud of his carving of Christ with outstretched arms that traveled to South America to serve as an altar centerpiece at a mission church there.
Following the death of Violet in October 2016, Lloyd started thinking about moving from his home of nearly 60 years. The wait lists were long but the process of downsizing also took time. Lloyd moved from his Inver Grove home to Croixdale retirement community in Bayport, MN in January 2019. He thrived in his new home as we converted his laundry room into his woodshop so he could continue to carve. He was active in recruiting two of his dear pastor friends to assist with Sunday afternoon services as he served as the head usher. It was even difficult for family to schedule times to visit with his busy schedule of Bingo, Hand & Foot, Pinochle, 500, Mexican Train, and Dominos! He will be dearly missed by his many friends there. In recent months, Lloyd found peace and comfort reinstating his membership and rejoined the church family at Trinity Lone Oak, and we are grateful for the love and support extended to him during his last months of life.
Lloyd is survived by his and LaDonna’s children Joyce , Valerie, and David along with their spouses, 7 grandchildren, 8 great-grandchildren and Violet’s children Ray, Darla, Roxy, and Randy along with their spouses, 7 grandchildren, 14 great-grandchildren, brother-in-law Gerald, nieces, nephews, and cousins. Also survived by cherished neighbors Chris and Linda, his woodcarving pals, and special friends and neighbors he shared his final 4 years of life with at Croixdale, and other loving relatives and friends.
It's been a while since I've put anything on the blog mostly because we've been busy and frankly, there just isn't that much Magnolia news. I did find out that Don Loring passed away on November 3. Don and Marilyn Loring were long-time Magnolia residents before moving over to Siesta Village where they could own their own land. Don was an excellent pool shooter and when we first started shooting pool at Magnolia he took me under his wing and helped me get started. Neither Jim or I had ever held a pool cue in our hands before that so his help was very much appreciated.
As I've said several times before, there are lots of former Magnolia people here in our park, Trails End which does make it very nice.
We've been busy working on the mobile home that we bought here last December. We weren't able to actually take possession until April so did nothing on it last season. Today we had the pleasure of trying to figure out how to lay Vinyl Plank flooring. It was a struggle this morning but we think we have it figured out so tomorrow should go much better. It's not quite as easy as I thought it would be but once we understood how the best way is to click the planks into place it went pretty well.
We got here November 14 which is a little earlier than usual for us but we knew we had lots we wanted to get done this winter. And speaking of winter, right now it is certainly more summer-like as it's quite warm and also quite humid. It finally stopped raining, the first week we were here I think it rained hard, every single day.
The "Texas Crud" as everyone calls it has been going around, some people get quite sick and others just more or less a nasty cold. Jim had it last week but it only lasted a couple of days. He thought it would be nice to share it with me so my throat has been scratchy but at least my nose isn't running - yet! His throat was scratchy about a day and a half and his nose ran steadily for one day and that was it, thank goodness. I heard from some friends back home and one of their employees has covid so they thought maybe they should get tested. No symptoms, fully vaccinated, but both tested positive. Thank goodness for vaccines as most likely they would be quite sick without them. Neither are really youngsters and the older we all get the weaker our immune systems get.
It's hard to believe that Christmas is almost upon us. I took a quick and short walk tonight after taking a bag of garbage to the dumpsters. The park is filled with lots of beautiful Christmas lights. We are behind this year in getting anything up. Our lawn needs to be mowed and I think maybe the guy who mows it will come Sunday and then we can put our stuff out.
We have driven past Magnolia a few times, it looks pretty sad to say the least and probably most of you know that the big Don Wes flea market building burned to the ground this summer. Some of the vendors are putting up little buildings and are open but I rather doubt that the big building will be replaced. It looks so different with it gone and lots of Winter Texans are missing it as it was a very popular place to gather on the days they were open and so handy to Magnolia. We walked up there many times each season.
As always, if you have news to share, please do let me know and I will be happy to post it.
