I am a 69 year old woman who loves to reflect on the history of her family throughout my lifetime.
Spending time thinking about how old I was when something happened helps me contextualize and process events in my life’s timeline. It also helps me to reflect on my own growth, and how events may have influenced my life and perspective. It can also aid me when I am discussing and sharing memories with others who were present at the time, helping me create a more accurate narrative of the past.
So here is a short little “how old was I” chart. My sisters can just do some simple math (is there simple math? LOL) to calculate their age at the time of these events.
1954
I was born. My father was 29 and my mother was 28 years old. My older sister was 2 years old. Dwight D. Eisenhower was the president. When I was born, my Grandma Pet was 68 years old. Bones was 44 years old and Madalyn was 37 years old. My paternal grandfather, George Sr. was 63 years old and my paternal grandmother was 60 years old.
1955
I was 1 year old when my great grandmother Grayer, (Amelia Louise Grayer nee Wisthoff) died on 1 May 1955.
1957
In February of 1957, my older sister and I visited our paternal grandparents in Benton Harbor. There are photos of that event.
In November of 1957, my younger sister was born. I was 3 years, 9 months and 16 days old.
My brother-in-law, Chris, was born on 23 Apr. 1957 – (of course, it would take me years to meet him!)
My father began his work overseeing work at Willow Run Labs.
1961
My family and Aunt Babe took a trip out west to the Badlands, Cooley Dam, Mt. Rainer, San Francisco, Disneyland, Yellowstone Park, Knott’s Berry Farm, Marine Land. I was 7.5 years old.
1962
My family and Aunt Babe took a trip to Virginia – Williamsburg. I was 8.5 years old.
1964
This is the year of our house construction on Danbury Lane. I was 10 years old.
1964 and 1965: Robert Hess served as the personal representative of the U.S. Army’s Assistant Chief of Staff for Intelligence and led teams of scientists through a field review of the Army’s Combat Surveillance capabilities in Europe and in Korea.
Gretchen coordinated the successful Christmas program at BUCC with an international theme.
1965
On 13 Feb 1965, our beloved Grandma Pet suddenly passed away. She was 79 years old. Mom was 39 years old. Uncle Bob was 47 years old. I had just turned 11 years old.
In August of 1965, Dad traveled to Japan.
1966
1 Jul 1966: Robert Hess receives 2nd highest Army award
Robert starts with HSRI – I was 12 years old.
Robert is Chairman of the building committee at BUCC and the new Addition is completed.
18 May 1966 – My great uncle Herman passed away. He was 88 years old.
1968
MAW had her brain surgery in 1968. I was approx. 14.5 years old and she was 16.5 years old. (I am not certain of the exact dates- please correct me on this date if necessary.)
1970
In 1970, I was 16 years old and I got my driver’s license.
31 May 1970: Robert Hess took me on a European trip.
President Nixon named Dad to the National Highway Safety Advisory Committee for 3 years.
December 1970 – this could be a possible date for MAW’s trip to Moscow.
1972
On my birthday in 1972, I turned 18 years old. I met Jack either that day or the week of my birthday. I graduated from Pioneer HS.
Tim’s father passed away on 6 Jul 1972. He was only 48 years old.
On 20 Jun 1972 my Great Aunt Minnie passed away. She was 93 years old.
1973
Mary Ann was living in France. Tour d’Aygosi 7, Aix-en-Provence 13100, France
Robert Hess was the Consultant of the Secretary of the Army’s Scientific Advisory Panel
April – Mary Ann is getting ready to return to America after a year abroad
Jack is at Lackland Air Force Base, San Antonio, TX (August 24th)
Jack is at the Defense Language Institute in Washington DC
Briarwood Mall opened in October
1974
11 Feb 1974: Linda Claire turns 20 years old
March 1974: Linda visits Jack in DC for spring break
3 Apr 1974: tornado in Hillsdale
April 1974: Khaki takes trip to Germany
4 May 1974: Mary Ann graduates from the University of Michigan
1 Sept 1974: Andrew Jacob Wiesner is born in WI (Of course, I would not meet Drew for quite a few years!)
Claire and Hillsdale friends spend spring break in Washington DC
18 Nov 1974: Jack Groshans has honorable discharge from the US Air Force
1974: This could be a possible date for Dad’s trip to Venezuela for the Pan American Health Conference.
1976
15 May 1976: I graduated from Hillsdale College, Hillsdale, MI. I was 22 years old.
20 Oct 1976: My great aunt Lucy (Grover’s sister) passed away. She was 89 years old.
1977
February 1977 to April 1982: Jack Groshans worked for the US Postal Service
13 Aug 1977: Groshans Wedding in Ann Arbor, MI – I was 23 years old.
1978
July 1978 I was the Sales and Catering Manager for Weber’s Inn until March of 1980
1981
My amazing daughter was born on 3 Jul 1981 at 7:11pm. We were living at 1460 Bemidji Street, AA. I was 27 years old.
1983
Madalyn died on 21 Jan 1983. Madalyn was only 65 years old. I was 28 years old.
September 1983- December 1984 Jack Groshans attended Washtenaw Community College
1984
I worked at Chi Systems as Fulfillment Manager for Hospital Purchasing Management publication.
17 Mar 1984: Robert Jack Groshans died (paternal grandfather of my children) he was only 57 years old.
8 Apr 1984: My niece Kristy is born
19 Jul 1984: This was my hire date at the Ann Arbor Inn as their Conference Manager
20 Sep 1984: Henrietta Spruhan Hess dies in Kissimmee, FL (mother of Robert Hess). She was 90 years old. I was 30 years old.
1986
3 May 1986 My great Aunt Babe passed away. She was 95 years old. I was 32 years old.
1989
8 Jan 1989: My nephew Charlie was born. I was 34 (almost 35 years old)
1 Apr 1989: My younger sister married Chris. I was 35 years old.
May 1989: I was hired at the Radisson as the Conference Manager.
1991
8 April 1991: I had genetic counseling and Chorionic Villus sample because of pregnancy risk factors at Hutzel Hospital while 3 months pregnant. Dad accompanied me to this series of tests.
2 May 1991: Blake is born
31 May 1991: Robert Hess retires and is named Professor Emeritus. He was 66 years old.
Aug 1991: Linda Claire Groshans left job as Conference Manager at the Raddison on the Lake
August 1991: Amy and I went to Valley View condos at Grand Traverse Resort with Grandma and Grandpa. Jack joined us for the last weekend. The Whitmers also joined us. Our family had a 16th floor brunch at the Grand Traverse.
31 Oct 1991: My amazing son was born at 3:25pm. I was 37 years old.
28 Nov 1991: My uncle George died at age 69 (born in 1922)
1995
I was divorced from Jack. I was 41 years old.
8 Aug 1995: Bones died. He was 85 years old.
1996
I started work at First Congregational Church. I was 42 years old.
1997
15 Aug1997: My nephew Kevin was born
1998
1 Apr 1998: Linda Claire Groshans purchases 2725 Yost Blvd (and sells house at 5431 Pratt Road, AA, MI)
2004
My Uncle Bob passed away on 9 Dec 2004. He was 87 years old.
2005
I started employment at BUCC and stayed until 2010. I was 51 years old.
2006
1 Jan 2006. Family friend Winnie Martin passed away. She was 92 years old.
25 Jan 2006: Aunt Ginny passed away. She was 83 years old.
My mother Gretchen passed away on 1 Nov 2006. She was 81 years old. I was 52 years old.
telling life stories 