I’m not even sure I realized exactly who Joe and Hazel Klippel were when we used to go visit them throughout the 1970’s, but I always enjoyed making a trek with my parents to their house. Joe was actually the brother-in-law of my Grandma Range…so my Dad’s uncle by marriage. He was married to my Grandma’s sister Bessie. Joe and Bessie were the parents of Arline and Harold. Bessie passed away in 1963 and Joe later re-married a widow in 1970 who was named Hazel Mankel at the time.
Of course, I now know how all of these people are tied together as family members, but back then, I just knew they were all relatives who usually showed up at the holiday functions. One other thing that was especially memorable about visits with Joe and Hazel was their comfy little house over at 917 Gainsborough Road in Dayton. I remember going to see them fairly often and always found this house very welcoming. When Joe passed away in 1979, Hazel moved on to Trinity Nursing Home near our neighborhood. At that time, my Grandma and Oscar ended up purchasing the house and created a great deal many more memories for me during the period they lived there.
Eventually my Dad ended up with the house for several years, finally selling it in the Fall of 1996. What I did not know until now was that this wonderful house on Gainsborough was originally the home of Hazel and her second husband, Louis Mankel. My Dad has a Dayton phone book from 1964 showing their residency there at that point in time, and possibly as early as 1960.
As for Hazel herself, I don’t have any specific memories of her, but recall that she was an ultra-kind and sweet lady, and had easily integrated herself into the family. She passed away on June 4, 1980 while she was living at Trinity. What I do remember was that I disappointedly and callously remarked to my Mom that “we never got to see her new room” at Trinity. As far as I remember, I did not attend her funeral.
Joe and Hazel living in the Gainsborough house
I was only eight years old at this point so I never got to know either Joe or Hazel all that well, but I am grateful for the memories they did give me…as well as for bringing into my life that Gainsborough house that gave me so many more.
1980 will continue…in Florida
I also remember visiting Hazel at Trinity. However, I, too, was never quite sure who she was or how she was related. I’m actually not sure I realized how she was related until I read this posting!
Anyway, I remember at one of our visits Hazel game me a little cloth bag that cinched at the top. It looked like something she could have made. I really liked that little bag and I remember thinking how nice that was for her to give it to me.
Denise
May 30th, 2007