At 80 years old, Tuff Home resident Doris Sonntag has learned many lessons in life. When asked which lesson is the most valuable she didnÕt hesitate.
"The most valuable lesson to learn in life is contentment," said Doris. "Difficult at times, but very valuable."
Doris has fond memories of her childhood growing up on a farm near the Bavarian community of Frankenmuth, Mich.
She compares the community of Frankenmuth to Hills. Doris grew up during the Depression and began working right out of grade school. She said there are many older people in the Hills area with similar experiences.
Doris said Christmas is special for her every year. When she was growing up she remembers the Christmas tree was always decorated with candles.
"I never saw the tree brought in. We would sing two or three carols, then open the sliding door to the parlor where the tree was, lit up with presents under it," said Doris.
She later found out while they were singing carols her dad was setting up the tree and lighting the candles.
"One evening a neighborhood bachelor cousin came over dressed as Santa," Doris said. "I was supposed to sit on his lap and get candy. I ran to my mother's bed and crawled under. Santa chased me under the bed. I still do not like Santa."
Doris said her Christmas gifts were usually clothes. Her godmother gave her some special things, such as a silver baby cup or sometimes a couple of dollars which was a lot of money at the time, Doris states.
"We ate mostly home-raised ducks or geese for Christmas with dressing, cranberries and Mother's chicken croquets. We ate real good. My mother was a very good cook. We had hickory nut cookies and pecan cookies."
Doris said she had to learn how to sew. She made almost all of her clothes. She learned to crochet when she was 5 years old and to quilt when she was 7.
Doris is concerned about young people today. "It is frightening to see the way the young people are growing up now. They don't have respect for their parents like we used to. They don't learn to work like we did." Doris said she is glad she was brought up the way she was.
Looking back, she said she can't believe she married a minister and took on the responsibilities of a minister's wife. She had to be responsible and never speak out of turn or pass on anything private.
Among other assignments, her husband, Martin, was a minister in a church in Conroy, Iowa, for 17 years before he died at the age of 59 from heart problems. They had three boys, Thomas, Jim and John.
Doris always loved music. Before she married, she sang at weddings and funerals. After she married, she taught herself to play the organ and became the church organist. She never took a lesson. Doris, very happily married, said she never played the organ again after her husband died.
When Martin died, Doris, then 53, was hired to work at the Ehrle Brothers Winery, Amana, Iowa. She said the only reason they hired her was because she could speak German, and the winery frequently had German tourists who visited. She retired after 18 years.
As Doris began to lose her sight, her sons began to look for a nursing home for her. They chose Tuff Memorial Home, Hills, to be closer to her son Jim's family.
"The Lord took care of me all the way. I had never stopped in Hills before,' Doris said. "We had always just driven through. Oh, how I wish I had. It is just beautiful." Doris raves about the care she receives at the Tuff Home.
Doris is fortunate. She has the gift many never find Ð contentment.