Dr. Warren William Stinson

One week ago today, my beloved husband began his journey into the next world.

Our last family photo, March 28, 2015

Dr. Warren W. Stinson, Professor Emeritus of Cell Biology and Anatomy at the University of Nebraska Medical Center, passed away in his home on Tuesday, April 28, 2015. During his 42 years at UNMC he contributed to the education of a conservatively estimated 15,000 physicians, physical therapists, pharmacists, physician assistants and allied health professionals. Dr. Stinson wrote numerous articles for a variety of Medical Journals, authored three anatomy text books, and co-authored the book, Nutrition and Aging with his wife. In 2001, He was honored as Outstanding Teacher of the Year by the UNMC.
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Dr. Stinson graduated with his Bachelor’s degree from Oklahoma State University. He served as a Lieutenant, Artillery in United States Army from 1959 to 1967. Following his final overseas tour of duty in Turkey, he returned to Oklahoma State University for his Master’s degree and subsequently received his doctorate from the University of Oklahoma Medical Center. He was a member of Sigma Chi, the Millard American Legion, a 32nd Degree Mason, and Phi Chi Medical Fraternity.

Dr. Stinson was preceded in death by his parents, Ted and Eva Stinson, his sister, Nancy Stinson, Mother in Law, Kathryn Lancaster, father in law, Johnie Walker, his sister in law Marilyn Ceraulo, brothers in law Max Walker and Paul Ceraulo. He is survived by his wife of almost 52 years, Joni Kay Stinson, Omaha, his son W. Scott Stinson and wife Kerry Stinson, Omaha, son W. Patrick Stinson, Omaha, Grandchildren Sydney Stinson, Mason Stinson, and Olivia Stinson all of Omaha. He is also survived by nieces, Amanda Zecchin and family, Stamford, CT and Jennifer Walker and family, Luther, OK, nephews Mark Walker and family, Edmond, OK, Max Keith Walker, Yukon, Ok, Michael David Walker and family, Yukon, OK. and close family friends, Frank Reynolds, Checotah, OK and Nancy Clough, Omaha.

Dr. Stinson served on the Admissions Committee for medical students at UNMC and the Nebraska State Anatomical Board for many years. He gave his final act of support to the Anatomical Board at the time of his death by donating his body. When this final “teaching opportunity” is completed, he will be returned to Oklahoma for a Memorial Service next year.

Visitation: May 8, 2015 at Heafy Heafy Hoffman Dworak Cutler Funeral Home, 7805 West Center Road, Omaha, Ne from 5:00 to 8:00 p.n.


Memorials
Should you wish to honor Dr. Stinson by making a Memorial, please contribute to the Charity of your choosing.

Music



Michael Murphy, Cherokee, has taught Native American flute at schools and clinics in the midwest, including the Omaha Public Schools, the Omaha Metropolitan Community College, the Nebraska Indian Community College and St. Augustine Mission in Macy, Nebraska. Michael is a member of the Nebraska Arts Council and the International Native American Flute Association. In addition to his performances, his music is available on CD’s.


We wish to thank Michael for providing the music at this Visitation. Michael has been a friend of the family for many years. His music had been played for the last four Memorials for our family members. Bless you Michael and Wado (thank you in Cherokee) for being our friend.

Special Thanks
We wish to thank all of the UNMC staff for the excellent medical care and compassion he received while hospitalized. We also wish to thank the VNA Hospice for the care and support they provided at home. A special thanks go to Cami Cain, RN for her expert nursing care and to Jessie Buck, for not only rendering wonderful personal care but for also making his face light up with each visit. And thanks to all of our friends who have been so generous in providing us with visits, acts of kindness, love and support during his final days.

Final Thoughts
Jessie Buck, Hospice Home Health Aide, related to us that on her last visit with Warren he told her that it wouldn’t be over until the fat lady sang. For now, the fat lady has sung. However,we take great comfort in the words of Chief Seattle, “There is no death, only a change of worlds.”Know that we love you and will miss you every day but also know that our memories and your Spirit will be with us forever. Enjoy your new world!

Meet Our Daughter, Laurie

Meet our daughter, Laurie Cotton Dupass.  

I bet you didn’t even know we have a daughter!  

That is a long story and here it is:

The Cottons were our very good friends.  I worked in the Nursing Home industry with Laurie’s biological father, Larry Cotton,  for years.  Initially we worked for the same company and later I was the Consultant Dietitian for the nursing home he ultimately purchased in Council Bluffs, Iowa.

Larry and his wife, Patty had two teenage daughters, we had two slightly younger sons.  Our families frequently got together to watch football games, share Valentinos Pizza, Chinese carry out or for no reason at all.  And from time to time, Larry and Warren were known to have a little Courvoisier.

Once,  we gathered at the Cotton’s for a Minnesota Vikings vs the Washington Redskins game.  Warren and Larry decided to make a wager on the game.  Larry, a Norwegian through and through, was of course a stalwart Vikings fan.  The Stinson’s favored the Redskins for reasons obvious to those who know us.   At that time the team’s name was not embroiled in controversy.

The wager went like this:  The winner would get the loser’s house, wife, and two children. 

Warren won! 

 After his celebratory dance, he announced to all that after considerable consideration, he had made a decision about how the bet would go down.  He determined that Larry would be allowed to remain in the house with his wife and daughters.  However. Larry would be required to support Patty, Jeanie, and Laurie in a manner acceptable to Warren and that Warren would conduct unannounced, periodic audits to be sure this was being done.  

Larry passed the initial audits.  Then at one of our family get togethers, Larry challenged Warren to a pool game.  Another high stakes wager was made.  If Larry won, he got back full custody of his older daughter, Jeanie. Larry won.  I think his plan was to win them all back one by one over time in this manner. However, it never happened!  Warren continued to own the house, Patty, and Laurie.

So, while Laurie never lived under our roof, she technically remains our daughter.

Patty and Larry have retired to Ames, Iowa to be closer to their daughter, Jeanie, their grandchildren and great grandchildren.  Laurie continues to live in Omaha as does her daughter (and therefore, our granddaughter) Karen.  

Traditions are a big part of our lives and some must be carried on.  Karen and I made a wager on this years Viking vs Redskins game.  However, our bet was only a gathering for pizza at the place of the winner’s choosing.  Karen won.  Patrick and I had a delightful payoff dinner with Karen and her husband, Dana, at Zio’s following my loss.

Yesterday, our daughter Laurie came to visit Warren.  We had a great time remembering our many flights in her biological father’s airplane to their Minnesota cabin, how she became our daughter, our tree leafing party (that is another story I will write about some day), our deep discussions such as do evergreens actually stay green all winter, are bananas are alive or dead when we eat them, does Western Union send telegrams with explicit four letter words in them, should malt vinegar be served from a spray bottle, etc.  As you can tell, the topics of our conversations were perhaps strange by normal standards.  However, no one ever accused either the Cottons or the Stinsons of being normal and maybe not of having any standards.    We danced to our own drummers and stayed late to the ball!  

So now you know the story about how Laurie came to be our daughter.  Laurie is a long tenured day time server at Trini’s in the Old Market and loves it.  Should you go there,  ask for Laurie and tell her that her parents sent you. 

Laurie, thanks for your visit yesterday.  It was such fun to recall our family history and reflect on how good those years were.   We are very proud of you!

Featured In A Valentine's Collection On ArtFire

Not Your Usual Va...

  Curated By: thewitchandmule

ArtFire.com

Handmade Soap

This Collection was prepare by The Witch and Mule from Franklin, New Hampshire.
Sharon "The Witch" Cox & Kathlene "The Mule" Fleckenstein. In the bio from their shop they say:


We are single, older women caring for our average and aging duplex in a small New Hampshire town.

Over the years we've worked as a hotel maid, restaurant manager, waitress, ammunition packer, college student, real estate appraiser, gas pumper, photographer's assistant, store clerk, grocery bagger, florist, government clerk, embroiderer, county assessor, and business owner.

We've raised horses, mules, pigs, chickens, mink and 6 kids, travelled to 49 states (Hawaii's still on the 'to do' list), and visited 5 foreign countries. We've owned 9 properties in 8 states.

We've survived cancer twice, had several heart attacks, and endured the death of a child.

Between us we have 2 cats, 3 dogs and 4 ex-husbands.

You could say we've been around the block a time or two, but don't for a minute think we're over the hill!

And now it's the time in our lives to focus on our creative gifts which have for far too long been overshadowed by the "have to's" of the everyday. We've thrown caution to the wind, let our minds and hands run wild, and gleefully offer up our handicrafts to you. Enjoy!

Visit their ArtFire store to see thei creations.

http://www.artfire.com/ext/shop/studio/thewitchandmule

Farewell To Twinkies

As you know, last fall Hostess announced that they were closing shop and Twinkies, a life time favorite of many, would be no longer. This set off a rush to the super market, drug stores, convenient food marts, discount centers and other places that sell sweet treats. The shelves were as emptied as quickly as my sons were able to consume this treat when they were four years old.

Entrepreneurial Twinkie fans, seeing this as a money making opportunity, purchased as many boxes as they could and sold them at usurious prices on E-bay during the coming days.

Warren, my husband, chanced to see one remaining box on the shelf at our usual grocery store and on a whim purchased it. Patrick, my youngest son, toyed with the idea of selling this sought after box on
E-bay…..but didn’t.

Instead, we decided to save it for a special occasion and have a proper family “Farewell Old Friend” party for the contents. We had planned to do it on Christmas but forgot to do so with all of the other holiday excitement.   We knew there was there was no rush as this treat is so well fortified with preservatives it could have a life span of thirty years or more.

We celebrated Warren’s birthday last Saturday night with a family fish fry and combined it with a farewell to this old favorite. Olivia, our youngest granddaughter, ate her’s without a moment’s hesitation.
Sydney, oldest granddaughter shared her’s with her Mother.

Mason decided to put his in a Mason jar and keep it as his “best friend”. I suggested that he and Olivia should collaborate on a story called “Mason and Me” that is written from the Twinkie’s perspective……
Time will tell if Mason’s Twinkie becomes a cherished chronicled friend, or if it will become a future after school snack.

But alas......crime never stops............One Twinkie went missing!  We had to have a family line up to determine the guilty perp.

While this case remains unsolved, there is a “person of interest” who demonstrates a high degree of possible guilt!

Our "family fish fry farewell to an old friend party" made Grandpa’s birthday celebration fun for all.

Happy Birthday Warren and Farewell Twinkie!

Foot note: Just In………. The private-equity firm that owns Pabst Blue Ribbon beer is planning to bid on the Hostess cake brands division – which includes Ding Dongs, Ho Hos, Drake’s Devil Dogs, and…Twinkies. Read more: http://business.time.com/2013/01/25/pbr-owner-making-a-bid-for-twinkies/#ixzz2JCRZUHz2

Maybe our next party will need to honor Pabst Blue Ribbon if they are successful in bringing back our old friend….the Twinkie!

Meet Blue Moon

In the late 70’s or early 80’s I chanced to see a piece of work done by a contemporary western sculptor named Les Welliver.  I was so enthralled with it that I wanted to see more of his work.  I learned that he was an artist who lived in Montana and used wild life and Indians as his subjects.  I began trying to locate a source for his work.  I finally succeeded. 

I was lucky enough to find a perfect piece to give to my husband, Warren, for his up-coming birthday.  Since Warren is an anatomist, I knew he would appreciate the detail in the piece I had selected and purchased.  And sure enough, he was both surprised and delighted. 

Blue Moon by Les Welliver

As he inspected the piece, we both agreed that the figure’s face was wise, somewhat wizened and humble.  However, her chest told a completely different story.   Her well-formed and taunt breasts were both bold and quite boastful. 

Warren wanted to thank the artist for having done the piece and gave him a phone call.  During their long conversation, Warren asked if he had used a live model to create the piece as its anatomy was so detailed and correct.  Les informed him that he had not used a model but he had seen a few women and had a good memory. 

We all laughed.

Now I can’t recall the original name of piece.  I am sure I have it written down somewhere.  But it isn’t what she is called anymore and her original name will have no significance here. 

As Warren and Les visited on, they both agreed that it would only be “once in a blue moon” that one would could expect to find such an extraordinary body on one so wise and humble as this lady appeared.     Thus the piece was re-named Blue Moon.

Blue Moon has graced our family room mantle since that day and once in a blue moon I reflect on that phone conversation we had with this great artist and chuckle about her re-naming ceremony.  

Blue Moon…today is your day.  What a privilege it is to have had you with us all of these years! 

My Thunderbird Earrings

 My Thunderbird Earrings were featured today in this wonderful Collection on ArtFire curated by Artede Found Partes owned by Sharona

Sharona says, “I am old school.  All my life I have looked at things from a perspective viewed as unique. During my lifetime I've saved, reused, restored, redone, reworked and redecorated many material possessions. I enjoy encouraging and inspiring all young at heart's creative talents.

Sharona’s Art Fire store features many interesting items made from her recycling stash.  You can view her work at: http://www.artfire.com/ext/shop/studio/ArtedeFoundPartes

View the Collection and visit Sharona’s store as well.

A bit of Summer, before its gone

   Curated By: ArtedeFoundPa...

ArtFire.com

Indie Design

What Are The Odds?

There we were, minding our own business, when Patrick spied a man and a woman with birds just off the Santa Fe Plaza. Patrick loves birds so of course he had to go over for a closer look. After looking the birds over and talking to the people who were from the Wild Life Federation, he asked if he could take some pictures.

I was standing back next to a lady who was also intent in watching and asking questions. You can see her (to the right of the bird’s talons and up) in this photo.

Patrick took his shots and left a donation in the pail. At that point, the lady lamented that she did not have a camera with her and asked if Patrick would e-mail his shots to her if she gave him her e-mail address. He agreed and she started across the street to get him her business card.

Since we were going the same direction, we followed her. It turned out that she was an artist who had a booth just outside a large hotel. As we approached, she said to Patrick, “I’m going to give you a gift.” We both assumed that it would be a small print of one of her works or note cards. But she put out two full size prints and told him to take his pick. He made his selection and she signed the print “To Patrick, Amy Stein.

 Patrick's Selection:  Angel of The Roses

Amy Stein’s bio from her web site is as follows:
AMY STEIN, an award-winning Santa Fe artist, well-known for her beautiful prints of the southwest, has been profiled in the nationally published American Artist magazine. She has conducted self-imagery workshops "Healing the Self Through Self- Portraits" for the California-based American Institute of Medical Education, the Institute for Integral Development in Colorado Springs and the Santa Fe public schools. She holds a Master of Fine Arts degree from the City University of New York and is a licensed New Mexico art teacher. Ms. Stein has been an Artist-in-Residence in New Mexico and accepts artistic portraits commissions.

After a nice visit, we left with her card, Patrick’s new piece of art and a promise to send her the photos as soon as we returned home.

We continued our exploring of the Plaza, had a delightful chicken, green chili, pinon nut and asiago cheese pizza at one of our annual stops, Roof Top Pizza, and returned to our hotel.

We were each sitting on our bed chatting about the day and planning for the next one. Patrick got a strange look on his face and said, “What was that artist’s name?” I responded Amy Stein. He said, “That’s what I thought but I’m not believing this”. I couldn’t imagine what he was talking about other than her generosity in having gifted him with a wonderful print. I asked what he meant and he told me to look behind me. I did.

Can you imagine our amazement to find the work of an artist we chanced to meet on the street, promised photos, and was gifted by on our hotel room wall? There it was. As plain as day. What are the odds?

Little Yellow Flower 

We took this picture of her work on our wall and determined we had to share the story with her.

The next day, we went back to Amy’s booth to share this “against all odds story” with her.

She was as amazed as we had been. I asked if she had prints like the one in our hotel available as I wanted a copy to complete the story of this amazing encounter. She did and I purchased one.

We plan to frame and hang the two works side by side not only because she is a gifted artists doing wonderful work but as a reminder of that special day and how people are brought together in the most mysterious ways.