Joanne Andersen

By

Alex Pierce

(Joanne and her husband)

 Pierce 1

Joanne Andersen

Joanne Andersen is a sweet woman, being born in 1937, growing up in a poor industrial

neighborhood named Pullman. she lived through multiple wars as she grew up, knew what loss

felt like early on, and didnt follow the normal American Dream. To have a family, and still be

moving around the country. To find her dream job while managing her life. She is strong. And

with the supportive family she had at the time, it sure did help her through the hard times she

faced. I like that he's my husband and my friend. Makes for a lasting relationship in anything,

really. (Andersen Dec. 13)

Joannes life started when she was born in 1937 in Pullman, a neighborhood in Chicago

created by George Pullman. (1) Her father worked in the nearby paint factory while her mother

was a housewife. Being in an Italian family that immigrated to America, she grew up with her

father going to work in the neighborhood factory that was built in there and her mother being a

housewife. Early on, Joanne began to become familiar with her neighborhood, making friends,

going to school, even during the war going on in Europe at the time.

Before Joanne was born, her father was an immigrant. He had immigrated from Cesuna,

Italy at the age of 5 with his mother, older sister, and younger brother because his grandfather

had sent for them to come to America. He couldnt make a good living in America as it was hard

to find a good job as an immigrant in the early 1900s. When he was 12, his mother died from

Peritonitis, a breakage of the silk lining covering your organs usually from inflammation leading

to bacterial or fungal infection. (Andersen Jan. 10)

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Joannes mother was already born in America. In East Boston, her grandparents gave

birth to Joannes mother. The grandmother came to America with her sister to escape an abusive

husband and father. Later, she met Joannes grandfather on a return trip to America. (Andersen

Jan. 10) While Joanne was raised under both parents, She and her brother were sent to Sunday

School at a Methodist church. Her father was Catholic but hadnt practiced ever since his 8th

grade year. Her mother was a Protestant, however hadnt been practicing either. This went on

throughout her high school career.

Joanne remembers that as a child, she was very fidgety. At her aunts wedding, Joanne

wasn't able to sit still and kept asking a lot of questions and made her aunt very frustrated. As for

being in the neighborhood she grew up in, not a whole lot happened. Although, when she was

nine, Joanne remembered running around, banging pots and pans together and shouting The war

is over! When WWII ended. She never knew what she was talking about, the meaning behind

those words and how powerful they were at the time, but she remembered it being so important

to her at the time to tell everyone about it. (Andersen Dec. 13)

She mentioned being desensitized to race throughout high school. because in her

community, every race family was there, with either parents working or not. she said it was from

this that the school was so diverse and she became used to the multiple races she encountered.

from there, she became very interested in Art and choir. to this day, I still sing and do paintings

and such. Somewhere along the way, however, she met who would later be her husband, Karl.

They didnt meet up much, especially after high school due to time constraints. However, they

made it work out throughout high school.

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When Joanne was 17, she had gone through tragedy. Her grandmother had died. Then,

While Joanne was 19, Her brother got electrocuted during a rainstorm while he was working.

(Andersen Dec. 13) This affected Joanne terribly. This was probably the only point I ever felt

depressed. (Andersen Dec. 13) Joanne was taking the death very hard, and soon after turned to

religion to aid her.

Ever since Joanne met, Karl, they never really started dating throughout High

School. When her brother died, Joanne and Karl had been dating for a while and Karl had been

able to be there for Joanne as she almost vented to him sometimes, and he would listen to her.

Karl was just he was really there for me. I mean, he was, like a lot. He [Karl] didnt ask me a lot

of questions, he didnt try to make me feel better, he just was there. (Andersen Jan. 13)

After her high school career was finished and she graduated, she wasn't able to go to

college because she couldn't afford it at the time. She was then faced with a big decision. When

Joanne was around 20, she was offered to tour around the country and sing with an orchestra.

She refused and got married. She doesn't necessarily regret the decision, however, she sometimes

gets those what if? Moments in her head. Soon after that, she eventually got a job working

as a secretary at IBM, while she took classes for college during the evening.

While working and with college, Joanne and her date were able to propose to each other.

And later, in 1959 in chicago, where they both grew up. Karl had a plan to be a minister, and so

after they started dating, she moved with him to Boston, Massachusetts. There, she would

continue her work being a secretary.

 Pierce 4

While they lived in Boston, they had their first child, Mark. Along the way, had their

second child, Julie. Since during this time it was during the civil rights events, there were a lot of

racial segregation going on, and figures such as MLK Jr. rising up in fame and raising awareness

and trying to fight against racism. Joanne wanted to help out with that as much as she could. She

said that she wanted to go to selma. However, since Joanne later found out she couldnt, she just

babysat the couples children who she wanted to go with.

As more years went by, Karl wanted to move to the midwest and found a one year

internship program while Joanne stayed at her Karls parents house with her children. When the

end of the year came around, they moved back to New England, in Maine, and Karl got a job as

an MMC worker, or Maine Medical Center. (3) Joanne then went into nursing school as she

didnt have the credits at the time for the degree she wanted. She chose SMCC, or the Southern

Maine Community College. She later had a third and last child, Karen.

In 1979, they moved to Florida. Joanne continued getting a degree. She tried nursing

again, but later went for counseling and became an undergraduate. Julie was graduating High

school. (Andersen Jan. 13) Joanne went for a Masters in Counseling in 1993. She was a

counselor for a few years, even while Joanne and her family moved to Des Moines, Iowa. Joanne

worked as counselor for the next twelve years living in Iowa. (Andersen Dec. 13) Of which, she

would be still into singing and art.

Although unknown exactly when, though in the 90s, Joanne was diagnosed with an

autoimmune condition. Unknown to Joanne at the time, all she could do, with her vast

knowledge in nursing, was to find information about what she had. However, She was not able to
 Pierce 5

find what exactly she had. Meanwhile, she looked for treatments, but they were drugs, and the

treatment methods were very harmful and filled with side effects. Joanne was however able to be

met up with an Acupuncturist and a Massage Therapist to help out with her condition.

A: Uhm, Karl, from your point of view (K: Yes?), how was it handling your wife

being diagnosed with this condition and trying to figure out what was going on with her?

K: Well, it was troubling at first because we really didnt have any clear idea and where

we were living at the time in Florida, uh, we didnt have much access except to primary

conditions. Uh, some of the specialists we had werent willing to go along with her and to work

it out. So, we had to devise our own plan. And I think it was our treatment plan. We worked on it

together. But it was frustrating, and it was challenging at times. (Andersen Jan. 13)

Joanne had always showed an interest in Womens issues at the time. Which, during the

times, involved ensuring the equal pay. Since the second wave of Feminism had ended in 1979,

and the Equal Pay Act had been signed ten years prior, Joanne was still working towards

Womens issues of the time. She also worked as a volunteer in helping victims of domestic

violence and sexual assault. While working as a counselor and volunteer, she also took a little

interest in fashion designing. However, she didnt take off with it and kept with counseling.

Nearing 2000, She was becoming more and more interested in helping victims, and went

to work for an agency for families in crisis. Shed often work with families that were court

ordered her to examine cases of domestic violence around substance addiction, abuse, etc. She

did this for around 5 years. Joanne said it was very stressful work. Had to travel the country, and
 Pierce 6

lots of it, too. She then moved to West Palm, Florida, where she did private practice helping

women grow with change for a few years.

After working a few years with helping women change, Joanne moved back to Iowa,

where, after having a disinterest in private practice, went into work with an insurance company.

The name is unsure, however she worked by telephone with mental health services for said

company that was covered by medicare from the state. She often dealt with interviews with

nurses, clients from the ER or police, and perhaps police officers as well.

In 2006, Joanne retired from all full time work at around the age of 69. She remained

very active with her local church. Of where, Joanne and her pastor worked to write for a grant for

children that were involved with divorced parents. As well, since Iowa was one of few states

without a commission on the status of women at the time, and so Joanne started a program to

help remedy the situation. Later, she received a certificate for creating such a program. After

those two were done and underway, Joanne worked with young psychology. She managed to

form a chapter of people who met in others homes, which resulted in a section of the local

library being devoted to the C.G. Jung Society, which is a multi-institutional society within many

cities across the U.S. and in Zrich, Switzerland. (4) Their main goal is to help spread

psychological consciousness within individuals with C.G. Jungs main studies in Psychology.

After all three accomplishments Joanne made, she became fully retired from full pay

work. However, she does artwork with glass, paintings, etc. does quilting with other women once

a week, belongs to a book club, and works with a womens literacy group that presents papers

each month. Joanne has taken a higher interest in crossword puzzles, still active with her church
 Pierce 7

and choir, and had the time to help make this biography happen. Yet, youd never know her full

story from her kind work shes done within Gorham, let alone her life, until you talk to her.

Well, truth be told, you can say that about anyone, really. And everyone has something

like this in their head. Maybe not the best of everyone, or maybe some contemplate having no

story. One thing is for sure, though: Everyones had to have done something with their lives.

Broad, I know. However, Its very enlightening that people live good lives despite going through

hardship.
Transcripts:

Date: Dec. 13 2016

Name: Joanne Andersen

Age As Of Now: 79

Grew Up In Chicago.

Parents Lived Through Depression.

Early Childhood: Lived In Community Called Pullman Started By George M. Pullman From

Pullman Factories/Company. Basic Company Town. Strong Community. VERY Ethnically

Oriented. Several Catholic Churches With Protestant. Market Hall In Chicago, Arcade.

Dancehall On Second Floor/Pub. Pharmacy/Candy Store. Loves To Roller Skate. Was A Good

Swimmer. In High School, Would Help The Swim Team Put On Synchronized Swim Shows. At

5 Or 6, Loved To Sing. Would Go To Relative's Houses To Sing For Some Money To Spend On

Candy Or Whatnot. Ever Since After Church Singing, To This Day, She Sings. In High School,

Got Involved With Singing And Talent Shows. Friend's Father Organized Talent Group During

The Korean War, So Veterans Would Come Back, And She And The Others In The Group

Would Sing/Entertain Veterans There. Sang With A Band. Took A Business Course In High

School With Lots Of Art Classes As Well. Italian Background. Wanted To Go To College, But

Couldn't. Worked For IBM Corp. As A Secretary. Continued Singing. Started Night Classes

Towards College. Her Husband And Her Knew Each Other. Would Double Date. Met More On

His Mailing Routine, And Soon After Started Dating. His Plan Was Going To The Ministry.

Applied To Seminary To Be A Minister. Moved To Boston. She Continued To Work As A

Secretary. Had a Kid While They Lived There. She Continued Her Aspiration In Arts. Hoping
To Get A Degree. Lived 3 Years And Had A Second Child. Got Involved With 60's Issues. Was

Planning On Going To Selma, But Had Little Room, So She Babysat A Couple's Children.

Moved Out To The Midwest. Her Husband Went To A One Year Internship While She Stayed

With His Parents With Kids. End Of Year: Moved Back To New England, He Became A MMC

Worker, She Went Into Nursing School. Didn't Have Enough Credits For College Degree.

SMCC Was Where She Went For The Nursing Program In Licensed Practical Nursing. Still

Interested In Music. She Was In A Quartet In Portland And Was Involved In Theatre. Really

Enjoyed Community Theatre. After College, Worked In A Nursing Program. Had A Third

Daughter. In 1979, They Moved To Florida, Continued In Getting A Degree. Tried Nursing, But

Went For Counselling And Got An Undergraduate. Daughter Graduated From High School.

Joanne Went For A Master's In Counseling In 93 And Was A Counselor For A Few Years, Till

She Moved To Des Moi, Idaho For 12 Years As A Counselor. Always Interested In

Justice/Women's Issues. Helped To Form A Group Called Commission On The Status Of

Women. Working For Equal Pay. Also Worked With Volunteer In Domestic Violence And Rape

Issues. Also Loved Fashion Designing. Made Lots Of Paper Dolls In Freshman Year. Never Had

Much Money. Father Was A Laborer In The Paint Factory. Mother Was A Housewife. Also

Took Piano Lessons.

"I've Had A Good Life. I've Been Misfortunate, But Have A Husband, I Graduated From

College. I Have 3 Kids."

First Child: Very Mechanical. Never Went To College. Vocational School. Lives In

First Daughter: Went To College For An Associates In And Went For Massaging

Third Daughter: Went To College To Major In English And The Arts.

Did you Remember Anything As A child?

Couldn't Sit Still. Was 4. Aunt Getting Married. She Was A Flower Girl. Remembers

Sitting There And Fidgeting And Asking Mother Questions And Aunt Got Frustrated. She

Started Crying. Was Always Very Exciting As A Kid For Her. One Thing She Would Do Is

Listen To The Radio. "Tom Micks" "Lone Ranger" Saturday Mornings, A Program Would Read

Stories And She Would Listen To Them, Lying On The Floor With Her Brother. Brother Was 3

Yrs Older. She Was A Tom-Boy. Followed Her Brother. Wouldn't Complain. Usually Dragged

Her. Remembered Living Not Far From Calumet Lake. Took Bicycles To The Lake. Near Onion

Fields, Had This Rowboat, She Was Nervous About It. One Guy Got In The Boat Out Of 4. She

Finally Said Okay. Brother Took Hand, She Put One Foot In Boat and One On Land When The

Boat Was Pushing Off. And She Was Thinking How Her Mother And Father would Think.

Never Told Parents. Parents Were Appalled. Could Never Sit Still. Always Did Activities.

Houses Were Divided By Work Force. Remembers Picnics In The Summer. Father Immigrated

To Chicago From Cesuna, Italy With A Sister And An Older Brother. Worked For A While To

Send To Get More Relatives. Father Didn't Do Too Much And Was Almost Like A Hobo. More

Like A Migrant Worker. Ended Up In Detroit. Came Back To Chicago And Met Her Mother.

Grandmother Lived With Her As She Grew Up Till She Died While Joanne Was 17. Grandfather

Died From The Flu Epidemic In 1918. Brother Was With Her As She Went To Parties. High

School Won State Championship In Football Her Senior Year. Lived From WWII. Remembered

Parents Talking About Pearl Harbor.

Did You Remember A Time You Were Depressed Or Saddened? A Worse View On Life?

" I Don't Think I Ever Did Feel Depressed. I Had Good Parents And Friends." Had A

Strong Circle Of Friends. It Was During A Time Where Being Gay Was Awful. She Was

Influenced By Such Thinking. Kids Would Be Teased. Once She Met someone Who Knew They

Were Gay, Her Mindset Changed. Took Her A Long Time To Get Used to It. Been Very

Fortunate. Remember His Brother Enlisting In Navy, Got Injured And Got Exempted. He Went

To College In Television. He Got A Car. Tragically Died To Electrocution during a rainstorm.

Majorly Affected The Parents. Probably The Only Point Where She Did Become Depressed.

Date: Dec. 20 2016

Name: Joanne Andersen

What Occupation Did You Settle For? Occupation Now?

"Well, I Think I Told You I Didn't Go To College After High School." Worked For IBM

Secretary. Not Till After Kids Went To School She Went To College For Practical Nursing In

'71. Was 31. Worked As A Nurse For Almost 20 Years. Maine Med, Othropedic, Doctor's

Offices, Etc. From 1983-6 Went Back To School And Did Mostly Distant, From St. Leo College

In Florida. Satellite Campus. Got BA In '86 In Counseling. Youngest Went Off To College, So

She Decided On Working Full-Time In Directing Social Services In A Nursing Home From

'86-88. Then, Decided On Getting Masters In Counseling. Went to University Of Tampa. Got

Masters In Rehabilitation Counseling. Was Able To Sit For The State Exam To Become A

Licensed Mental Health Care Counseling In '93. "You Can See My Journey Was A Sertuicous
Journey." When She Got Degree, Went To Work For An Agency For Families In Crisis.

Working With Families In Homes. Provided Counseling For Primarily Around Addiction,

Abuse, Domestic Violence, Parenting. Clients Were Court Ordered, Half Of. Did That For

Around 5 Years. Very Stressful, Went Around The County. Lot Of Travel. When Moved To

West Palm Beach. Started Private Practice With Helping Women With Growing With Change.

Did That For A Few Years.West Palm To Iowa, Didnt Want To Do Private Practice Again. Went

To Work For Insurance Company, Telephone-Based For Mental Health Services Covered By

Medicare From State. Interviewed Nurses Or Clients From Police Or ER. Some Kind Of Contact

With Agency Required In 2000. In 2006, She Retired From Mental Health Services.Very Active

In The Local Church. Pastor And Her Wrote For A Grant For Children Involved In Divorce. One

Of The Few States Without A Commission On The Status Of Women At The Time. Got A

Certificate For Starting Such A Program. Another Thing Done Was Young Psychology. Formed

A Chapter That Met In People's Homes, Resulting In A Library Section Dedicated To The C.G.

Young Society. Now? Fully Retired From Full Pay Work. But Does Artwork With Glass,

Paintings, Etc. Does Quilting With Other Women Once A Week. Belongs To A Bookclub, And a

Women's Literary Group That Presents Papers Each Month. Loves Crossword Puzzles. Active In

Church And Choir, With Some Professional Singing Over The Years.

If You Had A Chance, Would You Do Anything Again? Different?

"Oh! Yes." "I Learned So Much Along The Way. It Gave Me An Understanding Of

People Who Don't Do It The Traditional Way. There Are Options Oftentimes In Life."
Do You Feel Happy With Your Life?

"I Do. Yes, I Do. I Have A Very Supportive Husband And He's Very Loving. I Don't Sit

Around. We Really Do Talk A Lot About Deep Things." She Finds This "Stimulating". "I Like

That He's My Husband And My Friend. Makes For a Lasting Relationship In Anything, Really."

Was There Anything You Regret Now?

When She Was Around 20, Was Doing Professional Singing In Chicago. Sang With

Orchestra. Was Going On The Road. Touring Country. Asked Her To Go As Lead. Said No And

Favored Marriage. Sometimes Thinks "What If?" Also Regretted Learned Another Language.

Have You Thought Of Making Your Own Biography?

"Actually I Have. And I've Started One. I Did A Family Tree. As Far Back As I Can To

Without Ancestry.com." Interviewed Both Parents. Got A Lot OF Information About Her Own

Personal Family Origin. Hopes To Take A Memoir Writing Class. Has A Lot Of Pictures Of

Family Records, Family Licenses, Grandparents Papers.

Date: Unknown

Subject: Joanne Andersen

Question #1:
 Our oldest is a son named Mark. He is 56. Our middle daughter is julie and she is 54.

Our youngest who lives in Denver is Karen. She is 48. We were married in Chicago in 1959

where we both grew up. We met in high school.

Question #2:

My father was Catholic and went to catholic school until 8th grade. My mother was

Protestant. They did not practice their religion but sent my brother and me to the local church

which was Methodist. I attended Sunday school but my faith really became important to me

after my brother died. I searched for answers and struggled to understand his death. I was 19

when he died. From then on my faith became a source of comfort during a crisis and a way of

seeing the world as a good place. The biggest crisis of Course was my brothers death. It helped

me through the death of my parents and through the challenges I have had with my health over

the past 20 years with an auto immune condition.

My mother was born in America in east Boston Her mother came here as a young

woman trying to escape an abusive husband and father. She had a sister living in America. She

met my grandfather on the boat and married him later on a return trip.

My father came here as a 5 year old with his mother, older sister and younger brother

My grandfather was already here and had sent for them. He had come to America for a better

life. He was from a small village in the Italian alps (Cesuna) and opportunities to make a living

were not good in the early 1900's. My grandmother died from peritonitis when my father was

12.
Date: Jan. 13 2017

Interviewers: Joanne & Karl (Husband)

______________

Legend |

A = Me, Alex |

J = Joanne |

K = Karl |

---------------------

A: "So, like I said before. I kind of wanted to, Uhm, I guess look into how you two met up.

Cause we were able to talk a little bit about how you and your husband met in high school.

How'd that go after high school, you know. Into college years when you to were..."

J: "Okay, well I can start with that and you can add on (K: "Yea.") if you think of something. We

actually met in a history class. In high school."

A: "Really?"
J: "Yes. And, Uh, it's kind of a funny story, actually. Because my last name started with 'V' for

Valenti."

K: "Mhmm"

J: "And he was Andersen, which is an 'A'.

A: "Yup."

J: "And they sat you alphabetically back then."

A: *Chuckles*

J: So, there were about Thirty... Thirty Five (K: "Anyway, Yes.") in our class. He [Karl] was at

the far end, the first row. And I was at the back end, with the 'V's and the 'W's. And, you know,

before the teacher came in, we would be chatting, in class and stuff, and the guys were over

there, having fun and they were playing with spitballs. And, I don't know why he chose to do

this. But, for some reason, he [Karl] threw a spitball. All the way across the room. and it hit me...

and went... down there... *gestures down her chest*"

A: "Oh... My...."
J: "*Chuckles* Well, of course, I was... Shocked."

A: *Chuckles*

J: "I mean, I knew him [Karl] from class. But I didn't really know him well. That was the only

contact I had with him. So, I didn't know what to do so I laughed and the gals along with me

were kinda laughing (K: "Laughed. [indescribable]. Move on.") and I was a little embarrassed.

(A:*Chuckles*) That sorta thing.

A: "Yea."

J: "But then I think afterwards I think didn't you apologize?"

K: "Mhmm."

J: "On the way out? I mean, it was after class and I Think you apologized on the way out. And

we kinda talked about it. He [Karl] was, sorta dating, if you could call it dating. We used to have

Friday night socials.

A: "Ohhh. Yup."
J: "And there would be dancing. He [Karl] was going with a very good friend of mine. (A:

*Chuckles*) Barbara. And, I was... not really dating but was kind of going with somebody. Uhm,

I think that was when I was going with... Ken. Your best friend, Ken. Or Robert Wood.

K: "I think it was Bob Wood."

J: "Yea. And, so, uh, on the Friday night social, we were sitting around, you know, and we just

got together. So, we ended up double dating. to a couple different events during school. Uh, and

when the prom came in, the senior Prom, he [Karl] took Barbara, my best friend. and I went with

his best friend, Ken. And so we double dated for our Prom. So that's where it kinda was but we

really weren't... dating each other."

K: "Yea."

J: "And then after high school, I did not go to college right away. (A: "Yes.") I went to work.

And, uh, since we both graduated mid-year, which was in January rather than June because they

had such large classes that they had to divide our class, he [Karl] went off to college in the fall.

But that first few months, from January to fall, Uhm, he worked. So, anyway, he was home over

the christmas holiday the following year, this was a year later after we graduate. And, he had

my my mail my mail route.

K: I had her mail route. I was delivering mail for the post office.
J: Yea. They used to hire on extra kids at christmas time to deliver mail.

A: Oh wow!

J: Yea. So, anyway, he had my mail route and I was off to church one Sunday, when they were

delivering on Sunday. And we started chatting, and he [Karl] asked me out on a date. So, we

started dating, and since he was going back to college, he asked me if I would write to him and i

said Sure. So, I started writing to him, and then he invited me to college, to one of their big

dances because he is an independent, so it wasnt a fraternity but it was

K: Well, the dance that we went to was a dance for the whole campus. (J: The first was one,

yes.) Yea.

J: And so I went to that dance, and we would continue to write to each other. Then, the

following summer, he [Karl] was home, and we started dating again. We went to, like, uh, stock

car races and things like that. And then, that summer, my brother died.

A: Mmmmm

J: I think I told you in the note he was electrocuted. And it was just a terrible shock to my

whole family, Karl was just he was really there for me. I mean, he was, like a lot. He [Karl]
didnt ask me a lot of questions, he didnt try to make me feel better, he just was there. He

would come over- He was working. And after work, he [Karl] would come over and we would

go for a walk or we would sit on the from porch steps. And he would just sit there with me. If I

wanted to talk, I would talk. But otherwise, he would sit with me.

A: Huh

J: And, you know, that was a way for me to get through some of the difficult times. And he

was also contemplating going into the ministry at that time. Although I dont know if you had

definitely made up your mind at the time. *Gestures to Karl* So, Uhm, I think I talked about my

music and how I was still singing at the time. And so, during that fall, and into the next winter,

uhm, I did a lot of gigs with the weekend trio that I sang with. But, I would also go up to college

for him [Karl], for dances. And, Uhm, I dont know. What else can you add?

K: Not much. It just slowly grew. It-it came out of a friendship.

J: Yea. It really developed out of a friendship. I mean, I thought, you know, there were lots of,

you know, sort of, jock guys in school that gals were looking to go out with and be boyfriend

with, girlfriend with, you know. And I always thought that was cool. I was considered to be

rather popular in school. But, uh, Karl was more, I woulda thought, Intellectual. Kind of a

serious guy. Not somebody at the time I wouldve taken seriously. Just a Nice thought. But, after

going through that experience with him, I realized that nice guys have a lot more than just being
nice, theres an underlying ability to interact with people at a different level, you know,

empathetic and, uh, listen, and care about people. So, that opened my eyes to that experience.

And I said Hey, hes a pretty nice guy. I think ill keep him.

A: *Chuckles*

J: So, we started a serious relationship and we were engaged during his senior year. In. Uh.

No, wait! Your junior-junior year (K: End of my junior year.) right! In his junior year, uh, we

got engaged in March. And we were married the after he graduated from college. And, uhm, I

took some college courses after work when I was working, but I didnt go to college right away.

A: Yup.

J: So my experience with going to college was much later by taking a course here and a course

there and then I took a nursing practical nursing course. And worked as a nurse for a while.

And then, later, when our kids were Uh Well, the two older ones were grown and the

youngest one was still home. I wanted to finish my college degree so I started taking classes right

through the year that I was working and finished my undergraduate in 1986 I think.

K: Was it 86? that was the year that

J & K: Karen graduated from high school.

J: And then, I needed to work while she was in college. So, I did work. But, I guess it was

like The year she graduated from college I applied for taking a masters degree. And I got my

masters degree in Counseling. So, my education was pretty peaceful all the way along, but I

never doubted that I wanted to finish college. And that I wanted to do something professionally

with a good degree. In order to do counseling, you had to have a masters degree, which I did do

that. So, uh, I would say there were probably times when we didnt have a lot of money, our

family managed to get by on his [Karls] salary and what little I could earn. Uh, we took

vacations every year but we always took very cheap vacations *chuckles*

K: Because we usually came home to family. If we were in New England, our family was in the

Midwest.

J: And then my parents moved to Florida. And so, we would drive. We would take everybody in

the car. And along the way we would eat, wed eat McDonalds or Kentucky Fried Chicken.

*chuckles* you know, and stay with my parents. And, but wed always have a lot of fun. We

always laughed a lot, we played games in the car, like How many Volkswagens could you

count? and wed count out all the cars that were red, or wed sing. We always sang. My family

always loves singing songs. But, that was pretty much our vacations. Cause we never took a real

vacation other than family until Well, one of our commissioners owned a camp up on old lake

and they let us have it for a week. So, we would sometimes go up to their camp and have the

camp for a week. but that was the extent of our travel because we go to Florida. And I didnt
know I did have some health issues that started probably in the 90s. And that was a struggle

Because I didnt know at the time what the problem was. I kept having to go to the doctors to

try to figure out what the problem was and finally I was diagnosed with an autoimmune

condition. And being as a nurse, I did a lot of

K: Research.

J: Looking up on whatever I could find information on it. It was just around the time that

computers were starting to get popular but there wasnt a lot out there. And learned that I wanted

to not go with some of the medications that would be uh recommended cause they were

pretty toxic. So I got hooked up with an acupuncturist and a massage therapist and I did a lot of

things looking into spirituality and self-care. And trying to find ways to deal with this without

having to get into heave-duty medication. So, that was a struggle and we did a lot of talking

about that.

A: Uhm, Karl, from your point of view (K: Yes?), how was it handling your wife being

diagnosed with this condition and trying to figure out what was going on with her?

K: Well, it was troubling at first because we really didnt have any clear idea and where we

were living at the time in Florida, uh, we didnt have much access except to primary conditions.

Uh, some of the specialists we had werent willing to go along with her and to work it out. So,
we had to devise our own plan. And I think it was out treatment plan. We worked on it together.

But it was frustrating, and it was challenging at times.

(TBC)
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Illinois."Historic Pullman Foundation - Pullman Historic District, Chicago, Illinois.

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Puthi, Sandhya, Michael F. Picco, Elizabeth Rajan, and Kenneth G. Berge. "Peritonitis." Mayo

Clinic. Mayo Clinic Staff, 31 Mar. 2015. Web. 13 Jan. 2017.

Petersen, Richard W. "MMC." MMC. Unknown, n.d. Web. 16 Jan. 2017.

Williams, Don. "The Jung Page - Home." The Jung Page - Home. The Jung Center, 01 Jan.

2006. Web. 09 Jan. 2017.

Andersen, Joanne. Personal interview. 13 Dec. 2016.

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Andersen, Joanne. Personal Interview. 10 Jan. 2017

Andersen, Joanne & Karl. Personal interview. 13 Jan. 2017.