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About The Siuslaw news. (Florence, Lane County, Or.) 1960-current | View Entire Issue (May 12, 2018)
6A | SATURDAY, MAY 12, 2018 | SIUSLAW NEWS REMINISCE from page 1A “It was a logger town,” Brau- er said. “Fishing was on its way down, that was moving fur- ther north. The population sign said 1,620. There were only two paved streets in town at the time, down Old Town and the highway and the street up to the highway. There were terrible pot holes. In the heavy rain, you couldn’t see them. You would sink six inches down.” He remained busy during that time, servicing the thousands of lumber workers throughout the area. “There were more accidents back then,” he noted. “Back in those days, we did lots of sur- gery. I’d see as many as 50 pa- tients a day.” Brauer also helped deliver a good portion of Florence’s resi- dents into the world. “In the old days, with all the loggers around, they didn’t waste their time,” he said. “We deliv- ered about 90 babies a year. Now we deliver 1 or two a week.” The medical profession ran in Brauer’s family, as his father was a doctor as well. “My father told me that med- icine is the most noble profes- sion. You’re helping people that are suffering. And I loved prac- ticing medicine,” he said. Brauer helped nurture his practice and the hospital for de- cades until it was decided to give the hospital over to PeaceHealth Peace Harbor, which opened its doors in 1989. But the hospital was only a small portion of the things Brau- er helped build over the years. “I was carrying a heavy load in my practice, but also in all the responsibilities I took on,” he said. “I look back and I don’t know why I did that. I thought it was the right thing for the com- munity.” One of the organizations was OPB. “The bank deal was bizarre,” Brauer said. “Some guy who was working at one of the banks in town came into my office feign- ing a need to see a doctor, but that isn’t why he was there. He thought I was a guy to help start a new bank. I have no idea why he thought that.” But the partnership proved fruitful, as Brauer helped bring partners into the fold. He served on the bank’s board for 28 years. A devout Lutheran, Brauer also helped bring about the New Life Lutheran Church in Flor- ence. It was that endeavor that led him to develop Summerset Estates, located directly behind it. “I started it so nobody would come behind the church and do something with the property that would be very negative,” he said matter-of-factly. Brauer also served on the local school board for six years and was instrumental in bringing the Florence campus of Lane Com- munity College to town. All of these experiences led Brauer to being named Florence’s first First Citizen in 1967, which was then sponsored by the Flor- ence Rotary Club. Now, Florence Area Chamber of Commerce in- cludes the Florence First Citizen Award, as well as the Future First Citizen, in the Siuslaw Awards each winter. Beyond his work in Florence, Brauer has also carried his med- ical expertise throughout the world. “I felt that it was proper for me to give my service away to peo- ple who had nothing,” he said. “I always felt that someday I would like to do that.” But in Kenya, his life changed from a terrible automobile acci- dent. “The goats and the sheep pop up on the road,” he said. “And here’s these lads coming up. And if I didn’t avoid them, I’d wipe them out. There was a car I didn’t see. And we just hit head on.” Alice passed away in the crash. Brauer’s foot was caught in the pedals, and he ended up losing his leg. “I’ve had terrible tragedies, but I always eventually got through them,” Brauer said. “And that’s only possible because of what God has done.” It was in Kenya where he met a nun named Catherine who worked at the local hospital. When he arrived back in Flor- ence, Catherine would write to Brauer, checking up on her old patient. “In the correspondence, there was something I cannot explain rationally at all,” he said. “One day I was laying there in bed, and I said to myself, ‘If she was here right now, everything would be okay.’ I wrote and told her, ‘I think I’m falling in love with you.’ She writes back and says to me, ‘I am in love with you.’ Can you believe it?” Brauer said that marrying a nun was the weirdest thing he had ever encountered, but their marriage lasted for decades. They would continue to go back to Kenya, along with other coun- tries throughout the world, do- ing medical work. Almost two years ago, Cather- ine passed away. “We were married 43 and a half years,” Brauer said. “My first wife, we were married 21 years. Two very wonderful women, quite different. But wonderful.” As Brauer’s life has changed, so has the life of Florence, which has grown from a small two-road town to the “City in Motion” it is today. “Watching the changes over time have been interesting,” he said. “I believe, on the whole, that people who have entered this area to live have added to making this a better place. The town is in far better shape, by far, as the town has progressed. There’s a lot of wise people who have come to this area over the years.” As for the future of the city? He believes it looks bright. “With all the retired people around here, seniors, these are the kind of people that I think will contribute a lot with new ideas,” he said. “I know there’s a lot of effort to build up, for the younger people in their 40s and 50s as well. Those people are more ambitious than they were 30, 40 years earlier. It’s absolutely a good thing.” As parade grand marshal, Brauer will be at several events throughout next week’s Rhodo- dendron Festival. As this year’s theme is “Rhody Rendezvous,” people will get the chance to meet Brauer to remember his legacy and continuing impact. For more information on the festival or to purchase discount- ed tickets to the Davis Shows NW Amusement Carnival, which will be at the Port of Siuslaw parking lot beginning on Wednesday, stop in to the Florence Visitor’s Center, 290 Highway 101, or visit florencechamber.com. Backstreet brings ‘Bots and Beguiling Beings’ Backstreet Gallery is accepting applica- tions for the public to submit artwork for The Bots and Be- guiling Beings Show. The art pieces may be of any medi- um. You can pick up applications at the gallery, which will have all the rules and specifics. The due date for applications Backstreet has already begun to is Tuesday, May 15. receive ‘bots and beings’ before the Pamela Vosseller Tuesday deadline. will jury the “Bots and Beguiling Beings” Show that beguiling. “My passion is to learn, and I will be displayed at Backstreet continue to study acrylics, oils, Gallery for the month of June. Vosseller, a nationally known charcoals and encaustics,” Voss- artist, with honors received from eler said. In her paintings, Pame- the Eugene Mayor’s Art Show and Coos Bay Museum, is a la offers a visual story. This published artist in both the De- shouldn’t be a surprise since she nali Literary Arts Magazine and is the writer of many intriguing Cloth Paper Scissors Magazine. short stories, as well. Because she believes that Her work has been shown in the Florence Events Center (FEC) all of us can create, she is now and various venues around Flor- teaching online e-courses. Visit her site for class infor- ence. She has also won awards in the mation and to see her inspir- Celebrate Arts Show at the FEC. ing works at pamela-vosseller. Much of her work has been squarespace.com. She contin- in watercolors and acrylics in- ues to expand her experimenta- cluding mixed media. Pamela tion and also continues to take loves to enhance her art with on-line classes. Be sure to pick up an appli- collage, charcoal, graphite and cation at Backstreet Gallery or fibers. While she has painted many download and print an appli- subjects, her concentration is cation off their website at www. the human form and portrai- backstreetgallery.org Backstreet Gallery is open ture. Her signature painting style makes her uniquely qual- daily 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. and is lo- ified to jury this show, as her cated at 1421 Bay St. in Historic images are truly magical and Old Town Florence. ON THE THIS WEEK COAST A W EEKLY L ISTING OF C OMMUNITY E VENTS IN THE F LORENCE A REA S UBMIT ALL E VENTS I NFORMATION VIA E MAIL TO P RESS R ELEASES @T HE S IUSLAW N EWS . COM Thursdays through May 24 New Testament Class on St. Matthew Taught by Joel Marks, adjunct pro- fessor of American History 6:30 to 8 p.m. Open to public; refreshments served Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints Tuesdays Yoga for Pain Management & Easeful Body Sponsored by PeaceHealth Peace Harbor 2:30 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. Free and drop-ins welcome Lane Community College Florence Center Wednesdays Points of Grace Community Acupuncture Experience relief from pain and stress 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Donations appreciated 1845 Highway 126 May 12 Oregon Dunes Triathlon 6 a.m. Registration fee; volunteers needed Woahink Lake on Canary Road oregondunestriathlon.com from Smokin’ Pops BBQ optional Lane Community College Florence Community Chorus Mother’s Day Concert 7 p.m. Open to public Presbyterian Church of the Siuslaw Florence Garden Club Plant Sale & 541-997-3469 Marketplace + Florence Senior Center Food Fundraiser Roger Clyne & The Peacemakers 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. 8 p.m. Open to public with a menu avail- Tickets required able all day Three Rivers Casino Florence Senior Center May 13 BioBlitz: Migratory Bird Day 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Open to public Cape Perpetua Florence Area Democratic Club Meeting 11 a.m. Open to public Siuslaw Public Library Alva Bracey Broker Your goals are my top priority. Let’s get together! Call, Text or Email Cell: 541-505-1180 Siuslaw Area Partnership to Call 541-997-8104, Florence Antiques & Coast Jewelers Port of Siuslaw Commissioners Meeting 7 p.m. Open to public Port of Siuslaw Office May 17 Rhododendron Court Coronation 6:30 p.m. Tickets required Florence Events Center May 19 Late Rhododendron Flower Show 1 to 5 p.m. Open to public Florence Events Center May 20 Late Rhododendron Flower Show 1o a.m. to 5 p.m. Open to public Florence Events Center Visit rivercal.org for more calendar events. Phone (541) 997-9497 1234 Rhododendron Dr / Florence County Transfer & Recycling jmirvis@charter.net Florence, Oregon May 16 Auto, Home, Life, Business Flood, Antique Auto, RV’s Medicare Advantage Plans Medicare Supplements Health Insurance CCB# 55030 Awards • Plaques • Name Badges Gifts • Signage • Glassware 541-997-5691 541-361-9080 111th annual Rhododendron We buy, sell and consign quality estate/heirloom jewelry & furniture. Gold, silver, platinum jewelry with precious & semi precious stones. COAST REAL ESTATE Disabled American Veterans Monthly Meeting Installation of new officers 5 p.m. Members encouraged to attend Florence DAV Building 1715 21st St. Festival “Rhody Rendezvous” Florencechamber.com ESTATE JEWELRY AND ANTIQUE FURNITURE!!! Alva@CBCoast.com Us TOO Florence Prostate Cancer Support Group With Dr. Roger McKimmy Noon to 1 p.m. Open to public Ichiban Restaurant 541-999-4239 May 16 to 20 May 14 541-997-7777 100 Hwy. 101, Florence, OR CUSTOM ENGRAVING & CUTTING May 15 Diabetes/Pre-diabetes Support Group 2 p.m. Open to public Siuslaw Public Library Mother’s Day Celebration Noon Open to public Florence Elks No. 1858 1686 12th St. Community Chorus Mother’s Day Concert 3 p.m. Open to public “Dinner on the Wild Side” Wildlife Presbyterian Church of the Siuslaw 541-997-3469 of the Oregon Dunes Presented by Vision Quest 5:30 p.m. Open to public; dinner purchase Prevent Substance Abuse 3:30 p.m. Open to public Siuslaw Public Library sappsa@oregonfast.net Glass For Every Purpose Commerical • Residential Weekly, Bi-Weekly, Monthly, One Time Pick-Up. 1780 Kingwood St. Easy curb side recycling program- No additional costs to our customers. 5078 Coastwood Lane 541-997-8526 Call us at 541-997-8233
