Union, Nebraska

UNION NEWS
January 20, 2005

GEOFFREY PAGE:
This weekend, we lay to rest a long time Union resident, Geoffrey Page. Geoff lost his battle with cancer on Jan 12th after fighting for 10 years. It was just a year ago we celebrated his wife of nearly 35 years, Emiko, achieving her goal of becoming a U.S. citizen. Geoff retired after serving 20 years from the Air Force as a Master Sergeant in 1982.

As we all do when we lose a dear friend, we share many memories. As I spoke with some people around town, Geoff is remembered as a gentle, quiet person (until he got to know you that is). For most of us in the neighborhood, there are so many things that Geoff did that made him special. Some of the memories shared by his friends about Geoff the most was his pride in his children, Robert, Richard & Kimberly; & the apple of his eye, granddaughter Alexis. He had the love of cooking shows (he promised he’d cook for us) & never missed doing the Sunday crossword puzzles. Discussing politics & current affairs, his interest in learning anything new, meticulous about himself & his home, & always referring to himself in third person made Geoff memorable. His friends & neighbors will always miss him & (in Geoff’s own words) he’ll always be young & cute.

COLD WEATHER TIPS:
If you haven’t done so, please be sure all hoses are disconnected from the faucets as they will freeze and cause serious problems.

Be sure to clear your sidewalks & do not throw the snow & ice into the streets. This is illegal as well as dangerous.

Please keep in mind your outdoor pets. They need to have adequate, dry & warm housing. They also need ready access to fresh water. Pets will dehydrate very quickly in this weather & thinking snow is a substitute for a water source is not enough. Keep an eye on their feet & ears for frostbite.

Check on your neighbors. In this weather, some people will not go out for fear of falling. So pick up the phone or go over to check on them in case they need some help. Depression is also an issue to watch for as “cabin fever” can set in quickly.