DENVER ROOTS

 Uncle Ralph's farm up in Virginia Dale, Colorado, 1967.

Here is Tom, in 1967, petting one of Uncle Ralph's cows as Uncle Ralph looks on.

That's me, Mike, peering over the shoulder of one of Uncle Ralph's cows in 1967.

Love this photo.  Sally took it.  I remember lining up for this.  From foreground to background is Mike, Dad, Joe on Mary's right, Tom clutched under Mary's left arm, and Mary between them.  This is a great picture of all of us, but particularly of Dad.  He looks young and fit here.  He always looked fit.  The place is Virginia Dale, Colorado.  The year is 1967.

This is a card I received from Aunt Gertrude upon my high school graduation in 1975.  

She starts

Dear Mike--

The card inscription reads 

Congratulations and much success in everything you do.

And she continued, 

May God be with you all the way--
Much love to a dear Nephew. 

Aunt Gertrude.

It's funny.  Dad is her nephew, yet I feel privileged and kind of funny as she calls me her nephew.  That's sweet, Aunt Gertrude.  I do love you.

Front and center is clever and constructing Joe Walgenbach.  Over his right shoulder is Mike Walgenbach.  Over his left shoulder is the insightful, fearless, and artistic Tom Walgenbach.  Behind us from left to right is the sweet and family-loving Mary, our hero, artistic, Catholic, and Marine father, and his loving and generous, Aunt Gertrude.  The year is 1967.

Bob Bergman and Joe Walgenbach, 1967, on the Bergman farm in Brighton, Colorado.

 Bob Bergman's great horse, Gypsy.

The Bergman's horse, Gypsy, and their dog, Blue-Boy on their farm.