I’m a grandpa!
My grandson, Noah Duane Shaneyfelt, arrived this past Sunday afternoon.
He weighed in at six pounds, nine ounces and was 20 inches long.
In preparing for our new arrival, my column has been dedicated to my own grandparents during the past three weeks.
You learned about my father’s parents, Henry and Bertha Horn, on January 12 and January 19. Today, I share my memories and learned history of my mother’s parents, James and Heral Farnham.
I never met Grandpa James Farnham, my mother’s father. He died of a heart attack on November 11, 1958, at the age of 55 — some seven months before I was born.
Grandpa Farnham was born in Wheatland, Wyoming, on June 13, 1903, to Edwin and Clara (Templin) Farnham. Edwin lived from 1870 to 1913, and Clara lived from 1880 to 1962. James was raised in Central City, Nebraska, and graduated from Central City High School. During his adult life, Grandpa resided in Plattsmouth, Nebraska City, and Lincoln.
Grandpa and Grandma Farnham owned and operated a café in Plattsmouth during the early 1930s. Grandma was cooking in the café one day and Grandpa was taking care of the kids, holding his youngest daughter (my Aunt Sally), and rocking her and talking to a friend who was visiting when Grandpa witnessed a bank robbery. He grabbed his gun and both he and his friend went to get the robbers. By the time they got downstairs, the robbers had made their escape.
Any musical talent I possess must have derived from Grandpa Farnham. Grandpa played the drums and the bugle. He would often play the drums while my Aunt Clarella (Mom’s oldest sister) would play the piano. My Aunt Sally (Mom’s youngest sister) says Grandpa could whistle beautifully and he whistled “Londonderry Aire” (Danny Boy) while he labored at his workbench. He also could whistle loudly to call his four children home and Grandpa’s whistle was a very high-pitched shriek. Grandpa also helped organize a festival in Plattsmouth each year and served as the drum major that led the parade.
James served in the United States Naval Academy during World War I, joining the Navy at age 15. Grandpa also served in the Navy during World War II where he was stationed at the Great Lakes Naval Station in Illinois as a Chief Gunner’s Mate, teaching sailors how to maintain their guns. Later he was stationed aboard a cargo ship, the USS Seminole, in the Pacific Ocean. It was in the Pacific where my grandfather witnessed the horrors of war, when he came across Japanese soldiers at Okinawa who had recently been killed. Grandpa entered the Second World War in June 1942 at the age of 39 and was discharged on December 20, 1945 at the age of 42. Grandpa also rode troop trains from Illinois to the west coast and back to Illinois chaperoning sailors. Since he was so much older than the enlisted men, the sailors often referred to him as “Pops.” Grandpa Farnham once stopped at the famous North Platte Canteen (located in the Union Pacific depot on North Platte’s Front Street), and one of his sailors was presented a birthday cake by one of the Canteen volunteers. The troop trains would often travel through Lincoln, but the Navy wouldn’t allow Grandpa to call Grandma due to the military secrecy of his travels — even though he was only a few miles from his home.
Between the ages of 11 and 15, my mother seldom saw her father. In her words, “The family simply coped in dealing with his absence.” Mom said Grandma Farnham never complained about her husband being gone, and Mom found strength through her mother’s acceptance of the situation. Grandma Farnham also was at peace with my grandfather’s absence because she knew Grandpa was doing what he wanted to do, serving his country when it most needed him.
During the time that Grandpa was away at war, Grandma had a “Victory” garden at her home at 24th and Washington Street in Lincoln. They were able to self-support themselves with many vegetables. Grandma canned vegetables and meat when she could. Meat was rationed during the war and so people were limited on how much they could buy for their families. Gas was rationed too, but Grandma didn’t have a car at that time. When Grandpa came home, he took over the garden and he would send my mom and Aunt Sally door-to-door selling cucumbers and tomatoes, which was their contribution to help bringing in some income to their family.
In addition to his war gigs, James was employed with the Nebraska Department of Roads as a junior engineer between 1939 and 1958. Like my Grandpa Horn, Grandpa Farnham helped construct the State Capitol building. Ironically, Grandpa Farnham died in the building he helped create. He had attended a Veterans Day breakfast, returned to his office, and collapsed after suffering a heart attack. It was his second heart attack in 11 years. He had his first at age 44 while conducting physical labor for the Dept. of Roads in 1947. Grandpa Farnham is buried at Lincoln Memorial Park, located in southwest Lincoln.
Grandma Heral (Royer) Farnham was born October 12, 1902, in Hardy, Nebraska, to Isaac and Mary Pru-Ella (Davis) Royer. Isaac lived from 1845 to 1931, and Mary lived from 1862 to 1928. Great-Grandpa Isaac Royer served as the Hardy postmaster for 22 years. A 1920 graduate of Lincoln High School, Grandma Farnham worked for the Nebraska State Education Association for over 20 years, retiring in 1969. Her office was across the street from the State Capitol. Grandma was at work when her husband suffered his fatal heart attack.
James and Heral Farnham were married on June 11, 1924 and were wed for 38 years.
Heral was a classy lady who never, ever cursed. Heral was somewhat stricter than Grandma Bertha Horn, but just as loving. Grandma Farnham enjoyed spending time with her 15 grandchildren, and she always helped make birthdays and holidays more meaningful.
During my early years of life, my mom’s mom lived near the intersection of 34th and Randolph in Lincoln, before moving into a mobile home at a trailer park near First and Cornhusker.
Heral suffered a massive heart attack on April 29, 1974, which killed her instantly. She was 71 years old. Grandma Farnham is buried next to Grandpa Farnham in Lincoln Memorial Park.
My grandparents were certainly a vital part of my foundation, and I pledge to do my best to help Noah become a good citizen.