…Or Should I say “About them?” Jim and Barb Schroedl (my talented parents!) started their retirement business, Stoneworks/Schroedl in 1998.
When most of us think of ‘retirement’ we think: Golf, warm climates, socializing… My parents sort of thought the same thing – Moving heavy cement pieces around is kind of like golf; Minnesota summers are sort of like a warm climate and talking to dozens of people a day at juried art shows around the Twin City area…well that is definitely socializing!!!
Both born and raised in the southern Minnesota German town of New Ulm, Jim and Barb did the “usual” – they moved to the Twin Cities, worked on furthering their education, got married, bought a house on one of the 10,000 lakes and started a family…
Back then, most women stayed home to raise the children while the Father figure went to the office each day from 9-5… Again, Jim and Barb kind of did that…. only with a twist…
With an unsquelchable creative streak (Barb was the original Martha Stewart I always say!) and the hard working, entrepreneurial German blood running thick in her veins, my mom was always feeding the German Turnerverein basics of a healthy life to the three of us… Strong Mind, Strong Body and Strong Spirit…
Barb had my two older brothers and I (gender didn’t matter in our family!) managing paper routes by the time I was in the 3rd Grade – see what I mean?? Exercise for the body (yes, we delivered using our BIKES – riding fervently past the nipping dogs!), exercise for the mind (calculating the overdue amounts for those perpetually out- of- town subscribers) and exercise of the spirit – doggedly going from house to house during the subscription drives to increase our cash flow (see ‘entrepreneurial’ comments above!). All kidding aside – Mom had the right idea!! By 5th Grade we each had our own money to buy the best bikes on the block!! Add to the paper route, endeavors such as the consignment sale of our arts and crafts at a boutique along with house watching, dog sitting and babysitting… well, you can see that my mom was on a perpetual quest for having fun, feeling satisfied, making yourself useful as well as making money all at the same time!
Once all of us were on our way with school and jobs, Barb was able to develop a career that officially taxed her entrepreneurial mind as a program director for the Small Business Development Center (SBDC) on the campus of the College of St. Thomas (now U of St. T.) – She had her hand in many areas of the college and the community, feeding SBDC business cases to CST Marketing Department for capstone class projects, popping up here and there in the Small Bus. Q & A sections of the St. Paul Pioneer Press, also working hard with National Association for Women Business Owners (NABO)…
Now my dad had the same Turnerverein ideas – only with slightly more “work hard, play hard’ angle – traveling and spending active time with the family was key to him – even back then! He was ahead of his generation on that front – With that priority in mind, my dad avoided the strict 9-5 positions and opted for those careers that allowed him incredible flexibility – insurance and real estate… smart guy!
Our year-round weekend ‘work hard’ family routine was the same – Each of us happily (well… pretty much!) worked in the yard or house doing whatever was necessary in order to clear out the afternoon for the prized ‘play hard’ activity - boating, skiing - whatever was in season!! TV on a weekend day was unheard of in our home!
Fast forward 15 years – the three of us kids actually did grow up and leave the house! (2/3 living out of state with all the grandchildren! – including me!) – Jim and Barb’s ‘official’ careers had run their course… what now?? Simple…go back to the Turnerverein basics – find a hobby that combines creativity with physical and mental exercise. Didn’t you automatically think, “concrete??” Jim and Barb did one afternoon after noticing a simple molded cement pot in an antique store…Now, almost 10 years later, they have found a way to share with all of you, a culmination of their lifetime mantras in beautiful, original, concrete art pieces… Enjoy their work… It will last forever like their rules for a healthy life!
Danke Schon!!
Jane (Schroedl) Quigley - Proud, youngest child of Jim and Barb
P.S. – Jim, being a true German, filled his ‘off-concrete season’ empty nest time mastering the complex concertina!! He plays for fun at local parties and the Gasthaus Bavarian Restaurant, but he often brings his concertina along to the art shows too… If you hear his festive polka music echoing through the hills…be sure to follow it to their gorgeous art display and say ‘Guten Tag’ to these lively, fun-loving artists!!!
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