Part V

This is Part V and the final portion to my project, the video.

Part IV

This is Part IV of my project. It is the storyboard for the final product, the video (Part V). This portion was mainly for my own guidance in creating the video and for my instructor, but feel free to view it. Here is the link:

https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/1VwIyudXJLNPv4bVF5pVhl4fBKqG-xYWhH9HwwWddSsA/pub?start=true&loop=false&delayms=60000

Storyboard

Currently, I am working on Part IV of my project. I am creating a storyboard for a digital story dedicated to my Grandpa. My digital story will include pictures, text, narration, and more. I will keep you updated. 

Here is a picture of my grandpa and grandma with their four children (left to right): Janella, Joanna, Jeffrey, and John. 

Part III: The Essay

When my brother and I were younger, my maternal grandmother always told us we were lucky that all but one grandparent were alive. Growing up, she never knew any of her grandparents, as they died by the time she was two years old. Ironically, today she is my only living grandparent. As I reflect now at a more mature age, I realize that growing up, fate didn’t afford me the opportunity to experience day to day interaction with my grandparents. I reflect back on past memories of my maternal grandfather, John Ronald Schnupp, who died on October 12, 2009 when I was just ten years old. I remember not quite understanding the impact his death would have on everyone. As I reflect now, I am grateful for the time I knew my grandfather, even if he lived far away in a small town called Ephrata, Pennsylvania. My grandfather was like a bridge, linking the past to myself in the present. These past few months, I have had the opportunity to gain insight on who he was—and still is, as his memory lives on. Throughout my writing, I will identify my grandfather not by his name, but as the person he was to me—Grandpa.

Grandpa was born on October 13, 1945 in Stevens, PA, to Roy Howard Schnupp and Bertha Groff Schnupp. His parents worked in farming and landscaping sales. Grandpa was a hardworking farm boy; although he wished to remain in school, his father thought he should work on a farm, so Grandpa went to work on a dairy farm in addition to working on his own family’s farm. Growing up, Grandpa had plenty of responsibilities—feeding the steers, collecting eggs, and feeding the chickens and pigs. He also worked in the fields planting crops and maintaining two large gardens. In addition, he took part in the yearly butchering of a steer and two pigs. Grandpa was an easygoing and dependable person, and he always got along well with his siblings; he had red hair and freckles and kept himself neat. While he wasn’t working, Grandpa liked playing games outside—baseball, croquet, and kick the tin can; he also enjoyed table games like Monopoly in the winter months on Sunday afternoons with his father. Grandpa’s parents taught him faith in Jesus Christ and instilled in him values of responsibility and strong work ethic, thus accounting for his assiduous working behavior. Living for Jesus (not the same thing as religion) was something Grandpa valued greatly. Before he met my grandmother, he almost drowned. Because of this event, Grandpa had a “born again” experience and wanted to live his life serving and pleasing God.

Grandpa met my grandmother, then Edith Martin, through Marriage Encounter through a church. My grandparents had their first date in August of 1963 when my grandma was a senior at Ephrata High School. Mary Jane, Grandpa’s sister, played the role of the “mail girl,” delivering Grandpa’s letters to Grandma at school. In June of 1965, my Grandpa and Grandma were married at my maternal great grandparents’ home; it was a gorgeous day, with the roses in full bloom. They spent their first two years of marriage living in Boston, where Grandpa served his country during the Vietnam War. As a Mennonite and pacifist, Grandpa was not allowed to partake in the actual fighting and violence of the war; he was given the alternative of working as an orderly in the operating room at the New England Baptist Hospital in Boston, Massachusetts. My grandmother herself served as a ward aid; both served two year terms. As a “1W” worker under the supervision of a retired military figure, Grandpa and the rest of the God-serving farm boys were intimidated and feared harsh punishment. However, their commitment and tenacity won the supervisor’s respect; even many years after the war, Mr. Booth visited my grandparents once in a while once they moved back to Pennsylvania. My grandparents’ first two years of marriage allowed them to share many experiences of growing and working with one another. Even though they were very poor, they were very happy. Grandpa’s first son, John, was born in May of 1966 in Boston. After those two years, Grandpa and his family moved back to Pennsylvania, and they lived in two different homes in New Holland before moving back to Ephrata permanently. His second son Jeff was born in September of 1967, my mother Joanna in February of 1968, and Janella in September of 1970. Grandpa was a great father, and he always was very good with babies and children, his own and other ones as well. He seemed to inherit this trait from his own grandfather. Grandpa firmly believed in his children respecting and obeying their parents, as well as consequences if they did not. Once back in Pennsylvania, Grandpa worked at Martin’s as a limestone truck driver; he hauled limestone for farmers’ fields and stone for road construction/projects. Grandpa had always wanted to finish high school, so he obtained his GED. Serving “1W” in the war sparked a care giving interest in him; after he obtained his GED, Grandpa went to practical nursing school. He worked as an LPN (licensed practical nurse) at West Reading Hospital for almost 9 ½ years, but had to leave because the income was not sufficient to support his children who were beginning college. This was a very hard experience on Grandpa—he was forced choose money over the occupation he loved dearly. He went back to truck driving for a while, working for various companies. Eventually though, he returned to nursing; after taking a refresher course, Grandpa worked as an industrial nurse at Tyson Foods. His last job, however, was at Helping Hands, a daycare for children who, due to health problems, could not go to regular day care centers. Grandpa was known to all there as “Papa John.” He loved his job, and the children loved him as a fatherly figure.

Not only was Grandpa loved by many, but he also loved his family and especially my grandmother with all his heart, constantly reminding her. He even asked her at one point, “Is it possible to love you too much?” Grandpa was very special to my grandmother, however, she felt sometimes he was too outspoken, but there was never a doubt on how he felt about issues. My grandmother told me that of course there would have been people who did not like him, but it didn’t seem to bother him. Grandpa was appreciative of music, and he was a wonderful singer himself. At one point, he joined Christian Heralds men chorus and sang baritone. When he sang in church, he sang tenor. As an adult, Grandpa’s hobbies included singing, playing games, traveling, and coin collecting. He also took part in the Ephrata Farmshow every year, placing 1^st to 3^rd in crop exhibition for his tomatoes, squash, pumpkin, and Indian corn. However, the one thing he probably loved the most was visiting his cabin, "Cozy Cove." Grandpa fell in love with the place as soon as he laid eyes on it. It was a lovely place, out in the woods on a mountain, a little stream nearby; the cabin was set at the base of a rolling hill, surrounded by countless tall trees. Grandpa loved sitting on the porch and watching the deer and turkey and taking in the beauty of God's work that surrounded him. Grandpa loved the familiarity of his cabin, though he and my grandmother also traveled extensively once their children had grown up. He visited many places around the world, including Germany, Austria, Luxembourg, France, Japan, Israel, Canada, and Mexico (when they visited my family in Brownsville). However, his favorite place was Switzerland. 

When I was younger, I must admit I was a little shy around Grandpa. For one thing, I didn’t see him on a daily basis, so I wasn’t so emotionally attached to him; to identify him as someone I was connected to by blood was possible, yet it was odd to fathom I was that closely connected with someone whom I only saw every few years. I remember being so afraid of his scratchy beard as well. However, I mostly remember what a loving and playful person he was; I can still vividly remember almost all our interactions and memories. I am grateful for the time I knew Grandpa. I hold the utmost respect and love for him, and gaining insight on the life he lived creates a love that transcends death. Although time passes, the memory of a person’s life lives on. Memories and experiences may blur together, but they create one glowing fire that shines on as a reminder of the past—a reminder that a loved one is still there.

Endnotes:

*Ephrata is a small town in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania. It was originally home to the Ephrata Cloister, a small religious community made up of German pacifists and founded by Conrad Beissel. Ephrata to this day is home to many Mennonite and Amish people, many of whom are of German descent. It only has one high school. To me, Ephrata kind of has that small town feel like Brownsville.

*The Ephrata Farmshow was and still is an annual event that takes place the third week of September. It is a community event that consists of contests. Participants can enter crops for crop exhibition, as well as farm animals.

*To learn more about these, please refer to my blog post called "Part II."

 Sources

"The Ephrata Cloister History." Ephrata Cloister, Ephrata, PA. The Ephrata Cloister, n.d. Web. <http://www.ephratacloister.org/>.

"About NEBH." Orthopedic Hospital & Care Center. New England Baptist Hospital, 2015. Web. <http://www.nebh.org/>.

"Three Mile Island." Three Mile Island Emergency. Dickinson College, 2007. Web. <http://www.threemileisland.org/>.

Other sources included emailing my grandmother, a letter from my great aunt, and my mother

The Funeral

Here are some photos from my Grandpa's funeral

Childhood Years

I received the letter from my great aunt Mary Jane in the mail yesterday. I was able to learn some things about my grandpa's childhood.

My great aunt described my grandpa as "dependable" and "easy going." He was cute with red hair and freckles. His parents taught him and his siblings faith in Jesus Christ, responsibility, and a strong work ethic.

My grandpa enjoyed playing the outdoor games baseball, croquet, kick the tin can. I can personally say "kick the can" is super fun, as I remember playing that with my second cousin during one of the many times I visited Pennsylvania. My grandpa also enjoyed table games like Monopoly in the winter months. He also liked spending his Sunday afternoon with his father.

Growing up, Grandpa helped out with all the farm chores--feeding the steers, collecting eggs, and feeding the chicken and pigs. He also helped grow crops and take care of two large gardens. In addition, he took part in the yearly butchering of one steer and two pigs. Grandpa enjoyed school and got good grades, though he had to drop out in 9th grade because his father wanted him to work on a farm; my grandpa worked on a dairy farm and on his family's farm as well.

My grandpa still wanted to finish high school. Later, he earned his GED and went to nursing school after he married. My great aunt Mary Jane wrote, "I think his interest in nursing was sparked by serving '1W' time in Boston, rather than going to the military, when drafted."

Something interesting and cute I learned is that when she was a freshman, Mary Jane was the "mail girl," delivering the letters that my grandpa and grandma wrote to one another when my grandma was a senior at Ephrata High.

Old Photographs

Here are some old photographs I found of my grandpa.


Here he is in the yellow shirt. The other men are two of his brothers. (Photo credits to Uncle John)

Here was a setup (at his funeral) of some old family photos.

Here I am sitting on my Grandpa's lap for a photo taken at my maternal great grandmother's funeral.

Here is a (somewhat) selfie of my grandpa, circa Christmas 2008 when he and my grandma visited us. He took this with an actual camera though. 

Part II

My research is all but complete. I am currently still waiting on the letter from my great aunt Mary Jane (Grandpa's sister) so I can document my grandfather's childhood. Though I do not have this information yet, I know he was born October 13, 1945. I was able to learn more about my grandpa by email-interviewing my grandma.

He and my grandma had their first date in 1963 and were married June 5, 1965. For their first two years of marriage, both of my grandparents worked at the New England Baptist Hospital in Boston, where my Uncle John was born. After that, they moved to New Holland, PA, soon moving back home to Ephrata, PA. My grandfather also became the father of another son, Jeffrey, and two daughters, Joanna and Janella. My Grandma says he was a great dad and loved taking care of babies and children (theirs and in general), an "inherited trait" from his grandfather. Grandpa also instilled respect in his children. He loved my grandma very much, and at one point asked her, "Is it possible to love you too much?" 

From my Grandma's interview, I can truly see my grandfather was a hard worker. Before he married, Grandpa had to drop out of school to work. He worked on a dairy farm and on his own farm, and he also worked as a cashier at Hollinger's Market as well as at a shoe factory. After returning from Boston, he became a truck driver, delivering limestone. He went to nursing school in 1974, got his GED, and became an LPN (Licensed Practical Nurse, or LVN) in 1976. He worked at West Reading Hospital for almost 9 and 1/2 years, but left to find a better paying job to support his children starting college; he went back to truck driving. Eventually he returned to nursing, his passion; his last job was at Helping Hands, a day care for children with health problems. There, "Papa John" was loved by all. 

Grandpa loved music and singing, playing games, coin collecting, and traveling. He and my grandma visited Switzerland, Germany, Austria, Luxembourg, France, Japan, Israel, Canada, and Mexico (when they visited us in Texas). However, the majority of their international travel was after their children were grown. Grandpa also spread his warmth and care when they hosted more than 50 international students. 

As most of his life was spend in Ephrata, PA, there were several community and area events that occurred during his lifetime. One was the Ephrata Farmshow, which occurs every year for the entire third week of September. There, he entered his crops in the crop exhibition, often placing 1-3 and bringing home prize money; he was known for his tomatoes, squash, pumpkin, and Indian corn. Another significant event that occurred during my grandfather's lifetime was the Three Mile Island nuclear emergency. This occurred in Middletown, PA on the Susquehanna River, about an hour from Ephrata. A partial nuclear core meltdown of TMI's Unit 2 reactor occurred due to equipment failure. My grandpa and his family were frightened just like everyone else in the area, relying on news from the radio since they were Mennonite and did not have TV. It is important to also mention the historical and cultural milieu. Ephrata is a small town located in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania. It was originally home to the Ephrata Cloister, a religious community founded by German Conrad Beissel. Ephrata has not changed dramatically from the 1970s to present; much of it remains the same. There are many Mennonites and Amish people, and the population is largely homogeneous (mostly white of Swiss or German descent). It is home to farmland and small businesses, and it has only one high school. 

Family Tree

Here is a family tree. You will find my grandfather, John Ronald Schnupp, along with his wife Edith Schnupp and their children. You will also see my grandfather's parents and grandparents. The black stripe in the corner indicates the person is deceased. 

The Caregiver

New England Baptist Hospital (NEBH) provides orthopedic surgery and treatment for musculoskeletal diseases. It is nationally recognized as one of the nation's top hospitals for orthopedics and has ranked in the 95th percentile. For the past seven years, NEBH has received the Press Ganey Summit Award for its high customer satisfaction. In addition, it is also affiliated educationally with Tufts University School of Medicine, Harvard School of Public Health, and Harvard Medical School.  

What does this have to do with my grandpa? Well, before New England Baptist Hospital became the prestigious and premier medical hospital it is today, it was originally a small and poor hospital in Boston, Massachusetts. It was there that my grandpa served his country in an unconventional yet significant way.

Being raised Mennonite and a pacifist, Grandpa could not fight in the Vietnam War. The Mennonites were given alternative choices for service instead of being enlisted in the military. Shortly after Grandpa married my grandmother in Pennsylvania (where they both grew up), they moved to Boston, Massachusetts. There, he served a two year term for the New England Baptist Hospital. Classified as "1W," he worked as an orderly in the operating room. My grandmother also served a two year term as a ward aid.

The 1W men were under the supervision of Mr. Booth, a retired military personnel. Because of this fact, the 1W men were intimidated by Mr. Booth, fearing harsh treatment. However, the men were God-serving farm boys, and their commitment to their work won the supervisor's respect. Oddly enough, even after Grandpa and Grandma returned home to Pennsylvania, Mr. Booth's respectful admiration and friendship continued. My mom recounts Mr. Booth visiting periodically during her childhood and teenage years.

Childhood Research

I am at the beginning phase of my "research" about Grandpa. 

Today, I am sending out a letter to my great aunt Mary Jane Schnupp, Grandpa's sister, in Pennsylvania. She is Mennonite (plain) and does not to use email, Skype, computers, ect. Therefore, I gladly wrote a good old-fashioned letter to her, giving her some interview-like questions to answer concerning my grandfather's childhood. As his younger and only sister and one of his few siblings still alive today, I know she will be able to give me valuable and insightful information. Her views and willingness to share are greatly appreciated, and I am very grateful for that. 

I am also currently working on a family tree. I enjoy the progress and being able to see how my family has "branched out" to be what it is today.

All in all, this has been a truly enriching experience so far. I look forward to continuing my research. I plan to learn more about my grandfather's married adult life through my grandmother. 

"Mom, are you okay?"

It was an October afternoon. It was that time of year where, even though we don't have "4 seasons" here in the valley, it was starting to feel like autumn. I was ten years old in fifth grade.

My little brother and I were playing with the electric keyboard in our bedroom (which we shared at the time). Music filled the room as we played and danced around in glee, free of worries.

I left the room and went into the kitchen. At that moment, the phone rang. It was a call from Pennsylvania, and my mom answered it. Shortly thereafter, her whole face changed. I had never seen her with this expression before. Her eyes were filled with tears, and her voice wavered as she continued to talk on the phone. After she hung up, I asked, "Mom, are you okay?" She replied yes, and shortly thereafter took my brother and me to swim practice.

That night after swim practice, there was a certain quiet at the dinner table amongst m mom, dad, brother, and myself. Afterwards, we sat down in the living room on our sofa, where she told us the news. "Grandpa died."

I didn't know how to react. In fact, I didn't have much of a reaction, let alone an emotional one. I had many cherished memories of my grandpa, but I never saw him on a daily basis because he lived in Ephrata, Pennsylvania. Upon hearing the news, I simply thought to myself, That means I will never see him again. I only have Grandma now. At that age, I understood what death meant, but not to the capacity I do now. I realized he was gone forever, but I didn't fully understand the impact it would have on my mom and the rest of my family and relatives.

Obituary

Here is my grandpa's obituary.

John R. Schnupp, 1945-2009

My blog is dedicated to honoring and documenting the life of my maternal grandfather, John R. Schnupp.

Grandpa is buried in Lititz, Pennsylvania.

The epitaph reads:

I am the resurrection and life. He that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live.  John 11:25

The song is ended but the melody lingers on.