Paula Jean Sukup Johnson

  General Notes:

Paula Jean is the third child of Raymond and Ann Sukup.

She wrote a little booklet, "Do you remember? She did.....
Booklet by Paula around 1998. Wilma stories.

Ray Runs Away!
John and Wilma lived on a farm, the first home they could boast of being theirs. Their little son, Raymond about 3 or 4 years old, decided to leave home over some argument, "I'm going to run away," Raymond said.
Mother Wilma found his little suitcase and Daddy John helped to pack his little pajamas - a clean shirt- overalls and handkerchief.
When all was ready Mother said, "There is no room for any sandwiches or cookies - why don't you eat supper first"?
So after supper - he went to his room and unpacked. That was the only time he decided to run away.

Where, Oh Where Did David Go?
Our youngest son David - one time in the summertime he just disappeared. The family was busy with different job's so the word was spread, "Where's David?" Dad John, and Mom Wilma, brothers Ray and Dan and sister Judy---also the hired man Bill Kotrous - searched over and over every nook. No David.
Finally, Dad John went around the house a different way and spied David sitting in a little corner.
All were happy over his safety except perhaps David. He said, "Sniff, Sniff, I'll never run away and hide again."

Early Fishing Trip
One time Daniel, who was an ambitious lad - no longer a small boy at this time, could do as he pleased. Our farm had a creek - south of the house, a corner pond as it was called - had a few little Buffalo fish - so Dan went fishing.
The pond was spring fed which means it was icy cold and being early in the spring was no place to fall in. Dan slipped in and went out of sight - the pond was very deep - like 15 feet. Finally a very wet and maybe very frightened son was greeted by some worried parents, when he came home soaking wet.

Leg Must Have Hit Back!
1966 - Once in a while Ray and Ann left the small children for a short while at their grandparents, John and Wilma's home.
The oldest son Patrick was left one day for a short while. He was not happy and looked
at Grandpa sorta mean. Grandpa has an artificial leg - Patrick said, "I don't want to stay here - I'm going to hit you."
Patrick raised his hand made into a fist and wham, hit the hard leg. Looking his hand over carefully for any damage, then sat on the davenport couch quietly.

David Polishes Shoes, etc.
One Sunday morning the John and Wilma Sukup family are getting ready for church. David could not get attention from older brothers Ray and Dan. Since his shoes had to be polished he crawled up on the bed - opened the bottle of brown polish and setting the bottle of brown polish down on the bed, proceeded to polish a shoe.
He saw the bottle slowly upset! Mother came to help but the deed was done. No amount of washing, soaking or rubbing even phased the large spot. It was a "Snowflake" quilt, a pretty blue with large snowflakes embroidered on each block. It was for warmth after this, hiding its ugly spot under a spread.
When David married Barbara - they lived in Manhattan, KS. They now have three boys, Garett, Steven and Michael. One visit Grandma Wilma took the blue quilt along, writing the sad story on paper. In the evening she had Garret read the story and Steven showed the quilt. The quilt can now be theirs to used for a cover, under a bedspread!

I might like it!
Timmy, son of Ray and Ann, age three or four years, a neat blond haired boy, was asked by Grandma Wilma to taste some food. Looking at the piece carefully, not recognizing any part of it, looked away and said, "I'm not going to taste it, I might like it."

Name Makes No Difference
Matthew, youngest son of Ray and Ann confused the names of grandparents, calling John by the name of "Grandpa" was fine. He liked John real well, but then he called Wilma the same name, "Grandpa".
After being corrected a number of times he said, "I can't say Grandma, but I can say Wilma." So Grandma was Wilma for a while, which suited her and all the rest.

Little Lost Boy
When our Grandson, Jeffrey Todd Sukup, was entered in the big Methodist Hospital in Omaha to have his tonsils removed, he was less than 5 years old.
Rules dictated that Mom Connie or Dad Dan could not stay overnight before surgery. After the parents left, a black nurses aide gentleman came to visit a bit, and promised to come back and tuck Jeff in. When the nurse returned, no little Jeffrey was there.
After a search here and there - the alarm was spread: "Little boy patient was missing." The hospital called the parents, Dan and Connie and all the people entering and leaving the hospital were questioned. When the parents arrived they also were stopped and questioned. Finally little boy Jeffrey was found curled up sound asleep on the floor under his bed. When he awoke he said, "He didn't want the black nurse to tuck him in."

OOPS, Pie Slipped
Judy, daughter of John and Wilma Sukup, became a whiz at housekeeping - cooking, backing, etc. Only girl with 3 brothers, needed to help and cook at a young age. In May 1954, age 11, Judy took over in the kitchen. Mom Wilma traveled to South Dakota , where her Uncle Roy Hodges lived. Uncle Roy died May 15, 1954. Wilma rode with sister Louise, Ed Klosner and Dad William Van Brocklin to South Dakota for the funeral.
At the farm, all had a lunch and the group went to SD - the family stayed in the Hodges home. The funeral was the next day. Afterward the traveling group returned to the farm. They arrived around 2:00 PM. - Judy now 11 years and an efficient house wife and cook, had a super dinner waiting. Hamburgers, potatoes, gravy, vegetables and salad. Dessert!!! A tragic end to the cherry pie she had baked. It slipped out of her hands and landed upside down on the floor.

Paula married Kurt Johnson on 24 Nov 1989 in York, NE. (Kurt Johnson was born on 18 Mar 1963.)