Jim Stocker reminds me that the Illinois flag on the Stocker deck was a hand-me-down from an early Carlin Lake resident, Jack Briscoe. Jack and his wife Kay built and lived in the house presently owned by Gayle Strand. They were an exceedingly likable couple, and those of us who lived here during the 'eighties and 'nineties feel thankful to have known them.
Jack was a professor of civil engineering at the University of Illinois, and he and Kay lived in Urbana IL during school years. But, they looked forward to getting to Carlin Lake for the summers. (Jack used to say he knew he was ready to move north when he had purchased a summer's worth of toilet paper and of scotch.)
I have two favorite memories of Jack Briscoe. One was him telling John and me, as we worried about Kristin getting a "real" job in the 1990's, that any and all experiences in retail sales would be useful for any future job. And, the second was watching Jack at the auction that sold their household furnishings here, after Jack and Kay realized that their health would not allow them to keep their house in the woods. I was so impressed with how he laughed and chatted and faced this lifetime transition with positive good cheer.
Thanks for the memory, Jim, and for the photo of the Illinois flag. When Jack and Kay were permanently back in Illinois, Jim was surprised to get a package containing the flag. Jack thought it only appropriate that another "Illini" would continue to fly the flag at Carlin Lake.
Jim concludes, "And now you know the rest of the story."
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