Grandparents (front, l-r) Frank and Kathy Moyers were nominated by Emma Moen (back) as Granton’s Honored Grandparents.
The Moyers will be recognized at the Granton Fall Festival Sept. 8 at 7 p.m.  
Submitted photo

 

By Cheyanne Thomas/TRG

An author whose name is lost to history once wrote, “Grandparents are the footsteps to the future generations.”

First raising their children, grandparents pass down values that shape and form the generations that come after them. For Emma Moen, the granddaughter of Kathy and Frank Moyer, her grandparents taught her many of the values she tries to live by and inspired her and the rest of the Moyers’ grandkids to follow their example.

The Moyers were selected as this year’s Honored Grandparents by the Granton FFA Alumni. The couple will be honored during the Granton Fall Festival Sept. 8-10. They will be recognized at the Queen coronation held Sept. 8 at 7 p.m. in the Granton Fire Hall and will be included in the Fall Festival parade on Grandparent’s Day, Sept. 10.

Emma wrote this year’s winning essay about her grandparents after trying for their nomination for the past several years.

“These two people have supported my sister and I so much growing up,” reads an excerpt from her nomination letter. “They were always there for rides and to babysit. They show up to every school and sporting event that they can. My grandma always sends encouraging text messages before any event we have. They love it when the whole family can get together, even though it gets quite crazy. We definitely have had our fair share of bumps in the road, but nonetheless we always get through it much stronger. My grandparents have done an amazing job of creating a gracious and loving family.”

Frank grew up in Drummond and graduated from Drummond High School in 1971. After graduation, Frank said he went into the Marines where he served for 12 years, being stationed in San Diego, CA. Once he was discharged from the service, Frank came back to Wisconsin, working at various companies until his retirement.

“I was about two months out of school before I joined the Marines,” he said. “[Afterwards,] I actually didn’t have a career; I started working odd jobs here and there. I had special training in communications (in the military), but back then it was hard to get into communications. They weren’t hiring back then.”

“My grandpa Frank is one of the kindest and most generous people there is on this earth,” Emma wrote about her grandfather in her nomination letter. “This man will give anything for the people he loves without hesitation. He spoils all us grandkids and great grandkids rotten. He will support any decision and life adventure you may have, and he always makes sure everyone is happy and comfortable. My grandpa is an amazing storyteller; he loves creating wild stories that will entertain anyone.”

Kathy is a native of Medford and graduated from Medford High School in 1986. She worked in the medical field throughout her life, getting her start as a volunteer medical aide in high school. She retired from Marshfield Clinic three years ago and has since been enjoying retirement with her husband.

“My grandma Kathy is one of the strongest and most passionate people that I know,” read Emma’s letter about her grandmother. “She had been through many hardships in her life but remains very happy and uplifting. Her laugh is very contagious, and her attitude boosts your spirits any time you’re around her. I value her strong work ethic and devotion to her religion. She has taught me many valuable lessons in my life, whether she knows it or not. My grandma is also a great cook. My favorite food is her chili; no one else’s chili compares.”

Before meeting Frank, Kathy had three children, whom she was raising on her own. They met, the couple said, due to connections already established between their two families. They were married Aug. 15, 1987, and just recently celebrated their 31st anniversary.

“My uncles and her family were very close,” said Frank. “Our connection with our families brought us together.”

“I had been married before and had three kids,” Kathy added. “But Frank stepped in and took on the role as a father. I’m lucky to have him.”

The Moyers were surprised with the news of being chosen as the Granton Honored Grandparents at a cookout with the whole family, which included three children, seven grandchildren and three great-grandchildren. The family has many such get-togethers, Kathy said, so it was not until someone asked the question, “You know why you’re here, right?”

Then the pair began to think there was more going on.

“I had gotten a text the Thursday before because Emma was going off to college soon and the family had said it would be a good sendoff,” said Kathy. “We get there, and they ask, ‘You know why you’re here, right?’ It made us question why we really were there. Then they told us.”

“It was a nice surprise,” added Frank.

While Emma and the other grandchildren and great-grandchildren have learned much from their grandparents, Kathy and Frank said there is much that they appreciate about all of them.

“They’re all hard workers,” Kathy said. “They don’t ask for much. We try to always be there for them if they ever need help. But it goes the other way too.”

“You might say they take care of us now,” Frank said. “None of the grandkids give up on what they do. They don’t expect things to be handed to them. They work hard for what they have. We enjoy just spending time with them, fishing, camping. We love our grandkids.”

When they are not spending time with their kids and grandkids, Kathy and Frank spend their time with each other and helping out the community with various projects. Frank mows lawns around Granton, Kathy assists at her church, and both help with cleaning the Granton Fire Hall and Village Hall when the need arises.