In 1944, William and Martha “retired” and moved to a house in Alva, Oklahoma. Grandfather Kirmse liked to go fishing and enjoyed working in his shop and making things for the grandchildren. Martha kept busy in the yard and garden. One of her favorite pastimes was piecing quilt tops and quilting them.

Home on Fourth Street

• WHAT:  William and Martha Kirmse’s first home after retiring
• LEFT TO RIGHT: William Kirmse; Martha (Curdes) Kirmse
• WHEN: Circa 1944
• WHERE: Alva, Oklahoma
• SOURCE: Shared by Kathy (Rauh) Earnest December, 2003.
• NOTES: The street was on a hill and this is where I learned to roller skate down the hill on the sidewalk in front of the house.

Home on Third Street

In 1948, Martha and William Kirmse moved to a smaller house about 1/2 block from the Zion Lutheran Church.

• WHAT:  William  and Martha Kirmse’s second home after retiring
• WHEN: Circa 1948
• WHERE: Alva, Oklahoma
• SOURCE: Shared by Kathy (Rauh) Earnest December, 2003.
• NOTES: The single car garage in back had space for a workbench on which William did much of his woodwork.

William Kirmse continued to regularly make the rounds to his children’s farms to visit and provide help. Grandmother Kirmse would often come along and help with household chores.

• WHAT: Visiting on children farms
• LEFT TO RIGHT: Ella (Kirmse) Krueger; Gilbert Krueger; Laura (Kirmes) Schmidt; Roland Schmidt; William Kirmse
• WHEN:
• WHERE: Near Alva, Oklahoma
• SOURCE: Ella (Kirmse) Krueger
• NOTE:  In a wheat field near arvest time