Community
David Peel now has an address. After living in his truck through the recent long winter, Peel will soon move in to a Stillwater apartment with help from service organization Hearth Connection. He found out about the apartment Friday. “It just blows my mind,” Peel said about his new place. “It’s like if you were in a desert without any water and came to an oasis and were fed. I’ve been without a normal way of living for so long that it’s going to be really strange.” Peel survived being homeless using some government support, donating plasma and doing up custodial work when he was able. Peel said he has edema in his legs from living in his truck over the winter and is currently seeking Social Security and disability benefits. When he moves into his new home he hopes that he can heal and find a job. “I’m just gonna have my health recover from edema. It’s not only in my legs now but it’s also moved up to my thighs. The emergency (room) doctors told me I’m holding at least 30 pounds of water weight,” he said. Peel said he’s grateful for the support he received in what he calls his “long, strange journey,” and hopes that taking care of himself will lead to finding a janitorial job. “I would like to get a part-time job because who wants to sit around all the time. I’m still waiting on my Social Security disability and I’m hoping that’s how it pans out,” he said. “Maybe far down the line I can regain what I once had. A house, and if for some reason I found the right lady and settled in, it would probably be possible to settle in and have two people buy a house, but it’s too far out in the forecast for that right now.” Peel said his new second-floor apartment will be a good test for his legs. The apartment is currently being painted and re-carpeted. He will be able to pick up some essentials from other services and move in to his new home May 24. “I knew that one day this was gonna happen. I didn’t know when and how long. But it’s done now, and I’ve put into place support and I realize that a lot of things you have to do yourself. You can’t just sit and wait for them to come. You’ve gotta make things happen for you,” he said. “I’m in my senior years now and it’ll be nice to be back to the normal lifestyle.” Peel added that being homeless this winter was difficult, but not embarrassing. “It’s (homelessness) not something to be embarrassed over. It’s something that happened and can happen to anybody. It’ll take you down and take you for a ride. Be that foreclosure or a domestic situation and you’ve just gotta fight through and keep on keeping on,” he said. Contact Avery Cropp at avery.cropp@ecm-inc.com David Peel stands in front of the truck he lived in for almost a year. He will soon move in to a Stillwater apartment (Gazette staff photo by Avery Cropp)

New address for proud man

By Avery Cropp on May 15, 2013 at 9:03 am

David Peel find a home after long winter living in his truck David Peel now has an address. After living …
 
Jim Kosmo, author of “Still Standing: The Story of SSG John Kriesel” speaks at the Lake Elmo Public Library at 6:30 p.m. May 16. (Submitted photo)

Kosmo speaks May 16 at Lake Elmo library

By The Stillwater Gazette on May 10, 2013 at 11:57 am

LAKE ELMO — Jim Kosmo, author of “Still Standing: The Story of SSG John Kreisel, speaks at 6:30 pm. May …
 
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Donna Mae Erlitz Yarnell

By The Stillwater Gazette on May 10, 2013 at 10:23 am

BULLHEAD CITY, Ariz. —  Donna Mae Erlitz Yarnell, 81, passed away on Tuesday, April 30, 2013, in Bullhead City, Ariz. …
 
Veronica Gail Klosterman-Rock

Veronica Gail Klosterman-Rock (nee Van Ness)

By The Stillwater Gazette on May 10, 2013 at 10:22 am

Once diagnosed with ovarian cancer eight years ago, Veronica Gail Klosterman-Rock never gave up. She never complained and always maintained …
 
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Elaine Ruth Riess Krueger

By The Stillwater Gazette on May 10, 2013 at 10:19 am

Elaine Ruth Riess Krueger, 65, of Stillwater, died on April 3. Born in Wheaton. Minn., on Nov. 25, 1947, she …
 
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Food, fun comes to St. Michael’s May 19

By The Stillwater Gazette on May 9, 2013 at 12:19 pm

The Church of St. Michael’s annual Fun Fest is noon to 6 p.m. May 19 at the church located at …
 
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How willing are we to live our faith?

By Kate Walsh Soucheray on May 9, 2013 at 12:17 pm

“It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me.” — Galatians 2:20. What does it mean …
 
Stillwater Mayor Ken Harycki, center holding plaque, is joined by members of Conservation Minnesota and Minnesota Citizens for the Arts at a brief ceremony at Tuesday night’s council in which the two groups honored the city and surrounding area for its use of Legacy funds. (Submitted photo)

Groups honor city for legacy fund use

By The Stillwater Gazette on May 9, 2013 at 12:11 pm

Conservation Minnesota and Minnesota Citizens for the Arts Tuesday presented the city of Stillwater and surrounding community with a plaque …
 
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David Robert Kurth

By The Stillwater Gazette on May 9, 2013 at 12:07 pm

David Robert Kurth was born on Sept. 27, 1941, in Hastings.  He was the son of Perley and Gretchen (Prieve) …
 
Berger

Herbert LeRoy Berger

By The Stillwater Gazette on May 9, 2013 at 12:05 pm

A celebration of Herbert LeRoy Berger’s life is 10 a.m. Saturday, May 11, 2013, at Trinity Lutheran Church, 115 North …
 

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