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Today's Featured Biography

 
Kathleen Rogers Pagel

Half a century—can it really be? I never imagined this day would come. When you’re 18 years old, you don’t think about 50 years into the future. I believe we still qualify as “middle-aged”—but just barely!

What have I done these past 50 years? Went to CC for a semester, off and on (mostly off.) At that time I wasn’t interested in broadening my education or horizons, and dropped out. Thought I’d bum around and have fun for a while. Got bored with that lifestyle; decided I wasn’t having the fun I’d imagined, and wondered what to do with myself. Got married and took a job at Hilltop Bank for a couple years, left for a year to have my daughter, Amber, divorced, and returned to HB for two more years. I then took a job at a stock brokerage firm, a career that lasted 17 years. I was office manager and a registered stock broker when I retired from the lightening-paced, super stressful world of the “Bears” and “Bulls”, and was relieved to leave them behind.

From the time I can remember I’ve had a deep caring for and connection with senior citizens and young children. I did an about-face from working with peoples’ money to working with those populations of people. Earned a Bachelor’s in Social Work from UW/CC and took a job as case manager at Big Brothers Big Sisters of Central Wyoming. Matching “Bigs” with “Littles” was gratifying, but two years later, the Casper office went broke and closed. I sincerely hope I made a difference in the lives of those children.

I finally found my “match” when I met and married Bud, a South Dakota native & Wyoming transplant. He retired 5 years ago after a 25 year career with NCUA, National Credit Union Administration, where he was an examiner. He comes from farm country in SD, and has always been interested in all things farming. Among other interests, he enjoys buying and selling used farm equipment.

After Bud & I were married, I worked for NCSD as librarian at an elementary school where I could share my love of reading and teach library skills to the little ones. Retired 8 years later.

Bud’s son, Charlie, owns a mechanic business, and my daughter, Amber, is a physical therapist in Texas. She lived and worked as a PT for over 3 years in Utah, until her apartment burned down last fall; she lost all of her possessions. Words cannot express my relief and gratitude that she escaped, and later that day her two cats were rescued. God was watching.
After this most traumatic experience, she decided she needed a total change of scenery to begin her life anew. Her first choice of locations was Texas, and her employer transferred her to one of their offices down there.

We have no grandchildren, but do have a tabby cat, Kitty, who is my little shadow and constant joy.

I work as a volunteer at our local Senior Center, going on 6 years. Take OLLI classes at CC every semester; keep art journals; do needlework (cross stitch). I write memoirs and belong to a writing club at NC Library. I enjoy fun get-togethers with friends. My sisters & I are researching our genealogy and, through Ancestry, we’ve gone back to 1700’s on both maternal and paternal sides.

Looking forward to catching up with you next month. In the meantime, have fun and be safe.

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