Bill Retzlaff
Biography
Cosigned the narrator’s first loan, associated with Bormann’s. Author of this remembrance of Ethel Guild. He treasured her Christmas candy and cookies, hiding the box under his bed so he would not have to share it, and enjoyed invitations to her house. Author of the passage. Enjoyed shooting, particularly Skeet. Recalled becoming better friends with Floyd after shooting airborne potatoes together.
Timeline
1983; did very well for five years
Opening Bormann’s
The narrator became part owner and manager of Bormann’s. Bill Retzlaff cosigned his first loan. The business made money and repaid the loans. The stated opening date conflicts with the stated 1972 sale.
Bob's Chapterat Christmas
Ethel's Christmas candy and cookies for Bill
Ethel would prepare a box of candy and cookies just for Bill. He treasured it and hid it under his bed so he would not have to share.
Iris's ChapterOne Saturday
Making Glug in the downstairs kitchen
The four spent hours making Glug with port wine, raisins, and spices under Floyd’s direction; his reaction to tasting it suggested disappointment.
Iris's ChapterThanksgiving, not very long after Bill and Iris married
Thanksgiving target shooting with potatoes
Before dinner, Floyd and Bill took turns shooting airborne potatoes with a four-ten shotgun. Bill recalled that they became better friends afterward.
Iris's Chapter
Stories mentioning Bill
- Learning the Business and Building StoresAt Iris and Bill’s suggestion, the narrator left Penney’s and learned the Ben Franklin business at Bob Retzlaff’s Madison store. He reports opening Bormann’s in 1983 as part owner and manager, with Bill Retzlaff cosigning his first loan, and five successful years of business. He also states that he sold out in 1972 to become manager and partner with Iris and Bill in Elliott’s in Janesville for eight years. These dates conflict and are retained as written. In 1988 he bought a Janesville Ben Franklin Store and converted it to an all-crafts store. He also served five years on Rock County Bank’s board, finding it especially interesting to learn who borrowed money for country club dues.
- A Christmas Box to TreasureBill remembered Ethel Guild as a friend and someone he enjoyed talking with. At Christmas she prepared a special box of candy and cookies for him, which he hid under his bed to avoid sharing. He fondly recalled her other baking and the pleasure of visiting her house.
- Floyd’s Enthusiastic Batch of GlugOne Saturday, Floyd proposed making Glug. After shopping for port wine, raisins, and spices and finding a recipe, Ethel, Iris, Floyd, and Bill spent hours preparing it in Bill and Iris’s downstairs kitchen. Floyd promised it would be wonderful, but his expression upon tasting the hot result revealed that it had not met his hopes.
- Thanksgiving Potatoes and a Growing FriendshipAt Thanksgiving dinner at the Moline house, Floyd challenged Bill to shoot potatoes tossed into the air with a four-ten shotgun. Bill, recently out of the service and fond of Skeet, met the challenge. They took turns shooting until the potatoes were gone. Bill felt that their previously unfriendly relationship improved afterward, and Floyd began visiting even when Bill was home.
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