By Marty Golby

Neponset Picnic Day is set for Saturday, June 7, and Grand Marshal Germaine Breitbach is ready for the 10 a.m. parade. Breitbach said she is proud to represent Neponset, which has been her home since 1957.

Breitbach first came to live in Neponset when she was 22 years old, and has been a part of the Neponset community for 68 years. Although she grew up in Epworth, Iowa, she said, “This is my hometown. When I came here, there was a drug store, a hardware store, a doctor, a grocery store and of course, later on, Shirley’s chicken.”

Despite the fact that things have changed during her years in Neponset, including the fact that “we’ve lost almost all of our businesses,” Breitbach said that “we do have a nice community building.”

One thing that hasn’t changed in Neponset, according to the parade marshal, is that “Everybody’s friendly. Living in a small community is nice because of that.”

She originally came to Neponset because her late husband, Bill, was hired as the railroad agent. He lived in Neponset a year or two before they were married, and after they were married, she joined him. They raised two sons in Neponset. David was born in 1958, and Dan was born in 1960. Both sons are deceased.

During the early years in Neponset, Breitbach said that the depot received freight and telegraphy, much of it for Martin Engineering.

“Bill did all of the telegraphs for them, which helped to keep the depot in business. The railroad through Neponset at that time was called the CB&Q.” She added that “Carleys (Howard Carley) and Curriers (Alva “Bud” Currier) used to get loads of cattle shipped in and delivered to Neponset.”

Breitbach has worn many hats in the Neponset community. For years, she could be seen on her lawn mower mowing yards or trimming with a weed eater, but she also worked as a custodian and bus driver for the Neponset School District. She seemed to enjoy driving the school bus most of all.

“I worked under a lot of principals—10 years as a custodian and 43 years as a bus driver. Those were the good old days,” she said. “I enjoyed driving the bus to the ball games,” especially the years when Coach Chuck Blake was coaching the Neponset High School girls’ basketball team.”

She also reminisced about getting the school bus stuck one morning because the road was drifted shut, just west of the Bud Currier farm, southeast of Neponset.

“It’s the only time I actually got stuck in my years of driving the bus. They shouldn’t have had school that day.”

Breitbach said she loves her neighborhood, and currently makes her home with her former next door neighbor, Beth (Dana) Ellis. After Ellis’s husband died, she asked Breitbach if she would like to move in.

“It’s like a mother-daughter relationship. From the day Beth and her husband moved in here in 2000, we have been friends. Beth originally asked if I would be willing to be her dog-sitter. I guess it all started with a dog. I have inherited a big family—the Dana family,” said Breitbach.

She regularly attends Visitation Church, St. John Paul II Parish in Kewanee, where she served as a minister of communion “for 20-some years.” She stepped down from that during Covid.

Last July, she celebrated her 90th birthday with a party in Kewanee. “There were 170 people there.” she said. “I saw people I hadn’t seen in ages.” Many of those people were Neponset residents, or former residents of Neponset.

Just last week, she took her driver’s test.

“I passed with flying colors,” she said proudly.

Besides driving her car, she can often be seen driving her bright green golf cart on the streets of Neponset, usually with her dog, Trixie. “It’s a Jack Russell. She’s a friendly dog, but so active.”

Regarding Picnic Day, Breitbach said she welcomed the event’s return.

“At least it has come back. They didn’t have it for a number of years. The car show (which is a separate event from 5:00 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. the night before) is a big deal,” she said.

Saturday, June 7 Picnic Day schedule:

7 a.m. to 11 a.m. Neponset Fire Department Pancake Breakfast at the Neponset Community Building

7 a.m. to 8 a.m. Pie Auction bakers deliver pies to the community building

7 a.m. to 2 p.m. Vendors in the park

7:45 a.m. Kids Fun Run at Scott Park

8 a.m. 5K Run begins at Scott Park

8 a.m. to 1 p.m. Neponset Historical Society Pie Auction

10 a.m. Parade— East Main Street to First Street to Commercial Street, which is actually downtown Neponset.

11 a.m. Kewanee High School band plays at the Scott Park bandstand. (Bring lawn chairs)

Noon to 1:00 p.m. Book Stacking Contest at Neponset Public Library

1 p.m. to 2 p.m. BINGO at Neponset Public Library

1 p.m. Pie Auction winning bids announced at Neponset Community Building