Red Magic and Cappel's Ace Hardware

Everett "Red" Faust of Atlantic passed away this past week. He was the father of my longtime friend Theresa, who passed away several years ago, much before her time. The Fausts lived down the hill and around the corner from us. Graysons were next door and the Weresh's across the street. Bredensteiners lived a half block away - scant seconds by bicycle. The Bucks were close by too.

Red Faust was quite a guy - larger than life, which was hard because he was like 6 foot 7 inches tall! His obituary is linked here: Red Faust Obit

Red was a radio guy by the time I knew him. Back then KJAN was Atlantic's only radio station - the one to listen to when one wanted to know what was happening in town. Were we having a snow day, released from school prison? Was our lost dog found? Red had a great radio voice.

Red could perform magic. When Theresa had slumber parties - which included ten or more of her closest friends, he would pull quarters our of our ears and do card tricks. He was game for anything. Robyn reminds me that he even played along with our "Lift" game. It was the usual slumber party thing to do. It went like this:

The volunteer. In this case - long, tall Red Faust lay on his back on the floor. The girls sat around him, each with 2 fingers under his body. The lead girl at his head said the words:
"He's looking ill." then everyone repeated that back, going around in order - clockwise. "He's looking worse" - everyone repeats. "He's dying" repeat and finally, "he is dead." Then everyone begins to chant: "Light as a feather, stiff as a board." (this was before we might have gotten a chuckle out of the subtext of that line...)
and they begin to lift the prone body with their fingers.

I'm not sure we got Red too far in the air! Red and Mary Jane, his wife agreed to judge a dance contest at the party too, as I recall. Later Chris Deardorff and I retired to sleep under the ping pong table. I couldn't handle the hazing that would befall others who fell asleep early - freezing bras, toothpaste on the legs, and the worst - a hand in the warm water, hoping the sleeper would wet the sleeping bag!

Rest in Peace Red. I am comforted with the thought that you are now with your beloved daughter Theresa.

Paul and I were shopping today and instead of purchasing 20 feet of chain for an antique paper press at Lowe's we decided to visit the Ace Hardware we spied on 50th and EP True. I like hardware stores - so full of cool stuff, with real people ready to assist you! As we walked in I noticed something I never had before - it said Cappel's Ace Hardware. Just like the store in Atlantic! Hmmm I wondered - are they related?

Connie Nixon - secretary of our townhouse association knows the Cappels in Atlantic. Before she retired she worked for an association for independent hardware stores. We selected a couple items and found the type of chain we wanted. Paul asked a guy working there to cut it for him, and they chatted. Turns out it was Dougie Cappel - no doubt now known as Doug.

In the small world department, Doug said he was just talking about me with my college roomie Jane Flack Conn. Their children attend Des Moines Christian School together. I taught swimming lessons to Doug (then known to me as Dougie) some 35 years ago at the Country Club pool. He remembers that.

It was so nice talking to Doug, the grown up man. He said such complementary things about our dad, Dave Bullock. He said his father Dick had attended Kemper Military School because of Dad, and that his dad thought the world of our dad. Doug also said he thought highly of Dad. It made me feel really good. I'll be buying local from that store again! You know, Des Moines isn't such a big place after all.

Dad 2002 - with his girls