Diane Armour Bartels

DBSharpie@aol.com

Upon graduating from high school, I went to the University of Nebraska at Lincoln. I majored in elementary education, though I had originally planned to be a chemistry teacher. I had this crush on Mr. Tippery. He had been a junior high student of my mother, and he told her if he had a daughter, he would want her to be just like me. How influenced I was! But someone in University registration told me I would not have the background from South Sioux City to make it in chemistry, so I switched to elementary education. They wouldn’t/couldn’t say that today, but those were different times!

I had a wonderful time at the University. I joined several collegiate activities and had the opportunity to assume leadership responsibilities. They were opportunities I did not have in high school because I was needed home for farm chores. In my senior year, I was tapped for Mortar Board, served as president of Tassels (pep club which no longer exists), and recognized as Outstanding Senior Woman. I graduated with a B.S. in Elementary Education. That summer Gary Bartels and I were married, and I began my teaching career in the fall with the Lincoln Public Schools. Our marriage ended in 1976.

Although most of my teaching was in 5th & 6th grades, I also spent several years at the middle and senior high school level. I retired early in 2000 with nearly 27 years of service. I loved to teach, but I had “met” Evelyn Sharp, the WWII ferry pilot from Ord, Nebraska. I wrote her biography: Sharpie: The Life Story of Evelyn Sharp – Nebraska’s Aviatrix and began sharing her commitment to perseverance and patriotism with others. At the age of 24, she had not survived a forced landing of her P-38 airplane.

Airplanes and those who flew them have held a fascination for me since childhood. My first flight was in an airplane flown by one of Del Rae’s uncles. I earned my private pilot certificate in the summer of 1966. In 2003, the 100th anniversary of the Wright Brothers flight, I bought an airplane. It is a 1969 Piper Cherokee 180. I flew it in the 2007 Air Race Classic from Oklahoma City east, up to Maine, and on into St. Johns, New Brunswick, Canada. I hope to fly that Race at least one more time in my lifetime.

Most of my volunteer time these days is spent in getting young people to think about having a vision of character and career and encouraging them to make those visions a reality. Evelyn Sharp’s life story is a perfect platform for this. Like her, I try to make a difference in the lives of young people.

I have great memories of being in the South Sioux High School Marching Band. I loved the trips to Lincoln for Band Day! I remember driving in to the high school before the crack of dawn, packing all the instruments and uniforms in the yellow school buses, and the shouts of excitement amid feelings of relief when we finally saw the State Capitol Building. I have never forgotten the sense of wonderment when our band turned onto “O” Street for the march through downtown Lincoln. The trombones were the first line, and I thought it was the widest street I had ever seen. Those were the days when the bands were allowed to march onto the football field at Memorial Stadium. The University of Nebraska Band led us in performance, and it is still a very emotional experience for me when I hear them play, “Hail Varsity.”

Planning for this reunion has given me pause to reflect upon the experiences and associations which speak to the person I am today. Though not without disappointments, life has been good. I am who I am today, in part, because of my roots in Dakota County, Nebraska. I am grateful for that.