Susan Morphew was born on June 6, 1944. Any history buff will recognize that date for its importance to our nation. Incidentally, while Susan was getting her first look at Mason City, Iowa, her father was a sailor in the U.S.Navy! After graduating from North Iowa Area Community College (N.I.A.C.C.) in Mason City, Susan went on to become a graduate of Buena Vista University in Storm Lake, Iowa. Upon graduation in 1970, she taught fourth grade in the Ida Grove, Iowa, Community Schools for one year.
Larry Morphew was born on July 18, 1942, in Nora Springs, Iowa. Larry, like Susan, attended N.I.A.C.C. and Buena Vista. As a matter of fact, Susan and Larry attended college together as a married couple with children. While a student at Buena Vista, Larry served for three years as pastor of the United Methodist Church in Nemaha, Iowa. Later, while teaching in Estherville, he served for four years as Pastor of the United Presbyterian Church in Armstrong, Iowa. Larry is an ordained minister and received the bulk of his theological training through the General Board of Ministry of the United Methodist Church - Nashville. Larry retired from the ministry in the 1980's but still officiates at weddings and funerals as the need arises.
Sue and Larry have three grown children.
Melinda (Mindy) Johnson, their oldest, is also a graduate of Buena Vista and holds a Master's Degree from Regis University in Denver, Colorado. She is also presently completing her studies in Ed. Administration. She presently works as literacy coordinator at a school district in Colorado. Mindy is the mother of two of Sue's and Larry's granddaughters, Alexandra (Univ. Masters Degree Candidate) and Rachael (Univ. Senior in Architecture). Mindy's husband, Jeff, is a physical education teacher in the same district with Mindy and is currently completing his studies in Ed. Administration.
ALEXANDRA and RACHAEL 1-3-05
Alan (Al), Sue's and Larry's second is a singer/songwriter. He has just released a new CD with another project in the hopper! Al maintains a professional website as a solo artist and songwriter where you may download clips from his new solo CD - click HERE to access that website (the music playing in the background on this webpage is from that CD.) Alan's wife, Sarah, is a professional photographer and you may access her professional website HERE! Because of their work, they spend a lot of time traveling and living on the road. They spend about half their year living in the midwest and they maintain a recording studio here on the acreage. The rest of the year they spend mostly on the left and right coasts and points in between performing and doing photography gigs.
Christopher (Chris) is Sue's and Larry's youngest. He is a graduate of the University of Notre Dame, Harvard University, and Stanford University where he received his Ph.D.. He is on the faculty at the University of Georgia at Athens. Many of the papers he has written and presented at seminars worldwide are available HERE. Chris's wife Tanya Kooi is a graduate of Iowa State University and the University of Iowa and holds a Master's Degree in Financial Counseling. Chris and Tanya have three children, Anthony Kooi Morphew, who was born 11/00, Samuel Kooi Morphew, born 11/02 and Clara Kooi Morphew born 2/07. Despite our attempts to indoctrinate them, they seem to be growing into avid BullDog fans! Eventually we hope to help them see that there is really only one football game out there and we will continue to promote the "Irish" at every conceivable opportunity. Clara seems to be coming around to our way of thinking on this hot topic!
Sue and Larry both retired from teaching public school in Estherville, Iowa effective May of 2000. They taught 29 years in the Estherville school district. Sue taught self-contained third grade at Lincoln Elementary School and served as building head and Larry taught eighth grade at the Estherville Middle School and served as the school district's photographer. Since retirement in 2000, Sue has been an instructor at Iowa Lakes Community College at Laker Alternative High School in Estherville. She retired from that teaching position in May, 2006. Larry operates his part-time website design and photography business in retirement.
Sue and Larry reside on a 23 acre hobby farm nestled in the woods on the outskirts of Estherville. The oneness with nature which they experience there is an important element of the respite their acreage provides.
Both Sue and Larry would choose to spend as much time as possible with their children and grandchildren. When this is not possible, Sue enjoys sewing, Native American Art (particularly beading), music, writing and reading. Larry enjoys photography (he has worked as a part-time professional photographer from 1962 - present, specializing in weddings and other candid photography), studying about the American Civil War, Notre Dame Football, classic and antique cars and trucks and music. He is the programmer and photographer for Morphew Website Design and Photography (specializing in commercial and personal website construction and candid photography). Larry is also a collector of Oliver memorabilia. He worked as a technical writer for White Farm Equipment - Oliver Farm Machinery from 1962-1967 writing Oliver and Cockshutt operator's manuals, shop manuals, service bulletins and instruction sheets. Clicking HERE will take you to some of our family pictures from around 1965 on.
Abraham, Martin and John - dedicated their lives to the advancement of human rights on this planet. All three of them were killed while trying to bring equality to this nation and to our world.
This link will take you to our page dedicated to Abraham Lincoln.
This link will take you to our page dedicated to Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.
This link will take you to our page dedicated to John Fitzgerald Kennedy.
Click Here To Access All Of Our Family and Business Links!
Above is the young man from Uganda that we sponsored for 8 years. His name is Tomasi Tegu. He wants to become a lawyer. Because of Tegu's age, we can no longer sponsor him through the Christian Children's Fund (C.C.F.) They have assigned another little fellow to our sponsorship instead (below). He is also from Uganda and his name is Silas Jjemba. He is six years old and was deserted by his parents. His grandmother is raising him in extreme poverty. It has been of keen interest to us to see the changes, as evidenced by photos received, in his appearance. Because of his involvement in C.C.F., he appears to be much more healthy, better dressed, and happier. The need throughout the world is so great, and it takes so little to help. Recently we sent him a small package of photos, pencils, chewing gum and the like. He wrote back to thank us and at the end of the note he added, "I love to eat cakes." Pretty good hint of what we should send next time! ;-)
copyright 1996 - 2008
