By Sarah Smith
ssmith@parkrapidsenterprise.com
A bidding war erupted Sunday evening in Hubbard over a cherry pie.
It went for $160.
That was the spirt of the evening as almost 400 people turned out at Hubbard United Methodist Church to support Jim and Nadine Wheeler, whose health problems have left them in tough times.
Nadine Wheeler was unable to attend her own party. Undergoing chemotherapy for pancreatic cancer, she cannot be exposed to large crowds of people due to an immune system that is highly compromised. She even had to close her daycare center to deal with her health.
Jim, who did attend, was in frail health himself, but was overwhelmed at the turnout. He sat quietly and smiled.
Auctioneer Mel Holtan took over the program, spicing it up with colloquialisms and humor, encouraging, even instigating, such competitions over pies.
“They asked me to do it and I just came right away,” Holtan said.
Jim Wheeler, the retired music director of the church, recently had heart surgery.
Jennie Anderson replaced him. When asked if she had big shoes to fill, she sized up her own sandal-clad feet, laughed, and said, “Yes!”
Jack Derr started explaining how much the Wheelers meant to the community and the church, then dashed off apologetically.
“There’s a certain pie coming up that I’m hoping to get,” he explained as the bidding started.
The crowd did its best to keep the mood light.
Carol Wall and Liz Stevens even smiled at their non-glorious duty – washing and wiping dishes.
“It’s been a good turnout,” Wall said.
Fred Madsen picked up his $160 pie to take home.
“I hope it’s worth it,” laughed the pie baker Christie Rasmussen.
Madsen had no doubt he and his wife would enjoy it.
It probably tasted even better because it was going toward a worthwhile cause. You can donate to the Wheelers at the church.
