[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 150 (2004), Part 5]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 6450]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




               CONGRATULATING WINONA ONGEMACH OF CHICAGO

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. RAHM EMANUEL

                              of illinois

                    in the house of representatives

                         Friday, April 2, 2004

  Mr. EMANUEL. Mr. Speaker, I would like to extend my warmest birthday 
wishes to Mrs. Winona Ongemach of Chicago on the occasion of her 100th 
birthday on April 3.
  Born in Cedar Rapids, Iowa as one of ten children, Mrs. Ongemach has 
lived in Chicago for the past 80 years. She has been an active and 
influential member of the Ravenswood community, faithfully attending 
Ravenswood Fellowship United Methodist Church for 60 years.
  At a time in her life when many might expect her to slow down, Mrs. 
Ongemach remains a fixture at her church. She brings smiles to the 
faces of churchgoers by running pancake breakfasts, collecting soup can 
labels, and leaning on members who have missed Sunday church.
  Mrs. Ongemach has brought her same spirit of community involvement to 
the Bethany Retirement Community, where she currently resides. There 
she reads novels, organizes monthly card parties and teaches residents 
card games.
  Mrs. Ongemach was married in 1928 to her late husband, Rudolf. She 
worked for many years at Time, Inc. where she operated one of the first 
ever IBM computers. She also spent 27 years volunteering at Ravenswood 
Hospital where she knitted hats for newborn babies. An avid bowler, she 
participated in the Time, Inc. bowling league until she turned 90. Mrs. 
Ongemach also loves to travel and has visited many different islands on 
cruise ships.
  I hope Mrs. Ongemash's many friends and acquaintances will use this 
milestone birthday as an opportunity to celebrate her life, her 
friendship and all she has meant to her community.
  Mr. Speaker, I join with the residents of the Ravenswood community 
and the members of the Ravenswood Fellowship United Methodist Church in 
congratulating Mrs. Winona Ongemach on her 100th birthday. She has 
truly made a difference in her community and her life serves as a model 
that we should all strive to emulate.

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