In the severe economic climate of the depression, Jody Underwood was born August 28th, 1931 in Liberty, Nebraska to Dan Underwood and Dolly Ackerman. Dan had to quit high school to work and Dolly stayed home to help take care of the ten other children in her parents' family - but they were successful and were even able to help send some of their siblings through high school. So, Jody's parents were good, hard working, poor people. They soon recognized that Jody was a precocious youngster. She was a very well mannered tom-boy.
In the evenings, Dan, his Dad, and brothers sat around the pot bellied stove and played the fiddle. Soon, Jody was playing the violin and by age 13 she was invited to play with the Lincoln Symphony. The lack of transportation, and probably the lack of knowledge of the symphony, kept her from accepting.
In high school, Jody was:
· Salutatorian of her class
· student council representative
· a class officer
· band head-majorette
· in school operetta
· a choir member
· State President of Future Homemakers
of Amer.
· first chair clarinet
· in All-State Choir
· in many music & scholastic contests
· selected for Girl's State
She hadn't considered going to college - but, fortunately, Doane College came after her with a scholarship. She worked part-time at the "Five & Dime", at the grain mill, and as a singer for a dance band and graduated from Doane in 3 years without a debt.
Jody was busier in college than in high
school, if that is possible. She lived at home and walked back and forth each day. She was again in choir, head majorette, and first chair clarinet. She was President of her sorority, Doane College Night Relays Queen, Homecoming Queen, and Doane's Representative to Drake Relays Queen. She sang in a triple trio that toured the midwestern states, publicizing Doane. She was also successfully involved in debate. She and her partner won the National Debate Tournament her Junior-Senior year. Her husband, Gib Eggen, first saw her in
college debate her freshman year (1949). They told each other they loved each other while standing in a hallway kissing at some debate tournament in Kansas (1950). So, debate was an important part of their lives. Jody was also in theater, where Gib saw her in a play in which she was forced to ad lib each night, as one of her co-actors would change the script each night while they were on stage - she was terrific. When Gib and Jody decided to get married after her sophomore year, Jody finished her last two
years in one. (Gib helped her through French Revolution History and to this day, thinks she faked needing the help.)
Through all of these accomplishments, Jody has always been very modest. When Jody and Gib were first married and Jody played softball, she wouldn't let Gib come to the games. She placed him on a pedestal in the eyes of their friends, and the children. She was a great support in their married life and contributed greatly to Gib's success in life and at Northwestern Bell Telephone Co., where he worked his way up the
corporate ladder. This support was also shown with her contribution to the Telephone Pioneer Fund Drive for the Restoration of the Statue of Liberty. Jody's "You Light Up My Life" theme and her one act play, which she presented to Pioneer Groups all over the United States, helped to raise $200,000 for the restoration effort.
Jody's four children have been the light of her life. When she had four kids under six years of age, Jody cooked, cleaned (the home was always spotless - she used to wash the walls each night because her two
oldest had asthma/allergies and she thought it would help alleviate some of their suffering), taught school, played and prayed with the children and never, ever complained. What a role model!! Now, her five grandchildren are the light of her life.
She started working as a secretary in the Iowa Legislature when the oldest kids were in high school and was always in demand there, as she could control the flow of work. She would have been an excellent representative, doctor, teacher, interior decorator, writer, actor, salesperson,
manager, executive - you name it. In fact, in her life, she has really done all of these things.
--The above was written by Gib, Sr.
One vacation when Gib and Jody were leaving the Omaha Beach National Memorial Cemetery in France, Jody was in the passenger seat, writing her impressions. It was raining hard and Gib was watching the road, not realizing she was writing. He found the following passage months later in their vacation papers - she had said nothing about it. We write it here, as an example of
her depth of feeling and her ability to do yet one more thing - write:
"God has just begun to turn the leaves from deep green to gold and red, showing his fatherly love and bringing warmth over the bodies of his children lying in Omaha Beach Memorial Cemetery. We walked the paths through the white crosses and Stars of David, which forced me to remember not just their sacrifice, but their courage. My body was not strong enough to stop the tears from washing my eyes for an even larger, more painful view. The memorial itself, a
beautiful symbol and acknowledgment of man's atrocities, contains the story of the siege and besieged covering both its walls. Below, enclosing gardens of roses, a white solid unending fence bears the same names as burden the white crosses. As we walked toward a provided viewing place, above the beach, I could not dispel my feelings of disturbing cowardice. I could not believe our men ran onto that beach, looking up at the fortressed hills and cliffs and still they ran on - losing 70% of their companions as they
ran. Their courage was, and is still, immeasurable, larger than life itself. Our personal debt is immeasurable. We do not dare, now, to be weak. Our freedom has demanded too great a price - we owe all who have paid the price too much. If the cost of defending ourselves to deter others from once again demanding this ultimate price, then it is still but little. Cars, clothes, high standard of living, even abundant food itself, are great luxuries when the ultimate price has already been paid by our sons and daughters
to ensure our liberty and deter those who would take it away. If we do not provide our country with equal strength, no matter the cost to our pleasure, and yes, even our necessities, we commit the great sin of again offering our sons and daughters in sacrifice to war, and at the very least, we forget, even mock, these children of God laid to rest on Omaha Beach. I pray he has taken them home.
Joan (Jody) Eggen
The following paragraphs are brief thoughts by her children and sister:
I wish I were a child again reliving the warm memories of those days. All of those days were made possible by a mother who was, and is, the most caring, loving, giving, thoughtful, joyful, creative, selfless human being I have ever known. I always felt that she lived for "me", although now I know that she makes all around her feel the same way. There is no better mother in this world. There is no better human being in this world. I love her dearly and I always will. Todd
In 1962 our beloved mother, Dolly, died suddenly. This tragic event left me, then an eleven-year-old child, without a mother. For the past 33 years, my sister Jody has helped me fill this terrible void. With love, compassion, and wisdom, Jody has helped me grow from childhood to adulthood. At each stage in my life, she has been a source of strength and of hope. Jody has been and shall always be my dear sister, parent, and friend.
Dawn
A typical view of my mother's patient, caring, loving nature is the picture my father came home to one night long ago: my mother rocking her two oldest children (ages 3 & 4), both sick with asthma, while showing an extremely pregnant tummy in between the two. It's just so typical of her to do this kind of a thing without any complaint or feeling of sacrifice or tiredness on her part. Another story: I can remember when I was sick in 3rd or 4th grade with pneumonia -- of course, nights were always the worst. She would come lay with me in
my bed and put her feet against the foot board to rock the mattress. This always made me feel better and I would fall asleep. Later, I'd wake up having trouble breathing and she'd still be with me - she'd start the whole thing over again, until I dropped off. She is always there, for anyone who needs her... her husband, her children, her relatives, her friends ... day or night, no matter where we are or how tough the problem or how old we get. She and my father are truly the most exceptional people I have met in this world - there are none more wonderful than they. I love them more than life itself. Barbara
Whenever I think of Mom, I smile. She is always a source of encouragement and strength and hope. She leads by example with love, honor, wisdom, compassion and integrity. I and my wife Lamphoon feel very fortunate that she is my mother, and is now a role model extraordinaire for our daughter Alyssa. Mom has always been and will always be a blessing to all in her life.
Thank you, Mom. I love you.
Gib, Jr. 1/23/95 |
