PICTURED ABOVE: Paula Wachholtz and her oldest granddaughter, Shay, enjoy a paddleboard adventure on Lake Panorama.

Lake Panorama grandparents share relationship stories about their grandchildren.

By Susan Thompson | Lake Panorama Times

“If I had known how wonderful it would be to have grandchildren, I’d have had them first.” That was written by author Lois Wyse and is often repeated, presumably in jest, by grandparents who cherish their grandchildren. 

In this month’s cover story, we explore the stories of Lake Panorama grandparents who say they benefit by being involved in the lives of their grandchildren. 

Merlin and Jody Muench

Merlin and Jody Muench both grew up on farms in Boone County and attended school in Boxholm. They came from large families. He had seven siblings; she had four. After marrying in 1962, Merlin farmed for the next 43 years. He also served 40 years on the Ogden telephone company board of directors. 

Jody was a stay-at-home mom for nine years before working as a secretary and bookkeeper at Rueter Equipment in Grand Junction, then 27 years for McFarland Clinic. In 1991, she opened the Douglass House, a tea room in Boone. She sold it in 1998 after getting the building on the National Register of Historic Places, which she says is one of her proudest moments. Soon after selling the tea room, the couple decided to look for a home at Lake Panorama. 

“I used to come to the lake with my parents as a teenager when my aunt and uncle from Van Meter had a place here,” Jody says. “Merlin and I looked at seven homes and ended up buying the first one we looked at near Sunset Beach. We enjoyed having a pontoon boat at Don Williams Lake and knew lake life was what we wanted for our family.”

After six years, Merlin and Jody sold their farm acreage and moved to Lake Panorama fulltime. 

The couple has two children, four grandchildren and six great-grandchildren. 

Jeffrey and Susan Muench lived in Jefferson while their two sons were growing up. Now, Nathan and his wife, Stacy, live in Coon Rapids with their children, Wryn, 4, and Ryan, 3. Nolan and his wife, Amy, live in Bondurant. They have two sons, Olson, who is 3, and Fletcher, 5 months. Nathan and Nolan both graduated from Jefferson High School. 

Chris and her husband, Randy Baker, live in Johnston. Chris has two girls. Amanda and her husband, Evan Schrieber, live in Johnston with their sons, Maxwell, 10, and Theo, 6. Samantha and her husband, Rob Lawrence, live in Albuquerque, New Mexico. Amanda and Samantha both graduated from Hoover High School in Des Moines. 

Merlin, 87, and Jody, 82, lived in their lake home for 25 years. Two years ago, Jeff and Susan purchased the Muench home and moved from Polk City, while Merlin and Jody settled into a Karen Drive townhouse.

“It’s been wonderful they could take over hosting family at the home we’ve all enjoyed over the years,” Jody says. “They added a pool and have done other improvements. Now we can continue to have the family together there for special occasions.” 

Once Merlin and Jody relocated from Boone County to Lake Panorama, their four grandchildren enjoyed coming to the lake for visits. As they got older and more involved in sports, the couple traveled their way. 

Amanda played on a youth softball team that made it to the world championship in Seattle, and Jody was there for the game. Samantha was on a competitive cheer team from Urbandale that won a national championship at Disney World when she was a high school junior, and Jody was there. Amanda’s Hoover High School basketball team made it to the state tournament her senior year, and Merlin and Jody were there.

Both Nate and Nolan played basketball at Grandview College, and their grandparents attended many of their games. 

“I can’t begin to count the number of games Merlin and I attended with all of them living within an hour of us,” Jody says. “I guess that is why we never got into the habit of traveling in the winter, because we always had lots of grandkids’ athletic events to attend.”  

Now Merlin and Jody are starting the cycle over with their great-grandchildren. Max Schrieber plays basketball, baseball and football, while his brother, Theo, plays baseball and soccer. As the other great-grandchildren get older, they look forward to more chances to see them in action. 

Technology helps the three generations of Muench adults stay in touch. All are on Snapchat and Facebook and frequently share photos and updates. Each home has an Aura digital photo frame that displays a rotating slideshow. Family members use a phone app to upload new photos, which then are seen by the rest of the family in their homes. 

Of course, in-person gatherings are important to keep the family connected. For instance, Chris and Randy host the family each Thanksgiving in their Johnston home. Everyone stays overnight for Black Friday shopping and the Iowa-Nebraska football game. 

This will be the eighth year for a “Christmas in July” Muench family gathering at Lake Panorama.   

“The four grandkids have always been good friends. They decided to set aside one weekend each summer to get together at the lake house,” Jody says. “They set the date at Christmas time and schedule their vacations for a four-day weekend. There are lots of games for both children and adults, such as croquet, bocce ball, races, bags tournament and trivia. Everyone enjoys fishing and pontoon rides, and the great-grandkids love the Sunset Beach playground.”  

For decades, Jody has been called a special name by her grandchildren.

“When Amanda was about 3, her family lived in Milwaukee. Sometimes we would meet halfway, and I would bring her home with us for a couple weeks,” Jody says. “Once I took her dress shopping with me in Ames. The clerk mistook me for her mother, and Amanda corrected her by saying, ‘That is not my Mommy; she’s my Momo.’ The name stuck. All the grandkids called me that, and now the great-grandkids do, too. I love being Momo to all of them.”

When asked about life as a grandmother, and now great-grandmother, Jody Muench has a quick response. 

“It’s been wonderful, even more wonderful than I thought it would be,” she says. “Our oldest grandchild turns 40 this year, so we’ve been grandparents for nearly 40 years and have enjoyed it all. We’ve made our children and grandchildren and now their children our life.” 

Jody says it’s heartwarming to see the couple’s two children, Chris and Jeff, have happy lives with their spouses and children and grandchildren. 

“It’s really fun to see our kids being grandparents,” she says. “They love being grandparents as much as we do.” 

Paula Wachholtz

It was golf that first brought Paula Wachholtz to Panora, but it was Lake Panorama that convinced her to be a property owner. 

“In 1988, some of my girlfriends from the Omaha area and I took advantage of the inexpensive stay and play packages at Lake Panorama National, then came back year after year,” Wachholtz says. “In all those years, we never went to the lake. In 2006, John Dinnebier arranged a pontoon ride for us. I had dreamed of living on a lake since I was a child. That day it dawned on me this was the lake I was meant to have my home on.” 

Paula and her husband looked at homes the following weekend and bought a house near Shady Beach on Labor Day weekend of 2006. 

“It was our part-time home until 2020 when we separated and I retired during COVID,” she says. “The end of my marriage was an extremely sad time for the whole family, and the lake house became my haven for healing.” 

Renovating the house and turning it from a summer lake cottage into her forever home was a top priority after the divorce was final in 2021. 

“I have lived here fulltime ever since and absolutely love it,” she says. 

Wachholtz attended Wichita State University and played basketball for the Shockers, then earned an advanced degree in physical therapy. 

“I practiced for 30 years, specializing in pediatric physical therapy and working in the school district with special needs children. It was extremely rewarding, working with the same children and their families year after year,” she says. “I had 18 different schools where I served children from birth to age 21.”

Wachholtz has three children, all of whom live in the Omaha area. The youngest is Ben, who is currently single. Alex is the oldest. He is married to Lindsey, and they have two children, with baby number three due in September. Their daughter, Shay, turned 4 in early March. Their son, Roman, is 18 months old.  

Daughter Abby is getting married April 26 to Ian Sannes. They have two girls. Gwen will turn 2 years old in March, and Jodie Joanne (Jojo) is 7 months. 

Wachholtz says being a grandmother of four with another baby on the way is another dream come true. 

“I am passionate about children and babies anyway, but it’s even more special when they are your own flesh and blood,” she says. “I had to wait until I was 60 to be a grandmother, which makes it even more special. 

“It’s true when people say being a grandparent is another chance to love your children all over again. My grand babies look just like my kids did and, in most cases, act like them, too,” she says. “It’s such a blessing to have healthy children and grandchildren. Working with special needs children helps you truly realize the miracle of normal development and good health.” 

Wachholtz says, as a parent, she often felt she was in survival mode. 

“Being retired and a grandparent is such a luxury, because I have so much more quality time to devote to them,” she says. 

Children and grandchildren visit her several times a summer but not always at the same time. 

“We try to make a point of being here together over the Christmas holiday, Fourth of July and often later in the summer. I think this time will increase as the kids get older,” Wachholtz says. 

“We are a family of golfers, and we love boating. All the kids ski, wakeboard, surf and love the water. We also love both golf courses, time spent in the hot tub, yard games, playing at the amazing parks and beaches, fishing, and spotting deer in the evening during golf cart rides,” she says. “Hanging out on the deck around the fire pit is another activity we all enjoy.”

Wachholtz also travels their way. 

“Since all three kids now live in the Omaha area, I go there often. It’s a two-hour drive or less to get to everyone,” she says. “I love to babysit or help when the little ones are sick.”

Paula’s “grandma” name is Lala. 

“Developmentally, it’s really easy to say, and it’s kind of like Paula. If that evolves into Grandma, I am fine with that,” she says. “Even though they are young, three of them can say it already.

“I hope, as they get older, they will ask to come to Lala’s house more and more. I would love to have ‘Lala Camp’ for full weeks so we can have more time to bond and develop their love for lake life,” Wachholtz says. “This is truly my happy place, and it’s all about sharing it and making more memories together.”

Wachholtz says she was blessed to know her grandparents and great-grandparents on both sides of her family, as well as grandparents on her husband’s side. 

“I lived close to my grandparents as a child, and I want to be there for my grandchildren and be very involved in their lives and activities,” she says. “Being a grandmother is better than I ever imagined.

“Having these little people bolt to you to get a hug or FaceTime you because they miss you is about the best thing to ever happen to me,” Wachholtz says. “My heart is literally overflowing whenever I have a chance to spend time with them. The older I get, the more spending time with my children and grandchildren is a priority.” 

Wachholtz hopes her grandchildren will learn to love and appreciate nature because of her. 

“I love nature, and I hope they will become lake lovers like me as well,” she says. “Making memories and spending quality time with them is my legacy.”

Ron and Karla Bristle

Ron and Karla Bristle have owned a house tucked in the north end of Hughes Cove since December 2007. Earlier that fall, Ron suggested to Karla they go for a drive.  

“We ended up at Lake Panorama,” she says. “Little did I know, he had been looking at real estate ads here for a while and decided it was time to tell me about it. We looked at several houses and decided on the one we now live in. We enjoyed weekends here until becoming fulltime in 2013.”

Both grew up in farming families. His family farmed south of Ogden and her family south of Beaver. Even though they were only 10 miles apart, they didn’t meet until high school in Ogden. Ron began farming right after his high school graduation in 1971. Karla attended nursing school after her high school graduation in 1974. They married July 2, 1976, and lived on the farm until moving to Lake Panorama. 

While Ron farmed, Karla worked as a nurse in a hospital setting before moving to clinic nursing in Boone. During a break from nursing, she owned and operated a gift shop and tea room in Boone.

The couple has three children and seven grandchildren. 

Their oldest son, Ryan, and his wife, Chrissy, live in Polk City with their son, Brooks, 7, and daughter, Brynn, 4. Chrissy works for Red Cross.

Their second son, Brad, and his wife, Carrie, purchased and live on the acreage on the family farm south of Ogden. They have two daughters, Macy, 16, and Hallie, 13. Carrie is a registered nurse.

The two brothers operate the family farm. Ron continues to help spring and fall but handed decision-making and farm operations over to them when he retired. The Bristle family will be honored this year for operating a Heritage Farm, which means it has been farmed by the same family for 150 years. 

The Bristles’ daughter, Jenna, and her husband, Brady Carney, live on an acreage near Dallas Center. Their daughter, Quinn, is 11. Their two sons are Jack, 9, and Jett, who is 5. Jenna is a Realtor, and Brady is the director of the Iowa Law Enforcement Academy.

“Being a grandmother is a special gift, and holding each tiny baby for the first time is a cherished memory,” Karla says. “When you are a young, working mom, you go through each day just trying to get it all done. As a grandma, you get to enjoy your time with them more.” 

The Bristles say, when their grandchildren were younger, they enjoyed frequent visits to Lake Panorama, including most weekends. As they grow older, and their activities increase, their time has become less frequent. But they still make visits throughout the year.  

“It’s safe to say their favorite activity is going on golf cart rides,” Karla says. “They really enjoy going to the pool and Boulder Beach. We have taken them to all three of the playgrounds and celebrated some birthdays at Shady Beach. Last year, they started enjoying the basketball court at Boulder Beach.” 

Last summer, Ron enrolled four of the grandkids in the junior golf program, which is offered annually at Lake Panorama National Resort. 

“They loved it,” Karla says. “He’s hoping they take up golf at a younger age than he did. As a Panora Garden Club member, I love showing them all of the petunias in town when they visit.”

Each year, the entire family makes it to Lake Panorama for the Fourth of July. 

“They all enjoy the fireworks, and we get to celebrate our July 2 wedding anniversary. And everyone loves Christmas at the lake.” 

The grandchildren enjoy overnight stays. 

“We bake sweet treats, let them stay up a little later with a movie night and ice cream, watch for our special three-legged doe they named Tripod, and do lots of drawing and art projects,” Karla says. 

Depending on which family they’re going to visit, it takes the Bristles 20 to 45 minutes to get to their grandchildren.

“We are so lucky to live near them and be able to attend their many activities,” Karla says. “Basketball, baseball, soccer, volleyball, flag football, softball, ice hockey, gymnastics and wrestling round out our seasonal activities, with many grandkids playing more than one and many scheduled on the same days. We never thought we would know so much about so many sports.” 

Jenna and Brad’s kids also are involved in 4-H, showing livestock and creating static exhibits. 

“Our family represents four generations of 4-H-ers,” Karla says. “We love going to watch them show their livestock. We enjoy both the Boone and Dallas county fairs, as well at the Iowa State Fair.”

Ron looks forward to having some combine harvest time with each of the grandkids in the fall and enjoys following all their activities and watching them compete. 

“It’s great we now have the time to enjoy it all,” he says. 

Both Ron and Karla grew up with grandparents nearby and remember good times with their grandparents. The same is true for their own children. 

“Our parents played a significant role in the lives of our children,” Karla says. “They lived in Ogden and were always present in their lives. I think the grandparents in our own lives, and later the lives of our children, laid the groundwork for a family that stays connected. We are blessed.”