Dedicated Pokey engineer Paul Estrem on one of many excursions with the Lit'L Pokey train, taken in 2002. Photo courtesy of his family.
Earlier this year, a couple of blogs covered Ernie Petersen, the original Pokey Pete and his return to Decorah at the start of the 2014 Nordic Fest. You may read those posts both here and here.
The process of researching the history surrounding Pokey Pete and the train still maintained by the Decorah Lions was a wonderful reminder the late Paul Estrem, of a man who truly carried on the spirit of the original Pokey Pete by reaching so many area children and sharing what has become a symbol of Nordic Fest well beyond the borders of Water Street in Decorah.
Paul's fellow engineer John Tjostem shares these memories of Paul's dedication:
"Paul generous took Pokey (the train) to gala events in several northeastern Iowa and southeastern Minnesota communities, donating his own trailer and gas. Many times he made the trip alone. In each Christmas parade, Paul decorated Lit'L Pokey with evergreen roping and lights.
I volunteered to be Paul's replacement once when a conflict kept him from a Lit'L Pokey engagement at Fort Atkinson. I went alone and gave rides to children for some hours. Following an afternoon of non-stop rides, I loaded the train back onto Paul's trailer and returned it to Paul's shed. I then realized the amount of effort that went into doing one-man outings with Lit'L Pokey."
Paul's wife Lois shares:
"As a Lions Club member, Paul simply thought that taking the train around was something that has got to get done. He loved to be with people."
Although Paul was lost to an accident in 2010, his spirit lives on in the smiles of children who continue to enjoy train rides, and, as John concludes:
"Thank you, Paul, for your enthusiasm and unselfish effort in continuing on the path which Ernest Petersen blazed."
You may read more about Paul's beautiful life and his commitment to his community here.
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