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Ed Bigelow, the Loveland Lions Club head of the North Lake Park train committee, oils the train Monday in preparation for the week of train rides at the park in Loveland. Reporter-Herald/Jenny Sparks

Name: Rod Koberstein Recreation/Sport: Retired City mechanic

Relationship: Country: United States of America

The honorees for the 2023 Jewell County Threshing Bee were the Koberstein family from Loveland, Colorado, (starting from left) Eric Hirsch, Lisa Hirsch, Sondra Koberstein, Rod Koberstein, Scott Koberstein and Michelle Koberstein.

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The Jewell County Historical Society honored Sondra and Rod Koberstein from Loveland, Colorado, for their assistance over 28 years with the Jewell County Threshing Bee. Sondra and Rod, and often several of their family members, have attended the threshing bee starting in 1995. They come several days before the threshing bee starts and park their camper just west of the Farm History Museum Building No. 1. They brought their first restored John Deere, a 1934 Model D tractor to the bee in 1996 and were hooked on attending for many more years.

Rod had the pleasure of driving the 2023 raffle tractor, a 1947 John Deere Model AN, in the parade both Saturday and Sunday. Rod's entire family helped restore this tractor and they donated it to the historical society in 2009 as the raffle tractor for that year. That tractor ended up in the hands of Ted Thummel of Esbon. The society was able to purchase this tractor at Ted's sale in 2022 to be used as this year's raffle tractor. This tractor is in like new condition as every part was restored and repaired or replaced as needed.

The 1934 John Deere the Kobersteins brought from Colorado for this years parade was driven by their son, Scott, with Sondra riding on the fender on Saturday and joined by their daughter-in-law, Michelle Koberstein, on Sunday. Their daughter and son-in-law, Lisa and Eric Hirsch, and Tony De Leon from Alvin, Texas, also attended the parade on both days. Tony is also a long time helper in putting on the threshing bee and he is a treasured member of the Threshing Bee family. Tony and Rod both served on the same ship for three years during their Navy service.

Sondra has deep roots in Jewell County. Her mother, Cheryl Beukenhorst Neuburger, was graduated from Ionia High School in 1946. Her father, Don Neuburger, was raised in Mankato and was graduated from Mankato High School in 1943 after only three years in high school. He joined the Navy before graduation so did not attend the graduation ceremony. Sondra's grandparents were Eva Stites Beukenhorst, and Bill Beukenhorst, who lived in Ionia in the late 1930s. In addition, Sondra's great-grandfather was Zeke Stites who lived northwest of Ionia. After Sondra's grandfather died, Eva married Gerald Boller, who lived south of Cawker City, but moved to Jewell County as the Glen Elder dam was being built. Gerald's farm was near Boller Point on Waconda Lake. Don Neuburgers' step-father was Jim Gilliam whose name is now on the historical society's blacksmith shop on the historical society grounds. Mr. Gilliam was a blacksmith in Mankato and Don donated much of the contents for the blacksmith shop from the one on the south side of Mankato following its demise.

Sondra and Rod extended their sincere appreciation for the friendship of the people in Jewell County. They have many fond memories of their experiences at the threshing bee and these experiences have been a highlight of their lives.

Loveland FYI, Publish date 6/11/2006 , Loveland, CO
Little engine still can
Beloved by kids, Buckhorn Northern turns 30 with care from city, Lions Club
Ann Depperschmidt
The Daily Reporter-Herald
The train keeps chugging along on a World War II surplus Jeep engine.
“You wouldn’t think that this would be big enough to pull this thing,” said Ed Bigelow, a Loveland Lions Club volunteer, as he opened up the conductor’s seat and peered in at the red four-cylinder engine.
It’s been rebuilt and worked on throughout the years — the Buckhorn Northern train turns 30 this year, after all.
But it keeps moving along.
“It’s probably the most popular thing for children this city has,” said Rod Koberstein, a retired city mechanic who helped keep the train in working order for more than 15 years. “It was well worth our effort to keep it up.”
Fred Lewis, a former Woodward Governor employee, built the train in 1976, but did not begin operating it in North Lake Park until Labor Day weekend 1977.
Lewis built the train as a half-size replica of an actual Buckhorn Northern steam train that once hauled clay from Devil’s Backbone to Wild’s Brick Yard west of Loveland, according to the Reporter-Herald archives.
Lewis designed the tunnel on the north side of the park to store the train when it wasn’t in use, and he built the water tower to house tools for the train.
“It’s one of the more popular attractions we have in our recreation system,” said Keven Aggers, the city’s recreation manager.
The city of Loveland bought the train in 1988 for $36,000, he said. Now it’s owned by the city and operated by the Lions Club.
“We went around that track many, many times,” Bigelow said.
The train is such a close replica to the real thing, it has a little barrel that can drop sand on
the tracks, just like the original used to improve its traction on snowy days.
There are two mini-lanterns inside where the conductor sits and white posts along the track with a black “W” — letting the conductor know when to blow the whistle.
But all that chugging makes for a lot of maintenance.
Every day before Lions Club operators start the train, they make sure everything is running smoothly — they check the oil, check the radiator water and use a marked stick to check the gas level.
Each week — usually on Mondays — operators plug a dab of grease into each of the 54 zerk fittings to keep the train’s moving parts moving.
And city workers paint the cars, change the oil, adjust the brakes and work on any problems throughout the year.

The Old Berthoud Recorder (120 Bunyan Ave., Suite C Berthoud, CO 80513)
"Local 4-H club participates in petting zoo BY JULIETTE FARDULIS
Rod Coberstein, of Loveland, gives the hayrides on donation basis. “He’s our friend who loves John Deere tractors, and enjoys helping us each year with hayrides and barrel train rides. I appreciate Rod and Mike so much, and couldn’t pull this off without them,” says Osborn. The barrel trains were recently refurbished by Coberstein to pull young children by tractor around the paved portions of the Osborn farm, located just east of Boise Avenue on Hwy 402 in Loveland."

Loveland Navy veteran carves token of thanks for fellow veterans

LOVELAND, Colo. — When you meet Bob Scott, one of the first things you'll notice is his big, jovial laugh, second only to his character and the love he holds for our country's veterans. "There's nothing you can do good enough to recognize a vet, as far as I'm concerned," he said. ... To date, he's given away more than 150 of his creations. Each one is unique and handmade and marked by the words, "Walk with Bob." Veteran Rod Koberstein received one of the canes a few years ago. "I don't know anyone who's done more than Bob, for people he doesn't know," Koberstein said. "He's carved two faces, he's carved houses, and of course he always puts 'Walk with Bob' on the cane."

Name: Rod Koberstein	Recreation/Sport: Retired City mechanic
Relationship:	Country: United States of America
The honorees for the 2023 Jewell County Threshing Bee were the Koberstein family from Loveland, Colorado, (starting from left) Eric Hirsch, Lisa Hirsch, Sondra Koberstein, Rod Koberstein, Scott Koberstein and Michelle Koberstein. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ The Jewell County Historical Society honored Sondra and Rod Koberstein from Loveland, Colorado, for their assistance over 28 years with the Jewell County Threshing Bee. Sondra and Rod, and often several of their family members, have attended the threshing bee starting in 1995. They come several days before the threshing bee starts and park their camper just west of the Farm History Museum Building No. 1. They brought their first restored John Deere, a 1934 Model D tractor to the bee in 1996 and were hooked on attending for many more years. Rod had the pleasure of driving the 2023 raffle tractor, a 1947 John Deere Model AN, in the parade both Saturday and Sunday. Rod's entire family helped restore this tractor and they donated it to the historical society in 2009 as the raffle tractor for that year. That tractor ended up in the hands of Ted Thummel of Esbon. The society was able to purchase this tractor at Ted's sale in 2022 to be used as this year's raffle tractor. This tractor is in like new condition as every part was restored and repaired or replaced as needed. The 1934 John Deere the Kobersteins brought from Colorado for this years parade was driven by their son, Scott, with Sondra riding on the fender on Saturday and joined by their daughter-in-law, Michelle Koberstein, on Sunday. Their daughter and son-in-law, Lisa and Eric Hirsch, and Tony De Leon from Alvin, Texas, also attended the parade on both days. Tony is also a long time helper in putting on the threshing bee and he is a treasured member of the Threshing Bee family. Tony and Rod both served on the same ship for three years during their Navy service. Sondra has deep roots in Jewell County. Her mother, Cheryl Beukenhorst Neuburger, was graduated from Ionia High School in 1946. Her father, Don Neuburger, was raised in Mankato and was graduated from Mankato High School in 1943 after only three years in high school. He joined the Navy before graduation so did not attend the graduation ceremony. Sondra's grandparents were Eva Stites Beukenhorst, and Bill Beukenhorst, who lived in Ionia in the late 1930s. In addition, Sondra's great-grandfather was Zeke Stites who lived northwest of Ionia. After Sondra's grandfather died, Eva married Gerald Boller, who lived south of Cawker City, but moved to Jewell County as the Glen Elder dam was being built. Gerald's farm was near Boller Point on Waconda Lake. Don Neuburgers' step-father was Jim Gilliam whose name is now on the historical society's blacksmith shop on the historical society grounds. Mr. Gilliam was a blacksmith in Mankato and Don donated much of the contents for the blacksmith shop from the one on the south side of Mankato following its demise. Sondra and Rod extended their sincere appreciation for the friendship of the people in Jewell County. They have many fond memories of their experiences at the threshing bee and these experiences have been a highlight of their lives.
Loveland FYI, Publish date 6/11/2006 , Loveland, CO Little engine still can Beloved by kids, Buckhorn Northern turns 30 with care from city, Lions Club Ann Depperschmidt The Daily Reporter-Herald The train keeps chugging along on a World War II surplus Jeep engine. “You wouldn’t think that this would be big enough to pull this thing,” said Ed Bigelow, a Loveland Lions Club volunteer, as he opened up the conductor’s seat and peered in at the red four-cylinder engine. It’s been rebuilt and worked on throughout the years — the Buckhorn Northern train turns 30 this year, after all. But it keeps moving along. “It’s probably the most popular thing for children this city has,” said Rod Koberstein, a retired city mechanic who helped keep the train in working order for more than 15 years. “It was well worth our effort to keep it up.” Fred Lewis, a former Woodward Governor employee, built the train in 1976, but did not begin operating it in North Lake Park until Labor Day weekend 1977. Lewis built the train as a half-size replica of an actual Buckhorn Northern steam train that once hauled clay from Devil’s Backbone to Wild’s Brick Yard west of Loveland, according to the Reporter-Herald archives. Lewis designed the tunnel on the north side of the park to store the train when it wasn’t in use, and he built the water tower to house tools for the train. “It’s one of the more popular attractions we have in our recreation system,” said Keven Aggers, the city’s recreation manager. The city of Loveland bought the train in 1988 for $36,000, he said. Now it’s owned by the city and operated by the Lions Club. “We went around that track many, many times,” Bigelow said. The train is such a close replica to the real thing, it has a little barrel that can drop sand on the tracks, just like the original used to improve its traction on snowy days. There are two mini-lanterns inside where the conductor sits and white posts along the track with a black “W” — letting the conductor know when to blow the whistle. But all that chugging makes for a lot of maintenance. Every day before Lions Club operators start the train, they make sure everything is running smoothly — they check the oil, check the radiator water and use a marked stick to check the gas level. Each week — usually on Mondays — operators plug a dab of grease into each of the 54 zerk fittings to keep the train’s moving parts moving. And city workers paint the cars, change the oil, adjust the brakes and work on any problems throughout the year. The Old Berthoud Recorder (120 Bunyan Ave., Suite C Berthoud, CO 80513) "Local 4-H club participates in petting zoo BY JULIETTE FARDULIS Rod Coberstein, of Loveland, gives the hayrides on donation basis. “He’s our friend who loves John Deere tractors, and enjoys helping us each year with hayrides and barrel train rides. I appreciate Rod and Mike so much, and couldn’t pull this off without them,” says Osborn. The barrel trains were recently refurbished by Coberstein to pull young children by tractor around the paved portions of the Osborn farm, located just east of Boise Avenue on Hwy 402 in Loveland." Loveland Navy veteran carves token of thanks for fellow veterans LOVELAND, Colo. — When you meet Bob Scott, one of the first things you'll notice is his big, jovial laugh, second only to his character and the love he holds for our country's veterans. "There's nothing you can do good enough to recognize a vet, as far as I'm concerned," he said. ... To date, he's given away more than 150 of his creations. Each one is unique and handmade and marked by the words, "Walk with Bob." Veteran Rod Koberstein received one of the canes a few years ago. "I don't know anyone who's done more than Bob, for people he doesn't know," Koberstein said. "He's carved two faces, he's carved houses, and of course he always puts 'Walk with Bob' on the cane."