William Kalina

We got married in 1963, when I was 20. We have lived in Bloomington all of our married life. Two houses and then moved into a townhouse that we are still in since 1973. We love it there.
I enjoy my family life with my wife Roni and worlds best friend, 3 children and four grand children.
I was in the shoe repair business from 1960-1995 and at the same time a Bloomington Volunteer fireman from 1975 - 1995. The shoe repair business went bad and I ended up closing it in 1995. In 1977 I started playing with computers as a hobby and after closing my store I decided to see if I could get into the computer field without any education towards it. I applied for a position and got it. I built, repaired, modified and whatever necessary for the next 6 years until I retired in 2002. I had a virus that destroyed my heart in 1997 and left me with congestive heart failure which I have dealt with since. Really hasn't been too much of a problem. Just a few restrictions. In Feb 2002 I was in Mexico and was picked up and thrown by a large wave and from that my rotator cuff was cut. I had it operated on and after the operation exercized it too hard and it was again cut. Went in for another operation and nothing could be done other than to sew the bands permanatelly to the bone. Consequentally I don't have any strength in that shoulder. So then I decided to retire.
We are avid motorcyclers and travel basically every day we can. Enjoy traveling any way we can do it. Best is on the motorcycle trike.
I am very involved with the Bloomington Lions Club doing a lot of behind the scene type work such as the newletter, directory, brochures and etc.
In 1994 I started a group for the Retired Fire Fighters called B.A.R.F. (Bloomington Association of Retired Firefighters). The purpose of the group is to keep members informed of eachother, have a roster and calling list and some social events to get us together. We meet once a month at the KC Hall in Bloomington for a very informal meeting. We have lots of conversation and laughs and informaion about members. Since 1994 we have never missed a monthly meeting.
We are members of Pax Christi Church in Eden Prairie and have been since it was formed about 30 years ago. We have enjoyed the Church and it is a very nice place to worship. We like it very much there.

I was not able to do too much as far as extra curicular activities because I had to work and left as soon as school was done. I am most likely best known for Mr Johnson getting mad at me for shooting Joe Craig in the ear with a rubber band and he let uot a "yelp" and Mr Johnson went to the black board and hit it with the palm of his hand and broke it. This was in room 210 at the Wentworth Building. Sure was glad he didn't hit me.