Tonganoxie reservist enjoys visit to school

P.E. teacher set to return in January

Tonganoxie ? Hugs and squeals greeted Jeremy Goebel.

Goebel, Tonganoxie Elementary School’s physical education teacher who was called to active military duty in February, stopped by the school earlier this week to say hello to his kids — all 800 of them.

Goebel is just one of the area’s servicemen who have returned, or soon will return, home for a visit. He and his wife, Lisa, made a personal visit to every classroom Monday.

“I can’t wait to have you all in class when I get back,” Goebel told students in Denise Smith’s kindergarten class. “When I come back we’ll do lots of activities.”

Goebel, who is in the Army Reserves, has been stationed at Fort Bragg, N.C.

He told students that in the Army he has to work out every day. For instance, he runs from four to six miles each morning. In the kindergarten class of Debbie Wedel, Goebel demonstrated how he can do 20 pushups — and did them with a smile on his face.

In talking to students in Sara Moraille’s class, Goebel compared his work with that of a substitute teacher.

“The regular Army people went overseas and we stayed there and did their jobs,” Goebel said.

Exuberant students in Pam Fields' third-grade class at Tonganoxie Elementary School rush to greet Jeremy Goebel. Goebel, who visited Monday, is the school's physical education teacher. He was called into active military duty earlier this year, but expects to return to Tonganoxie and resume his teaching position in late January.

He said he had treasured letters written by the Tonganoxie children.

“I showed them to all my soldier friends and I bragged about you,” Goebel told the students.

His wife, Lisa, said there had been a lot of mail.

“Every time I go out there, I bring back his mail,” she said, adding that she bought large containers to store the letters.

The couple are expecting their first child, who is due at the end of March, and Goebel is supposed to return in January to Tonganoxie and resume his work at the elementary school.

“I’m ready for him to come home,” Lisa said. “I’m just glad he’ll be home for the birth of our baby.”

— Tonganoxie Mirror news editor Lisa Scheller can be reached at (913) 845-2222.

Eudora — Ensign Dustin Haus will arrive home today in Eudora after a tour in Iraq.Family members will have an open house for Haus from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. Sunday at 1131 Acorn St.Haus is a SeaBee in the U.S. Navy and will report back to duty Dec. 7. He graduated from Eudora High School in 2001.