My beautiful mother passed away May 11, 2021. She would have been 92 years of age on May 29, 2021. I've always tried to imagine what life would have been like in her birth year of 1929 and her next 10-20 years of life. She and her family, overcome with grief after their father died, survived the great depression. The two young sisters, my mother, Grace and my Aunt Harryette overcame the challenges of the 1930's. When the war began in 1941, they were just starting out their new lives with great hope. Like many families, for them WWII resulted in devastating loss. Everyone has a story. This is why I write. I'm telling my mother's family story for future generations and fulfilling her wish that her brother would be recognized and remembered.
The house is full of memories and our parent's antique collections. Besides being lifetime artists, they were avid, weekend antiquarians, so we've had a lot to deal with. I'm excited about discovering items that have been hidden away for 80 plus years. Items Bruce sent home from India and from China. I'll start with some Omaha history first. These things are in the process of scanning. One thing at a time, I'm excited to share with you.
Omaha Central High School Yearbook 1937
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| Bruce Fleming Jepson 1937 Obook, Cupak/Cambridge Archive |
Bruce graduated from Omaha Central High School in 1937. Awhile back I was able to find his yearbook online at https://central.ops.org/STUDENT-LIFE/-O-Book-Yearbook. Of course I always wondered if he had his own yearbook, which would give more personal insight. I am thrilled to have found Bruce's personal 1937 Obook and it's even more exciting than I could have imagined.
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| 1937 Obook grad photo of Bruce F. Jepson |
King Fong's Cafe And Friendship
Growing up in Omaha, my family, as with many Omaha families have a special place in our hearts for the Chinese restaurant King Fong's. I have fond memories of my parents taking us to dinner there in the 60's. They would tell us the stories of dining there when they were young. Bruce had taken Grace and Harryette for chop suey many times in the 1930's and early 1940's. We were told it was his favorite restaurant and favorite food. In February 1943 Bruce had 10 days leave from Flight School in Texas. It was at the King Fong's Cafe, Grace and Harryette enjoyed their last meal with their brother and father figure, Bruce.
In letters, while Bruce was in training, his friends often mentioned King Fong's, sometimes in a teasing way. In one letter dated October 20, 1943 a friend wrote, "have been hitting the King Fong joint and eating the favorite dish fried rice and egg foo yong (flied lice)." This may have been a jarring comment for Bruce. A particular jab since Bruce was so fond of this iconic restaurant.
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| Interior of King Fong's Cafe |
You can learn more about King Fong's here, https://www.omahamagazine.com/2018/03/03/302119/preservation-of-king-fong-cafe.
To donate https://restorationexchange.org/2019/05/13/omaha-gives-2019/
I often wondered just how much Bruce was dining there and how familiar he was with the owner and family. I think my mother indicated at one point that he was very friendly with them. I was happy to find this to be true when this Obook was discovered. I love how Bruce was learning Chinese long before arriving there to help the Chinese people win the war with Japan. As an artist, he surely had an appreciation for Chinese Calligraphy. Maybe he even requested his friends autograph in their own traditional script.
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| 1937 Obook Autograph signatures from the sons of King Fong founder/owner, Gin Chin. |
Here is just one example of Bruce's desire to master the art of the Chinese language and calligraphy.
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| Bruce sent a Happy New Year sentiment from China January 1945 |
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| Bruce at his drawing table 1938-1941. First Woodman Of The World Building Omaha, Nebraska. Perhaps he's lunching at King Fong's Cafe and learning Chinese calligraphy. |
The China Doll
Finally, a cute story from my "Grace Notes". Christmas 1937 Bruce had graduated from Central, Grace was 8 years old and Harryette was 6 years old. The family was living on 24th Street, close to Joslyn Art Museum and Creighton University. The duplex house has many great stories, which I'd love to share another time. My mother shared with me a story that was dear to her heart. It came up many times in my talks with her. Bruce's two young sisters were about to enter into the Fremont Masonic Home. This was the era of the great depression and the family was struggling, following the premature death of their beloved father, Harry C. Jepson. Grace had no memory of any previous Christmas that included a Christmas tree and gifts. This particular Christmas left her with lasting memories. It was their final Christmas together. The two girls were in the Masonic Home for just over 4 years. Under the tree, for Grace was a special doll and a box of chocolates. It was a Chinese doll. She recalled getting chocolate on the doll, making a mess, then carefully cleaning her up. She loved this doll and cherished the memory through the years. I've often wondered if that doll might have been purchased at King Fong's Cafe.
Learn more here, https://www.meshc.org/
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| Harryette, Grace and friend at Fremont Masonic Home 1938. |
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| China Doll Sketch by Bruce F. Jepsen 1937 Notice he often signed his work as "Jepsen", not Jepson. |
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