To the editor:

Like many of you, I was saddened to learn of the passing of Smiley Wiltscheck.  A big thank you to the New Ulm Journal for acknowledging and recognizing his musical legacy.

I first got to know Smiley as we would cross paths at the NUCAT (New Ulm Community Access Television) studio.  He would finish up his concertina show as Paul Warshauer and I would begin taping Something Artsy.  As we bumped into each other around town, we had delightful conversations about nothing of great importance, yet, I never hurried away from those chance encounters.  It is my honor and privilege that Smiley considered me a friend.

New Ulm has been filled with legends and characters throughout its history. Wonderful people who have passed that I treasured like Arnold Koelpin, Joel Albrecht, George Glotzbach, and Bob Beussman are some of those legends.  Equally impactful in bringing goodwill to a community are the fun-filled characters like Allan ‘Smiley’ Wiltscheck.

Thankfully, New Ulm has many other legends and characters that all of us can continue to cherish.

Blessed be the memory of Smiley.

Mark Santelman

Wintrhop