July 7, 2020 – West Bend, WI – Following the release of Saturday’s story about the possible return of Dairy Queen to West Bend the opportunity arose to share some of the personal memories of DQ.
One story was about how Curly – the ice cream cone mascot at Dairy Queen fell over on Main Street and couldn’t get back up.
At the time the story ran – – we kept the identity of Curly secret – – but we will reveal that the gem making the best of the sweaty time in the cone was none other than Nancy Mehring.
Early reports read: Curly was outside the DQ on Main Street encouraging people to come to inside. Curly fell over and could not get up because of the cumbersome costume.
“It was really easy to fall….my top is bigger than my bottom,” bragged Curly.
The chicken-wire-mesh seam inside the plaster costume helped cushion Curly’s fall. Cries for help were drowned out by a sudden increase in din as passing cars honked their horns.
“People mistook my flailing for waving and that damn Curly has a smile pasted on its face – so I guess everybody thought I was break dancing and having a gay old time,” said Curly.
Karen MacFarlane – My first job at age 15 was at the DQ on Barton Hill- which has been gone for many years. Many fond Memories of making Dilly Bars-Peanut Buster Bars and those Delicious Chili Dogs. Many Thanks to Jerry and Nancy for Many Years of Hard Work-which brought Many families Fond Memories!
Bernie Nielsen – Remember it well, great people and business.
Rita Schmitt – With sincere appreciation and love, for all Nancy and Jerry have done for our community, and the families who have been employed with them, including ours. We thank them for their hard work, dedication, and friendship. God Bless you always…The Schmitt’s…
Jennifer Buchholz – I worked at DQ South for many years. Nancy and Jerry made everyone feel like a part of the DQ family. Thanks for the memories.
Janet Shirkey Sivula – I remember when there was only one Dairy Queen…at the base of Barton Hill. We used to walk there for dilly bars, hoping to get a “free dilly” stick. Thank You Nancy and Jerry for the memories and all your community support !!!
Samantha Danielson – I remember the free dilly sticks. I grew up in Barton and I remember going there in the 80’s as a kid. Anyone remember the baseball helmet sundaes?
Ann Sippel – Will greatly miss this place…as i still miss Mehrings Fishery downtown on the corner! 🙁
Joan Wichlacz – Thank you to all the Dairy Queens for employing so many young people. Both of my sons worked there after school and on weekends along with many other area teenagers. I loved the bubble gum dilly bars and the buster bars!
Joy Kristine – I met my husband at DQ West in the early 90’s…Jerry and Nancy were always great to their employees. We had a “lock in” overnight at the West side DQ and they let us make/eat all the ice cream we wanted!
Terri Balistreri – I was about 9 or 10, and my parents took us for a ride on a summer day and we ate at DQ on Main. After dinner we went and got our dog Lucky! I will always think of DQ when I think of that special day!
Chelsea Swanson – For my 16th birthday my friends took me to that DQ and surprised me with a group of our out of town friends. We had blizzards before going out to a local concert. It’s one of my favorite memories, only a handful of my friends could drive at the time so it was amazing that they all came for my birthday 🙂 Oh to be 16 again!
Sarah Harrison – I remember walking there from St John’s school for a tour. And we got to make our own ice cream cones when we were done.
Therese Falter – My husband & I used to meet at this DQ for lunch once a week when we were dating.
Carolyn Rehm Inman – I rode my bike there often as a kid.
Dianne Laatsch Pesch – Such a treat to stop at the Dairy Queens when our kids were young!!
Dawn Weiss – Thank you to Mehrings for many great years. We really miss DQ in West Bend. Many fond memories of taking my family there and also taking my Girl Scout troops there when I was a Girl Scout leader.
United Way Of Washington County – The Mehrings have always been great supporters of United Way Of Washington County! We are grateful for all the years they hosted Blizzard Days for United Way.
Chris Burkart – I remember going in there with friends Steve and Carrie, dropping a few coins in the juke box, and rockin out to Elvis’ Teddy Bear and Jerry Lee Lewis’ Great Balls of Fire. Great memories!
Gloria Witt – I decorated cakes there throughout college. I could make my own hours as long as the freezer was full, backups available, and orders filled! Best job ever! I seriously cried when I became a nurse and had to quit! lol
Gloria Witt – One day I came in for work in the back door… as I walked past the office a guy was in the safe in there…he saw I saw him and came and literally bowled me down and then ran out the back door!!!! I got up and ran to the manager and said, ” I think we were just robbed” the police came and I got to ride in a cop car and taken to the station and worked with a caricatures artist!!! I was like 18 years old….
Well, I think DQ is a great idea. Would save me the
long drive to Kewaskum or Saukville. Now, let’s get another A & W back in town. Time to get the better fast food closer to us.