HAPPY BIRTHDAY MOM -- Bea Kraynak (center) is pictured with her daughters (L/R) Cookie, Diane, Donna & Janet. The girls came from Colorado, Iowa, Midland and Bay City to celebrate with their mother.

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Memorial Day 2011 -- Birthday Bash
Happy 85th Birthday Bea Kraynak

May 30, 2011
By: O. J. Cunningham

When you're 85 years old, you generally know what you want for your birthday.

Essexville's Bea Kraynak wanted two things for her 85th birthday held over the Memorial Day weekend (2011). She wanted her four daughters to be with her. And she wanted grilled hot dogs.

"I like my hot dogs burned just a little," Kraynak said as she celebrated her special day with her four girls. "If you burn the hot dogs," Kraynak said, they get that special cooked outdoors flavor."

Kraynak's four daughters gathered at their mother's Essexville home for the 85th birthday celebration. Cookie (Gobeski) came from Iowa; Janet flew in from Colorado; Donna (Bay City) and Diane (Midland) had shorter distances to travel.

Hot dogs, potato salad, cole slaw, baked beans, fresh veggies along with chocolate chip cookie cake and chocolate chip cookie dough ice cream were all part of the afternoon party. And Bea Kraynak cooked her legendary Maple Syrup Dumplings as an extra-special treat.