Paul Brog
Paul A. Brog, 84, of Nampa, died Monday, Jan. 23, 2017.
Paul A Brog started his life in Afton WY, July 18, 1932 to the union of Frieda Kaufman and Paul Brog. He was named after his father and grandfather Nickolas Brog. The A stands for Albert who was his Uncle Al Kaufman. His identical twin did not survive. His life as a young child was a little different from most. The family lived in the top of the cheese factory. His mother was diagnosed with RA and the disease started fusing her body from the neck down. Paul & Frieda traveled near and far to find treatments for her condition. Aunts and a hired girl would help caring for little Paul. From an early age, he took care of his mother. He would assist his mom by shifting the gears for her as she drove. By the age of 7 he would go to work with his dad. He would stand on a stool and watch his father making cheese and on special occasions he got to stir the curd.
His first real job was with Blackfoot Creamers that his dad owned. He ran an icehouse. He made 30 blocks of ice at a time and each blocked weighed 300 pounds. He would pull a block and saw it into the size piece the customers wanted. Of course when he was done he would spin around in his car on the ice. He delivered butter and eggs and picked up cream.
He loved that his dad bought a new Chrysler every year. His favorite was a 39 gray one. He said that that tradition stopped in 42 because of the war.
In high school he became very popular with his good looks (he could grow a beard), contagious personality, and his fun loving spirit, which often caused him to do, pranks…something about tipping over an outhouse and borrowing a siren from a police car.
Information shared by Paul (Nick)
He rode to school on school buses they called cracker boxes. He was a good kid at school and didn’t get in much trouble. Enjoyed watching Andy Griffith and Elvis with is outrageous shaky leg thing. His favorite books were Tom Sawyer & Huck, Black Beauty, and Old Yeller.
His favorite activities were riding his bike, playing marbles (the best one was a ruby one), and flying kites
His first car was a 1917 Model T with an open top and key start, which he paid $17.00 for. He kept this hid from his dad because he was only 13 years of age.
Marilyn Monroe was his favorite movie star. Gone with the Wind was his favorite show, and his favorite songs were the Beer Barrel Pokka and Be Honest With me. He also said he liked to dance because he could pick the girls up and twirl them around until they would lose their shoes. His greatest trip with his parents was in 1947 when they went to Wisconsin, Chicago, and Yellowstone. He also remembered a trip with Grandpa Kaufman through Jackson where he met lots of relatives, rode horses, feed cows and chickens.
In his senior year he met the new girl in town (Jean Marie Poe) and they hit it off. Paul had a love of cars and especially had a need for speed. It didn’t matter if he was on a frozen pond, in the sand dunes, or paved streets he was always improving his driving skills. Jean and his clan were always out crusin in Paul’s car. Jean’s mom warned her younger sister, Ginger to run for the porch when she saw Nick, coming around the corner. Although he was named Paul his family and friends knew him as Nick.
Paul said he got his appreciation of life from his mom and his dad taught him to work hard and be an honest man. Upon graduation, he left to attend college in Logan Utah studying agriculture and dairy science. Of course he probably could have taught some of the classes since he grew up in butter and cheese factories. His dad was a cheese maker as well as his two uncles who had brought their trade from Switzerland.
In 1951 his dad asked him to take over the Salmon plant. Paul was very eager but said he couldn’t go without his new found love, Jean.
They were married in Blackfoot on July 8 and moved to Salmon to start their new life together.
In 1954 their daughter Sheryl Lyn was born and shortly later in 1955 Kathy Lea was born. Jean’s father, TG a carpenter by trade built their first house.
Paul managed the Rocky Mountain Creamery in Salmon for his father, making butter and cheese. Many days he worked from sun up to sun down so he would often take one of the girls on the milk route where he hauled milk in cans from the farmers to the creamery. The girls would stand beside him and ride along often singing a silly song.
One year he was late for Christmas Eve so he dressed up like Santa and came home bearing gifts for all. He forgot one thing. He didn’t change his work boots and the girls wanted to know why Santa had on Daddy’s boots.
Jean’s sister Ginger spent many summers in Salmon with the family. Everyone loved to come to Salmon. Their trip usually involved a boat ride or a jeep ride. Did I say that sometimes folks sat on the floor or got out of the jeep for fear of dying except for his mom and Jean’s grandfather. Time at the Williams Lake cabin was the best. Paul’s dad thought fishing was great (an all day event) and Paul’s mother knew just how to debone those fish. Paul put the finishing touches by grilling them. It been said a little wine for the fish a little for the cook.
Paul was know for driving fast cars, fast boats, and fast motor cycles (you know those that you change the cc label on). He never backed down on an offer for a race.
Paul was always a civic minded person. He was a member of the Jaycees (President), Salmon & Nampa Chamber of Commerce (President), Salmon Fire Department, Masonic Lodge, Shiners, Grand Marshal of Nampa’s Dairyland Parade, Rotary (President), Masonic Lodge, Shiners, Grand Marshal of the Dairyland Parade, Rotary, and Elks Lodge(Exalted Ruler).
While Paul was Exalted Ruler the family went to convention in New York. While there they attended Broadway shows, dances, and fancy dinners. Since they were so close to Wisconsin they traveled there and ended up buying a bulk milk truck. They traveled all the way back to Salmon in the bulk truck. The hotels gave them quite a look when they asked for the luggage and Paul had to crawl down in the bulk tank to retrieve the luggage.
The new bulk tanker made collecting milk in cans obsolete.
Paul’s family was blessed with one more daughter, Paula Jean in 1967. Her big sisters took her everywhere they went.
Prior to 1970, Paul made many changes to the
Rocky Mountain Creamery. He purchased the business, remolded the building, and the name was changed to Salmon Valley Cheese. Paul developed a new Swiss cheese that he called Idiana (Idaho Danish Swiss). He created a mail order business for shipping gifts through out the United States and started making world famous peanut brittle.
One time Paul decided to trick his daughter who didn’t like Swiss cheese. He dipped the cheese in chocolate and tried to pass them off as caramels. He was almost successful.
Paul decided tradition must carry on. Like his dad and uncles who started making cheese in Switzerland and continued making cheese as they moved across the United States he took an opportunity to build a new business in the Treasure Valley. In 1970, he along with his partner purchased a 200 acre farm in Nampa and built Swiss Village Cheese. This new expansion meant the Brog family moving to Nampa. This cheese factory had viewing windows so one could watch the cheese being made, a restaurant, and a retail cheese outlet.
Paul was creative with cheeses, producing the first hot pepper cheese, Swiss, Monterey Jack and Cheddar. He also developed and sold Brogies - a fried cheese curd. State inspectors would show up more often than expected, hoping to get a hot Brogie.
Swiss Village Cheese became a land mark where people came together to enjoy good cheese. It was a favorite field trip for students in the valley to tour the cheese factory. In summer, a BIG Cheese Day was held in the parking lot. Paul’s day wasn’t complete until he explained something about cheese. Oh maybe it was about cheese or cars.
As time went on the family changed. Sheryl married Keith Amar and raised two children in Salmon, Paul Ryan and Kymberly Jean. Kathy moved to Denver and started a cheese retail store. Paula married and had Daniel and Charlie.
Grandpa and Grandma was a big part of all of their lives. They had swimming lessons, went to the circus, and vacations to the ocean. Daniel and Charlie got to spend the most time with Grandpa and Grandma because they grew up in their home.
He received many honors, two of which were amazing. One was from the Samoan people of Treasure Valley as a thank you for his community involvement. They gave him a Siapo, which is one of the oldest Samoan cultural art forms. It is not only a decorative art, it is a symbol of Samoan culture used in ceremonies. They wrote the thank you on it and presented it to Paul. Another great honor that was bestowed upon him in 2013 was when he was inducted into the Dairy Hall of Fame for his contribution to the development of the dairy industry. What an honor.
I’m sure he’s in heaven blowing kisses to his favorite nurses and yodeling.
He is survived by his wife Jean three daughters: Sheryl (deceased husband Keith) Amar, Kathy Eggers, and Paula Stewart. four grandchildren: Kymberly Amar, Paul (Amanda) Amar, Daniel (Jackie) Haddenham, and Charles Haddenham
four great-grand children: Athena, Orion, and Olympia Haddenham, and Ryder Kennth Amar
Parents: Frieda and Paul Brog
In-laws: Robert (deceased) and Margie Poe, Donald and Debbie(deceased) Poe, and Ginger and Frosty Merkley
Nephews and Nieces: Rudy, Rhonda, Lana, Steven, Robin, Mark (deceased) and Katrina
Paul A. Brog, 84, of Nampa, died Monday, Jan. 23, 2017.
Paul A Brog started his life in Afton WY, July 18, 1932 to the union of Frieda Kaufman and Paul Brog. He was named after his father and grandfather Nickolas Brog. The A stands for Albert who was his Uncle Al Kaufman. His identical twin did not survive. His life as a young child was a little different from most. The family lived in the top of the cheese factory. His mother was diagnosed with RA and the disease started fusing her body from the neck down. Paul & Frieda traveled near and far to find treatments for her condition. Aunts and a hired girl would help caring for little Paul. From an early age, he took care of his mother. He would assist his mom by shifting the gears for her as she drove. By the age of 7 he would go to work with his dad. He would stand on a stool and watch his father making cheese and on special occasions he got to stir the curd.
His first real job was with Blackfoot Creamers that his dad owned. He ran an icehouse. He made 30 blocks of ice at a time and each blocked weighed 300 pounds. He would pull a block and saw it into the size piece the customers wanted. Of course when he was done he would spin around in his car on the ice. He delivered butter and eggs and picked up cream.
He loved that his dad bought a new Chrysler every year. His favorite was a 39 gray one. He said that that tradition stopped in 42 because of the war.
In high school he became very popular with his good looks (he could grow a beard), contagious personality, and his fun loving spirit, which often caused him to do, pranks…something about tipping over an outhouse and borrowing a siren from a police car.
Information shared by Paul (Nick)
He rode to school on school buses they called cracker boxes. He was a good kid at school and didn’t get in much trouble. Enjoyed watching Andy Griffith and Elvis with is outrageous shaky leg thing. His favorite books were Tom Sawyer & Huck, Black Beauty, and Old Yeller.
His favorite activities were riding his bike, playing marbles (the best one was a ruby one), and flying kites
His first car was a 1917 Model T with an open top and key start, which he paid $17.00 for. He kept this hid from his dad because he was only 13 years of age.
Marilyn Monroe was his favorite movie star. Gone with the Wind was his favorite show, and his favorite songs were the Beer Barrel Pokka and Be Honest With me. He also said he liked to dance because he could pick the girls up and twirl them around until they would lose their shoes. His greatest trip with his parents was in 1947 when they went to Wisconsin, Chicago, and Yellowstone. He also remembered a trip with Grandpa Kaufman through Jackson where he met lots of relatives, rode horses, feed cows and chickens.
In his senior year he met the new girl in town (Jean Marie Poe) and they hit it off. Paul had a love of cars and especially had a need for speed. It didn’t matter if he was on a frozen pond, in the sand dunes, or paved streets he was always improving his driving skills. Jean and his clan were always out crusin in Paul’s car. Jean’s mom warned her younger sister, Ginger to run for the porch when she saw Nick, coming around the corner. Although he was named Paul his family and friends knew him as Nick.
Paul said he got his appreciation of life from his mom and his dad taught him to work hard and be an honest man. Upon graduation, he left to attend college in Logan Utah studying agriculture and dairy science. Of course he probably could have taught some of the classes since he grew up in butter and cheese factories. His dad was a cheese maker as well as his two uncles who had brought their trade from Switzerland.
In 1951 his dad asked him to take over the Salmon plant. Paul was very eager but said he couldn’t go without his new found love, Jean.
They were married in Blackfoot on July 8 and moved to Salmon to start their new life together.
In 1954 their daughter Sheryl Lyn was born and shortly later in 1955 Kathy Lea was born. Jean’s father, TG a carpenter by trade built their first house.
Paul managed the Rocky Mountain Creamery in Salmon for his father, making butter and cheese. Many days he worked from sun up to sun down so he would often take one of the girls on the milk route where he hauled milk in cans from the farmers to the creamery. The girls would stand beside him and ride along often singing a silly song.
One year he was late for Christmas Eve so he dressed up like Santa and came home bearing gifts for all. He forgot one thing. He didn’t change his work boots and the girls wanted to know why Santa had on Daddy’s boots.
Jean’s sister Ginger spent many summers in Salmon with the family. Everyone loved to come to Salmon. Their trip usually involved a boat ride or a jeep ride. Did I say that sometimes folks sat on the floor or got out of the jeep for fear of dying except for his mom and Jean’s grandfather. Time at the Williams Lake cabin was the best. Paul’s dad thought fishing was great (an all day event) and Paul’s mother knew just how to debone those fish. Paul put the finishing touches by grilling them. It been said a little wine for the fish a little for the cook.
Paul was know for driving fast cars, fast boats, and fast motor cycles (you know those that you change the cc label on). He never backed down on an offer for a race.
Paul was always a civic minded person. He was a member of the Jaycees (President), Salmon & Nampa Chamber of Commerce (President), Salmon Fire Department, Masonic Lodge, Shiners, Grand Marshal of Nampa’s Dairyland Parade, Rotary (President), Masonic Lodge, Shiners, Grand Marshal of the Dairyland Parade, Rotary, and Elks Lodge(Exalted Ruler).
While Paul was Exalted Ruler the family went to convention in New York. While there they attended Broadway shows, dances, and fancy dinners. Since they were so close to Wisconsin they traveled there and ended up buying a bulk milk truck. They traveled all the way back to Salmon in the bulk truck. The hotels gave them quite a look when they asked for the luggage and Paul had to crawl down in the bulk tank to retrieve the luggage.
The new bulk tanker made collecting milk in cans obsolete.
Paul’s family was blessed with one more daughter, Paula Jean in 1967. Her big sisters took her everywhere they went.
Prior to 1970, Paul made many changes to the
Rocky Mountain Creamery. He purchased the business, remolded the building, and the name was changed to Salmon Valley Cheese. Paul developed a new Swiss cheese that he called Idiana (Idaho Danish Swiss). He created a mail order business for shipping gifts through out the United States and started making world famous peanut brittle.
One time Paul decided to trick his daughter who didn’t like Swiss cheese. He dipped the cheese in chocolate and tried to pass them off as caramels. He was almost successful.
Paul decided tradition must carry on. Like his dad and uncles who started making cheese in Switzerland and continued making cheese as they moved across the United States he took an opportunity to build a new business in the Treasure Valley. In 1970, he along with his partner purchased a 200 acre farm in Nampa and built Swiss Village Cheese. This new expansion meant the Brog family moving to Nampa. This cheese factory had viewing windows so one could watch the cheese being made, a restaurant, and a retail cheese outlet.
Paul was creative with cheeses, producing the first hot pepper cheese, Swiss, Monterey Jack and Cheddar. He also developed and sold Brogies - a fried cheese curd. State inspectors would show up more often than expected, hoping to get a hot Brogie.
Swiss Village Cheese became a land mark where people came together to enjoy good cheese. It was a favorite field trip for students in the valley to tour the cheese factory. In summer, a BIG Cheese Day was held in the parking lot. Paul’s day wasn’t complete until he explained something about cheese. Oh maybe it was about cheese or cars.
As time went on the family changed. Sheryl married Keith Amar and raised two children in Salmon, Paul Ryan and Kymberly Jean. Kathy moved to Denver and started a cheese retail store. Paula married and had Daniel and Charlie.
Grandpa and Grandma was a big part of all of their lives. They had swimming lessons, went to the circus, and vacations to the ocean. Daniel and Charlie got to spend the most time with Grandpa and Grandma because they grew up in their home.
He received many honors, two of which were amazing. One was from the Samoan people of Treasure Valley as a thank you for his community involvement. They gave him a Siapo, which is one of the oldest Samoan cultural art forms. It is not only a decorative art, it is a symbol of Samoan culture used in ceremonies. They wrote the thank you on it and presented it to Paul. Another great honor that was bestowed upon him in 2013 was when he was inducted into the Dairy Hall of Fame for his contribution to the development of the dairy industry. What an honor.
I’m sure he’s in heaven blowing kisses to his favorite nurses and yodeling.
He is survived by his wife Jean three daughters: Sheryl (deceased husband Keith) Amar, Kathy Eggers, and Paula Stewart. four grandchildren: Kymberly Amar, Paul (Amanda) Amar, Daniel (Jackie) Haddenham, and Charles Haddenham
four great-grand children: Athena, Orion, and Olympia Haddenham, and Ryder Kennth Amar
Parents: Frieda and Paul Brog
In-laws: Robert (deceased) and Margie Poe, Donald and Debbie(deceased) Poe, and Ginger and Frosty Merkley
Nephews and Nieces: Rudy, Rhonda, Lana, Steven, Robin, Mark (deceased) and Katrina
Paul Brog
Paul A. Brog, 84, of Nampa, died Monday, Jan. 23, 2017.
Paul A Brog started his life in Afton WY, July 18, 1932 to the union of Frieda Kaufman and Paul Brog. He was named after his father and grandfather Nickolas Brog. The A stands for Albert who was his Uncle Al Kaufman. His identical twin did not survive. His life as a young child was a little different from most. The family lived in the top of the cheese factory. His mother was diagnosed with RA and the disease started fusing her body from the neck down. Paul & Frieda traveled near and far to find treatments for her condition. Aunts and a hired girl would help caring for little Paul. From an early age, he took care of his mother. He would assist his mom by shifting the gears for her as she drove. By the age of 7 he would go to work with his dad. He would stand on a stool and watch his father making cheese and on special occasions he got to stir the curd.
His first real job was with Blackfoot Creamers that his dad owned. He ran an icehouse. He made 30 blocks of ice at a time and each blocked weighed 300 pounds. He would pull a block and saw it into the size piece the customers wanted. Of course when he was done he would spin around in his car on the ice. He delivered butter and eggs and picked up cream.
He loved that his dad bought a new Chrysler every year. His favorite was a 39 gray one. He said that that tradition stopped in 42 because of the war.
In high school he became very popular with his good looks (he could grow a beard), contagious personality, and his fun loving spirit, which often caused him to do, pranks…something about tipping over an outhouse and borrowing a siren from a police car.
Information shared by Paul (Nick)
He rode to school on school buses they called cracker boxes. He was a good kid at school and didn’t get in much trouble. Enjoyed watching Andy Griffith and Elvis with is outrageous shaky leg thing. His favorite books were Tom Sawyer & Huck, Black Beauty, and Old Yeller.
His favorite activities were riding his bike, playing marbles (the best one was a ruby one), and flying kites
His first car was a 1917 Model T with an open top and key start, which he paid $17.00 for. He kept this hid from his dad because he was only 13 years of age.
Marilyn Monroe was his favorite movie star. Gone with the Wind was his favorite show, and his favorite songs were the Beer Barrel Pokka and Be Honest With me. He also said he liked to dance because he could pick the girls up and twirl them around until they would lose their shoes. His greatest trip with his parents was in 1947 when they went to Wisconsin, Chicago, and Yellowstone. He also remembered a trip with Grandpa Kaufman through Jackson where he met lots of relatives, rode horses, feed cows and chickens.
In his senior year he met the new girl in town (Jean Marie Poe) and they hit it off. Paul had a love of cars and especially had a need for speed. It didn’t matter if he was on a frozen pond, in the sand dunes, or paved streets he was always improving his driving skills. Jean and his clan were always out crusin in Paul’s car. Jean’s mom warned her younger sister, Ginger to run for the porch when she saw Nick, coming around the corner. Although he was named Paul his family and friends knew him as Nick.
Paul said he got his appreciation of life from his mom and his dad taught him to work hard and be an honest man. Upon graduation, he left to attend college in Logan Utah studying agriculture and dairy science. Of course he probably could have taught some of the classes since he grew up in butter and cheese factories. His dad was a cheese maker as well as his two uncles who had brought their trade from Switzerland.
In 1951 his dad asked him to take over the Salmon plant. Paul was very eager but said he couldn’t go without his new found love, Jean.
They were married in Blackfoot on July 8 and moved to Salmon to start their new life together.
In 1954 their daughter Sheryl Lyn was born and shortly later in 1955 Kathy Lea was born. Jean’s father, TG a carpenter by trade built their first house.
Paul managed the Rocky Mountain Creamery in Salmon for his father, making butter and cheese. Many days he worked from sun up to sun down so he would often take one of the girls on the milk route where he hauled milk in cans from the farmers to the creamery. The girls would stand beside him and ride along often singing a silly song.
One year he was late for Christmas Eve so he dressed up like Santa and came home bearing gifts for all. He forgot one thing. He didn’t change his work boots and the girls wanted to know why Santa had on Daddy’s boots.
Jean’s sister Ginger spent many summers in Salmon with the family. Everyone loved to come to Salmon. Their trip usually involved a boat ride or a jeep ride. Did I say that sometimes folks sat on the floor or got out of the jeep for fear of dying except for his mom and Jean’s grandfather. Time at the Williams Lake cabin was the best. Paul’s dad thought fishing was great (an all day event) and Paul’s mother knew just how to debone those fish. Paul put the finishing touches by grilling them. It been said a little wine for the fish a little for the cook.
Paul was know for driving fast cars, fast boats, and fast motor cycles (you know those that you change the cc label on). He never backed down on an offer for a race.
Paul was always a civic minded person. He was a member of the Jaycees (President), Salmon & Nampa Chamber of Commerce (President), Salmon Fire Department, Masonic Lodge, Shiners, Grand Marshal of Nampa’s Dairyland Parade, Rotary (President), Masonic Lodge, Shiners, Grand Marshal of the Dairyland Parade, Rotary, and Elks Lodge(Exalted Ruler).
While Paul was Exalted Ruler the family went to convention in New York. While there they attended Broadway shows, dances, and fancy dinners. Since they were so close to Wisconsin they traveled there and ended up buying a bulk milk truck. They traveled all the way back to Salmon in the bulk truck. The hotels gave them quite a look when they asked for the luggage and Paul had to crawl down in the bulk tank to retrieve the luggage.
The new bulk tanker made collecting milk in cans obsolete.
Paul’s family was blessed with one more daughter, Paula Jean in 1967. Her big sisters took her everywhere they went.
Prior to 1970, Paul made many changes to the
Rocky Mountain Creamery. He purchased the business, remolded the building, and the name was changed to Salmon Valley Cheese. Paul developed a new Swiss cheese that he called Idiana (Idaho Danish Swiss). He created a mail order business for shipping gifts through out the United States and started making world famous peanut brittle.
One time Paul decided to trick his daughter who didn’t like Swiss cheese. He dipped the cheese in chocolate and tried to pass them off as caramels. He was almost successful.
Paul decided tradition must carry on. Like his dad and uncles who started making cheese in Switzerland and continued making cheese as they moved across the United States he took an opportunity to build a new business in the Treasure Valley. In 1970, he along with his partner purchased a 200 acre farm in Nampa and built Swiss Village Cheese. This new expansion meant the Brog family moving to Nampa. This cheese factory had viewing windows so one could watch the cheese being made, a restaurant, and a retail cheese outlet.
Paul was creative with cheeses, producing the first hot pepper cheese, Swiss, Monterey Jack and Cheddar. He also developed and sold Brogies - a fried cheese curd. State inspectors would show up more often than expected, hoping to get a hot Brogie.
Swiss Village Cheese became a land mark where people came together to enjoy good cheese. It was a favorite field trip for students in the valley to tour the cheese factory. In summer, a BIG Cheese Day was held in the parking lot. Paul’s day wasn’t complete until he explained something about cheese. Oh maybe it was about cheese or cars.
As time went on the family changed. Sheryl married Keith Amar and raised two children in Salmon, Paul Ryan and Kymberly Jean. Kathy moved to Denver and started a cheese retail store. Paula married and had Daniel and Charlie.
Grandpa and Grandma was a big part of all of their lives. They had swimming lessons, went to the circus, and vacations to the ocean. Daniel and Charlie got to spend the most time with Grandpa and Grandma because they grew up in their home.
He received many honors, two of which were amazing. One was from the Samoan people of Treasure Valley as a thank you for his community involvement. They gave him a Siapo, which is one of the oldest Samoan cultural art forms. It is not only a decorative art, it is a symbol of Samoan culture used in ceremonies. They wrote the thank you on it and presented it to Paul. Another great honor that was bestowed upon him in 2013 was when he was inducted into the Dairy Hall of Fame for his contribution to the development of the dairy industry. What an honor.
I’m sure he’s in heaven blowing kisses to his favorite nurses and yodeling.
He is survived by his wife Jean three daughters: Sheryl (deceased husband Keith) Amar, Kathy Eggers, and Paula Stewart. four grandchildren: Kymberly Amar, Paul (Amanda) Amar, Daniel (Jackie) Haddenham, and Charles Haddenham
four great-grand children: Athena, Orion, and Olympia Haddenham, and Ryder Kennth Amar
Parents: Frieda and Paul Brog
In-laws: Robert (deceased) and Margie Poe, Donald and Debbie(deceased) Poe, and Ginger and Frosty Merkley
Nephews and Nieces: Rudy, Rhonda, Lana, Steven, Robin, Mark (deceased) and Katrina
Paul A. Brog, 84, of Nampa, died Monday, Jan. 23, 2017.
Paul A Brog started his life in Afton WY, July 18, 1932 to the union of Frieda Kaufman and Paul Brog. He was named after his father and grandfather Nickolas Brog. The A stands for Albert who was his Uncle Al Kaufman. His identical twin did not survive. His life as a young child was a little different from most. The family lived in the top of the cheese factory. His mother was diagnosed with RA and the disease started fusing her body from the neck down. Paul & Frieda traveled near and far to find treatments for her condition. Aunts and a hired girl would help caring for little Paul. From an early age, he took care of his mother. He would assist his mom by shifting the gears for her as she drove. By the age of 7 he would go to work with his dad. He would stand on a stool and watch his father making cheese and on special occasions he got to stir the curd.
His first real job was with Blackfoot Creamers that his dad owned. He ran an icehouse. He made 30 blocks of ice at a time and each blocked weighed 300 pounds. He would pull a block and saw it into the size piece the customers wanted. Of course when he was done he would spin around in his car on the ice. He delivered butter and eggs and picked up cream.
He loved that his dad bought a new Chrysler every year. His favorite was a 39 gray one. He said that that tradition stopped in 42 because of the war.
In high school he became very popular with his good looks (he could grow a beard), contagious personality, and his fun loving spirit, which often caused him to do, pranks…something about tipping over an outhouse and borrowing a siren from a police car.
Information shared by Paul (Nick)
He rode to school on school buses they called cracker boxes. He was a good kid at school and didn’t get in much trouble. Enjoyed watching Andy Griffith and Elvis with is outrageous shaky leg thing. His favorite books were Tom Sawyer & Huck, Black Beauty, and Old Yeller.
His favorite activities were riding his bike, playing marbles (the best one was a ruby one), and flying kites
His first car was a 1917 Model T with an open top and key start, which he paid $17.00 for. He kept this hid from his dad because he was only 13 years of age.
Marilyn Monroe was his favorite movie star. Gone with the Wind was his favorite show, and his favorite songs were the Beer Barrel Pokka and Be Honest With me. He also said he liked to dance because he could pick the girls up and twirl them around until they would lose their shoes. His greatest trip with his parents was in 1947 when they went to Wisconsin, Chicago, and Yellowstone. He also remembered a trip with Grandpa Kaufman through Jackson where he met lots of relatives, rode horses, feed cows and chickens.
In his senior year he met the new girl in town (Jean Marie Poe) and they hit it off. Paul had a love of cars and especially had a need for speed. It didn’t matter if he was on a frozen pond, in the sand dunes, or paved streets he was always improving his driving skills. Jean and his clan were always out crusin in Paul’s car. Jean’s mom warned her younger sister, Ginger to run for the porch when she saw Nick, coming around the corner. Although he was named Paul his family and friends knew him as Nick.
Paul said he got his appreciation of life from his mom and his dad taught him to work hard and be an honest man. Upon graduation, he left to attend college in Logan Utah studying agriculture and dairy science. Of course he probably could have taught some of the classes since he grew up in butter and cheese factories. His dad was a cheese maker as well as his two uncles who had brought their trade from Switzerland.
In 1951 his dad asked him to take over the Salmon plant. Paul was very eager but said he couldn’t go without his new found love, Jean.
They were married in Blackfoot on July 8 and moved to Salmon to start their new life together.
In 1954 their daughter Sheryl Lyn was born and shortly later in 1955 Kathy Lea was born. Jean’s father, TG a carpenter by trade built their first house.
Paul managed the Rocky Mountain Creamery in Salmon for his father, making butter and cheese. Many days he worked from sun up to sun down so he would often take one of the girls on the milk route where he hauled milk in cans from the farmers to the creamery. The girls would stand beside him and ride along often singing a silly song.
One year he was late for Christmas Eve so he dressed up like Santa and came home bearing gifts for all. He forgot one thing. He didn’t change his work boots and the girls wanted to know why Santa had on Daddy’s boots.
Jean’s sister Ginger spent many summers in Salmon with the family. Everyone loved to come to Salmon. Their trip usually involved a boat ride or a jeep ride. Did I say that sometimes folks sat on the floor or got out of the jeep for fear of dying except for his mom and Jean’s grandfather. Time at the Williams Lake cabin was the best. Paul’s dad thought fishing was great (an all day event) and Paul’s mother knew just how to debone those fish. Paul put the finishing touches by grilling them. It been said a little wine for the fish a little for the cook.
Paul was know for driving fast cars, fast boats, and fast motor cycles (you know those that you change the cc label on). He never backed down on an offer for a race.
Paul was always a civic minded person. He was a member of the Jaycees (President), Salmon & Nampa Chamber of Commerce (President), Salmon Fire Department, Masonic Lodge, Shiners, Grand Marshal of Nampa’s Dairyland Parade, Rotary (President), Masonic Lodge, Shiners, Grand Marshal of the Dairyland Parade, Rotary, and Elks Lodge(Exalted Ruler).
While Paul was Exalted Ruler the family went to convention in New York. While there they attended Broadway shows, dances, and fancy dinners. Since they were so close to Wisconsin they traveled there and ended up buying a bulk milk truck. They traveled all the way back to Salmon in the bulk truck. The hotels gave them quite a look when they asked for the luggage and Paul had to crawl down in the bulk tank to retrieve the luggage.
The new bulk tanker made collecting milk in cans obsolete.
Paul’s family was blessed with one more daughter, Paula Jean in 1967. Her big sisters took her everywhere they went.
Prior to 1970, Paul made many changes to the
Rocky Mountain Creamery. He purchased the business, remolded the building, and the name was changed to Salmon Valley Cheese. Paul developed a new Swiss cheese that he called Idiana (Idaho Danish Swiss). He created a mail order business for shipping gifts through out the United States and started making world famous peanut brittle.
One time Paul decided to trick his daughter who didn’t like Swiss cheese. He dipped the cheese in chocolate and tried to pass them off as caramels. He was almost successful.
Paul decided tradition must carry on. Like his dad and uncles who started making cheese in Switzerland and continued making cheese as they moved across the United States he took an opportunity to build a new business in the Treasure Valley. In 1970, he along with his partner purchased a 200 acre farm in Nampa and built Swiss Village Cheese. This new expansion meant the Brog family moving to Nampa. This cheese factory had viewing windows so one could watch the cheese being made, a restaurant, and a retail cheese outlet.
Paul was creative with cheeses, producing the first hot pepper cheese, Swiss, Monterey Jack and Cheddar. He also developed and sold Brogies - a fried cheese curd. State inspectors would show up more often than expected, hoping to get a hot Brogie.
Swiss Village Cheese became a land mark where people came together to enjoy good cheese. It was a favorite field trip for students in the valley to tour the cheese factory. In summer, a BIG Cheese Day was held in the parking lot. Paul’s day wasn’t complete until he explained something about cheese. Oh maybe it was about cheese or cars.
As time went on the family changed. Sheryl married Keith Amar and raised two children in Salmon, Paul Ryan and Kymberly Jean. Kathy moved to Denver and started a cheese retail store. Paula married and had Daniel and Charlie.
Grandpa and Grandma was a big part of all of their lives. They had swimming lessons, went to the circus, and vacations to the ocean. Daniel and Charlie got to spend the most time with Grandpa and Grandma because they grew up in their home.
He received many honors, two of which were amazing. One was from the Samoan people of Treasure Valley as a thank you for his community involvement. They gave him a Siapo, which is one of the oldest Samoan cultural art forms. It is not only a decorative art, it is a symbol of Samoan culture used in ceremonies. They wrote the thank you on it and presented it to Paul. Another great honor that was bestowed upon him in 2013 was when he was inducted into the Dairy Hall of Fame for his contribution to the development of the dairy industry. What an honor.
I’m sure he’s in heaven blowing kisses to his favorite nurses and yodeling.
He is survived by his wife Jean three daughters: Sheryl (deceased husband Keith) Amar, Kathy Eggers, and Paula Stewart. four grandchildren: Kymberly Amar, Paul (Amanda) Amar, Daniel (Jackie) Haddenham, and Charles Haddenham
four great-grand children: Athena, Orion, and Olympia Haddenham, and Ryder Kennth Amar
Parents: Frieda and Paul Brog
In-laws: Robert (deceased) and Margie Poe, Donald and Debbie(deceased) Poe, and Ginger and Frosty Merkley
Nephews and Nieces: Rudy, Rhonda, Lana, Steven, Robin, Mark (deceased) and Katrina
Family Members
Siblings
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