Cowley News Welcome to the Proskes

In April of 2024, Frank and Heike Proske moved into the Donley house in Cowley. They were both born in New York City to parents that had migrated from Germany; hence they both grew up speaking German and English.
However they did not meet until much later when they were both attending Penn State University. Both were majoring in German and business. Heike was on the Penn State track team, throwing the shot put and the discus. When they first met, Frank was dating one of Heike’s friends. When Frank was a senior he was in a foreign exchange program, studying in Kiel, Germany, also visiting the Berlin Wall and what was then East Germany.
After college, Heike started working for Lufthansa Airlines, because it was a good job and they were needing other employees with her same qualifications; she contacted Frank to let him know.
Although he was not hired, it opened up a relationship for the two of them. He went back to college to get a second degree in engineering. They were married in August of 1994.
Frank’s mother was a widow, and since Frank was an only child, he still had responsibilities to her, so they moved in with his mother after they were married. During the first 12 years of their marriage, Frank worked as an engineer and Heike was a stay-at-home mom, raising their two children Nicole, now 26, and Thomas, now 25.
They then started their own business selling solar equipment. Frank sold, serviced, designed and installed solar equipment. Heike worked as the office manager from home.
Frank’s mother passed away, and the downturn in the economy forced them to shut down the business. They then decided to move closer to her dad in Montrose, Pennsylvania, since he was alone at that time. Heike decided to become a real estate agent, and Frank picked up different jobs, working for other solar equipment companies while also helping out with the real estate business, becoming an agent, as well. Frank’s claim to fame is walking on top of the White House in Washington, D.C., as part of a site survey team to install solar panels. He was also allowed inside, seeing different places ordinary people never see. This was at the time when Obama was President.
In 2021, Heike contacted COVID and was in the hospital for 11 days, resulting in a right side paralyzed diaphragm. Because of this very traumatic, life threatening ordeal, they decided not to put off their dreams and moved to the Caribbean. They chose the St. Kitts and Nevis islands south of Puerto Rico. They chose Nevis, which is 35 square miles in area, the smaller of the two islands.
They lived there for 18 months, along with other retired people called ex-patriots. An interesting fact is that Alexander Hamilton was born in Nevis.
When asked how they liked it, I received mixed responses. The scenery was beautiful, and people were lovely and friendly, always saying good morning to everyone. The weather was always hot and humid with very little change in climate. There were lots of free roaming donkeys, goats and monkeys. There were no poisonous animals or snakes, but poisonous plants. They experienced Saharan dust, causing seasonal breathing problems, poor air quality and asthma problems. The medical facilities were not the best.
Too much vacation caused them to be bored. They returned to the USA, locating in Pennsylvania, since they were familiar with that area. After Frank took a trip to Yellowstone, he suggested moving west. After careful consideration, they decided to check out Wyoming. They started a statewide tour, going to Gillette and Cheyenne, working their way to the Big Horn Basin, checking out Cody and Powell, along with other towns.
When they came to Cowley, they knew it was where they wanted to live. They say they did not pick Cowley, Cowley picked them. It seemed to be the perfect place for them. They moved with a small trailer pulled behind their car. After purchasing furniture for their new home and settling in, they could not be happier. Living in a small town, a lovely home with a yard and garden to take care of is their new dream. They love the climate so far, the lifestyle and the community.
We are happy to welcome this wonderful couple into our little town. I hope we can become more cultured by associating with people from other walks of life. They, in
turn, want to learn about history and life here. Welcome to Cowley!