Natalie's Everyday Heroes: A holiday tradition carries on after historic flooding

MILWAUKEE (CBS 58) -- It's been more than four months since historic flooding impacted thousands of families in our area. Many people are still repairing the damage.

For others, the loss of sentimental items is sinking in. But one family isn't letting their loss ruin a longstanding holiday tradition.

"Probably up to about here," said Jeanne Rieland, holding her hand halfway up the wall in her basement.

The basement at the Rielands' West Allis home is still a work in progress.

"It was that 3-ft. mark," she said of the water. "We've got two dehumidifiers still going to this day."

When the rain started falling back in August, their home was one of many that flooded.

"We were out of town, and we got a call from a neighbor that our basement was filling with water," she said.

They rushed back and waded into their home from two blocks away.

"It was horrific. We lost our furnace. We lost our hot water heater," Jim Rieland said.

Now, the couple is salvaging the sentimental things, including a huge collection of Christmas decorations.

"It's going to be a hard throwaway because this is a vintage Christmas item," Jeanne said of one item that was waterlogged.

Among the items lost, were 150 We Energies Cookie Books dating back to the 1950s that Jeanne has spent a lifetime collecting.

"It's been probably four decades. They were all marked and I had notes in the books of which ones I'd made," she said.

She has a favorite recipe.

"It's called a chocolate dip cream," she said.

She knows that one by heart, but for Rieland, after the flood, this holiday tradition was over.

"I was done. I didn't even go this year," she said of waiting in line at American Family Field to get a 2025 Cookie Book.

"She did a lot of crying," Jim said.

He realized this was something he could fix.

"It was a fun surprise, what Jim had done," Jeanne said with a smile.

He was inspired by the trays and trays of cookies his wife made every year.

"He came home from work one night and asked me to come out to the kitchen and close my eyes," Jeanne said.

"She opened her eyes and saw the Cookie Books, and she got really teary eyed," Jim remembered.

In addition to the 2025 Cookie Book, he found a few more to get the collection going.

"2018, '19," he said, looking at the pile.

An aunt gave Jeanne a few books from the 70s.

"Just the fonts and the graphics, I love," she said, flipping through the vintage photos.

And just like that, her Cookie Book collection started once more.

"It's very special," Jim said.

An early gift at the end of a tough year.

"It looks like next year, I'll be in line with all the other cars at the stadium," Jeanne said.

Jeanne also said she'll be looking for the older Cookie Books at local antique shops where they can sometimes be found.

And We Energies is already working on the 2026 Cookie Book. They're accepting recipes submissions through Feb. 20, 2026. To submit your own cookie recipe, click here. 

If you'd like to nominate an Everyday Hero, send Natalie a message at [email protected].