Good and gracious God,“from age to ageyou have been our dwelling place.”
From before our beginnings,and beyond our ends,we are yours.
Even between beginnings and ends,when we lose our better selves,we find them again in your grace.
At our best, in this Season of Giving,we celebrate your many gifts to us,especially the gift of our lives.
And we celebrate all that you doto keep our lives preciousbeyond counting.
Today, we gather to give you honorand to ask your blessings.
We thank you for the livesof those whom we love,but see no more.
We thank you for those whom we cherish,though they are beyondthe reach of our arms.
Through them you have given usthe precious gift of your love.
Through themyou have brought meaning to our lives.
Please bless this tree and this book,as tokens and signsof our thankfulness.
Use these symbols to help us remember youas the “Giver of every good and perfect gift,”including those whom we remember now before you.
We offer you this day,we offer you this time of dedication,and we offer you ourselves,
In the power of your living and blessed names,which are holy among us.
Amen.
Bob & Celine Allison
Eduardo Alonso
Alvin “Andy” Anderson
G. C. “Connie” Andrews
Tracy Lynn Arbogast
Kenneth Baer
Clarence Barber
Ivy Bartine
Russell Bartlett
Esther Bassett
Stephen A. Bates
Celia Baum
Jeanetta Bealer
Charles Edward Bell
James Bell
Jane Bell
Joyce Bennett
Harold Beran
Robert Beran
Kathy Bergert
Whitey Berglund
Charles Bernat
Robert L. Bertotti
Kenneth C. Bezaury
Barbara Rose Blair
Matt Blanche
John Bloomfield
Ora Mae Bolte
Baby Adeline Boniger
Arlene Borromeo
Donnie Bowker
Phillip Bowling
Rosemary Bowker
Willie Braden
Steven Briggs
Elijah Brock
Charlie Brooke
Zelma Broughton
Lawrence Brown
Magde Brown
Victoria “Tori” Rae Brown
William Brown
Debra & Damien Brzostowski
Loren Buck
Eileen J. Budd
Edward Bunyard
Arline Burkamper
Ardeth Burke
Michelle Burmeister
Leola Burroughs
Laurence Butler
Anthony Cacioppo
Jean E. Campagna
William Paul Carius
Kaydon Carlson
Lucille Carlson
Phillip Carlson
Rim Carlson
Tim Carlson
Ralph Carmichael
Ron Carroll
Delores Carss
Della Cassatt
Gary Chilberg
Monte Christensen
Shirley Dailey Christensen
Marvin Christiansen
Agnes R. Cinotto
Joyce Ann (McQuay) Clark
Helen Clay
Carmon Clemons
Thomas Clifton
Dakota Cline
Donna Jean Cloves
Jennie Cluff
Lowell Coburn
Sandy Cole
David J. Collison
Milton J. Collison
Kevin Condon
Michael James Conger
Margaret Cooper
Robert Cooper
William Cory
Ruth Crawford
Virlyn Crist
J. Edward Crock
Lynda Cronkleton
Edward Daniel
Prosper DeClerck
Eleanora DeCrane
Debora Defenbaugh
Richard Deloe
Darlene DePover
Francis DeSchepper
Betty DeSmet
Evelyn Dietz
Floyd Dietz
Jeffrey Dietz
Joshua Dietz
John Dillaplain
Ira & Velma Dipple
Jim Divine
Joanne Windey Dixon
Patrick A. Dixon
Rebecca Dobbels
Robert Doughty
Roy Doyle
Sue Doyle
Mary Dray
James Edward Drenter
Sally, Bill and Jim Drenter
Richard Dunn
Theodore Duschen
John & Marjorie Eccher
Joyce Eccher
William Ellison
Edith Elmore
Joyce Ercegovich
Mitchell Ertz
Geneva Fairow
Dick Felger
Paul W. Fellman
Agnes Finkenhoefer
Joseph Finkenhoefer
Victoria Flenori
Olive “Jean” Fletcher
Gordon & Vonnie Flynn
Lorraine “Tubby” Forbes
Darrell Eugene Foster
Kimi U. Foulke
Sharon Fowler
Shirley Frankfother
Harriet Frazier
Helen V. Freeman
Paul A. Freeman
James Frett
Dorothy Frohboese
Betty Fuller
Chuck Fuller
Marvin Fulton
Joe Garcia, Sr.
Leonard Geerts
George Getty
Dorothy Gilmore
Robert E. Glass
Chloe Gorman
Jeanne Grevas
Don Griebel
Katherine Griesel
Cole Richard Gugelmeyer
Pablo Gutierrez
Kenneth Guy
LaVerle Guy
Donald R. Hagemann
Fred Haller
Robert Haller
Ruth Haller
Margret Hallman
Kelly Hamdorf
Marcella Hamer
Jim Hanford
Merrill Hanford
Kenneth Hanrahan
Kessica Hanrahan
Henry Hansen
Mike Hansen
Tamera Hanssen
Judge Davis Hare, III
Laura L. Hart
Alvin & Florence Hartz
Harold Harvey
Jeremy Harvey
Emilee Heimbeck-Witkowsky
William Heitmann
Richard Hemenway
Barbara Hentze
Helen Hess
Stacy Hessong
B Hickenbottom
Melva Hildebrandt
Janet Hillogoss
Ann Hinson
Ethel Holmes
Ellen Holst
Harley, Bud & Richard Hoogerwerf
Henry & Francie Hoogerwerf
Nathan Hornbuckle
Russell L. Hougham
Boyd Housley
Billie Huff
Barbara Wixom Huffman
George Humiston
Estelle I. Hunt-Bryan
Elmer Hurto
Dorothy Katrana Ionides
Harry Ionides
Oliver Ivory, Sr.
Elizabeth “Betty” Jackson
Theodore A. Jackson
Mark Jacobsen
Fred Jaeggi
Verna Jaeggi
Michael Jaspers
Al Jennett, Sr.
Alvin Jennett
Gary Jensen
Shirley Ann Johanson
Lee Johnson
Mildred Johnson
Cheryl Ann Jones
Donald E. Jones
Roy Jones
Laren Jordahl
Frank Juraco
Andy Kahl
Madonna Kasper
Jane Kedley
Eileen Keister
Tara Kelleher
Estelle Keller
Paige Miracle Keller
Tim Kemp, Jr.
Adeline Kesl
Roger K. Kester
LeRoy Kimler
Alan Kindrick
Robert Klavon
Rich Kleeman
Marj Kling
Richard Eugene Kottmann
Howard K. Krapp
Harold Krause
Stephen Krause
Jo Ann Kuehl
Rhynold Kundert
Ruskin Lack
Robert Lambert
Melvin Lange
Norma Jean Larson
Louis & Marie Ledvina
Verna Lee
Patricia Estes LeGrand
Voni Leidenfrost
Sue LeMoline
John Allen Leslie
Shawn Leslie
David Levings
Jamon Romel Lewis
Charlie Lilienthal
Jeanne Lischer
Tatiana Litwinow
Anthony Lopez
Rose & Francis Lopez
Rosalie Lowe
Joseph Lucas
Bertha B. Ludwick
Paul C. Ludwick
Ethel Lueders
Catherine Lund
Glinda Lund
Marjorie Lund
Russell Lund
John Luppen
LaVern Lyons
Theresa Mahan
Claus Herman Martens
Edward Matkovich
Stephen R. Matthews
Michael Matinoff
Mary Ann Mattusch
June D. McClean
Susan McClure
James McCray
Michael T. McFadden
Dr. Kenneth McKay
Jonathon Richard Leslie Meade
Milton L. Meador
Molly Anna Meador
Charles Meier
Karen Meier
Marvella Meier
Minnie Meier
Ella Meinert
William Meinert
James (Emerson) Melear
Glenn Meyer
Robert Meyer
Aiden Wesley Jay Mildren
Dale E. Miller
Don Miller
Linda Miller
Veron E. & Margaret Miller
Dawn Lynette Moeller
Lorraine “Lori” Moore
Peg Morgan
Kevin Moriarty
Sharon Moritz
Dick Morrell
Mildred Morrell
John Narby
Robert Nash
Aileen Navin
Scott Neavor
Walter Neiswanger, M.D.
Lloyd Nelson
Linda Newton-Fetsko
Marvin Nielsen
Andrea Dolan Noth
James G. Noth
Yolanda Nuci
Kelly Kae O’Brien
Lorraine Ohsann
Carlyle Olesen
Bessie Olsen
Larry Olsen
Alvin C. Olson
Pauline J. Olson
Ethel Papich
William Paul
Melvin Paustian
Lloyd S. Pearson
Fred Permantier
Donald Peterka
Alfred “Pete” Peters
Jack Peterschmidt
Earl Petersen
Mary Petersen
Richard Peterson
Sarah Peterson
Joe Pfannenstiel
Charles Pheiffer
Mark Phillips
Mike Pierson, Jr.
Stanley Pinczaer
Dorothy Place
Glen Place
Leif Pohl
Mindy Pregel
Dale Pries
Nancy Priester
Dolores Prieto
Linda Prine
Lois Pritchard
Adam Ptak
Carol Quinn
Ronne Ranberger
Roland Rauch
Virginia Redmond
Robert “Buzz” Reed
Richard W. Regan
Ron Rehder
Helen Reilly
Gaye Reiser
James D. Resnick
Jerome W. Rettler
Ed Riech
Helene Riech
John A. Ries
Baby Hanah Riley
Virginia Robinson
Beverly Jean Rock
Konner James Rodriguez
Faith Rogers
Robert C. Rostenbach
Al Ruefer
Marie Ruefer
Shirley Rummens
Tom Ryah
Duane Arlon Sassen
Mary Scheck
Judith Ann Scheppler
Robert Scheppler
Hugo A. Schnekloth
Mildred L. Schnekloth
Bill & Elsie Schroeder
Fred Schwake
John Shestak
Royce Schafer
James Schick
Kathleen Schultz
Art Schmahl
Dale Schmahl
Dallas “Punch” Schmahl
Vera Schmahl
Charles Schmidt
Bob Schultz
Patricia Schwalje
Casey Secrist
Renate Sedlacek
Alva Shady
Ronald Shamsie
Walter & Helen Shedeck
Gerald Shelangouski
Mary G. Shelton
Vincent Sheridan
Naomi Shinn
Alvin Siefers
Lenvil Simmons
Shirley Sindt
Janice Smith
Jean A. Smith
Joan S. Smith
Nancy Smith
Robert W. Smith
Fern Snyder
Brian Speth
Darrell Spence
Leonard Sprosty
Leone Audrey Stamer
Cindy Stender
Ioma Steward
Katherine Sue Steward
Betty Stewart
Larry L. Stombaugh
Donald M. Stormer
Glenn Leslie Strand
Carol Stribling
Loving mother of Diane Stroh
Shirley Strohbehn
Henry & Gertrude Stuckel
Lindsay Jo Suhl
Dylan Summers
John Szemkus
Dave Tallman
Evelyn Tank
Cheryl A. (Collins) Tate
Wilbur Tate
Ken Taylor
LaVonne Taylor
Tom Taylor
Frank Testroet
Olga Tetmeyer
James G. Thobe
Mary Ann Thompson
Montez Thompson
Cody J. Thorington
Jarry Tillotson
Gerald Timmerman
Bobby Toler
Dy Tran
Edward Trout
Andrew Tsacudakis
Anna Tsacudakis
Bob Tudeen
Charlie Ulfig
Leu Ullrick
Dorothy Vanderbilt
Mary Venable
Vincent Verdon
Albert Wagner
Augusta Wagner
August & Janet “Peggy” Walatka
Joan Wales
Marline Wall
Frances “Dick” Walters
Elmer E. Warhurst
Rosa Washington
Van R. Wasson
Donna Webb
Jerilyn L. Wells
Melvin Werlein
Robert Werthman
Walyne Whitmer
Hazel Wiese
Irma Wiland
Lester Wiland
William H. Wilcox
Evelyn Wilden
Annie Williams
Charles Williams
Gloria Williams
Kay Williams
Marguerite Williams
Hugh Bryan Willis
Jennie (Willis) Stonefeld
Jerome August Willis
John Timothy Willis
Mark Andrew Willis
Arlan Woitte
Erma Woitte
William A. Wozniak
Lydia Wright
Dorothy Wulf
Merle Wulf
Warner Wylsworth
Emory Yager
Lillian A. Ziegler
and All Our Loved Ones Who Have Gone Before Us
In the name of the One whose presence fills all places, all persons and every moment of our lives, let us quiet
ourselves, that we might be open to the sacredness of this moment, for we shall not pass by this way again.
O Eternal and Ever-Present Creator, on this afternoon we have read the names of loved ones from the Book of
Names, and will soon extinguish the lights of the Remembrance Tree. We have lived the holiday season, we havegathered in our places of worship, recited the ancient prayers, told the ancient stories, participated in our sacredrituals. We have celebrated, embraced, given thanks, held hands, laughed and many of us have mourned the lossof loved ones, whether they be family, friends or neighbors.
This tree, on November 13, was dedicated to a more “holy and sacred” purpose, these lights to honor those people
whom we have lost to the mystery of death. Those loved ones whose names we have read from the Book of Nameshave been now called deeper into our presence, and we remember that though they are now gone, they will beforever treasured in the memories of those of us still living.
Our remembrance has been a sacred act, and we have given voice to our grief and have expressed our loss. And
now we close the Book of Names, and extinguish the lights of the Remembrance Tree. It shall be dark.
And yet what we have prayed from the deepest place of our being, is that in this time of remembrance of our loved
ones, we will have deepened within us the capacity to receive the gifts their lives have left within our hearts. Thattheir roots, that remain forever intertwined with ours, would draw us to live in peace with our brothers and sistersno matter what their language or place of birth, would bring to us a joy that sees beyond the things of the world tocelebrate that which we cannot see, have grown in us love that gives to others as we would like to be given to, andfortified us with a courage that stands up for justice for all people.
If we as a people, touched and marked forever by the lives of our loved ones, have found a deeper way to be with
others, then these lights which we extinguish will be relit in our hearts, and the light will continue to shine. We aswell, do not forget our pledge to endeavor to provide comfort for the dying, support for the grieving, and hope forhealing those, throughout our community who face the challenge of living with disease.
So, most gracious and compassionate One, we thank you for the Remembrance Tree that has stood so straight and
tall with our joys and sorrows; the Book of Names, blessed with memories and aspirations; and the lights, whosebeauty will continue to shine through us. Hear our heartfelt prayer, offered in your many names. Amen.
~from the Closing CeremonyJanuary 5, 2008