It's been nearly two months since our last post. I guess it's only fair to let you know where we've been all this time. The biggest event in the past two months was the passing of my Grandfather on January 23. He was admitted to the hospital on New Year's Eve because he had lost more than 20 pounds in December. We found out several days later that the rare cancer he had in his chin last summer and reappeared in his bones. The cancer had spread so much that they gave him a couple of weeks. I went to visit him one last time in early January and two weeks after my visit, he was gone.
It was hard to watch my grandfather slip away, and even harder to say goodbye. However, we all take comfort in knowing that he's no longer in pain and that he is with his Father in heaven. It's hard to aptly describe my Grandfather and what he meant to me. This doesn't come close to doing him justice, but below is the obituary I wrote for him.
Herbert George Kiehl Herbert George Kiehl was many things – a loving husband, a devoted father and a caring friend. He was a grandfather to eight, and a mentor to many. He knew not a stranger. His contagious kindness touched the lives of everyone he met. Herbert filled the world with laughter.
More importantly, Herbert was a man of God. Even in his last moments on this earth, Herbert sang God’s praises and whispered the Lord’s Prayer. Now, he is at home with his Father, singing with the angels…forever watching down on those he left behind.
Herbert George Kiehl, 86, died on January 23, 2008, in his home of 55 years in rural Malta Bend, Mo. Born on December 11, 1922, he was the fourth child of Bernhardt Wilhelm Kiehl and Emilie Ida Caroline Hill. He was baptized on December 17, 1922, and was confirmed at Bethlehem Lutheran Church. He began his education at Bethlehem Lutheran School in Mt. Leonard, and then attended Malta Bend High School where he graduated in 1942.
On August 29, 1953, he married Pauline Marie Krone at St. Paul’s Lutheran Church in Westlake, Ohio. They had three daughters – Barbara, Janet and Marjorie – whom he affectionately called “his boys”.
A lifelong farmer, Herbert was a faithful steward of the land and enjoyed tending to God’s miracles each and every day. Herbert worked for A.H. Orr for many years and continued to farm that land the rest of his life. He enjoyed basketball, bowling, horseshoes and golf. He especially loved watching his grandchildren grow and sharing his love of the farm with them.
Throughout his life, Herbert was an active member of Bethlehem Lutheran Church in Mt. Lenard where he taught Sunday School and served as an Elder and Trustee. He was also a member and past president of Farm Bureau, the Lutheran Layman’s League and Aid Association for Lutherans.
Survivors include his wife, Pauline; three daughters, Barbara Hoffman and husband, Dan, of Norfolk, Neb., Janet Vesser, and husband Bart of Gilliam, Mo., and Marjorie Tieman and husband, Greg of Blackburn, Mo.; eight grandchildren, Heather Novotny, Laura Click, Amber Vesely, Erin McKeage, Justin Novotony, Clayton Novotny, Jenna Fitzwater and Paula Tieman; and one great grandchild, Ethan Vesely.
Other survivors are sisters Esther Wolpers and Emma Langewisch, brother Martin Kiehl and several nieces and nephews. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his brother, Elmer Kiehl.
At this point, Garth started laughing and I so did I (though I felt like an utter failure in the cake making department). I certainly didn't want to let the cake go to waste. It still tasted great, after all. What to do? We got creative...
Let me introduce you to the "Birthday bowl!" I dumped all of the cake and icing into a huge mixing bowl and stirred it up. I attempted to decorate the top. Since it was a bit lumpy, it looks like a three-year-old wrote it, but oh well.
Here's Garth with his Birthday Bowl! Happy Birthday, Garth!
Our friends, Jan and Dan came for the festivities.
Here's me with my gal pals, Jan and Cara.
Blair and Jason joined the fun.
Here's the Springfield Lawyers Group - Rosemary, Garth and Jared.
And, last but not least, here's Garth and I. We had a great time (despite the cake disaster) and hope everyone else did too. Thanks for helping make Garth's birthday so fun!
Here's a close-up of Ethan. He's my cousin Amber's son. Isn't he handsome?
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