Cara Lou Ross 4/16/1932 - 2/21/2015

Cara Lou Ross

April 16, 1932 -- February 21, 2015

Cara Lou was born in Scott City Kansas on April 16, 1932 in a trailer to Anita Workman and Clarence Sasser. Cara Lou passed away peacefully in Broomfield, Colorado on February 21, 2015.

Cara Lou's mother Anita passed away when Cara Lou was very young. Cara went to live with her Grandmother Workman and was raised right along with her aunts and uncles, cousins and stepbrothers. Times were hard and the depression was in full swing. Grandma Workman worked at a chicken processing plant and brought home whatever scraps didn't sell to use for their supper.

Cara Lou stepped on a nail as she jumped off a porch at the age of twelve. This started a very serious bone infection that required surgery to graph bone from the hip to her foot and ankle. The infection wasn't getting better and it looked like she would lose her leg. All hope was lost until she was referred to a doctor testing a new drug called Penicillin. This new drug was the answer to many prayers.

Later in life Cara Lou met Albert Ross; they married right before Al left to go into the service. Upon his return they immediately began their family: three children; Rick, John, and Mark. Cara Lou loved kids and would help as many in her neighborhood that would come over with problems or who just wanted to hang out with her and the boys. Cara Lou was talented in many ways; sewing and cake decorating were among her favorites. She loved cars; Her pride and joy was a 1965 Buick Riviera with the 425 360HP engine, she really did enjoy driving that car.

Time went on and health became a major issue. Cara Lou was diagnosed with Lupus after her first of four strokes; nothing could dampen her spirits or her wonderful love of laughter. She lived with a positive attitude and a fighting spirit. She always knew just what to say at just the right time to make you feel special and cared for. Cara Lou was easy to get to know and easy to love. Cara Lou was blessed with twelve grand children and twenty-two great grand children to date.

"We loved our mother, all her life... and we will continue to love her for the rest of all our lives as well." 
                   Rick, John, and Mark

Second Sunday of Lent

My Companions pray with me: Lord, we praise You with our words and our actions; let us know that Your glory shows when we live fully. Forgive all our sins, especially the petty words or acts that keep us from becoming one with You and/or our sisters and brothers. Thank you for all Your blessings. We humbly ask for all we need, especially shelter and food for the poor and freedom for all who are enslaved intellectually, emotionally, spiritually, and/or physically. Please shine Your perpetual light upon all who have gone before us, particularly: Betty, Dorothy, Cara Lou, and Dwight.

Companion Events: Bithdays: Michele (McOmar) (2/23), Mitch Ross (2/23), Tom Leininger (2/24), Tom Duggan (2/26). In memoriam: Cara Lou Ross  (2/21/2015), Dwight Doyle(2/22/2015).

Keeping In-touch: My heart is filled with gratitude for all who participated both at home and at the retreat center to make our Retreat for Men a life-giving, community-building experience. We have been richly blessed. Even the snow and threats of snow could not keep the Holy Spirit from moving the minds and hearts of wonderful men and their support systems.

Decision Point: Decision Point: - How to use the Bible

The Readings: Second Sunday of Lent

Some Commentary: Fr. John Foley, S. J.

My comments and an invitation for your comments: 

How could God ask Abraham to sacrifice his son? This bothers many people because they do not see the critique against child sacrifice included in the personal call of total dedication to our life-giving God. On the surface this is a most terrible request of God to Abraham. But the ironic truth is that God will always give His glorious life to those who seek Him first and are not distracted by the incomplete, feeble efforts of women and men living in broken cultures.

Comments, Reflections, Insights...

Betty J. Stoeckel

BETTY J. STOECKEL, nee Foster, age 90, of Lombard, died February 16 at her home. Betty is survived by four children, Jan (Rick) Anderson of Villa Park, John (Ruth) of Minnesota, Judy (Larry) Lay of Villa Park, and Jim (Amy) of Dixon, Illinois; nine grandchildren, Mark (Danielle) Anderson of Cary, Julie (Steve) Kulovits of Glen Ellyn, Marta (Tim) Rogers of Minnesota, Kate (Fiancé Justin Stamschroc) of Washington, Josie Stoeckel of Minnesota, Christy (Josh) Parise of Wisconsin, John (Maggie) Lay of Plainfield, Dan Stoeckel of Illinois, David (Tanya Hay) Stoeckel of Illinois; three step-grandchildren, Alex and Spencer Leatherman, and A.J. Conwell of Illinois; eight great-grandchildren, Ricky and Johnny Anderson, Ryan Kulovits, Jack, Evan and Isabelle Parise, Ellie and Tessa Lay; and many other relatives.
Betty is preceded in death by her husband, Ralph J. She was a resident of Lombard since 1956. She was a graduate of Parker High School in Chicago. Betty had retired as a Sales Clerk from Penney’s Department Store. She was an active member of St. John’s Lutheran Church where she had been a volunteer, especially for the school library.

Dorothy Marie Pitzen 3/23/1922 - 2/18/2015

Dorothy Lay Himpelmann Pitzen, age 92, of Johnsburg, died February 18, 2015. She was born on March 23, 1922, the fourth of five children born to John & Emma Lay in Spring Grove.

Dorothy traveled in 1942 from Chicago, where she was living and working, to San Francisco, CA to marry Joseph Himpelmann, who was serving in the Army there during World War II. They settled in Johnsburg after the war. After Joe’s death in 1960, she continued to raise her eight children with the help and support of family and friends, many from St. John the Baptist Parish, where she worshiped as a devout Catholic. Dorothy was involved at St. John the Baptist Church in many organizations and ministries, including the Blessed Virgin Mother Sodality, Welcoming Committee and Prayer Groups. She was also a member of the Catholic Order of Foresters and was an insurance agent for this organization. Dorothy also worked many years for the Barr-Don Corporation in Mount Prospect until she retired.

She and Paul Pitzen married at St. John’s in 1986 and enjoyed 22 years together until Paul’s death in 2008.

Dorothy is survived by her sister, Marie Weingart and her brother, Edmund Lay. Survivors also include her children, Richard (Diane), Joel (Carolyn), Mary (Jack) Weightman, Dave (Sue), Betty, Barb (Tom) Kasting, Steve (Sue) and Ron (Karla). Paul’s children from his first marriage to Virginia include: Joyce (Rex) Coon, Paul Jr. (Kim) and Loren (Cindy). Other survivors include 19 grandchildren, Danielle (Dave) Klein, Denise (Bryan) Straube, Debbi and fiance Steve Dolloff, Melissa (Jake) Pereria, Matt (Lorene) Himpelmann, Jodi (Darren) Tate, Michael (Elena) Weightman, Steve (Jen) Weightman, Julie (Mike) Dahlin, Joe (Stacey) Himpelmann, Ann Marie (Alex) Chapman, Andrea (Joe) Hawkinson, Gretchen and Ben Kasting, Lauren Himpelmann and fiance Matt Starr, Emma and Maddie Himpelmann, Shari (Mark) Norman, Kevin Himpelmann, 25 great-grandchildren, and a great-great-grandchild on the Himpelmann side of the family. Also, Pitzen grandchildren Beth (Josh) Pranger, Brian (Jennifer) Coon, Christine and Samantha Pitzen, and 8 great-grand-children and many nieces and nephews.

In addition to her husbands, she was preceded in death by her parents; her brother, Leander (Jean Whiting) Lay and her sister, Agnes (Jerry) Klaus; her brother-in-law, Charles “Chuck” Weingart and sister-in-law Betty Kilday Lay; Joe's parents, Joseph & Julia Himpelmann; sisters-in-law Kay (Paul) Reindel and Barbara (Melvin) Johnson.

The visitation will be from 1 p.m. until 5 p.m. Sunday, February 22, 2015, at Justen Funeral Home & Crematory, 3700 W. Charles J. Miller Road, McHenry IL 60050. Visitation will resume Monday at the funeral home from 8:30 a.m. until closing prayers at 9:15 a.m., then leaving for the 10 a.m. funeral Mass at St. John the Baptist Church, 2303 W. Church Street, Johnsburg. Interment will follow in the church cemetery. In lieu of flowers, the family asks that memorials in Dorothy’s name be made to St. John the Baptist Church.

For information, please call the funeral home at 815-385-2400, or visit www.justenfh.com, where friends may leave an on-line condolence message for her family.

Sincere thanks to all who cared for Mom following her stroke on Christmas Eve, including staff at The Springs in Crystal Lake and Journey Care Hospice.

Richard Medenwaldt +

Deacon Richard Mendenwaldt who served at Nativity of Our Lord Parish in Broomfield, CO received his call to come to the Lord on Saturday (2/14/2015).

The Mass of the Resurrection will be celebrated at Nativity Of Our Lord Church 10:30 a.m. Friday, Feb. 20th
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Richard A. Medenwaldt, born June 24, 1936 in Laona, Wisconsin and died at home from complications of cancer February 14, 2015 in Erie, Colorado. Richard graduated from Laona High School May, 1954 and attended the University of Wisconsin at Superior obtaining a BS in Mathematics, a Teaching Certificate and was commissioned as a 2nd Lt. in USAF Reserves. The USAF sent Richard to Texas A&M University where he completed 45 semester hours at the Air Force Institute of Technology achieving a certificate of Professional Meteorology in 1959. After graduation he married Doneda (Jody) Schaefer in Sept. 1959 at St Joseph’s Catholic Church Crandon, Wisconsin.
Serving in the USAF as a meteorologist from August 1958 to October 1962, he forecasted the weather during the Cuban missile crisis and notably for the Bay of Pigs Invasion. Following his time in the Air Force, his meteorological career included working for Murray & Trettel Weather Consultants in North Brook IL from 1962 to 1971. A meteorological study being conducted by EG&G, Inc. for the Bureau of Reclamation called the Colorado River Basin Pilot Project or Mountain Skywater moved Richard and his growing family from Illinois to Durango, Colorado in 1971. The weather modification study concluded in 1975.
A new start-up company in Durango, Rocky Mountain Husky, focusing on distributing Husqvarna chain saws and other products drew Richard away from meteorology. From 1975 to 1983 Richard traveled extensively throughout the four corner’s region and the Navajo Nation promoting Rocky Mountain’s products. The lure of meteorology, however, came calling again, this time on the eastern slope of Colorado.
In 1983 Richard started his own company, WeatherSource, Inc. providing weather information for decision makers while also developing a partnership, AVISCAN, Inc., to provide weather forecast services to private aviators. WeatherSource found significant success providing forecasting services to the movie, T.V., media, advertising and transportation Industries. Highpoints were providing precise weather forecast support for movies being filmed under unusual circumstances including errant hurricanes disrupting the filming of Jurassic Park in Hawaii, finding stormy north Atlantic conditions off the San Diego coast for the Hunt for Red October. Filming of the Titanic in Mexico and The Perfect Storm with the movie prop ship moving from Massachusetts through the Panama Cannel to Calif. and back provided interesting conundrums.
Heading the call of our Lord, Richard studied for the Diaconate from 1991 and was ordained in June, 1996 to the Permanent Diaconate by Archbishop J. Francis Stafford of the Archdiocese of Denver from the Parish of St. Scholastica in Erie, CO. He was assigned to The Nativity of Our Lord Parish in Broomfield, CO from June, 1996 to the present where he also worked as the parish administrator. While he found forecasting for weather modification projects (cloud seeding) and the movies challenging, his diaconal ministry brought Deacon Dick the most joy, topped only by his family involvement. He was a very loving and wise husband, father, grandfather, brother and friend.
He was preceded in death by his mother, Delia C. DiUlio, father, Noah O. Medenwaldt and son, Alan Noah Medenwaldt. He is survived by his wife, Doneda C. Medenwaldt (Jody), sons Rodney J. Medenwaldt, Laona WI.; Nathan R. Medenwaldt, Plattville, CO.; Jeffry B. & Deborah Medenwaldt & grandsons Chase & Cole, Durango, CO; and Mark C. & Laurie Medenwaldt & grandsons Joseph and Samuel, Erie, CO. Viewing 6:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. Vigil Thursday. Viewing 9:00 a.m. to 10:25 a.m. Friday followed by a Funeral Mass all at Nativity of Our Lord Catholic Church, Broomfield, Colorado Internment: Town of Laona Cemetery, Laona, WI on June 27th, 2015

First Sunday of Lent

My Companions pray with me: Lord, by our observance of Lent may we bring You glory. May our Lenten Fast make us contrite for our sins and help us to know Your gracious mercy. Our hearts are filled with gratitude for all Your promises and the light You shine on us. Grant us all that we need. Bless the Retreat for Men this weekend and especially comfort Jody and all Deacon Richard Medenwaldt's family as You brought Dcn. Richard home to You on Saturday. May he rest in peace and may we remember his service and proclamation of the Gospel.

Companion Events: Bithdays: Matthew Lay (2/16), Tom Sermak (2/17), Byron Plumbly (2/18), Robert Bruchez (2/20), Dean Rohr (2/21), Tony Gulmantovicz (2/22). In memoriam: Richard Smith Jr  (2/18/1958), Pasquale Frank "Pat" Bruno (2/18/2013).

Keeping In-touch: My week filled with visits to friends and working through issues concerning the Retreat for Men. The Lord does write straight with crooked lines! He will use our efforts to bring forth His glory...sometimes that's difficult to see in the thick of things.
 
Decision Point: Decision Point: - Intro Bible

The Readings: First Sunday of Lent

Some Commentary: Fr. John Foley, S. J.

My comments and an invitation for your comments: 
The Holy Spirit drives Jesus to a lonely place. After His prayer, Jesus confronts the Devil. I will renew my prayer-life this Lent and prepare to fight my demons which only The Lord can drive from my life. May I learn to allow all God's power to work through me to destroy demons and promote life in all its fullness! 

Comments, Reflections, Insights...

Sixth Sunday in Ordinary Time

My Companions pray with me: Lord, may we give You praise when we offer our pains and struggles to You. Forgive us when we complain or otherwise fail to bring joy and unity to our little corners of the word. Thank You for all Your wonderful gifts, especially when we enjoy good health and find joy in companionship. Please continue to bless us especially all on our many prayer list; be with Deacon Richard in his hospice experience. And please guide us as we finish our planning and registrations for our Retreat for Men.

Companion Events: Bithdays: Avery Elizabeth Johnson (2/10), Bob Romadka (2/11), Lori Beth (Lay) Gulmantovicz (2/14).

Keeping In-touch: I'm late this week. I have kept busy with recovering from a bump at the tennis social Friday evening, reconnecting with an old friend, serving Decision Point and Gospel sharing users, and planning our Retreat for Men. Marge has a new passion: embroidery and quilting. She doesn't seem to mind any more if I'm not around :(

Decision Point: Decision Point: - Unexpected Gifts

The Readings: Sixth Sunday of Ordinary Time

Some Commentary: Fr. John Foley, S. J.

My comments and an invitation for your comments: 
Here is my prayerful reflection on this Gospel of "calling out to be healed": Jesus, if you wish, you can make me clean! You can take away all the pain I feel from the alienation I experience from my brothers who strike-out and (inadvertently??) mistreat me with their words or actions. You know the hearts of others; I do not. You know their focus, their anxieties; I do not. But You also know the pain I undergo when we become separated from one another. You can make me clean. And You can help me clean-up the alienation from my self, my brothers and sisters, my world, and God.

Comments, Reflections, Insights...

Fifth Sunday of Ordinary Time

My Companions pray with me: Lord, may Your glory shine through all Your miracles of life. Forgive us for not sharing our needs with You, opening ourselves to Your healing power, and serving You. Thank You for all Your gifts and blessings. Please provide for all we need.  Amen

Companion Events: Bithdays: Ed Lucket (2/2), Anita Dunn (2.5).

Keeping In-touch: Dad and I took a road-trip and visited his sisters, my aunts [Dorothy (92) and Marie (96)]. So much experience and wisdom filled the rooms! Then I returned home to all the "normal activities." I must have lost something at sea level (594 ft); my friend Doug "spanked me on the tennis court" 2-6,0-6,1-6. But I'm not hanging up my racquet.

Decision Point: Decision Point: - Unexpected Gifts

The Readings: Fifth Sunday of Ordinary Time

Some Commentary: Fr. John Foley, S. J.

My comments and an invitation for your comments: 
I get frustrated, like Job, and wonder why we live in this valley of tears. But more often, I experience the loving movement of Christ among us who drives out our demons.

Comments, Reflections, Insights...

Fourth Sunday of Ordinary Time

My Companions pray with me: Lord, may we bring You glory as we seek truth and humbly live authentically. Please forgive us when we fail; we trust Your mercy. Thank You for all we have especially friends and family that celebrate life with us. Please provide for all we need.  Amen

Companion Events: Bithdays: Edmund Lay "Dad" (1/27), Mary Ellen (Lay) Olson (1/29), Colleen (Weed) Galdys (1/30), Vicki Schnitzer (1/31), John Kane (2/1), Mike DePriest (2/1). In memoriam: Paul Pitzen  (1/26/2008), Wally Shultz (1/27/2014), Fr. Gerald Sheeds (1/30/2013).

Keeping In-touch: Marge found a cheap flight and I flew to Chicago-land to celebrate Dad's 90th birthday. I visited with cousins I had not seen for many, many years. My siblings threw a wonderful party for Dad. Marge went on a woman's retreat to pray for my sorry soul. We should have a good week enjoying the Spring-like weather.

Decision Point: Decision Point:

The Readings: Fourth Sunday of Ordinary Time

Some Commentary: Fr. John Foley, S. J.

My comments and an invitation for your comments: 
At times I should "hold my tongue" and silence the selfish, wanting-it-my-way self. But at other times I need to speak-up for the truth I know and the glory of life with Jesus.

Comments, Reflections, Insights...

Third Sunday of Ordinary Time

My Companions pray with me: Lord, may we know and do Your Will, thus live in Your Kingdom. This will be the glory of fully alive people. Forgive us our sins and help us know Your mercy. Thank you for all your gifts. Provide us with all we need. And bless all those who have gone before us, especially, Don Shimkus.  Amen

Companion Events: Bithdays: Martin Munoz (1/18), Molly (Cole) Komon (1/23), Fr Michael Sheeran (1/24). In memoriam: Charlie Shelton S.J. (1/20/12014), Don Shimkus (1/11/2015).

Keeping In-touch: It looks like I didn't push the button to publish last week's blog (but no body missed it -- that I know of). We had a wonderful week anticipating my brother, Mike's, visit. Together we enjoyed the Rodeo. Then Mike skied on Saturday with Matthew, my son. I promoted the Retreat for Men after all our Masses this weekend. I enjoyed beautiful encounters with others. This week should be very busy...

Decision Point: Decision Point:: The Best Way to Learn

The Readings: Third Sunday of Ordinary Time

Some Commentary: Fr. John Foley, S. J.

My comments and an invitation for your comments: 
When I was young I thought the aim of life was to "get the heck outa here and get to another place: heaven." But on my journey I've discovered that God desires to live with us now...and forever more. He wants us to live under His direction that will bring out the best in us. If everyone and everything followed God's rule of love we would be in His Kingdom: heaven.

Comments, Reflections, Insights...

Second Sunday of Ordinary Time

My Companions pray with me: Lord,You call us to the fullness of life. We praise You and dedicate ourselves to You. But too often we fail to live in Your glory; please forgive us. We have hearts filled with gratitude for all You bestow on us, especially Your call to live in and with You. Please continue to attend to all our needs: we ask for health especially for our companions on our prayer lists. Amen

Companion Events: Bithdays: Kathy Shaefer (1/15), Mary (Dean) Norton (1/15). In memoriam: Lina Kilday (1/18/1958).

Keeping In-touch: Our latest snow has melted and the week passed by quickly. We've returned to our "irregular" routine: education stuff and church stuff for the most part. Marge has begun sorting pictures from the old chest: oh! what treasures she has discovered. 

Decision Point: Decision Point:: The Prayer Process

The Readings: Second Sunday of Ordinary Time

Some Commentary: Fr. John Foley, S. J.

My comments and an invitation for your comments: 
Who is calling us? Often I believe the Lord calls but like Eli I don't know who's calling. At the same time, I, like Andrew and the other disciple of John I want to know where Jesus is staying. And I hear Him, through my Companions-in-Prayer, say, "Come and see." Then when I experience His love I want to call all my brothers and sisters. May we all, like Peter, drop our nets and know that Jesus will provide all we need.

Comments, Reflections, Insights...

The Baptism of the Lord

My Companions pray with me: Lord,You have placed Your Spirit in us. May we bring that Spirit of life and love to everyone we meet. We seek Your awesome mercy for choices we make that take us from your awesome love. Thank you for all Your gifts; with appreciation we return them to glorify Your name. And please provide all we need: health for the sick and freedom for all things that make us slaves. Bless all who have brought us to You. For those who have gone before us, be merciful and bring them home to You.

Companion Events: Bithdays: Jack Lawrence Parise (1/7), Cullen Stevens (1/11). In memoriam: Joseph Himpleman (1/7/1960).

Keeping In-touch: The feeling of cold sticks in our memory of last week. But, more so, the memory

of our offspring laughing and enjoying one another...and the Colorado Mountain Slopes. We now have winter and some cold days ahead of us. All the end of season football brings sedentary excitement. And I'm ready to begin reading student papers again. Happy New Year to all my Companions-in-Prayer from our family:
(back) Jason, Julie, Matthew, Cullen, Julianne, and; Megan. (middle) Nana, Papa, and; Charlie (front) Makayla, Davie, Nathan & Lori Beth

Decision Point: Decision Point:: The Big Question

The Readings: The Baptism of the Lord

Some Commentary: Fr. John Foley, S. J.

My comments and an invitation for your comments: 
Seek the Lord while He may be found. Know His awesome love for you; spend your life to bring Him glory. We need not bring money or other sacrifice. The Lord desires our lives in all our brokenness and in all our wholeness. Let us hear Him say, "This is my beloved son/daughter, in whom I am well pleased."

Comments, Reflections, Insights...