“Too Well-Loved to Ever Be Forgotten” was the theme of the 21st Annual Tree of Lights ceremony at Morrison Community Hospital, 303 N. Jackson Street, Morrison, IL.
The event began at 2:00 p.m. on Monday, December 10, 2012, in the front lobby.
Each Annual Tree of Lights is a joint effort between staff, The MCH Foundation, and members of the community.
CEO Kent Jorgensen, right, began the tribute with a Bible passage; later he would offer reflective comments.
Then Pastor Mike Selburg, left, of First Presbyterian Church, blessed the centerpoint tree, decorated in red and gold.
He read 42 names of departed community members who were honored by loved ones:
Matt Lewis Law, Hattie Hawk, Kenneth J. Green, Orvie Holman,
Dora Nanigan, Ruth Popkin, Amelia Sieh, Max Sieh, Katharine
(Sieh) Marshall, Norman Marshal, Robert Bradner, Kristal
Zuidema, Sue Zickert, Frank Anspach, John Cornelius, Clara
Waterstreet, Bill Waterstreet, Earl Kaufman, Sharon Walters, Jan
Snyder, Philip G. Haendler, Evelyn Schroeder, Cayden Toppert,
Stan Maxfield, Fred Beveroth, Joe Tiesman, Deb VanDerLeest,
Ren VenDerLeest, Amanda Mix, Dorothy Madsen, Hans Madsen,
Marvin Vos, Marcia Anderson, Mary A. Johnson, Kathy Schorpp,
Alma Rosenow, Fritz Rosenow, Scott Ufkin, Bev Ryan, Larry
Fransen, Shelia Schipper, and Andy Reimer. Dorothy Nelson had
submittted Paul Bielma and Howard Nelson to be recognized, but
they were missed at the reading.
The staff of MCH decorated trees outside and in with lights in the memory of loved ones. Community members who participated in the lighting of the trees received a free angel ornament. To memorialize these loved ones, Mary Mahan-Deatherage, left, and Jennifer Alvarado distributed angel ornaments to hang on the lobby tree or take home.
Director of Dietary Dody Ogburn and staff prepared frosted sugar cookies, coffee, and cocoa–complete with tiny marshmallows–for the participants and MCH staff.
