Inside its new lobby, Morrison Community Hospital, 303 N. Jackson Street, Morrison, IL, continued the annual Tree of Lights remembrance tribute, with modifications due to COVID-19 and its virulent variants. There was neither a public memorial service, naming those who passed in 2021, nor individuals to place an ornament on the tree for them.
The event was MCH Marketing Director Mick Welding’s “ninth year of doing this” fundraiser for Morrison Community Hospital Foundation.
Relatives or friends purchased a dated snowman ornament for the Tree of Lights, to honor 109 departed loved ones, who are listed below. Some had died during 2021; others have been gone for many years. Each ornament cost $5, and donations over that price were contributed. Melding stated on Monday, January 3, 2022, “We raised $850.”
He had decorated the tree on Tuesday, November 30, and plugged in the lights on Wednesday, December 1, 2021. Welding removed them later that month and placed each into an envelope marked with the name of the purchaser. Ornaments now may be claimed at the Front Desk of the hospital.
Morrison Hospital 2021 Tree of Lights Honorees
Alan George Manchester
Alvin Popkin
Amanda and Hans Hansen
Amanda Mix
Andrew Pfister
Andrew Schaver
Andy Reimer
Arlyn Habben
Arnold VanDerLeest
Audrey Ruth Geesey
Beverly Ufkin Ryan
Cayley Krug
Charles Cook
Charlotte Irene Linder
Charlotte Linder
Cherie McKinney (Hodgkins)
Craig Haan
Danny Miller
Dave and Linda Vanderlaan
David Ottosen
David Webb
Dawson Sterenberg
Debra Oldham
Debra VanDerLeest
Denver Webb
Diana Bailey
Dora Nanigan
Dorothy Abbott
Dorothy Johnson
Edward Abbott
Elmer Prange
Evelyn Beswick
Fred Hodgkins
——-
Gene Osborn
Harriet VanDerLeest
Harry R. Linder, Jr.
Hattie Hawk (Grandmother)
Helen Temple
Henry and Jenny Tiesman
Hudson Elliot Frederick
Ike Temple
J. Wallace Mathew
Jacob and Elizabeth Vegter
Janie Nelson
Jean Mathew
Jerry Habben (Brother)
Jesse Bailey
Jim Prange
John R. Steien
Jordan and Anna Wiebenga
Joseph Zipprich
Joyce Fowler
Joyce Geesey
Ken Venhuizen
Kenneth Green
Kenneth Ufkin
Kim Verdick
L. A. Abbott
Larry VanDerLeest
Leslie Wagonecht
Lester Mathew
Lillie Mae Webb
Lisa Lynn Criss
Marge Moews
Marian Dykema
Marilyn Green
Mark Hurd
Mary Jane Habben (Mother)
——-
Mary Lou Berry
Mary Prange
Mary Temple
Melissa VanDerLeest
Menno and Pauline Pruis
Mike and Inez Balk
Mike Pfister
Mrs. L. A. Abbott
Norman J. Criss
Norman Volkert
Orvie Holman
Peter Rumfelt
Raymond Hook
Raymond S. Habben (Father)
Ren VanDerLeest
Richard “Dick” Bland
Riley Wilkens
Ruth Ann Chastain
Ruth E. Pfister
Ruth Popkin
Ruth Popkin (Nanny)
Scott Andrew Ufkin
Shannon Huizenga
Sikka and Gertrude Hook
Teresa Cross
Thomas E. Dalton
Thomas Pfister
Timothy Driscoll
Tony Forrest, Jr.
Tony Forrest, Sr.
Violet Forrest
Ward B. Manchester, MD
Wayne Webb