Florida Christmas visit…

We just returned from a ten day visit to Melbourne, and Christmas with the Ostranders: Jamie, Candace, Noah, Amelia, Paul and our newest grandchild, Hazel – born on December 9.  Jennifer and Dan Morrill brought their new little girl, Elise (Elly).  Marsha and Robin were there as well.  We celebrated Christmas day together at their new home in Melbourne, and then took day trips all along the Atlantic coast and on into Florida’s lush heartland.

Here are links to our photo gallery…

Ken’s TOP 100 (the best of nearly 700 shots)

The complete set:  Chapter 1 | Chapter 2 | Chapter 3 | Chapter 4 | Chapter 5

Christmas 2011 family update in brief…

We have enjoyed receiving greetings from so many of our friends and family.  They have arrived in our mail box, our inbox and our Facebook page.  We so enjoy the photos of growing families and our peers who are aging right among with us.

Here’s a year end brief as we close out 2011. 

Carolyn just finished her third year as admin for the history and political science department at Biola University.  I continue my work on writing projects, consulting work and favorite project – Global Freedom.  The full length feature film, Not Today, is complete this month.  We hope for a release sometime in 2012.  If you haven’t seen it yet, check out the official two minute trailer. 

Our family is growing!  This month, we added grandchild number eleven – Hazel Mae.  And next month, Kristyn will deliver their sixth, a boy.  That will make it an even dozen – six boys, six girls.  My my my. 

Here are some fairly recent photos of Ben, Kristyn, Kenny, Will, Becca, Kate and Rachel who live in Fontana, CA -

Candy, Jamie, Noah, Amelia, Paul and Hazel who live in Melbourne, FL - 

Kevin, Sonya, Emerson and Quinn who live in San Diego –

We are busy and blessed!

Dad’s Memorial Weekend in Spring Green

Carolyn and I just returned from an unforgettable weekend.  You can take a look at some of the photos.  You’ll get a sense of the scope of the tribute to Carolyn’s dad – Rev. Oscar Hunerdosse (you can learn more about him from some of the other posts).  It was a very busy weekend, attended by an impressive number of friends and family, many of whom traveled some distance to the with us… from Iowa, Illinois, Florida and California.

Graveside at Spring Green Cemetery

Saturday was the “viewing” – many came from the community to visit family.  Sunday, the Memorial Services was held at the Avoca Bible Church.  I brought a tribute, a collection of granddaughters sang a hymn accompanied by Bruce Campbell at the piano.  Our life-long friends surprised us – Nancy and Andy Hagen came to the service traveling from their home in Delafield (near Milwaukee). Attendees stood in a receiving line with greetings and messages of comfort, “dad/pastor stories” and hugs for the first hour.  Then, following the memorial, we all sat down for an extraordinary buffet supper in the church basement… nearly two hundred of us.

Monday morning, we all gathered at the graveside for a final farewell.  Pastor Joel Bauman, of Avoca Bible Church (where dad pastored and then attended) officiated throughout the weekend.

It was a weekend we will never forget.

SEE PHOTO GALLERY

Happy Birthday, Carolyn

Sunday evening, we managed to surprise Carolyn with a collection of her favorite people.  It was a terrific party.  Thanks to everyone who worked hard!  (Special shout out to Sonya and Kristyn!)

Surprise!

See photo gallery | See Ken’s Video Tribute to Carolyn

Oscar Roland Hunerdosse 1921-2011

-FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE -

Oscar Roland Hunerdosse, 90 of Spring Green, passed away on Saturday, December 03, 2011. He was born at home in Newbern, Iowa on March 24th, 1921 the son of Gerald and Rena Hunerdosse. He was the fifth of seven sons. He grew up in southern Iowa and graduated from Melcher High School. After a short time at Simpson College, he taught grades 1-8 in a one room school. Soon he felt God’s call to enter the ministry, and graduated from Moody Bible Institute in 1945.

Oscar proceeded to a life of full-time Christian service as a pastor in Battle Creek, Michigan and several churches in Wisconsin, including Avoca Bible Church, Antigo Bible Church, and Black Earth Congregational church. His love for the Lord was demonstrated by his love for the people and communities he lived in. He is especially remembered for his service at Crescent Lake Bible Camp as manager for seven years and later as board president. The Hunerdosse Center there is named after Oscar and Dora May.

Four Generations

Survivors include 5 children, Judy (Bruce) Campbell of Spartanburg, SC, Carolyn (Ken) Kemp of Placentia, CA, David Hunerdosse (Nora) of Yorba Linda, CA, Arlene (Randy) Carver of Spring Green, and Roger (Janet) of Cottage Grove, 13 grandchildren, and 20 great-grandchildren, a brother Arthur (Hazel) of La Harpe, IL, and many nieces, nephews, relatives and friends. He was preceded in death by his wife, Dora May, infant son James, parents, and brothers Alfred, Clarence, Ivan, Glenn, and Jesse.

Funeral Service will be held Sunday, December 11th at 2:00 PM at Avoca Bible Church. Pastor Joel Bauman will officiate with burial in the Spring Green Cemetery on Monday, December 12 at 10:00 AM. Visitation will be held on Saturday, Dec. 10, 2011 at the Richardson-Stafford Funeral Home in Spring Green from 3:00 PM – 5:00 PM, and at the church on Sunday from 1:00 PM until the time of the service.

Memorials may be made to Avoca Bible Church or Crescent Lake Bible Camp.

Carolyn’s Dad

Saturday, December 3, 2011

Dear family and friends,

Carolyn got a tough call from her sister Arlene early this morning.

Her father’s health has been in a decline that accelerated these past few weeks, and at age 90, Dad passed into God’s presence at about 3:45 this morning. Randy and Arlene stood together at his bedside, singing and encouraging Dad with words of hope and love. Arlene said to him – “It’s OK, Dad. You can let go. Soon you’ll be with Mom.”

From a call yesterday, we knew Dad was in the hospital and that his body seemed to be shutting down. The doctors believed that Dad was not strong enough for surgery or extraordinary measures. Roger, Randy and Arlene agreed. They gave him medication for comfort. Randy and Arlene stayed with him into the night.

We are hurting, but thankful and blessed. Dad’s (Rev. Oscar Hunerdosse) life and ministry impacted many, including all of us. I remember well February 13, 1969 when in the living room of the Antigo parsonage, I interrupted his reading of the newspaper to tell him that I was in love with his daughter and that I intended care for and protect Carolyn and then asked for his blessing on our plans to get married. I had just turned twenty one. He, perhaps with a reticence that he didn’t reveal, consented, and then several months later performed the ceremony.

Carolyn and I sit in our living room, somewhat stunned over the loss, and the passing of time. It’s painful, and yet we are filled with gratitude for the family that surrounds us and the memories we hold dear.

I found a web post from the Dedication of the Hunerdosse Center (circa 1996) and photos from Carolyn’s Mom’s memorial in 2008. You may want to take a look. Read my tribute from the Dedication Service.

Carolyn and I are making plans to travel to Spring Green for a memorial service next weekend.

We are grateful for your love and prayers.

Thanksgiving 2011 at Lake Arrowhead

A weekend we will not soon forget – at Rob and Diane’s invitation, we celebrated Thanksgiving at their mountain cabin (home).

Inspirational Video | Photo Gallery | Otto’s Flip

Weekend of Soccer with the Duncans

Photo Gallery – The Barracudas – Kenny and Will

Click on photo to see full image

Photo Gallery - The Blizzards - Will

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Photo Gallery – the Constellations – Becca

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Her kids challenged her to go for it.  My my my.

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Carolyn trains for Danskin Triathlon

Check out the video.  Carolyn (Mom/Grandma) is a stud!

 

Oak Park/Chicago Walking Tour

On Saturday morning, Carolyn/Mom and I jumped on the train. Our first stop – Oak Park.

Our primary goal was to take a look at the Frank Lloyd Wright Studio and Museum.  Because of FLW’s presence in Spring Green, we’ve taken an interest in this world reknown architect – read books and toured both Taliesins – in Spring Green, WI and Scottsdale, AZ.  (We’ve also started reading the book detailing the terrible massacre and fire at Taliesin in 1914.)  Along the way, we discovered that FLW designed many homes in Oak Park – along with other famous architects, making the neighborhood a destination for tourist from around the world.  In addition, we learned that Ernest Hemingway was born in Oak Park… we visited the house where he was born and grew up through high school, and spent an informative time speaking with a docent from the EH Museum.  (Oak Park, my place of birth, turns out to be an historic town.)

While we just missed connecting by phone, one of the most spectacular residences (pictured below) is owned by the parents of a Wheaton classmate of Andrew’s.  Turns out Andrew was in the house as we walked by.  We could have had a personal tour from the owner.  And amazing property.

Then on to Chicago, by train, where we took the Water Taxi up and down the Chicago River to Navy Pier, then on along Lake Michigan for a lake shore cruise to the Shedd Aquarium and Field Museum.  We walked through Grant Park to the Buckingham Fountain, The Art Institute and the Millenium Park.  We stopped at Geno’s for Pizza, then Garrett’s for popcorn, and because our friend Zac Frampton considered it, we stopped in to Northwestern University Law School and walked through the legendary Lincoln Hall.

By the time the train delivered us to the College Avenue Station  (in Wheaton), we were exhausted, and for the first time in years, both my feet sprouted some nice blisters.

See PHOTO GALLERY