Your Thoughts/Prayers/Voodoo Needed

[Temptd2]

That's a beautiful bunch of women you have yourself surrounded with there, Glenn!!

Thanks for sharing - what a happy picture and happy memory.

 

[Shooter]

The holidays have kept me busy and I just came back to HBT to hear the news of your wife's passing. It is odd, I don't really know you, but I have followed your story from almost the beginning. Your news has me reflecting on the death of my grandfather on Christmas day, so many years ago, and my great grandmother's passing during the holiday season only a few years later and I can't even imagine the difficulty of dealing with the death of a spouse during this time of year. Then, I look at the picture of you and your family and think back on the highs and lows you've experienced while managing to soldier through the best you could and I am filled with hope for the world. It is the little things going on all around us, that we don't often notice, that make this a beautiful place. Thank you for sharing your story and best wishes to you and your family in the new year!

 

[BrooklynTom]

I am so sorry to hear this news. My prayers go out to you and your family. RIP

 

[glenn514]

Last week, I had difficulty attempting to place Marie's obituary into our local daily newspaper. I finally succeeded this morning. Obviously, many employees were on vacation between the holidays, and I cannot place any blame on them. I would imagine that funeral homes with standing obit accounts had no difficulty, but I sure did. Anyway, here follows her obit:


Marie A Mahnke

Born on June 29, 1945 in Goodrich, MI
Died on December 23, 2015 in Woodstock, IL

Marie Annette [Bilyea] Mahnke was born to Gordon and Eleanor [Dunkel] Bilyea as the oldest of three children. She grew up in Grand Blanc, Michigan, and moved to Mason, Michigan for her senior year in high school. She graduated from Mason High School in 1963.

Her first two years in college were done at Concordia College [now Concordia University], Ann Arbor, Michigan. She completed her bachelor’s degree in education at Concordia Teachers’ College, River Forest, Illinois [now Concordia University Chicago].

She married her husband of 46 years, Glenn R. Mahnke, on August 9, 1969. Over the years of their marriage, they lived in Milwaukee, WI, Sussex, WI, Oconomowoc, WI, Plano, TX and finally Marengo, IL. Their marriage was blessed with four children [all daughters]: Joy [Nathan] Frieling of Waxahachie, TX, Liesl [James] Christle of Schaumburg, IL, Gretchen [Joseph] Vespo of Land O’ Lakes, WI and Amanda Mahnke of College Station, TX. They have also been blessed with three grandchildren, Boaz, Lydia and Abel Frieling.

Over the course of her professional career, Marie taught in a wide variety of Lutheran schools, working with students from pre-kindergarten through sophomores in college. She enjoyed most teaching middle elementary grades, and singing tenor in her husband’s church choir.

She is survived by her mother, her sister and brother, her husband, her four daughters and three sons-in-law, and three grandchildren. Her grandparents, her father and her father-in-law and mother-in-law preceded her in death.

A Service of Remembrance and Celebration for Marie will be held on Saturday, January 9, 2016, at 1:00 p.m. at Prince of Peace Lutheran Church, 932 McHenry Avenue, Crystal Lake, IL. The service will be led by Rev. Larry Rubeck, pastor at Prince of Peace. A time for visiting will occur immediately following the service. Those who knew Marie are cordially invited to attend and honor the life and ministry of Marie, a faithful servant of our Lord.

In lieu of flowers, contributions to art education charities would be appreciated.

Cremation rites have been accorded by Millennium Cremation Society, Island Lake, IL.

glenn514

 

[beernbourbon]

Peace be with you, Glenn. [emoji22]

 

[glenn514]

Oldest daughter, her husband and my newest grandson arrived safely on Wednesday evening. They are staying with second-oldest daughter and her husband in Schaumburg, Illinois. We had an opportunity last night to spend some time together, and I got to hold #3 grandchild who was born on 22 October. Daughter #3 and her husband will arrive later today from Wisconsin's northwoods. Daughter #4...the Ph.D...will arrive this evening at O'Hare airport in Chicago. This will be the first time in a loooooong time that all the girls and husbands are together. We'll miss two grandchildren who were left in the care of husband's parents, and we love them lots. The Service of Remembrance and Celebration for my dear wife is tomorrow at 100pm.

glenn514

 

[b-boy]

Sorry for your loss.

 

[mcspanner]

Thinking of you all today Glenn.

 

[beernbourbon]

Here's hoping and praying that today, and its conclusion, brings you and your family the peace you need and, by all accounts witnessed here, you seriously deserve.

 

[Temptd2]

Glenn, I hope that you had more happy memories today than sad ones, as that is the true measure of Marie's life - the happy times you all shared.

 

[Inkleg]

Here with you and your family today Glenn.

 

[glenn514]

We had a wonderful “Service of Remembrance and Celebration” for Marie yesterday at Prince of Peace Lutheran Church in Crystal Lake. Pastor Rubeck shared the Word of God powerfully with us, reminding us to rejoice and remain faithful. Dr. John Behnke led us boldly and bravely in the hymnody. Both of those men were a blessing to me and the family.

I was overwhelmed by the large attendance at the service, and the incredibly strong singing coming from behind me. I was especially touched that our niece, Jodie, brought Marie’s Mom to the service! I had the opportunity to speak with family and friends I had not seen in years. The service was truly a blessing, with so many giving honor and praise to our Lord for His gift of Marie.

glenn514

 

[soccerdad]

Glenn - sounds like you celebrated Marie's life in a great way. I read the obit and see that her mom's maiden name was Dunkel. I will brew a dunkel soon (dunkelweizen), and the name of the beer can only be "Marie's Mom."

Peace be with you.

 

[tagillis]

Glenn, I'm justing reading about your loss. My thoughts are with you and your family today.

 

[glenn514]

Joy, Nathan and little Abel flew out yesterday afternoon and arrived safely and soundly at Love Field in Dallas around 500pm. Amanda’s flight from O’Hare ended up getting cancelled, but she was booked onto a new flight which had a leg from Houston to College Station. She arrived at home last night around 1130pm.

Gretchen and Joe and their dog Maybell are still here, but will be heading back to the northwoods this afternoon. I truly appreciated my entire family being here to honor their mother and give me their support.

I plan on giving the memorial funds to the Land O’ Lakes Area Artisans, which offers art opportunities, lessons and displays for the entire Land O’ Lakes, WI area. It is something that Marie would highly approve.

glenn514

 

[glenn514]

I am in he bittersweet process of putting away the Christmas decorations. Yesterday, I took care of quite a few, leaving only the Christmas tree to undecorate, take apart and store until late November. It is bittersweet because many of the decorations were among the last things Marie actually saw with her own eyes. And, come to think about it, that's not a bad thing! She saw things that represented a heavenly celebration. Now, she is part of that celebration.

glenn514

 

[Temptd2]

You'll go through all kinds of "firsts" in this next year, Glenn. Every holiday/birthday/event that first year after my Mom passed was difficult. Days she loved were especially hard - Thanksgiving, Christmas, any excuse for a big meal to be made and served up to her.

Embrace the memories, they really do help you process through the loss of a loved one. I think of you often and hope that you are doing OK. Let yourself grieve as you need to, it's part of the healing process.

 

[ericbw]

I just caught up with this thread. So sorry for your loss.

 

[glenn514]

Saturday and Sunday were very bittersweet for me. Saturday represented one month since Marie died. And Sunday represented six months since the first stroke. But there was an "up" side! After attending worship yesterday morning, my second daughter and her husband took me to see an afternoon live, stage performance of "M.A.S.H." The stage version is closer to the movie version than the TV series. I thoroughly enjoyed the production! The amateur cast was most definitely above average! Following the production, the three of us went out for an early dinner at a wonderful pub in Elgin, Illinois. And my daughter, son-in-law and I all enjoyed watching Denver beat New England!

glenn514

 

[b-boy]

I thoroughly enjoyed that Denver game myself!

 

[Temptd2]

Watching Denver beat New England was the high point of my day, followed closely by watching the Panthers beat the Cardinals. It was a GOOD football day!

Glenn, the first year is tough - it's a year filled with "first this" and "first that" - first year I ever had a birthday without my Mom, first Thanksgiving without her enjoying her favorite holiday, etc. It gets easier, I think, after that first year is behind you - did for me, but then, it's NOT my spouse I lost, it was my Mom. However, I did for her what you were doing for Marie - took care of her 24/7/365 especially the last year of her life. It's a bunch of big adjustments for sure.

Best thing you can do is what you ARE doing, IMHO - go out, enjoy your life to the fullest with your loved ones, and keep the good memories of Marie in your heart.

 

[unionrdr]

Yeah, like what a fella at work told me once when we were nearly divorced, " You never forget it, it just gets easier to live with".

 

[BarrelAgedForrest]

Glenn, I'm newish here so none of you guys really know me or anything. I just read through this entire thread and am thoroughly in tears. I am so very sorry for your loss and am extremely moved by not only your love for this wonderful woman but the fact that this community seems to have pulled together so very much to help you through this. I literally don't know what else to say so I'm gonna go blow my nose and clean my face!

 

[glenn514]

It has been a while since I offered any updates. I will place that blame directly on my own shoulders, since previous updates were more about Marie’s condition, and less about my coping with those conditions.

But here I am, a bit over a month since Marie was given her crown of eternal life by Jesus, Himself. It is also a bit more than six months since the first stroke. And depending on the exact moment someone asks, I may be doing quite well or I might be doing extremely poorly. Right at this minute, I’m doing OK, but that may change in another moment or two.

I have made arrangements to make a trip to Texas to see Joy, Nathan and the grandkids, as well as Amanda. I plan on being gone from 18 February through 25 February. I plan on driving, so I am hoping that the weather cooperates. And I do plan on using my new Nikon digital single lens reflex camera to take lots and lots of pictures on my trip.

glenn514

 

[Temptd2]

GOOD for you, Glenn. A change of scenery is good for the soul!

 

[unionrdr]

Road trip! Always a good decision!

 

[Temptd2]

I wanted to share this with you - it was sent me by an email acquaintance when my Mom passed.

I still go into the cottage and say, "Hi, Mom!" out loud. It brings me solace to think that she is in another realm where she can hear me if I speak to her.

 

[petey_c]

Glenn, I agree with temptd2. I change of scenery will do you good.

 

[Temptd2]

How are you doing, Glenn? I miss your posts!

 

[glenn514]

How are you doing, Glenn? I miss your posts!

I'm hanging in there. Some days are better than others...some moments are better than others...but the clock keeps ticking, and life must continue.

This week has been busy, which is a good thing. I have several appointments [dental cleaning, chiropractic adjustment, etc.] and I made appointments to get my car ready for the trip to Texas next week. And I'm really looking forward to visiting with my oldest and youngest daughters in Texas, drinking a beer with my son-in-law, and tickling my grandchildren!!! I hope to take many, many pictures with my new Nikon DSLR camera and lenses!

The bottom two sections of the Christmas tree are still standing in the family room. And today is Ash Wednesday. But taking it down only increases my depression, so I've been avoiding it. I think I will have to screw up my courage and get it out of there before I leave for Texas. Marie would REALLY be on my case to take it down and put it away.

glenn514