On Tuesday, Dec. 16, 2014, Edith Krueger (Kring) departed from this world with a smile, in the presence of family, to join her Savior and family members who have preceded her in death: her husband, Frank Krueger Sr.; father, Thomas Kring; mother, Celia Kring; sisters, Myrtle Bloomquist and Alice Montour; brothers, Raymond Kring and Walter Lee Kring; in-laws, Frank A.

Carole Lee Bierman, 76, Bowler, died on Thursday, Dec. 18, 2014, at Shawano Medical Center. She was born on Jan. 25, 1938, in Manitowoc, the daughter of the late Charles and Matilda (Cootway) Terrio. On Oct. 3, 1959, Carole was united in marriage to LeRoy Bierman in Wittenberg.

Rudolph “Rudy” Hapke, a lifelong resident of the town of Almon, went to his heavenly home on Thursday, Dec. 18, 2014. He was 95 years old. He was born on Jan. 2, 1919, a son of the late Herman and Anna (Bartelme) Hapke. Rudy married Ardell Zeinert on Jan. 22, 1944, at St. Paul’s Lutheran Church in Bowler. She preceded him in death on July 26, 1995. He attended Regina Grade School and graduated from Bowler High School.

Irvin “Irv” Leroy Samp, 92, of Shawano, passed away Friday, Dec. 19, 2014, at Shawano Medical Center, where he had been a patient for one week. Irvin was born on Oct. 12, 1922, in the town of Waukechon, Shawano County, a son of the late John Theodore and Ivy Mae (Healy) Samp. He was united in marriage to Bernice (Berkhahn) on May 26, 1945, and the couple resided in Shawano.

Myrtle M. Feivor, 85, of Shawano, passed away on Thursday, Dec. 18, 2014, at The Cottages, where she had been a resident for three years. Myrtle was born on the family farm near Hill Point, Sauk County, on Dec. 13, 1929, the youngest child of the late Edward and Augusta (Schultz) Meyer. Myrtle graduated from Reedsburg High School in 1947. She met the love of her life, Frank Feivor, at a wedding dance in Loganville.

Because of how I was raised and the fact that I married a farmer and continued life’s journey as a tender of animals, I’ve always felt a kinship with the Christmas story. It astounds me that God in His great wisdom, chose His only Son to enter the world not only as a baby, but also chose for His birth to unfold in a humble manger, surrounded by farm animals. If I were there, I think I would have been a shepherd.

Every Christmas season, the Tilleda Timberwolves 4-H Club goes caroling. Co-leader Valerie Fehrman said the people they sing for really appreciate it. “We’ve always done caroling,” she said. “You go to a lot of elderly homes and you can see the tears in their eyes. The kids see that.

Diane Kryll is the coordinator of The United Lutheran Parish (TULP) Food Pantry in Tilleda. TULP consists of four churches: Elias in Gresham, Peace in Tilleda, St. John’s in Leopolis, and Zion in Tigerton. Kryll was born in Tigerton and graduated from Tigerton High School. After earning a degree in music education from the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point, Kryll moved to Milwaukee, where she worked for several years.

The month of December has flown by while I was distracted by other things. First, I had/have a moisture problem in my shower area. The wall where the shower head is coming out of is turning dark. I assumed it was splash back or something like it. I made some calls, no one came. I went online a few times, and that raised a few calls. Someone came and said it was a leak behind the wall.