Funeral of Ron Aase
April 26, 2023
Svoboda Funeral Home, Schuyler, NE
Obituary

Readings: Lamentations 3:21-25, 55-57, Psalm 46, John 14:1-6a

I never actually had the chance to meet Ron or to get to know him in person. So before I started preparing this service, or writing this sermon, I wanted to try to get some sense of who Ron was. I wanted to do my best to do his funeral justice. So last week, I ended up driving over to Monroe to sit down and talk with Bessie for a bit – out in the house that they had lived in together for over four decades. As it turns out, going out to that house is probably the single best way to really get to know Ron. 

There are signs of Ron’s presence all over that house. Bessie and I sat at the kitchen table and she showed me all these photos of Ron and of some of his projects. She showed me a candid shot of Ron sitting at that very table, snapped with her new phone. She showed me a picture of him sacked out in his favorite spot on the couch. And she showed me some amazing before and after photos of trucks and tractors that Ron had painstakingly restored. 

But more than anything else, there was a kind of refrain that kept repeating itself all throughout the conversation, which was, “Oh, Ron made that,” or, “Oh yeah, Ron did that too.” Bessie kept pointing things out as we talked, all over the house: ceiling tiles, floors, wall treatments, a remodeled bathroom including plumbing, an entire garage, a back deck – project after project. She talked about how much work and effort Ron had put into all these improvements on their house – and how he was (in her words) “cussin’ the whole time.” (haha) It’s a house that is just full from top to bottom of Ron’s handiwork. 

Funeral of Helen Jindra
March 24, 2023
Svoboda Funeral Home, Schuyler, NE
Obituary • Bulletin
watch this service online (readings start around 5:04; sermon starts around 9:26)

Readings: Isaiah 55:1-3, 10-13; Psalm 23; Luke 12:22-24, 27-34

I spent my last year of seminary on internship, which basically involved shadowing a pastor at a congregation in order to learn the ropes of ministry – there are some things you just can’t learn in a classroom. As part of my learning, my supervisor entrusted me with planning the midweek services for the whole season of Lent. There were already bible texts traditionally assigned to each week, but I got to be totally creative in designing services around each of those readings.

Lent, as you probably know, is typically a very solemn, penitential kind of season. It’s a season of prayer and fasting and sacrificial giving as we walk with Jesus on a journey to the cross. It’s often a time when people give up some little pleasure like chocolate or video games or alcohol and focus on repentance. And so, naturally, I had a lot of very thoughtful, serious, prayerful ideas for what to do with each of these Lenten services. But as I went through the readings for each of the weeks, you can imagine my surprise when one of the readings turned out to be this text from Isaiah 55 that we just read:

Hear, everyone who thirsts, come to the waters; come buy and eat! Come buy wine and milk without money and without price! Come eat bread! Eat what is good and delight yourselves in rich food!

Isaiah 55:1-3 (edited)

It’s not at all what you’d expect in the season of Lent! Isn’t this the season when we’re *not* supposed to eat rich foods? Instead of the sense of austerity and discipline you’d expect, here is God – speaking through the prophet Isaiah – pouring out this feast of goodness and richness and abundance and inviting us all to come and eat.

Funeral of Pamela Legler
December 9, 2022
St. John’s Lutheran Church, Schuyler, NE
Obituary • Bulletin
watch this service online (readings start around 7:44; sermon starts around 12:23)

Readings: Psalm 139:1-14, John 10:27-29, Luke 15:11-24

The story of the prodigal son is a very familiar parable – but it’s not one you tend to hear very often at funerals.

But as LuEtta and I were sitting down to go through the service for today, she was telling me a little bit about [her daughter] Pam’s life and her experiences.  And when we got to talking about possible scripture readings, this story immediately leapt to mind.

From what I can tell, there’s some resonance between Pam’s story and the story of the prodigal son. Like the prodigal son, Pam set off on her own at a fairly young age to make a life for herself. I see in her a similar spirit of independence, a determination to do things on her own terms. She worked as a flag person for road construction for about 15 years. She also spent time working with animals at a business that specialized in pet training and grooming. Beyond these things, there’s a lot that’s just… unknown. There are the years in there when, like the prodigal son, Pam was simply off on her own, out of touch with the folks back home.

Funeral of Denise Dubsky
December 7, 2022
St. John’s Lutheran Church, Schuyler, NE
Obituary • Bulletin
watch this service online (readings start around 12:38; sermon starts around 17:53)

Readings: Lamentations 3:21-25, Luke 6:27-36

The first thing you’d notice when you met Denise Dubsky is… well, actually, at first, the truth is you might not have noticed Denise Dubsky at all. Denise was a quiet, soft-spoken person – she was never really the person you would find standing out in front, the center of attention, making all the noise. You’d much more likely find Denise behind the scenes, making sure all the work got done. 

But the second thing you’d probably notice about Denise is her warmth – both physically and in terms of personality, haha. Denise’s hands were always warm when you’d go to shake them – it was always nice to share the peace with her during worship in wintertime! – and her family remembers her always complaining about being too hot! But Denise also had a warm and caring soul. She had a spirit of kindness and gentleness and quiet joy that you could just see reflected on her face.

However, [her daughter] Sara does argue that your mileage may vary on this if you’d happen to wake Denise up from a nap. I believe her exact quote was, “I have never seen someone with more murder in their eyes.” It’s always the quiet ones you’ve got to watch out for. 

Friday, August 19, 2022
St. John’s Lutheran Church, Schuyler, NE
Funeral of Colleen Dubsky
Obituary • APHA Tribute
watch this service online (readings start around 22:09; sermon starts around 24:49)
image source

Readings:

• Psalm 27
• Psalm 121
• Romans 14:7-9
• Matthew 11:28-30

Many years ago, when I was in college, I spent a couple of my summers working out at Camp Carol Joy Holling, near Ashland, NE. I had a friend at school named Nicole who had talked me into applying for a job there. I just worked as a regular old counselor – and then later as a “creative arts specialist” – but the job that Nicole got to do was totally fascinating to me. She worked as one of the camp’s small handful of wranglers. It was her job to help care for the camp’s horses. She spent time getting to know them and taught the campers to understand and appreciate them; she taught kids – and counselors! – the basics of riding, and she got to lead these amazing, long trail rides all over camp. 

I’d had very little experience with horses, but I loved animals and I was really interested to learn more. So one week, I asked Nicole if I could spend whatever time I could spare kind of job-shadowing her – helping her with horse-chores and getting some hands-on experience working with horses. In retrospect, it probably should have been more of a red flag to me from the minute I found out that her day started at 4am. 

Tuesday, July 26, 2022
St. John’s Lutheran Church, Schuyler, NE
Funeral of Connie Muhle • Obituary

Readings:

• Psalm 50:1-2, 10-11
• Psalm 27:1, 3-5, 7-8, 13-14
• Revelation 21:1-5
• Luke 12:22-24, 27-34

I never got the chance to meet Connie, but I have heard many of the stories about her, from Rick and Diane, and from others in the community who knew her well. And, reading through her beautifully written obituary, I’ve gotta say it’s really a shock that Rick’s sister would be remembered as a storyteller and a prankster who loved to make people laugh. 😜 Heh – it’s even more of a shock that this family would choose to celebrate Connie’s life by gathering around a table to share food and to share stories. (Just kidding. 😉) I get the strong sense that there’s a streak of good humor and a little bit of orneriness that runs deep in this family.

But above all, everything I have heard or read about Connie just glows with the love that so many had for her. She was a loving mother, grandmother, wife, sister, and friend – someone who showed up with enthusiasm to support the people she cared about.

I was especially moved by the stories about Connie’s deep love for animals. Her dedication to caring and advocating for the vulnerable and the voiceless is truly inspiring. She went to great lengths to protect those who could not defend themselves and did everything in her power to find loving homes for them. These stories speak volumes about what a kind heart she had, and what an extraordinary spirit of compassion.

Friday, December 3, 2021
St. John’s Lutheran Church, Schuyler, NE
Funeral of Marlene Zima • Obituary
watch this service online (readings start around 28:30, sermon starts around 33:18)

Readings:

• Proverbs 31:25-31
• Psalm 23
• Romans 6:3-9
• John 14:1-6

If you grabbed a bulletin for today’s service, one of the things you’ll notice is that, at the back, there is this wonderful, long collection of family stories about Marlene.  Believe it or not, this is actually the significantly edited down version.  When I met with Deb and Sue to go over plans for this service, Deb handed me this amazing, three page, single-spaced collection of stories – in a tiny font – that she had compiled about her mom.

There are so many stories, so many memories.  And what absolutely radiates from all of them is the profound love and admiration and pride that Marlene’s kids and grandkids and great-grandkids – and everyone whose life Marlene touched – all feel for her.  She was truly well-loved.

And so it’s no surprise that one of the scriptures that Marlene’s kids chose for this day to remember her is this passage from Proverbs 31.  Many biblical scholars think that King Solomon actually wrote this passage about his mother!  This passage portrays a woman of strength and dignity, of wisdom and kindness, a woman who is honorable and hard-working and full of faith.

Friday, September 17, 2021
St. John’s Lutheran Church, Schuyler, NE
Funeral of Laverne Schmale • Obituary
watch this service online (readings start around 27:12, sermon starts around 29:27)

Readings:

• Philippians 4:8-9
• Psalm 23
• John 3:16-17

When I was a very young girl, growing up in a small town in Nebraska, I remember going to church with my family every Sunday.  My home congregation had a lot of youth and kids back then, and about once a month or so, we started our Sunday school time with an assembly.  All the kids, from the tiny preschoolers all the way up to the confirmation students, would gather together in the church basement for a short service before going to our classes.  

We sat in rows by class, from the youngest in front to the oldest in back.  And I remember being in about first or second grade (it was the last year of sitting in the tiny folding chairs before you graduated to the *adult size* folding chairs) – I remember turning around in my chair and craning my neck to try and see the older kids sitting aaaaall the way at the back of the fellowship hall.  They seemed so cool and wise and knowledgeable, those ninth graders.  They got to make the pancakes at the pancake feed; they got to run the hoses at the carwash fundraiser; they helped out with vacation bible school; they even got to light the candles on Sunday mornings.  So cool!  As a little girl, watching them, I learned from their example.  I saw all the things they got to do in the church, all the ways that they served – and I wanted to be just like them.

I remembered those Sunday school days as I was preparing for today.  Our first reading, from Philippians, is a passage that Laverne specifically wanted to be read at this service.  And as I heard more and more stories about her over the last week from the people who loved her and knew her best, I started to understand why – why she chose this passage.  The apostle Paul wrote these words in a letter to the young congregation in Philippi: “Keep on doing the things that you have learned and received and heard and seen in me, and the God of peace will be with you.”  Follow my example, Paul is saying, and I will teach you how to live a good and faithful life.  

Tuesday, October 13, 2020
St. John’s Lutheran Church, Schuyler, NE
Funeral of Bob Svoboda • Obituary
watch this service online (readings and sermon start around 17:26)

Readings: Matthew 11:28-30, Psalm 145: 3-4, 8-13, John 14:1-6

One of the most powerful images of God that we see in our scripture readings for today is the image of God as our loving father.  And I honestly can’t think of anything more fitting for a day like this as we gather to say goodbye to our dear brother in Christ, Bob Svoboda.  The love that our Father has for his children was brightly reflected in the love that Bob had for his family.  

Bob was a faithful servant of the church and his country, and he was a dedicated farmer.  But as you look around at all the many – many –  photos and mementos that his family has brought, and listen to the wonderful stories that his family tells about him, what really shines through more than anything else is the love and pride that Bob felt for his kids, his grandkids, his great-grandkids, and his whole family.  He was so proud of all of you, and he was especially proud to be able to hand down the legacy of the family farm to a new generation.  He was proud to hand down a legacy of love and faith.

Wednesday, March 25, 2020
Funeral of Terry Pospisil
Svoboda North Chapel, Schuyler, NE
image source

When I was growing up, my best friends’ family had a farm just a few miles outside of our hometown.  And they raised sheep.  I spent a lot of time out at their farm, and sometimes I would get to help take care of the sheep.  There was, of course, the matter of making sure the sheep had water and enough to eat.  And, periodically, they would have to move the sheep from one pasture to another, to give them plenty of grass to munch on.  My friends’ parents would open gates and move around their electric fences.  And then we got to do the fun part: in the absence of sheepdogs, my friends and I would actually chase the sheep around, trying to get them to move from one enclosure to the other.  To me, at the time, it seemed like being a shepherd would be a really fun job!

But that is not at all what being a shepherd looked like thousands of years ago, when Psalm 23 was first written.  Back then, being a shepherd was a tough, dirty job.  There were no neatly fenced in pastures to keep their sheep in.  Instead, a shepherd wandered with his flock of sheep through the steep hills and rocky wilderness of ancient Palestine.  He stayed with his sheep night and day to protect them from predators.  And the sheep’s lives totally depended on their shepherd guiding them through rough places to find clean water and good pasture.  

That is the image of God that our psalmist is painting in Psalm 23.  God is like a good shepherd, willing to do anything to keep the sheep safe and fed.  And like a good shepherd who is willing to get his hands dirty, God stays with us, even in the hardest, messiest, most painful moments of our lives.  God is with us.  God never abandons us nor leaves us to our own devices; instead God wanders with us into the wilderness and helps guide us to places of safety and peace.