To the editor:
All of Alfred Schwan's achievements have been duly noted. These he left behind for the competition who follow us all as we must move on. Moreover, there is his wife, Doris, and his extended family who now will experience a huge void in their lives. For when someone we love leaves us, they always take so much of us with them. And we will with Alfred's family try to hang onto that something special we all had when they were with us.
Alfred stayed with us awhile longer as the rest of his family moved on. Paul, Alma, Marvin, Robert, and now Alfred. What a family! Alma and her husband Paul worked among us with their milk products and their diner! At the same time they are remembered as the industrious janitors of Christ Lutheran. We have Marvin and his idea of delivering Ice cream in a panel truck.
Wow, think of all the stories written to celebrate that humble beginning. And then Bobby who traveled among us and kept up with us taking pictures and facing headwinds all the way. And then there was also that boy, Milford Paxton, who as a teenager boarded with this family and painted for them so many Schwan logos on so many Inca gold trucks. And now Alfred, the pilot, has flown away and moved on.
They all left us much of the city of Marshall and Salina, Kansas, we have today. As one of their Pastors this family left us a strong, happy, and thriving Church and inspired her world wide Mission. They didn't leave any of us in a "black hole!" You know one of those physical holes in the universe that suck up everything around them. Inspired by their Creator, they were creative! Inspired by their Savior, they were savers. Inspired by The Holy Spirit they breathed life into many failing and, heretofore, fearful hearts. It is God's will that we all become one another's greatest resource!
And this family was a great resource, a source supporting the lives of many. And this family cherished every detail in the moments they lived among us. Alfred left instructions that after his funeral in Salina, he wanted a big party at the County Club. Remember all the parties, in many different places in the Marshall area at Christmas? All those shuttle buses carrying happy people from here to there! And in the Summer there were picnics! Bobby was in charge of Picnics and Christmas gifts, and door prizes at all the great convocations!
The gift of humility is the mustard seed that grows into the greatest of trees and grows to shelters all who come to find rest sitting in its branches. Ah, this was such a family.
"Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord from this time forth, even forevermore. For Their works do follow them." This Scripture is read at the burial of every Christian. And it is true, always true of every believer. St. Augustine said: "Every believer has good works until they know what they are." This family was one of those families who after having done all, would rise up and say to us: "Nothing special, we could not have done it without you, and we have only done our duty!"
May we all appreciate one another, give thanks for one another, and find joy in doing our duty today! "The Lord has given and the Lord has taken away, blessed be the Name of the Lord."
Pastor Wm Ziebell
Michael B. Ziebell
Lynd