Tuesday, December 11, 2007

Sandra Sindorf Life Sketch

This is a first for me, posting a life sketch of a church member on my blog. If you access it, leave me a comment and let me know.

Sandra Jane (Lott, Rogers) Sindorf

June 3, 1936 – December 5, 2007

Sandra Jane (Lott, Rogers) Sindorf was born on June 3, 1936 in Susanville, California. She passed to her rest on Wednesday, December 5, 2007 in Redding, California. She was 71 years, 6 months and 2 days old.
She is survived by her husband, Ron Sindorf of Redding, California and by the 7 children of their blended family: Her daughters; Shelly Rogers of Redding, California; Kendra Lee and her husband Grover of Medford, Oregon; and by one son, Barry Rogers and his wife Kelly, whereabouts unknown.
Sandra also is survived by Ron’s four children: Katherine Canto and her husband Matthew of Redding, California, Karen Scott of Shasta Lake City, California; Kurt Sindorf of Avenal, California and by Carol Sindorf of Suisuin City, California.
Sandra got to be a Grandma to 8 wonderful grandchildren: Madison and Nathan Lee; Heather Canto, Cory Canto and Heidi Sindorf; Nick and Jenny Scott ; and Cody Sindorf. She leaves 3 great-grandchildren: Jamie Canto, Dillon and Taryn Sindorf.
She also leaves behind a brother-in-law in Fred Sindorf (Ron’s Brother) and his wife Mary of Klamath Falls, Oregon and 3 current or former sister-in-law’s: Shirley Ann Boyd (Ron’s Sister) of Redding, California; Valerie Perkins (her brother Jack’s former wife) of Roseburg, Oregon and Alice Rogers (her first husband’s sister) of Portland, Oregon. Sandra also is survived by many nieces and nephews on both sides of her family.
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Sandra was born on June 3, 1936. She was the youngest of two children born to her parents, V.D. Lott and Anna Lou Alexander. She had an older big brother, Jack Lott. He preceded her in death some years ago, passing away at the age of 56 from Leukemia.
She spent her childhood in various places in the state of California, including a brief stint as a small girl in Redding. Ron says he met Sandra at that time. He was best friends with Jack Lott, Sandra’s brother. They were very mature 1st or 2nd graders at the time Of course Ron would not have noticed Sandra then – she was a cootie-filled, kid-sister - and probably only about 3 years old at the time.
Sandra later went to Modesto Union Academy and took some college courses at San Jose State. About the age of 22, Sandra married Raymond Rogers. And who should be the best man at the wedding but…Ron Sindorf, the groom’s close friend. Ron and his first wife and Sandra and her first husband would visit in each other’s homes on occasion during the 9 years Sandra and Raymond were married. They had three children together. Life was good.
But then tragedy struck Sandra’s home. Raymond was operating heavy equipment and grading a steep slope, when the machine did the unthinkable. It rolled over, killing Raymond. Sandra instantly became a single mom of three children, and a widow at the age of 31.
4 years went by, and Sandra worked hard to keep her children’s tuition paid at the local church school. She didn’t know it, but soon Ron was single again. They got to talking, one thing let to another, and 6 months later they tied the knot. July 22, 1972 was their special day! They created a love for each other that has endured the ups and downs of the next thirty-five and a half years.
Shortly after they got married and set up housekeeping in Redding, Ron was working hauling heavy equipment in California and Oregon. They bought a small pick-up, outfitted it with the lights and flags necessary to be a pilot-car, and Sandra was hired on as the driver. They would make the delivery, then Ron would load the little truck on the low-bed trailer, and Sandy could enjoy a long nap all the way home! They worked together this way, sometimes putting in 16 hour days, for 3 years, and then Sandy still worked as a pilot car driver for O’Hare Construction for another 4 years, until 1979.
Later, Sandra worked in the front office of two local dentists: Dr. Heinrich and Dr. McDonald; then she worked for 4 years as a teacher’s aid at Juniper School.
Sandra loved the craft and art of quilting. She made many full size quilts and “dog blankets” (small quilts) that she would give to family or use around the home. One of those quilts kept her warm upon her death bed.
Sandra was also a wonderful cook. She also loved to find new recipes and try them out. She had a special fondness for anything with chocolate!
Sandra loved and supported her church. Her mother was active in the Seventh Day Adventist Church, and Sandra joined as a young girl. For years, she was active in Sabbath School, both with the children and the adult divisions. She was head deaconess, and in charge of the hospitality dinners for visiting guests and for receptions after funerals. She helped with the logistics of pictorial directories, phone calling; the list goes on and on. If something needed to be done, Sandra would help to do it.
Attending Redwood Camp Meeting with friends was a fixture event for many years. She enjoyed the many meetings, and the evenings in the camp with a set of dominoes, playing Mexican Train. Sandra was a skilled player. At home through out the year, there were many Saturday nights with friends playing table games and enjoying the smiles and laughter of this social time.
In retirement, Ron and Sandra hit the road again. They traveled extensively, with two trips to Alaska, two trips across the width of Canada, The Eastern States, Arizona, Oregon, etc.. Ron remembers a trip where the odometer said they traveled 12,500 miles in 3 months.
The last 4 years have been the hard years: the shock of an Alzheimer’s diagnosis; the grief that this brought; the loss of physical ability and mental acuity. It’s been hard. It’s been hard on her, it’s been hard on Ron and the rest of the family. But that’s the way life can be - Hard. You take the good and the bad. It has been a testimony of marriage commitment and human love to see Ron, day after day, love and care for his wife Sandra. 35 and a half years ago they said “Till death do us part.” And now that day has come.
Today we recognize the fact that her “departure” leaves an empty place, a void, in life and heart. But we also give God praise that death has brought an end of Sandra’s disabilities and suffering. For Sandra, death has come as a good thing. It’s time for her to rest. She had 26,117 days of life. The last 1,460 of them (4 years) were not pleasant. The next day she’ll enjoy…will be awesome. The next thing she will know, with be seeing Jesus as she rises from her grave…to everlasting vigor and vitality.
Sandra has entered the temporary sleep of death. Soon, Jesus will come and call her forth to everlasting life in heaven and on the earth made new. It is the reality of the truth of the resurrection of the dead that gives hope and comfort to us today.
Our lives have been enriched because we have loved and have been loved by her. She has been a Daughter, Sister, Wife, Mother, Grandma, Aunt, and Friend! She enriched the lives of so many people and she will be truly missed. We place our hope in the resurrection and the reunion that awaits us all in heaven. May God bless us with His comfort and His peace this hour.

Lovingly prepared by Ron Sindorf, along with Pastor O. Kris Widmer

Thursday, December 06, 2007

Sandra Sindorf

Sandra Jane (Lott, Rogers) Sindorf passed away on December 5, 2007 in Redding, California. She was born on June 3, 1936 in Susanville, CA.
Arrangements are with Allan and Dahl, Palo Cedro.

Graveside Service and Burial has been set for Friday, December 7, 2007 2:00 p.m. at the Millville Cemetery.

Memorial Service as been set for Saturday, December 15 at 3:00 p.m. at the Redding Seventh-day Adventist Church, 2828 Eureka Way in Redding, California.

Her life sketch will be posted here when it is written in it's final form. Her relatives and friends can then access it via searches on Google, etc. This will be instead of being published in the local paper, which now charges $150-300 for printed obituaries.

Sunday, November 25, 2007

Polar Owl


Isn't God good to make beautiful creatures for us to enjoy.
I love all the things that live in the cold climates of this earth. That includes the beautiful Polar Owl..

Thanksgiving Weekend

I hope you had a nice thanksgiving weekend. It was nice to have Tim home this week and a change of pace from the normal school routine.

Sabbath was a blessing. I was up at Shasta Lake for the whole day. It was a special treat to enjoy Sabbath School and Church there. Don Talkington and I played our guitars and it was fun. After church we had a nice potluck, and then Debbie and I headed up to Weaverville.

We needed to be there for the 4:30 p.m. memorial service for Cheri Robertson. She was a dear friend to our family and former parishioner of our Lewiston church. There were over 100 people at the memorial service, and I was asked to read my poem "All Things New" again. There was lots of food at the after meal.

I hope you have a good week, as we look forward to Christmas.

Monday, November 19, 2007

Obituary for Cheri Robertson

One of our dear friends from our pastorate in Hayfork/Lewiston days has passed away in Redding.

Cheryl Lynn Danforth Robertson was born on August 29, 1944 in Spokane, Washington. She passed to her rest on November 18, 2007 in Redding, California after a brief illness.
She lived for the last 7 years in Weaverville, and prior to that for 33 years in Trinity Center. She took a year of college, but had a long and fulfilling career as a home maker, wife, mother and grandmother. She also was “mom” to many kids that adopted her as their own.
She loved to garden, paint, scrap-book, sew, embroider…and most of all cook.
She was married to Jim Robertson in the Chapel of the Roses in Pasadena, CA September 12, 1965. They have shared the past 42 years together, enjoying all that life has to offer.
Cheri is survived by her husband, Jim Robertson of Weaverville, CA; daughters Leanne Robertson of Clinton, OK and Amy Robertson of Weaverville, CA and by her only grandchild Samaiya Robertson (8 mos) of Weaverville, CA. She is also survived by her parents, Chet and Leona Danforth of Eagle Point, OR and by two brothers; Mike Danforth and his wife Kathy of Hoodsport, WA and John Danforth and his wife Araceli of Buena Park, CA.
She was a lifelong member of the Seventh Day Adventist Church.
Services are under the arrangement of Allen and Dahl, Redding and will be conducted on Saturday, November 24 at the Weaverville-Trinity Lakes Seventh Day Adventist Church, 1771-A Main St. Dress informally and colorfully!

Elmer A. Widmer Obituary

This appeared in a publication of Loma Linda University
Thought I'd repost it here.

O. Kris Widmer
Elmer's Son

Former public health department chair dies after short illness

Former chair of the department of environmental and tropical health, and associate dean for the School of Public Health Elmer A. Widmer, PhD, died earlier this year.

Dr. Widmer was born near Dodge, North Dakota, on April 17, 1925, and died on February 20, 2007, in Lakeport, California.

Dr. Widmer earned his doctorate in zoology from the University of Colorado, Boulder, in 1965, and a master of public health in parasitology and laboratory practice from the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, in 1974.

He was the fifth child born to his parents, who were German-Russian immigrants to the United States. His father’s family arrived in New York in 1901.

Dr. Widmer graduated from Union College, Lincoln, Nebraska, in 1951, and took a job teaching public school in nearby DeWitt.

He married his wife of 54 years, Eunice Mae Olson, in December 25, 1952.

Dr. Widmer is survived by his wife, Eunice; his children, daughter Andrea Barker of Turlock, California, and son, Kris Widmer, of Redding, California; five grandchildren, many nieces, nephews, and cousins, and many colleagues and friends.

Gratitude List 2007

A tradition in our home is to list 100 things we are thankful for. Here is my own list so far. I'll do another list with my wife in the next day or so.

100 Blessings: 2007

1. The hope of the resurrection of the dead.
2. The life of my father.
3. The 80+ letters my father wrote me over the last 8 years.
4. Reconnecting with long lost family.
5. Church volunteers who serve meals after a funeral.
6. Smiles
7. The Bible in my own language.
8. The Bible in my modern language.
9. The Reality of God
10. Cell Phones
11. USB Memory Chips
12. Power Point
13. Colored Markers
14. Music that touches my heart.
15. Online Shopping for anything: This time, funeral flowers.
16. Interstate Highway System
17. United States of America
18. The United States Flag
19. Firefighters
20. Digital Photography
21. Prayer
22. God’s Grace and Forgiveness
23. Starting Over
24. The Telephone
25. Email
26. Remote Controls
27. Computer Concordances
28. Backhoe Operators
29. Cement Contractors
30. People who can fix lawnmowers.
31. Sod Farms
32. PVC Pipe
33. The satisfaction of a job well done.
34. The body’s ability to heal.
35. Lawn fertilizer.
36. Smiles
37. Thank You Notes
38. Flowers
39. Tooth Paste
40. Dental Floss
41. People smarter than I am.
42. Exercise Equipment
43. Poetry
44. Electric Lights
45. Scissors
46. Glue
47. Sheet Protectors
48. Refrigerator Magnets
49. The Three Hole Punch
50. People who live and participate in church with a grace orientation.
51. Old Family Recipes
52. New Recipes
53. Mail Service
54. Pencil Sharpeners
55. Tissues
56. Flashlights
57. Bible Prophecy
58. The safe return of my daughter from Ecuador.
59. Moments of Inspiration
60. The Wedding Vow
61. Laughter
62. Family History Stories
63. Green Bean Casserole
64. Free, Wireless Internet
65. Church Family
66. Pain Pills
67. A Warm Bath
68. Sunshine
69. Rain
70. Old Records
71. Leaf Rakes
72. Square Point Shovels
73. Picking out something you need, and finding it is on sale at the checkout.
74. Chewing Gum
75. Doodles
76. Soap
77. The Sabbath
78. Word Processing
79. Philanthropists
80. The ability to be generous.
81. Seltzer Water
82. Calendars
83. Morticians
84. John 3:16, 17
85. Indoor Plumbing
86. Anesthesia
87. Home Cooking
88. Home Town Buffet
89. Being Alive
90. Central Heating
91. Pictures of Bible Stories
92. Salted Sunflower Seeds
93. Cool Shade
94. Cold Water
95. Warm Blankets
96. Hot Chocolate
97. Pathfinders
98. Having most of my “marbles.”
99. Printed Bible Studies
100. Love

In Memoriam

It's been kind of a brutal year emotionally, and I've lost many people dear to me.

I will type a list of the people that I have known that have died this year.
Ryan Simpson
Garrette Jones
Elsie Coleman
Elmer Widmer - my father
Ben Straub
Randy Penland
Dyann Buonocore
Mark Blue
Mariposa West
Shirley Latal
Beverly Saylor - mother of a dear friend
Neville Gordon
Tabitha Petrescu
Sheila Delaney - mother of a dear friend
Wave Griffiths
Jeannie Naylor
Tom Adams
Earl McLaughlin
Harry Young - My Uncle
Fred Waltman's Brother
Tiffany Taylor's Uncle
Lynn Mallery
Harley Clendenon
Cheri Robertson

No wonder I weep at times!

Sunday, November 18, 2007

All Things New

Here is a poem I wrote some time ago. I read it for a memorial service for Mr. Harley Clendenon on Sabbath, November 17 at the Palo Cedro Seventh-day Adventist Church. Several persons asked for a copy after the service, so I thought I'd post the text on my blog. I hope it will bless you. Feel free to share it with others.


All Things New
Elder O. Kris Widmer

First Printing 5/22/2005, Updated and Printed 11/17/2007


Reflecting on the present suffering of Mrs. Doris Tonn.
Two operations for ocular tumors have taken her eyeballs, and therefore her vision.
In love and care for Mrs. Tonn, and the many others who are waiting for…all things new.
Mrs. Tonn died in 2006

Read publicly at the funeral of Mrs. Phyllis Sample in 2005
and Mr. Harley Clendenon in November 2007



When Jesus comes in glory
There’s something grand He’ll do.
He’ll fix all of our problems,
As He’s making all things new.

New mountain and new river
New creature and new tree.
But I’m really looking forward
To some brand-new parts for me.

And brand-new parts for you!
You’re prob’ly missing some.
And even if you’ve got them all,
They’re prob’ly out of plumb!

“Old age is not for sissies.”
There’s times it is no fun.
We’re usually greatly altered
When a surgeon’s scalpel’s done.

Our final office visit
Is planned for outer space.
The Good and Great Physician
Has agreed to take your case!

He is a wonder worker
In every specialty,
With a friendly “grave-side” manner,
And His services are…free.

Some people need a hand or foot,
Perhaps a leg or arm.
It could be from Thalidomide,
Or injuries on the farm.

Perhaps it was an illness
Or perhaps it was the war.
So many people cope with less
That what they had before.

Perhaps you need new fingers
So your reach is full extension.
Perhaps you need new features
That I should not here now mention.

Perhaps you need new eye-balls
So again you’ll have your sight.
God plans to give you new ones
That will sparkle with delight.

Perhaps you need new kidneys
The two you had, went bad.
(I speak of several friends I’ve known,
And also my dear Dad!)

God will fix the big things.
And the smaller things as well.
Perhaps you need new ear-drums
Or your parts that taste and smell.

Up there, they won’t be broken
Your nose will work just fine.
And your nerves will send new signals
Down your perfect, brand-new spine.

Perhaps you need a Pancreas,
Or perhaps a healthy Lung.
God will give you what you need,
They’ll stay…forever young.

Perhaps your problem’s mental.
You’ve Alzheimer’s in your brain.
Well, at the second coming
You’ll be perfect, right-as-rain!

Here’s a message to the youth,
“You too will get your scars.”
Perhaps you’ll slip a disk or two,
Need a rod in your lumbars.

We all are getting older,
However long we live.
And it really is desirable
To the “death” alternative.

But that don’t make it easy.
Some days it is the pits.
When Sciatic nerves are burning,
And your fake knee gives you fits.

Remember that this body
Will not take you to God’s bliss.
And any part of you gone bad,
Is nothing that you’ll miss.


For in the resurrection,
On that glad and happy day,
The God of Restoration
Will come, and have His way.

He’ll smooth out all your wrinkles
And He’ll give you back what’s gone.
And then they’ll light the candles
And He’ll shout “The Party’s ON!”

“Come here, my precious children,
Leave your problems in the dust.
I know this will be different
But you’ll like it, you’ll adjust.”

We’ll gather round God’s throne,
The broken ones transformed.
The blind shall start sight-seeing.
The cold folk, finally warmed.

The deaf shall hear the overture
To “Moses and the Lamb.”
As amputees clap rhythm,
Stompin’ feet.! Wow! What a jam!

The dumb shall start to speechify.
The lame will take a stroll.
Then, all the “partial people,”
Will at last, be finally…whole.

When Jesus comes in glory
There’s something grand He’ll do.
He’ll fix all of our problems,
As He’s making all things new.

Wednesday, October 24, 2007

Update

Thought I'd log on and say Hi.
I thought I'd use this more that I do...but well anyway.
I'll try better and publicize the blog better too.

Eunice Widmer: The Umbrella

  Eunice Mae Olson Widmer is dead. Long live (the memory) of Eunice M. Widmer   My mother, Eunice Mae Olson Widmer, has come back as an umbr...