May2018

Vol. 121, No. 7

INSIDE What campers can expect on the first day ➤ Pg. 3

Agents earn bonuses for first quarter sales ➤ Pg. 5

Schools of dance schedule spring recitals

May 2018

Special Section Inside!

2017

Impacting Lives:

A Report to Members

➤ Pg. 10

hermannsonslife.org

Sarah Brendel

Lindee Fiedler

Alexandra Theriot

Camp awards three $1,000 scholarships COMFORT – The recipients of this year’s Camp-Shannon Leigh Gaffney Scholarships have been chosen.

They are Sarah Brendel from Jourdanton Lodge, Lindee Fiedler from Comfort Lodge and Alexandra Theriot from RosenbergRichmond Lodge.

Each scholarship is worth $1,000. High school graduating seniors submitted applications, reference letters, their scholastic records and essays about how being a Hermann Sons Life camper helped to shape the

people they are today.

Sarah Brendel, daughter of Amanda Kinsel and Robert Brendel, is graduating from Pleasanton High School. She plans to study business administration at Texas A&M University-College Station.

Sarah has served as a class officer and been involved in cheerleading, Business Professionals of America, FFA and golf. Sarah also helps prepare Thanksgiving meals for members of her community who cannot afford it.

She was a counselor-in-training and junior

counselor at Camp.

In her essay, Sarah shared: One of the most important aspects of Hermann Sons Life Camp is the unique environment it sets. There are not many places in the world where children are allowed to express themselves and not be afraid to be left out.

Being a Hermann Sons Life camper taught me to never be afraid to be myself and be open to other people. The counselors at Camp were acSee CAMP, Pg. 2

Page 2 – Hermann Sons Life – May 2018

President’s Message

HERMANN SONS LIFE

Sharing our impact

USPS 242200 Periodicals Postage Paid at San Antonio, Texas Published Monthly by HERMANN SONS LIFE 515 S. St. Mary’s St. San Antonio, Texas 78205 POSTMASTER: Send address changes to: Hermann Sons Life, P.O. Box 1941 San Antonio, TX 78297-1941 DIRECTORS Sandra Jones, Chair Mike Beam Suzanne Hildebrand David Noak Stan Steiger David Wolf OFFICERS President and CEO Allan W. “Buddy” Preuss Vice President of Operations and COO Samantha Schulmeier Vice President of Finance and CFO Harry Werland Vice President of Marketing Timothy P. Kolbe Vice President of Member Benefits Kimberly A. Krueger Vice President of Information Technology Matt Walker LAWS COMMITTEE

Norma Bruns Tommy Daum Agnes Dreibrodt Lillian Franckowiak Debbie Gold Charles Knibbe David Lewis Jeanette Preuss

Robert Prewitt Tim Salge Steven Schellenberg Marlin Tanneberger Ronald Wiatrek Janet Zabransky Gerald Ziemnicki

MEMBER BENEFITS COMMITTEE

Bradford Boehme Frank Brandon Shirley Faske Tammy Kelley

Bradley Klein Ed Kurtz Laura Thigpen

COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT COMMITTEE

Elizabeth Byron Tammy Haecker Marsha Kocurek Sayra Martinka

Sherry Rakowitz Lisa Rozacky Irene Schwertner

BUSINESS OPERATIONS COMMITTEE

Brad Dietrich Robert Herridge Tammy Jones Edward J. Muehlbrad

Doug Saathoff Laura Tiffin Lori Todd

We Strengthen Community! It is not only what we do; it is, more importantly, who we are and why we exist. Each day, lives are impacted by our members and our programs.

The Impacting Lives: A Report to Members included in this issue of Hermann Sons Life highlights our impact in three areas – com- numbers are used to illusmunity service, the value trate our impact in these of life insurance and mem- areas.

This impact is possible ber benefits. Stories and

because of your membership. So I thank you for your membership and all that it makes possible for others.

I am so proud of who we are and how we impact lives. I hope you share in my pride and use this report to convey the story of Hermann Sons Life and how we impact lives. The report can be pulled out of this newspaper and given to someone you think

would like to have “protection you can be proud of.”

You can also find and share the digital version online at hermannsonslife.org/impact and read articles and watch videos that tell even more about our impact.

We’re different because we make a difference and that difference shines brightest through our impact.

– Buddy Preuss President and CEO

Camp presents scholarships to former campers Cont’d. from Pg. 1 cepting of everyone and made sure they felt included and pushed for a positive atmosphere around Camp. Being in this environment taught me to be willing to open up to other people and realize that people have many similarities that you may not realize. Being a CIT and counselor also showed me how devoted Hermann Sons Life Camp is to involving each camper and making sure they had the best week possible.

The relationships and friendships I gained from Hermann Sons Life Camp also have been a big aspect of my life. During the eight summers that I spent at Camp, I have met several people I still keep in touch with. One of the things that my friends and I always say is, “Camp friends are the best friends.” This is very true.

The amount of time spent and memories made together during Camp are unmatchable.

Lindee Fiedler, daughter of Carrie and Kyle Fiedler, is a senior at Boerne High School. She will be attending the University of Texas-San Antonio. She plans to study actuarial science.

Throughout high school Lindee has been active in the school orchestra, National Hon-

or Society, served as a math tutor and was involved in Mu Alpha Theta, a math honor society. As a junior she was named a National Merit Commended Scholar. She also is a member of the Youth Orchestra of San Antonio and the Hill Country Youth Orchestra. Through her church, St. Helena’s Episcopal Church, Lindee volunteers with the vacation Bible school program and with the youth group.

Lindee participated in the counselor-in-training program, worked as a junior counselor in 2017 and will serve as a counselor this summer.

In part of her essay, Lindee reflected on her time at Camp and the valuable lessons she has learned as a camper and counselor: When I arrived in 2009 with my trunk overflowing with excitement, I noticed a difference between Camp and the outside world immediately. As I talked to counselors, each responded as if I was her best friend. As I talked to other campers I usually found two categories of girls: those who shared my enthusiasm for a week away from our parents and became my instant friends, and those who were timid and wanted nothing more than to have Mommy come and pick them up.

I found that between the fun activities and kind counselors, the former and the latter alike became my best of friends.

This positive environment is what drew me back each summer bouncing with anticipation, until it was finally time to become a CIT. As a junior counselor, I connected the dots on the puzzle I had been trying to work out since my first year as a camper: people often create for themselves an environment in which they do not care what others feel. School has an underlying aura of negativity that I never realized was present until my first summer at Hermann Sons Life Camp, when I witnessed an environment with pessimism wiped clean. Camp taught me that joy is contagious, and that

all it takes to spread happiness is to raise my expectations. If I expect myself to stay positive, I know I will succeed with a little perseverance and help from my peers.

When my friends complain about our overbearing homework load or a strict teacher, I try to look on the bright side and explain to them that we can have a good time all the time, no matter the situation. You also must raise your expectations of your friends. I have found that those friends who always see the glass half empty can be turned around if I set the example for how life can be lived to the fullest. All it takes is to promise See SCHOLARSHIP, Pg. 4

Coming in the June issue • Photos from the Agents’ Awards Banquet • Recipients of the Retirement Home Scholarships • Photos from Join Hands Day projects • Photos from the Camp Golf Tournament • Photos from the Comfort Lodge golf tournament benefitting the Camp Grief Support Session

Here’s what to expect your first day at Hermann Sons Life Camp

By KATIE MILLER Executive Camp Director Nervous about Camp? Don’t be!

Whether it is your child’s first time to ever attend Camp or their first time to be at Hermann Sons Life Camp, it is normal to be nervous or unsure about what to expect. Hopefully this article will help to ease some of those first time fears and help prepare them for a great time at Camp.

At Camp you can expect…

Lots of excitement. Picture lots of cheering, smiling and warm smiles to greet you as you arrive at Camp. We are as excited (likely more so) as you are. We just show it by going crazy (in a good way) when we see you! You will also be able to feel the excitement from the campers who couldn’t wait to

come back to spend another summer at Camp.

To learn lots of crazy names.

One of the most fun traditions at Hermann Sons Life Camp is our Camp names. They’re weird, funny and seemingly out of the blue. Don’t be afraid to ask counselors how they got their name. It’s an awesome way to get to know people, plus it’s funny. Get ready to meet people like Knee Slapper, Tricky, Papa Bear and Eloc.

To hear lots of loud cheers and silly songs. We love to show our team pride and sing our cabin songs and chants.

We also love to sing before we go into the dining hall, during snack breaks, and really just whenever we get a chance. The best part is that several of the songs are repeat-after-me ones so you will be able to catch on

quickly.

To experience something new. It could be a new activity, meeting a new friend or making decisions on your own for the first time. Camp is a great place to experience something new because it is an environment that allows campers to try something new in a comfortable setting. We also embrace mistakes and look at them as an opportunity to learn.

To make lifelong friends.

Camp is a fun, exciting place where people come together.

It doesn’t take long (2.5 seconds to be exact) to meet new friends. Our activities create team bonding and you also have the opportunity to learn something new, too. All together, campers grow as individuals as they grow closer together.

May 2018 – Hermann Sons Life – Page 3

Annual Family Fun Day at Schlitterbahn June 16 NEW BRAUNFELS – Hermann Sons Life Family Fun Day at Schlitterbahn Waterpark in New Braunfels is set for Saturday, June 16.

Any Hermann Sons Life member is welcome to attend. The Shining Stars will receive a free ticket to the park that day along with a cup that is refillable free of charge all day. All other members will pay a discounted price. Refillable cups also are available for purchase at a discounted price of $8.50 each.

Each ticket includes a free breakfast served from 9:3011 a.m. and access to all of the park amenities for the entire day. A picnic area in Schlitterbahn East (Surfenburg) will be reserved for

Hermann Sons Life all day.

Adults and children ages 12 and up will pay $49.

Children ages 3-11 will pay $44. Children age 2 and under will be admitted free of charge.

Tickets must be purchased in advance. There are two ways to buy tickets. They can be purchased online at hermannsonslife.org/ store or by phone at 210226-9261 or 800-234-4124 from 8 a.m.-4 p.m. Monday through Friday.

The deadline to order tickets is June 8. Tickets will be picked up at Schlitterbahn on the day of the event.

Remember that coolers are welcome at Schlitterbahn as long as there is no alcohol or glass.

Events MAY JUNE 3 – Mission-Alamo Lodge, Lone Oak Lodge and 2 – The Countrymen will play for a public dance

the Young Marines are hosting a fund-raiser to benefit Kris Workman, one of the victims of the shooting at the First Baptist Church in Sutherland Springs. The Hamburger Dinner Fund-raiser will be held from 4-7 p.m. at the San Antonio Home Association Building, 525 S. St. Mary’s St., San Antonio. Tickets are $7 each. For more information, contact Laura Adams at 210-226-9261, ext. 238, or Cecily Kelly at 210-226-9261, ext. 257. Kris is a member of Mission-Alamo Lodge.

7 – The Countrymen will play for a public dance at Braun Hall, 9721 Braun Rd. There is a $10 cover charge. Call 210-688-9241 for more information.

11 – Pershing Lodge is sponsoring a trip to the Lucky Eagle Kickapoo Casino in Eagle Pass. Cost is $15 for Pershing Lodge members and $20 for all guests. Call Terri Armstrong at 210-378-0319 for more information.

21 – Borderline will play for a public dance at Braun Hall, 9721 Braun Rd. There is a $10 cover charge. Call the hall at 210-688-9241 for more information.

at Braun Hall, 9721 Braun Rd. There is a $10 cover charge. Call the hall at 210-688-9241 for more information.

16 – Hermann Sons Life Camp will host its annual Open House from 9 a.m.-2:30 p.m. at both the Riverside and Hilltop sites. First-time campers and future campers and their families are especially invited to attend so they can tour the facilities, check out some of the activities, take a dip in the pool and meet the staff. Lunch will be served.

16 – Borderline will play for a public dance at Braun Hall, 9721 Braun Rd. There is a $10 cover charge. Call the hall at 210-688-9241 for more information.

JULY 1 – The deadline to register for the annual State-

wide Bowling Tournament. The tournament will be held July 28-29 and Aug. 4-5 at Dart Bowl in Austin. Call Sandra Jones at 817-781-7155 for more information. An entry form will be included in the June issue of Hermann Sons Life.

If you would like to see your lodge’s event listed here and in the Events section of the Hermann Sons Life website, call Kathie Ninneman, 210-226-9261, ext. 273, or 1-800-234-4124, ext. 273, or email kathien@hermannsonslife.org.

Editor/Communications Director Kathie Ninneman 210-226-9261, ext. 273 email: kathien@hermannsonslife.org Assistant Editor/Assistant Communications Director Elaine Soto 210-226-9261, ext. 279 email: elaines@hermannsonslife.org Fax: 1-888-443-3377 or 210-892-0252 Website: www.hermannsonslife.org All news articles and photographs should be mailed to: Editor, Hermann Sons Life, P.O. Box 1941, San Antonio, TX 78297-1941 or emailed to: kathien@hermannsonslife.org Deadline for each monthly issue is the 10th of the month of publication.

The Hermann Sons Life newspaper is an official publication of Hermann Sons Life. The management and editorial policy of the newspaper shall be in the hands of the President and CEO, and the President and CEO shall have the authority to appoint a member or members of Hermann Sons Life as editor and/or business manager thereof (Art. 38, Grand Lodge Laws).

Page 4 – Hermann Sons Life – May 2018

Scholarship recipients write about Camp experiences Cont’d. from Pg. 2 that we will encourage and remind each other to maintain our level of positivity, and we will cease to see the world without green grass and blue skies.

Alexandra Theriot, daughter of Grace and Marcel Theriot, lives in San Antonio where she attended Tom C . Clark High School . She plans to attend Texas A&M University-College Station where she will study finance . Alexandra would then like to attend law school . Alexandra was on the varsity soccer team and served as a Clark Student Ambassador .

She is a member of the Fellowship of Christian Athletes and National Honor Society . She also volunteers with Mobile Loaves and Fishes and vacation Bible school and was part of the Assisting Better Living Everywhere (ABLE) mission trip . She was also named the South Texas Youth Female Referee of the Year in 2017 for soccer .

Alexandra also participated in the counselor-in-training program, worked as a junior counselor and will return as a counselor this summer .

In her essay, Alexandra reflected on the impact Hermann Sons

Life Camp has had on her over the years, If the mattresses at Camp could talk, I wonder what they would say about the girls that have slept on them week after week and year after year. The bunk beds in Mosquito could entertain for hours about the nervous and excited squeals from first year campers.

The Hawk bunks could reveal the giggly conversations about what campers will wear to the dance.

My first Camp mattress could tell a completely different story than the bed I slept on as a fifth-year in Hawk, but all of my bunks together would fuse a story of a girl

who grew from her time in their care. Being a Hermann Sons Life camper fostered a confident leader, the courage to try new things, and ability to adapt to changing surroundings.

Camp has a way of uniting people who otherwise may have never known each other and inspiring campers and staff members to feel at home. The place my mother loved is now the place I love and hopefully the place my children will love, too. My time as a Hermann Sons Life camper molded an open-minded, adjustable leader set for infinity and beyond.

The scholarship is named in memory of Shannon Leigh Gaffney, a former “best camper” and counselor . She passed away in 1998 at the age of 21 from leukemia . She is remembered for her vibrant personality and the impact she made on children and other staff members .

The next fundraiser for the Scholarship Fund is a Bowl-aThon set for 3 p .m . Saturday, July 28, at Oak Hills Lanes in San Antonio . For more information about the Bowl-a-Thon and the Camp-Shannon Leigh Gaffney Scholarship Fund, visit hermannsonslife.org.

Inside Lodge Reports Anton Wenzel . . . . . . . . . . . .11 Bandera County . . . . . . . . . .22 Bernardo . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .12 Bexar . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .24 Boerne . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .25 Brenham . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .21 Cameron . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .24 Cibolo . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .28 Columbia . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .23 Columbus . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .26 Comfort . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .29 Corpus Christi . . . . . . . . . . . .26 Cuero . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .12 DaCosta . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .28 Dallas . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .11 Deanville . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .30 Fort Worth . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .25 Fredericksburg . . . . . . . . . . .30 Gay Hill . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .29 Giddings . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .21 Gulf . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .11 Helotes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .30 Hochheim-Prairie . . . . . . . . .21 Houston . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .27

Kerrville . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .22 Kirby . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .26 Kypfer-Salge . . . . . . . . . . . . .30 La Vernia . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .12 Lockhart . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .30 Louise Schuetze . . . . . . . . . .27 Maxwell . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .24 McGregor . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .25 Montgomery County . . . . .21 New Bielau . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .28 Paige . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .21 Pershing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .23 Plum . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .25 Prinz Solms . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .27 Rosenberg-Richmond . . . .23 Rutersville . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .24 San Marcos . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .10 Schulenburg . . . . . . . . . . . . .29 Schwertner . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .28 Shelby . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .24 Siemering . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .29 Spring Branch . . . . . . . . . . . .22 Vineta . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .22

Monthly Features 2 3 6 7 8 9

President’s Message Calendar of Events Donations Pioneer Members In Memoriam of Our Deceased Members Retirement Home News

1-2 & 4 3 Special Section

Camp awards three scholarships Family Fun Day set for Schlitterbahn

5 5 5 5 6 31

Camp is an important part of membership SAFE Plan features outlined Top producers of first quarter recognized 100% Family welcomed Recommenders listed Listing of agents

3 10 10 32

What to expect on the first day of Camp Dance recital schedule Answers to puzzle on Pg . 32 Shining Stars

New This Month

“Impacting Lives: A Report to Members”

Marketing News

Youth in Action

Marketing

May 2018 – Hermann Sons Life – Page 5

Camp is an important part of membership

By TIM KOLBE Vice President of Marketing With the end of the school year fast approaching, many children are excitedly looking forward to summer vacation. For the parents of those children, the excitement is about what to do to keep them busy this summer.

Most parents work, so staying home with them is not an option, and we can’t all take a twoand-a-half month vacation. So what’s a parent to do? Hermann Sons Life Camp has the answer.

Nestled in the beautiful Texas Hill Country community of Comfort are the two sites of Hermann Sons Life Camp, one each for girls and boys ages 9-13. Our summer camp has provided an awesome experience for Her-

mann Sons Life members since 1954.

Parents can expect a safe, fun environment for their children in the week-long session, with a well-trained and vetted counseling staff whose mission is to provide an unforgettable, funfilled experience for our campers.

Many life-long friendships have been kindled when campers meet and enjoy the camaraderie that our team-building and carefree activities provide.

Many Texans have fond memories of summer camp at Hermann Sons Life.

Parents and grandparents who purchase a whole life product for these lucky campers are serving an important role in

these children’s lives. Although it can be said that the initial reason for purchasing life insurance may be to send a child to Camp, or to be eligible for the dance program, the primary reason should be the future financial protection of that child as they grow up and leave the nest to start life as an adult.

For many parents our “kids,” whether they be 18 or 60 years old, are still our kids. We want to provide our best for them so they can be successful in life. Buying a cash value whole life insurance plan is one head start item you can provide.

Bought when a child is young and healthy, whole life provides a solid plan that earns a good rate for policy cash growth. That

Hermann Sons Life welcomes a 100% Family 100% Family Burow Family Darel Deborah

City Comfort

Lodge Comfort

Agent Norma Bruns

Hermann Sons Life Senior Adult Final Expense Plan (SAFE) • Policy amounts range from $5,000 to $50,000 • Modified underwriting can accommodate some medical conditions (but this is not a guarantee issue plan) • The plan grows 2.5% annually on the face value (For example, a $10,000 plan grows by $250 each year the certificate is in force)

• Death benefits are paid tax-free to beneficiaries (Convert those bank CDs to a tax-free payout life insurance plan)

• Single premium. Pay once and you’re done.

(Except for annual lodge membership dues)

Other plans are available that may suit your needs.

Contact your agent or the Home Office at 877-437-6266 or 210-527-9113 www.hermannsonslife.org

cash growth is what keeps premiums low throughout the life of the policy and for the insured.

Our whole life plans offer level premiums that never increase.

We offer single premium whole life plans, which are the most effective way to provide life-long protection with only one up-front premium payment. The cash values grow quicker because the single premium starts earning interest right away. If budgets do not allow for a single premium, we offer similar products with premiums scheduled annually, semi-annually, quarterly or by monthly bank draft. A 20-year pay whole life plan is available, which guarantees premiums will be paid for only 20 years. Af-

ter 20 years, no more premiums are due, and the insured has the protection for the rest of his or her life. These plans are available for both children and adults.

Parents should also consider life insurance for themselves. We offer whole and term life plans to fit just about every need and budget. At Hermann Sons Life, we value our 100% Families. Our agents are available to visit and discuss our products to find the right product and coverage to fit your individual and family financial protection needs.

In the meantime, be sure to visit us at hemannsonslife.org, and use our product and needs analysis tools. You’ll be glad you did. Then give us a call. We’re here to help.

Green, Bruns lead the way in quarter SAN ANTONIO – The Marketing Department has announced the names of the top producing agents for the first quarter.

Agents must meet minimum requirements for number of applications written and amount of premium income generated to qualify for quarterly bonuses.

Special representative are not eligible for these bonuses.

In the applications written category, Kathryn Green of New Braunfels Lodge and Norma Bruns of Comfort Lodge finished in a tie in first place statewide with 13 applications.

Kathryn finished first in the state in the premium income generated category with $6,038.

Norma finished in second with $3,551.

Although these were the only two agents who qualified for bonuses, several other agents were successful during the quarter.

In the applications written category, special recognition goes to Special Representative Teresa Saathoff, 40; Special Representative Becki Carley, 17; and Carol Krauss from Pershing Lodge, 12.

In the premium income category, special recognition goes to Special Representative Eulla Krueger, $41,168; Special Representative Teresa Saathoff, $16,238; Jason Hybner from DaCosta Lodge, $11,526; Charles Croley from Maxwell Lodge, $9,722; Marilyn Vogt from Boerne Lodge, $8,938; and Linda Mattocks from Round Top Lodge, $8,929.

In the applications written category, honorable mention recognition goes to Shirley Faske from San Marcos Lodge, Special Representative Dan Boenig and Roxy Pruski from Mission-Alamo Lodge, 9; Special Representative Eulla Krueger, 7; and Special Representative Al Stryk, 6.

In the premium income category, honorable mention recognition goes to Glenford Boehme from Castroville Lodge, $5,228; Troylyn Sisneros-Gonzalez from Corpus Christi Lodge, $5,103; Carol Krauss, $2,651; Ruth Bailey from Vineta Lodge, $2,505; Bobbie Polasek from Gonzales Lodge, $2,240; and Russell Swize from Karnes City Lodge, $2,107.

Page 6 – Hermann Sons Life – May 2018

Doyle wins recommender gift card The Marketing Department is recognizing 61 recommenders for the month of March. That makes 115 members recommending 152 new members to Hermann Sons Life in 2018. The winner of the $100 gift card for March is Mary R. Doyle from Kerrville Lodge.

Recommender Agent Woodrow Bagnall IV, New Braunfels Lodge Shirley Huebinger Brayden Lee Bennett, La Vernia Lodge Marlin Tanneberger Sofia Bohnert, Columbia Lodge Sandra Jones Robert Brandon Brown, Kypfer-Salge Lodge Tim Salge Elizabeth Burkett, Fredericksburg Lodge (*) Kathryn Green Dusty Dawn Byrd, Round Rock Lodge Brad Klein Linda Dian Denker, Da Costa Lodge (*) Laura Thigpen Annorah Dingler, Live Oak County Lodge Charles Caron III Mary Doyle, Kerrville Lodge Norma Bruns Abby Farmakakis, Cibolo Lodge Glenford Boehme Cheryl Flink, Austin Lodge Dennis Henke Ricardo Flores, Giddings Lodge Loretta Chilek Jayden Pete Garcia, Schulenburg Lodge Mary K. Seifert Dean Gaspard, Poth Lodge Beth Cutsinger Richard Giblin VI, Prinz Solms Lodge Teresa Saathoff Katherine Sue Giblin, Prinz Solms Lodge Teresa Saathoff Terry Gross, Comfort Lodge (*) Norma Bruns Scott Guzman, Gulf Lodge Al Stryk Caden Zane Haecker, La Vernia Lodge (*) Kathryn Green Terry Ray Harder, Seguin Lodge Stephanie Brown August Haufler, Siemering Lodge (*) Dan Boenig Wendy Lynn Hawkins, Seguin Lodge Annette Roecker Jackie Lynn Hickman, Montgomery Lodge Gary Falkenberg Suzanne Hildebrand, Mission-Alamo Lodge Ruth Bailey Claire Luensmann Hilscher, Marion Lodge Marlin Tanneberger Valerie Hospers, Spring Branch Lodge Sandra Duncan Angela Jansky-Alexander, Poth Lodge Beth Cutsinger Allyson Claire Kovar, Giddings Lodge Loretta Chilek Zoey Marie Krenek, Schulenburg Lodge Mary K. Seifert Jessalynn Leemhuis, La Vernia Lodge Marlin Tanneberger Glenn Longley, San Marcos Lodge (*) Sandra Duncan Anneliese Martinez, Boerne Lodge (^) Marilyn Vogt Kristin Kay Mason, La Vernia Lodge Sharon Tanneberger Waylon Michael McBee, La Vernia Lodge Marlin Tanneberger Brooke McDonald, La Vernia Lodge (*) Judy Schulmeier Devyn Alysse McElroy, New Braunfels Lodge (*) Shirley Huebinger Madison Marie Migura, Kypfer-Salge Lodge Tim Salge Brock Thomas Myers, Mission-Alamo Lodge Kathryn Green Samuel Nicholson, Austin Lodge (*) Shirley Faske Grant Russell Oling, Harmonia Lodge (&) Teresa Saathoff Daniel Alfredo Perez, Giddings Lodge Loretta Chilek Grady James Pick, Cuero Family Lodge Laura Tiffin Hollstin Pierdolla, Mission-Alamo Lodge Roxy Pruski Keegan Pugh, La Coste Lodge Lorene Bielke Gladys Rowley, Louise Schuetze Lodge Julius Dubcak Shirley Ruedrich, Vineta Lodge (*) Kathryn Green Sarina Sanchez, Pershing Lodge (*) Carol Krauss Serenity Sanchez, Pershing Lodge Carol Krauss Craig Schraub, Pershing Lodge Carol Krauss Darin Scott Smith, Comfort Lodge Norma Bruns William Mason Stoeltje, Needville Lodge Chris Stoeltje Taylor Stryk, Gulf Lodge Al Stryk Frances Sultenfuss, Vineta Lodge Marilyn Vogt Macey Vasbinder, Lone Oak Lodge Roxy Pruski Elizabeth Ann Warne, Pershing Lodge (^) Carol Krauss Faith West, Goliad Lodge Laura Tiffin Chandra Wickham, Siemering Lodge Ruth Bailey Katie Lynn Wildman, Seguin Lodge Roxy Pruski Patrick Joseph Wolf, Wichita Falls Lodge David Wolf Connor Woller, Siemering Lodge Eulla Krueger Elaine Maria Zarazua, Mission-Alamo Lodge Roxy Pruski (*) Recommended 2 new members (^) Recommended 3 new members (&) Recommended 4 new members

Donations Donations to the Retirement Home in Memory of: MAULDINE L. SCHUBERT Donor: Cat Spring Lodge HOWARD EDWIN PRINZ JR. Donor: Coupland Lodge GEORGE W. SEXAUER Donor: Alan W. Cobb BETTY SUE HATTON Donor: DaCosta Lodge

VIVIAN P. BRYANT HAZEL RUTH DAWKINS VICKI DOERR FOWLER RITA MASSE HOOD MARGIE ANN SCHULTZE LOLA G. SMITH EVA ANITA SPRING DOROTHY ANN OEHLER TIETZ EDNA V. JACKSON PEGGY MILLER WANDA SIDES ERNA DEE HERRING Donor: Vineta Lodge

Donations to the Retirement Home Scholarship Fund in Memory of: BRENDA TREIBER Donors: Norma & Dusty Bruns ARTHUR H. MEYER JR. NORMA JEAN MOAK PEGGY WARDEN MILTON J. YOUNG Donor: La Vernia Lodge

ROMY ANN PREISS TALLEY Donors: Dianne Bolf Larned & Jack Larned ROY H. CRENWELGE Donor: New Braunfels Lodge

Donations to the Camp Scholarship Fund in Memory of: ROBERT COLDEWEY Donors: Robert & Shirley Lowrie

Donations to the Camp Grief Support Session: GULF LODGE

Donations to “Hugs from Home”: HONDO VICTORY LODGE MISSION-ALAMO LODGE WAYNE & JANILLA KILBORN BERNARDO LODGE

Donations to the Camp Grief Support Session and “Hugs from Home” can be sent to: Hermann Sons Life Home Office P.O. Box 1941 San Antonio, TX 78297-1941 Attn: Member Benefits Department

Memorial donations can be sent to: Hermann Sons Life Home Office P.O. Box 1941 San Antonio, TX 78297-1941 Attn: Memorial Donations

75 Years WILBERT G. VOLKMANN Harmonia Lodge

LORINE META SCHMIDT Prinz Solms Lodge ERNEST LEE BRUNS Yorktown Lodge

70 Years

W.W. BEUHLER JR. Anton Wenzel Lodge MARVIN A. BADE Cuero Family Lodge R.G. ALLEN JR. El Campo Lodge SUZANNE B. ELLIS Edelweiss-Magnolia Lodge

CHARLINE R. BEARDEN PATRICIA P. BOERNER MARGARET ANN CONDITT CAROLYN C. DOYLE BETTY JANE McCOY Fort Worth Lodge VERNELL J. DOHMANN JUNELLE E. LINCKE VERDA MAE STYRA Gruenau Lodge CHARLES EDWIN DYER WILLIAM HERMAN RICHARD Harmonia Lodge

CAROLYN S. RICHARDSON McGregor Lodge

RAE LEA WORRELL TERRY W. WUNDERLICH Shelby Lodge

JULIE A. SYZDEK RONALD JAMES SYZDEK Karnes City Lodge

CHARLES E. JONES K.K. KNIPPA JR. Siemering Lodge

MARISSA KAYE BRUTON Kirby Lodge

GORDON ALAN BAACKE BEVERLY C. HARRIS VIVIAN F. SMITH Goliad Lodge

ARCHER C. PUNDT PAUL TRAEGER JR. Poth Lodge

FRANK S. KELLEY JR. Gonzales Lodge

VIVIAN E. MILLER Vineta Lodge

MICHAEL RAY CUSHMAN EDWARD E. RODRIGUEZ CLIFFOR E. THOMPSON JR. CHARLES ANTHONY WINDLINGER Harmonia Lodge

JOHN D. HENNIG Womack Lodge

JANET ARLEEN CHALUPA Rosenberg-Richmond Lodge ESTHER JANE QUINE Shiner Lodge AGNES E. BEHRENS Vineta Lodge JANIE R. ELKIN Womack Lodge

60 Years

RONALD M. GAVLICK RICHARD N. WAHL Anton Wenzel Lodge MARY LOUISE UECKER Boerne Lodge MARK WAYNE FINKE Brenham Lodge PHYLLIS MUSKA Brunhilde Lodge W.C. BREITHAUPT WILLIAM REED DAVIS Cameron Lodge FRANK LYNN WILLIS Comfort Lodge CARL WESLEY BARON Deanville Lodge

BOBBY WAYNE BARTELS LEATRICE A. SAUR Kypfer-Salge Lodge

KIRBY LYNN JOHLE JERRY SUMRALL Edelweiss-Magnolia Lodge

BARBARA C. SAMSEL Louise Schuetze Lodge

RONALD K. LAECHELIN General Bee Lodge

JOAN SMITH Orange Grove Lodge

ELVERA R. SKOLAUT Helotes Lodge

MARILYN DONAHO MILLS La Vernia Lodge

May 2018 – Hermann Sons Life – Page 7

Pioneers

DONALD LEE FRITSCH Ellinger Lodge DONNA LOU ITZ IRIS A. MOLDENHAUER CHERI A. TOMLINSONSATTERFIELD Fredericksburg Lodge

CYNTHIA GAIL SCOTT Houston Lodge DIANE ELOISE SEAMAN Karnes City Lodge CHERYL L. BLOCH KATHLEEN MARIE HENRY KAREN L. JOHNSON DEBRA LYN WILLIAMS Louise Schuetze Lodge

MARILYN KAY MENN Yorktown Lodge

50 Years M.L. STANFIELD JR. Austin Lodge JACQUELINE J. CARTER ARTHUR R. HABY JR. GILBERT V. KEMPF Castroville Lodge PATRICIA OSULLIVAN GROSJEAN Cat Spring Lodge

KENNETH W. YOUNG Montgomery County Lodge

JUDITH ELAINE REEH Comfort Lodge

CONNIE B. GERTSON LINDA A. HENSKE SHIRLEY M. SEAHOLM New Bielau Lodge

MARK ALLEN DERKOWSKI CHRISTINE E. JOHNSON SHERRY ROSENE PIERCE CATHERINE M. ROSENE Edelweiss-Magnolia Lodge

ROBBIE ANN BORCHERS THOMAS MARVIN DAUM New Braunfels Lodge

ALAN LEON LINDNER PEGGY S. LINDNER Giddings Lodge

PATRICIA LEE LOGAN TIMOTHY W. OSTERLOH Nordheim Lodge

SHIRLEY CARLETON RANDLE E. KRIDLER JR. Gonzales Lodge

CECIL WILLIS JR. Pershing Lodge

EARL WAYNE BEYER KENNETH LLOYD BEYER SIDNEY RAY DOYAL GREGORY W. EHRLICH GEORGE OTIS GREENE EDWARD L. JONAS Harmonia Lodge

RHONDA BETH KOETHER Plum Lodge RONNIE LYNN HINZE ALAN KERMIT MEINEN VERNA F. MEINKOWSKY Round Top Lodge SUE ANN OWENS San Patricio County Lodge

G.F. STAUTZENBERGER Kypfer-Salge Lodge ELLEN C. LOESSBERG MILTON F. SALZMAN JR. La Coste Lodge LORI GAYLE SANDLER MARLA SUE SANDLER RHONDA GAY WILHELM Lockhart Lodge JOSEPHINE K. BARTLETT BILLIE JO DAVIS JUNE MARIE MECKE Louise Schuetze Lodge VICKIE LYNN CLARK New Braunfels Lodge DEBRA MILLER Niederwald Lodge MARVIN VICTOR JANECEK Nordheim Lodge CHERYL RAE FERGUSON DEBRA KAYE FERGUSON DOUGLAS M. FERGUSON Pershing Lodge GRANT LOUIS TEPLICEK Rowena Lodge JILL M. HARDCASTLE San Marcos Lodge MILTON J. HAAS III KENNETH E. WAGNER Schulenburg Lodge JAMES BRYAN NEW Seguin Lodge MARY LEE NAJVAR Shiner Lodge DAVID L. SENGELMANN Siemering Lodge

RAY ALLEN STELTER Hillboldt Lodge

ALVERNE B. HALLORAN Spring Branch Lodge

DOUGLAS ROBERT COYLE RALPH C. GILLIAM Hondo Lodge

TINA TUSSAY COOPER Vineta Lodge

HELEN E. BROWNING Hondo Victory Lodge

KENNY ALAN SULAK CYNTHIA ANN SUMNER Waco-Robinson Lodge

Page 8 – Hermann Sons Life – May 2018

In Memoriam of Our Deceased Members ROBERT C. HUEHLEFELD Hochheim-Prairie Lodge Died Jan. 31, 2016 • Age 44

PATRICK N. HULL Yorktown Lodge Died Dec. 17, 2017 • Age 86

MURRAY JEAN ELLEY Seguin Lodge Died Jan. 23, 2018 • Age 85

DEBBIE CLENDENNEN Seguin Lodge Died Feb. 6, 2018 • Age 61

PAULINE TRAYLOR Edelweiss-Magnolia Lodge Died Feb. 14, 2018 • Age 93

LOGAN M. GILL Edelweiss-Magnolia Lodge Died Feb. 23, 2017 • Age 65

KENNETH LELAND EVERS Harmonia Lodge Died Dec. 22, 2017 • Age 87

CLARENCE J. OVERGONER Rosenberg-Richmond Lodge Died Jan. 26, 2018 • Age 94

ALEX JACOBS JR. Pershing Lodge Died Feb. 7, 2018 • Age 82

ALFRED L. PANCOAST JR. Siemering Lodge Died Feb. 14, 2018 • Age 91

LYDIE CARRIE SUPAK Deanville Lodge Died June 28, 2017 • Age 88

WILLIE MAE MEYER Giddings Lodge Died Dec. 23, 2017 • Age 92

MARGIE LEA KELLNER Louise Schuetze Lodge Died Jan. 27, 2018 • Age 92

HAROLD C. WEYEL New Braunfels Lodge Died Feb. 7, 2018 • Age 84

ARTHUR H. MEYER JR. La Vernia Lodge Died Feb. 14, 2018 • Age 93

EARLENE J. WILLETT Rockport Lodge Died July 18, 2017 • Age 76

LYNETTE R. MUELLER Shelby Lodge Died Dec. 26, 2017 • Age 84

HAROLD JUNGMAN Prinz Solms Lodge Died Jan. 27, 2018 • Age 92

GERALD HERBST Comfort Lodge Died Feb. 7, 2018 • Age 90

KENNETH H. ENDERLIN Mission-Alamo Lodge Died Feb. 15, 2018 • Age 89

RONALD M. BACHOFER Harmonia Lodge Died July 31, 2017 • Age 60

GEORGE P. HAGENS Schulenburg Lodge Died Dec. 27, 2017 • Age 92

HATTIE MAE WEIRICH Edelweiss-Magnolia Lodge Died Jan. 28, 2018 • Age 94

OMER J. TSCHIRHART Castroville Lodge Died Feb. 8, 2018 • Age 92

JANET LEE HAUFLER Louise Schuetze Lodge Died Feb. 16, 2018 • Age 74

CALVIN H. DIERINGER Schulenburg Lodge Died Aug. 9, 2017 • Age 75

GLENDORA PARKER Haskell Lodge Died Jan. 3, 2018 • Age 91

LESTER LINDEMAN Cameron Lodge Died Jan. 29, 2018 • Age 85

WILLIAM ODELL STEIN Brenham Lodge Died Feb. 10, 2018 • Age 78

KLENNETH D. HASCHKE Gonzales Lodge Died Feb. 16, 2018 • Age 70

WILHELM F. BACKHAUS Cameron Lodge Died Aug. 11, 2017 • Age 100

WILLIAM M. SANDERS III Jourdanton Lodge Died Jan. 5, 2018 • Age 28

SUSIE L. PETERSON Pershing Lodge Died Jan. 30, 2018 • Age 90

JOHN PAUL ROHRBACH Castroville Lodge Died Feb. 10, 2018 • Age 67

RICHARD D. HOPPER Harmonia Lodge Died Feb. 17, 2018 • Age 45

DAN J. TABER Schulenburg Lodge Died Sept. 8, 2017 • Age 71

BETTY W. OMARA Edelweiss-Magnolia Lodge Died Jan. 11, 2018 • Age 86

MILTON J. YOUNG La Vernia Lodge Died Jan. 30, 2018 • Age 64

JAMES H. JONAS Harmonia Lodge Died Feb. 10, 2018 • Age 90

HARRIET ANN BAROSH Kirby Lodge Died Feb. 18, 2018 • Age 87

DESTINEE N. GARTMAN Giddings Lodge Died Nov. 2, 2017 • Age 23

JANICE CAROLYN NEW Twin Sisters Lodge Died Jan. 12, 2018 • Age 81

ANNIE H. POPPENHUSEN Edelweiss-Magnolia Lodge Died Jan. 30, 2018 • Age 93

EVA LOREA SCHAFFNER Hochheim-Prairie Lodge Died Feb. 10, 2018 • Age 93

HELEN W. HUNT Louise Schuetze Lodge Died Feb. 19, 2018 • Age 93

JOYCE J. HUNT San Patricio County Lodge Died Nov. 19, 2017 • Age 88

NETTIE A. MARKWARDT Shelby Lodge Died Jan. 14, 2018 • Age 97

MELVIN M. JOCHEC New Braunfels Lodge Died Feb. 2, 2018 • Age 91

NAOMI O. JACOBI Macdona Lodge Died Feb. 10, 2018 • Age 89

WALTON ROSENQUIST Siemering Lodge Died Feb. 20, 2018 • Age 82

WILLIAM B. VOLLENTINE Gonzales Lodge Died Nov. 23, 2017 • Age 62

JAMES C. TOM JR. Anton Wenzel Lodge Died Jan. 19, 2018 • Age 83

DOROTHY S. STAHL Louise Schuetze Lodge Died Feb. 2, 2018 • Age 79

WILLIAM P. FRISBIE Yorktown Lodge Died Feb. 12, 2018 • Age 77

GAETANO BUTERA Harmonia Lodge Died Feb. 20, 2018 • Age 96

ROBERT J. ZUBERBUELER Hondo Lodge Died Nov. 26, 2017 • Age 74

LLOYD A. ZUERCHER New Braunfels Lodge Died Jan. 20, 2018 • Age77

JANET R. MUERY Rowena Lodge Died Feb. 3, 2018 • Age 81

ELIZABETH BROUSSARD Boerne Lodge Died Feb. 12, 2018 • Age 80

HOWARD L. KOCHWELP Harmonia Lodge Died Feb. 21, 2018 • Age 92

VICTORIA SCHROEDER Edelweiss-Magnolia Lodge Died Dec. 4, 2017 • Age 96

CHARLENE TIEMANN Priddy Lodge Died Jan. 21, 2018 • Age 87

CARL J. BRONDER Anton Wenzel Lodge Died Feb. 3, 2018 • Age 68

KERMIT A. MUSKE Houston Lodge Died Feb. 12, 2018 • Age 93

PATRICIA LOU GHOLSON Old Glory Lodge Died Feb. 22, 2018 • Age 72

JEAN W. VORDENBAUM Siemering Lodge Died Dec. 9, 2017 • Age 84

ZONA MARIE WILKINSON Brunhilde Lodge Died Jan. 22, 2018 • Age 90

ELLA KRAMER Brenham Lodge Died Feb. 4, 2018 • Age 99

LA VERNE KLESEL Da Costa Lodge Died Feb. 13, 2018 • Age 77

IRENE E.C. HILDEBRAND Kypfer-Salge Lodge Died Feb. 23, 2018 • Age 81

LINNIE REE BROCK Fort Worth Lodge Died Dec. 11, 2017 • Age 97

MARVIN T. SCHMIDT Edelweiss-Magnolia Lodge Died Jan. 22, 2018 • Age 86

CATHERINE C. WILSON Edelweiss-Magnolia Lodge Died Feb. 5, 2018 • Age 95

REINHOLD J. URBAN Paige Lodge Died Feb. 13, 2018 • Age 72

MARY V. FRIESENHAHN Pershing Lodge Died Feb. 23, 2018 • Age 76

RANDALL RAY CRICK Kerrville Lodge Died Dec. 12, 2017 • Age 52

VERNELL P. SCHULTZ Seguin Lodge Died Jan. 23, 2018 • Age 90

MILTON E. CHALOUPKA Shelby Lodge Died Feb. 5, 2018 • Age 89

SANFORD SCHMID La Grange Lodge Died Feb. 13, 2018 • Age 98

The names of deceased members are listed on this page only after a death claim has been filed.

Retirement Home

May 2018 – Hermann Sons Life – Page 9

Home welcomes new residents, assistant manager COMFORT – Thanks go to to everyone who helped in any way to make our annual Chili Cook-off successful.

Recent guests at the Home were Debbie Kiolbassa, Schertz; Sissi Ormsby, St. Hedwig; Glenn Marvin and Debra Hundley, Dallas; Mark Goad, Columbia Lodge; from Yorktown Lodge, Jacob Todd, Chris and Melissa Hosinski, Scott and Surlyn Wolf and Jeffrey Anderson; Byron Baca from Gruenau Lodge; from Pershing Lodge, Kenneth and Emily Wallace and John and Betty Opiela; Bobbye Burow, Comfort; Glenn and Evelyn Hellums, Canyon Lake; Robert Boring; Beth Cruse from Spring Branch Lodge; Mary Lou Dryberg, Orlando, Fla.; Jean Hem-

by, Schertz; John and Sherri Strickland, Da Costa Lodge; Judy and Darrell Muske, Houston Lodge; Pat and Virg Bloom, Boerne; Linda and Gary Busch, Fulda, Minn.; Meredith Morran, Providence, R.I.; Amy Morran; Violet Widner, Dubuque, Iowa, and Mike Widner, Helotes; Theresa Hess, New Waverly, and Shar and Riley Ore, Huntsville.

Anglican Priest David Guthrie conducted chapel service and Holy Communion on March 26 with Kathy Bender and Al Schroeder assisting.

Resident Jane Haberman celebrated her 70th birthday on March 27 at the home of Tom and Sharon Haberman in Helotes. Her nephew, Matt, and her sons, Tim and Sean, were

there.

Glenda Steed from Fredericksburg donated numerous items for residents to sell in our store to benefit the Retirement Home Scholarship Fund.

Her friends, residents Betty and Ross Murphy, purchased a curio cabinet from her and donated it to display items in our store.

Betty Murphy reports that granddaughter Meredith will be a senior at Brown University and takes classes in design at Rhode Island School of Design.

Her senior project will be a multimedia presentation of the Retirement Home, its history and its residents. She and her mother, Amy Morran, recently visited the Home and will be returning for more picture taking and in-

Super-duper wagon pulling peddlers Annette Shaw and Billie DeSalme helped fill the Scholarship Fund coffers and created laughter for all at the Chili Cook-off.

Carol Chriswell’s friend and sisters joined her for the Chili Cook-off.

Pictured are, from left, sister Mary Lou Dryberg, Carol, friend Beth Cruse and sister Jean Hemby. They reported that they enjoyed the visiting and listening to the three-piece band.

terviews throughout the year.

New residents are Frank Edwards, Ann Nelson and Rick McMahan.

Barbara Kisselburg has been named Assistant Manager at the Home. Kitchen Helper Connie Schladoer has taken over as a cook and Melissa Scoville has been hired as a kitchen helper.

We wish them well in their new jobs.

Breakfast at the Home on Easter morning was partially served in tiny Easter baskets.

These baskets have a history.

Assistant Manager Brenda Treiber, who recently passed away, renewed an Easter celebration that a former Home manager’s wife had started for the residents. The tiny bas-

kets are fashioned from plastic strawberry baskets, ribbons, pipe cleaners and grass.

Easter dinner was ham, sweet potatoes, broccoli, hot rolls, church salad and angel food cake topped with whipped cream and strawberries. A new tradition is to decorate all the dining tables with the wooden bunnies that a former Home Committee member, Calvin Lamensky, made for the Home.

Bandera County Lodge and the San Antonio Ukulele Ladies and Gents entertained Home residents on April 7 and provided an ice cream social and refreshments. Residents were invited to sing along, dance and have fun.

– Helen Widner

Residents celebrated the birthdays of Al Schroeder, left, Harvey Tegtmeyer and Jane Haberman (not pictured) with cake and ice cream at the noon meal on March 29.

For Easter, the tables in the dining hall at the Retirement Home were decorated with wooden bunnies made by Calvin Lamensky, a former member of the Home Committee. Residents enjoyed a meal of ham and side dishes on Easter Sunday.

From left, Amy Morran, daughter, and Meredith Morran, granddaughter, of residents Betty and Ross Murphy are pictured around the historic dinner bell.

Page 10 – Hermann Sons Life – May 2018

San Marcos will meet May 7

SAN MARCOS – San Marcos Lodge will meet Monday, May 7, at 10:45 a.m. at the Golden Corral in New Braunfels. Members are asked to contact Agnes Dreibrodt or Janice Kuhen if they plan to attend.

During the April 1 meeting, members prepared Camp Grief Support Session bags for the 75 campers who are expected to attend this year. The meeting was held at the La Vista Apartments Club House.

The bags contain composi-

tion notebooks, blank paper with writing supplies such as pencils, pens, crayons, glue sticks, highlighters, note cards with stamps, construction paper and other various items for the campers to enjoy.

Lillian Cargil was thanked for chairing the project in observance of Join Hands Day. She purchased the items using donations from members and other interested persons as well as the lodge.

The Family Picnic was

set for Saturday, July 14, at Zorn Bowling Club beginning at 2 p.m.

A signup attendance sheet was passed around. If you plan to attend, contact Agnes or Janice.

The Cheer Committee reported Kay Tilton is in rehab after knee surgery.

Bruce, Larry and Evelyn Moreau were thanked for preparing the ham.

Attendance award winners were Janet Boehringer and Janice Kuhen.

– Reporter

Puzzle Answers for Pg. 32

Celebrating recent birthdays from San Marcos Lodge were, Agnes Dreibrodt, left, in March and Evelyn Moreau in April.

2018 Dance Recital Dates School of Dance

Date

Bandera County May 19 Boerne May 20 Castroville May 19 Cibolo May 5 Comfort May 19 Corpus Christi June 2 Cuero April 28 Da Costa May 5 Devine May 19 Elgin May 12 Goliad May 12 Gonzales April 28 Hill Country June 2 Hill Country June 2 Hochheim-Prairie May 12 Hondo May 26 Jourdanton May 19 Karnes City May 6 Kirby May 12 La Vernia June 2 Lee County May 26 Lone Oak May 12 Luling May 5 New Braunfels May 20 New Braunfels May 20 New Braunfels May 20 Nixon-Smiley May 20 North West Bexar Co. June 2 San Antonio June 9 Schulenburg May 5 Schulenburg May 5 Seguin May 6 Stockdale May 26

Time

Place

2 p.m.

3 p.m.

5 p.m.

3 p.m.

4 p.m.

5 p.m.

4 p.m.

4 p.m.

1 p.m.

3 p.m.

4 p.m.

2 p.m.

10 a.m.

12 Noon 3 p.m.

3 p.m.

2 p.m.

2 p.m.

2:30 p.m.

4 p.m.

3 p.m.

3 p.m.

12 Noon 10 a.m.

2 p.m.

6 p.m.

4 p.m.

6 p.m.

4 p.m.

1 p.m.

3:30 p.m.

1 p.m.

5 p.m.

Bandera High School Auditorium, 474 Old San Antonio Hwy., Bandera Boerne Middle School North, 240 Johns Rd., Boerne Medina Valley Performing Arts Center, 8365 FM 471 South, Castroville Jackson Auditorium, Texas Luthern University, 1000 W. Court St., Seguin Comfort High School Auditorium, 143 Hwy. 87 N., Comfort Tuloso-Midway High School, 2653 McKinzie Rd., Corpus Christi Yorktown High School Auditorium, 416 W. 4th St., Yorktown Victoria Fine Arts Center, 1002 Sam Houston Drive, Victoria Lytle High School, 18975 FM 2790, Lytle SPJST Hall, 702 Texas 95, Elgin Goliad High School, 749 N. Church St., Goliad Gonzales Junior High School, 926 St. Lawrence, Gonzales Smithson Valley High School, 14001 Hwy. 46 West, Spring Branch Smithson Valley High School, 14001 Hwy. 46 West, Spring Branch Yoakum High School, 104 Poth St., Yoakum Medina Valley Performing Arts Center, 8365 FM 471 South, Castroville Doug Williamson Memorial Auditorium, 831 Stadium Drive, Pleasanton Karnes City High School, 400 N. Hwy. 123, Karnes City Kirby Middle School, 5441 Old Seguin Road, Kirby La Vernia High School Auditorium, 225 Bluebonnet Rd., La Vernia Giddings Youth Center, 1010 E. Industry St., Giddings La Vernia High School Auditorium, 225 Bluebonnet Rd., La Vernia Luling High School Fine Arts Building, 218 E. Travis St., Luling Smithson Valley High School, 14001 Hwy. 46 West, Spring Branch Smithson Valley High School, 14001 Hwy. 46 West, Spring Branch Smithson Valley High School, 14001 Hwy. 46 West, Spring Branch Nixon-Smiley High School Cafetorium, 800 N. Rancho Road, Nixon Edgewood Theatre of Performing Arts, 402 Lance St., San Antonio Antonian High School, 6425 West Ave., San Antonio Schulenburg Civic Center, 1107 Hillje Ave., Schulenburg Schulenburg Civic Center, 1107 Hillje Ave., Schulenburg Jackson Auditorium, Texas Lutheran University, 1000 W. Court St., Seguin Stockdale High School Auditorium, 502 S. Fourth St., Stockdale

Address

May 2018 – Hermann Sons Life – Page 11

In observance of Join Hands Day

Dallas members to volunteer at food pantry May 12 DALLAS – Dallas Lodge members and guests are invited and reminded of two upcoming events.

In observance of Join Hands Day, members will volunteer in the food pantry at CitySquare Opportunity Center on Saturday, May 12, from 9:30-11:30 a.m. The center is located at 1610 S. Malcolm X Blvd. in Dallas.

Thanks go to Eva Day for making the reservation and

gathering information. Columbia Lodge members are invited to participate as well.

On Sunday, May 20, at 1 p.m. members and guests are invited to the luncheon and anniversary pin ceremony to be held at El Fenix Restaurant, 1601 McKinney Ave. in downtown Dallas where parking is free.

Members are asked to confirm their attendance by calling Andy Schellenberg at 972-

313-0058.

No business meetings will be held in May or June, unless needed.

At the Sunday, March 25, gathering Andy reported on the lodge scholarships. Applications will be sent to the three eligible students. They must be returned to him on later than June 1.

Steve showed the new Hermann Sons Life Dallas charter to members. He and Andy

picked it up when they attended the “Leading With Heart” event held March 17 in Seguin.

They also picked up the Certificate of Achievement the lodge earned for meeting its new member goal in 2017.

Steve told members that only 25 members attended the Home Association’s annual general meeting on March 18.

Since there was not the necessary quorum of 28 members, a vote could not be taken on

proposed changes to the bylaws Clint Homes, Allen Hare, Cecilia Shelby and Debra Hundley prepared the food.

Fred Holmes was hospitalized and is recovering. Keep him and wife Terri and son Clint in your thoughts and prayers.

Congratulations go to Brigitte Robinson for winning the attendance prize. This was her first time to win.

– Reporter

Gulf Lodge recognizes celebrants

Ben and Janene Diaz celebrated 13 years of marriage recently. They are members of Gulf Lodge.

Members of Gulf Lodge celebrating birthday so far this year include, from left, Gary Scales, Betty Mathison and Valecia Brunkow in January, Henry Wulf in February, Ruby Wulf in January and Rick Huepers in February. Not pictured is Charlie Head who also celebrated in February.

The Lighthouse Charity Team made a presentation at the March meeting of Gulf Lodge. Lorraine Grubbs, center, is pictured with lodge Secretary Sarah Spencer and Agent Al Stryk. The Lighthouse Charity Team provides equipment and volunteer labor to prepare meals to raise funds for charitable organizations and those in need.

Anton Wenzel plans meal, meeting, games for May 1 SAN ANTONIO – Anton Wenzel Lodge will meet May 1.

Sandwiches are on the menu.

Members are asked to bring a side dish and/or dessert. The evening will include the meal, meeting and games.

The Fiesta Hat Contest was part of the April meeting. Margaret Corales took first place honors. Ruth Polendo came in second.

Volunteers are needed to help with parking cars during Fiesta, Monday-Saturday, April 23-28.

Call Merlinda Elizondo at 210815-3468 if you can help.

Anyone interested in becoming a member is asked to call Agent Emma Moya at 210-3443935.

Celebrating an April birthday from Anton Wenzel Lodge was Cynthia Barbosa. President Edward Elizondo presented her with a birthday card.

The split-the-pot winner at April’s Anton Wenzel Lodge meeting was Joseph Figo.

Lorene Kreusel presented him with his winnings.

The winners in the Fiesta Hat Contest sponsored by Anton Wenzel Lodge were Ruth Polendo and Margaret Corales.

Page 12 – Hermann Sons Life – May 2018

La Vernia Lodge changes location of April picnic LA VERNIA – The time and location for the La Vernia Lodge annual picnic have changed.

The picnic will be held Saturday, April 28, from 2-6 p.m. at the Barker-Huebinger Rock House, 13309 FM 539, La Vernia. The barbecue potluck meal will be served from 4-5 p.m. Refreshments will be served.

Members and guests are welcome to attend this social event. Make reservations with Sharon Tanneberger at 830779-4641 with the number of attendees so the Food/Social Entertainment Committee will know how much barbecue to prepare.

The lodge’s Join Hands Day project will take place Saturday, May 5, from 8 a.m-noon at Kicaster Cemetery, County Road 324, Adkins. Lodge members are encouraged to participate. Yard tools such as lawn mowers, weed eaters and loppers are needed. Dress accordingly and do not forget your work gloves and insect repellent. Refreshments will be

The cleaning crew for the inside of the La Vernia Lodge hall included, from left, Candy Stork, Youth Coordinator Beth Brooks, Financial Trustee Jeanie Walpole, Financial Trustee Lucy Schott, Treasurer Elaine Schnitz and Secretary Sharon Tanneberger. provided. Afterwards, all are invited to meet for lunch at a local restaurant.

The lodge sent representatives to the “Leading With Heart” statewide event held March 17 at the Seguin Coliseum. The event included informative education sessions, lunch, a program and a dance.

Attending from the lodge were President Charles Stork and wife Candy, Vice President and Agent Marlin Tanneberger, Secretary and Agent Sharon Tanneberger, Treasurer Elaine Schnitz and Financial Trustee Lucy Schott.

The March 24 workday was a success. Eleven officers,

One of the cleaning crews at the La Vernia Lodge workday included, from left, Financial Trustee Charles Haese, President Charles Stork, Tim Brooks and Vice President Marlin Tanneberger. members and guests worked together to clean and clear the lodge property. One crew scrubbed and cleaned (top to bottom) the interior of the lodge building while another crew worked outside clearing tree branches and tree stumps located in the parking area and lodge property adjacent to the

hall.

The work crew also updated the building’s security by affixing two smoke detectors and a fire extinguisher (donated by guest Harold Schott) inside the hall. Afterwards, everyone enjoyed lunch at La Vernia Chinese Cuisine.

– Reporter

Cuero Lodge working on line dance outing at park CUERO – Cuero Lodge will hold its next meeting May 1 at Santi’s. The lodge meets the first Tuesday of the month.

The slate of officers for 2018 includes president, Laura Tiffin; vice president, Gary Hotz; recording secretary, Allison Tiffin; financial secretary/treasurer, June Guenther; and trustees, Elizabeth Loos, Pauline Kueker and Lawrence Hotz. Appointed officers are communications coordinator, June Guenther; community coordinator and youth coordinator, Holly Hotz;

and membership coordinators, Karlyne Tiffin, Holly Peters and Juanita Peters.

The lodge’s new member goal for 2018 is 18. So far this year the lodge has welcomed three new members. They are Abigail Aguilar, Jayla Rosales and Dylan Carroll.

The lodge extends sympathy to the families of Jerome Wild and Matilda Semmler who passed away recently.

Upcoming events include the Cuero School of Dance recital in Yorktown at the high school au-

ditorium on Saturday, April 28, beginning at 5 p.m.

The lodge will host a dance on Aug. 11 at the VFW Hall. It will be open to the public free of charge with a free-will donation. Watch for more details.

The lodge is working on a new project – a line dance outing to be held in Cuero Park. There will be more reported on this as plans are finalized.

Scholarship applications have been taken to the high school and any graduating member can pick one up in the school

office.

Members receiving 50-year membership pins this year are Eva Wendel, a member since Feb. 7, 1968, and Vicky Blank, a member since March 4, 1968.

Sixty-year pin recipients are Kent Hilbrich, a member since Jan. 1, 1958; Bonnie Burton, Feb. 5, 1958; Cynthia Stabeno, Feb. 25, 1958; Pamela Wilkinson, Feb. 25, 1958; Tina Jacobson, March 6, 1958; and Judy Mueller, April 1, 1958.

Seventy-year pin recipients are Danny Peters, a member

since Jan. 21, 1948; Carroll Blank, March 16, 1948; and Charles Wanjura, March 18, 1948.

January birthday celebrants were Elroy Peter, Holly Hotz and Aria Bixenmann. February birthday celebrants were Joyce Hotz, Gary Hotz and David Peters. Celebrating March birthdays were Sarah Aronstein, Pat Wanjura, Allison Tiffin and Jerry Wanjura and April celebrants were Mary Lapp, Natalie Lapp, Marvin Bade and Sarah Carpenter.

Bernardo Lodge earns Certificate of Achievement BERNARDO – Bernardo Lodge President Terrel Maertz gave reports on two events he recently attended when the lodge met in March.

He reported that he and wife Robin had attended a workshop for agents in Sealy on Feb. 21.

Agents attending were asked to set a sales goal for the year.

He also reported on the “Leading With Heart” event that he and Robin had attended March 17 in Sealy. The lodge received information about the name change that needs to be made

with each lodge’s financial institution and received a Certificate of Achievement for meeting its new member goal in 2017. Educational sessions were held and during the program members received information about the Camp Grief Support Session

coming up in July.

He also explained the Senior Adult Final Expense Plan that is available through Hermann Sons Life.

Robin will be checking with the local Boys Scouts about presenting a program at the lodge’s

June 9 barbecue. More details on this special event will be coming.

“Happy Birthday” was sung to Robin.

Ruby Belle Henneke and Billy Hagen won attendance prizes.

– Reporter

Impacting Lives

A REPORT TO MEMBERS

2017

Page 2

Inside Strength & Stability

Financial stability makes service and benefits possible

Page 3

Grief Support Session 40 children impacted by special camp session

Pages 4-5

Serving our communities

Lodges stepped up to help communities in 2017

Page 6

Changing young men

Campers’ mother talks about its impact on sons

Page 7

A dancer ‘s life

Student turned teacher shares her dance story

Page 7

A resident ‘s story

Resident enjoys life at Retirement Home

Page 8

First-year impact

Recipient talks about how scholarships helped

Page 8

ON THE COVER Volunteer Ashley “Saber” Cumberland is pictured with one of the campers from the Grief Support Session held at Hermann Sons Life Camp last July. Turn to Pages 4 and 5 to read about the impact of this special session.

Impacting Lives:

A Report to Members

At the heart of who we are as an organization, the goal of Hermann Sons Life always has been and always will be to have a positive impact on the lives of our members, their families and the people in the communities where our members and their families live and work.

The goal of this “Impacting Lives: A Report to Members” is to outline for our members how we did that in 2017.

And, while we will be focusing on the year 2017, in reality Hermann Sons Life has been making an impact since that first meeting back in 1840. It came into existence so people of German descent living in New York City could gather with others who shared similar experiences and heritage.

They didn’t realize it at the time, but they had started a movement – the fraternal movement. The organization would later spread to other states and all across America.

And soon people from other walks of life with a common bond would form their own organizations.

The Sons of Hermann came to Texas in 1861 with the formation of Harmonia Lodge in San Antonio. In the 1870s, life insurance became a requirement for membership. As time went on, women and eventually children were granted the opportunity to become members.

But the primary goal has never changed. We exist to strengthen community.

Today, we do that in three primary ways – through our financial services such as life insurance and annuities, through our community outreach programs and through our member benefits.

And we do it at three levels – as a company, as local lodges and as individual members.

It is as a company that we deliver our financial products

such as our life insurance and annuities. And as a company we direct community service projects such as our response to Hurricane Harvey and other programs that impact the greater community of Texas and Hermann Sons Life. And finally as a company we provide member benefits such as our Camp and Dance programs and Retirement Home.

Our local lodges make an impact in their communities with their donations of time and money that feed the hungry, comfort the aged and provide scholarship money that eases the financial burden of higher education.

Individual members are the center of it all. Without the premium income and dues that we pay as members none of the rest would be possible. And without the loyalty and dedication to service of our individual members, there would be no one to carry out the mission.

In the pages that follow we are going to take a look at 2017 and our impact in the key areas – financial services, community service and member benefits.

We will tell the story with numbers – numbers like how many children went to camp, how much scholarship money we presented and how much money we donated to various causes.

But we also will tell the story of some very special people and how Hermann Sons Life impacted their lives in 2017.

After all, it is the people who make up our Hermann Sons Life community who are the heartbeat of our organization. Without them we are just another life insurance company; but because of them we are a different kind of life insurance company. We’re different because we make a difference.

Together we can make an even bigger impact Help our community of members grow and share the Hermann Sons Life difference with a family you know!

It’s easy to recommend a member!

Go to hermannsonslife.org and click on Contact Us then Recommend a Member or call 800-234-4124.

Pictured are Macey, Emily, Blake, Jason and Laura Thigpen. They are a 100% Hermann Sons Life family.

Impacting Lives: A Report to Members

Page 3

FINANCIAL IMPACT

2017

Security

$5,382,400

Paid to members and their beneficiaries

$4,025,734

Interest paid to members’ annuities

Giving Returned through Member Benefits

Reinvested in Member

$2,150,456

$429,109 Groups We Call Lodges

Stability

156

Years in Business

Strength

68,980 Members

$259,589,415 $241,375,801 $18,213,614

$1,058,898,000 Life Insurance in Force

Admitted Assets Reserves & Liabilities Gross Surplus

Impacting Lives: A Report to Members

Page 4

Camp supports children on their healing journey By the Numbers 40 Children who attended

10

Healing circles held

48

Staff who volunteered

35

Lodges that made donations

Countless

Hugs exchanged

Make a Donation The 2018 Grief Support Session will be held July 8-11.

Click here to show your support. All donations make a difference.

Combining the best in camping with the best in counseling services Forty children and teens mourning the death of someone close to them took another step on their healing journey when they attended the first-ever Grief Support Session at Hermann Sons Life Camp in July 2017. Members and non-members participated in the half-week session held in Comfort.

We partnered with the Children’s Bereavement Center of San Antonio for the session. The center provided the therapists for the four-day session.

Members of our Camp staff and others donated their time to serve as cabin counselors.

Therapy includ– Tami Logsdon, LPC ed healing circles and other activi- Children’s Bereavement Center of South Texas ties designed to help the campers cope with their loss. But time was set aside so the campers could take part in the usual Camp activities like crafts, swimming and the challenge course.

The session was made possible because of the monetary support offered by our members and lodges.

“That’s what this camp does – it allows us to take care of the whole child.”

Register a Child Children ages 6-17 who have lost a parent or sibling are eligible to attend. They do not have to be a member of Hermann Sons Life.

Click here to start the registration process.

BEYOND THE PAGES Go to hermannsonslife.org/impact to learn how our lodges demonstrated overwhelming support for the Grief Support Session.

And hear Tami Logsdon from the Children’s Bereavement Center of South Texas talk about the Grief Support Session.

Focused on grief support For more than 155 years, Hermann Sons Life members have supported each other and the communities in which they live.

They have been there when a member is mourning the loss of a loved one and they have been there supporting community causes. These are two of the principles upon which our organization was founded.

In 2016, we brought those founding principles together in a

new focused service cause – grief support services.

In addition to the Grief Support Session, information on grief support services can be found on our website including a list of hospice organizations and grief support groups that already exist all over Texas.

And lodges have been encouraged to make grief support part of their community outreach and have been offered the support of the Home Office to carry out those projects.

Impacting Lives: A Report to Members

Page 5

Grief brought us together Camper shares her story “Grief can make you feel like the only person on earth.

It can isolate you,” Morgan begins. “But on July 6, 2017, grief brought us together.”

Morgan Steubing, a 16-year-old junior at La Vernia High School, is referring to the Camp Grief Support Session she attended less than five months after her 19-year-old sister, Rylan, had passed away. In the picture on the right, Morgan is on the far right. Rylan is holding their other sister, Maren.

Morgan continues, “Grief is a road that no human on the face of the earth can tell you how to walk down. It is uncovering a new secret every day. It is sadness and hardships and it is loneliness, but it is also a blessing. It is different for everyone, and no one’s grief can compare to someone else’s.”

When asked to talk about the impact the Grief Support Session had on her, Morgan says, “Every kid and teenager, and even sometimes counselor, had one thing in common. A very, very important thing, a thing that in some ways makes up who we are and who we aren’t. We had all lost someone that we held so dear to our hearts.”

From the healing circles to the traditional Camp activities, the campers were with people who also were grieving. Morgan is pictured with two of those other campers in the photo at the bottom of the page.

“And depending on their stage in their grief they can give you hope. They can inspire you knowing that they have lost someone too and they are still here, they’re still okay and they are still surviving,” she says.

Morgan and her parents, James and Stephanie, heard about the Grief Support Session through the Children’s Bereavement Center of South Texas, our partners in planning and hosting the first session of its kind at Hermann Sons Life Camp. But James, Morgan, Rylan and Morgan’s brother, Jordan, had all attended Hermann Sons Life Camp in the past. In fact, Rylan was a four-year camper and was a counselor-in-training one summer.

Morgan and Rylan were very close. She describes her sister as “the most gentle-hearted person I’ve ever met, still to this day.” Morgan shared a bedroom with Rylan her entire life and was able to say “goodnight” to her at the end of each day.

When Morgan was just 10, Rylan was diagnosed with epilepsy. At first her seizures would only occur at night but as Rylan got older, the seizures got worse and more intense. After many tests, scans and doctor appointments, the family was told there was no way to make

the seizures stop completely.

The entire family of six moved to South America in 2014 so they could spend more time together and explore the world. Morgan and Rylan went to school there.

Later Rylan was part of a discipleship training program and traveled to Columbia, Peru and Brazil where she touched many lives. A few months after returning from the discipleship training program, on Feb. 22, 2017, Ry-

“The impact those three days had on a broken heart is indescribable...”

– Morgan Steubing lan died at their home in Ecuador while Morgan was at school.

Morgan vividly remembers being pulled out of class that morning and going home to find out that her sister had died.

She also recalls a moment from the Grief Support Session that is helping her deal with that day.

“One day we had a moment of silence . . . we all sat in silence with only quiet music playing, and we just were

taking in the moment. And for the first time since my sister’s death, I could see her. And I mean the real her.

Not the body I remember on the floor. Not the her that I have post traumatic stress from. My sister. After the few minutes of silence I opened my eyes in tears not even realizing how badly I just needed a moment of quiet to remember who she was and who I am too.”

She continues, “The impact those three days had on a broken heart is indescribable, and even though grief is a never ending journey, the Grief Support Session made me realize that I had others walking that journey with me, and that is priceless.”

BEYOND THE PAGES Go to hermannsonslife.org/impact to hear the song Morgan wrote about her sister and to read more about the session and its impact.

Impacting Lives: A Report to Members

Page 6

Answering the call

Lodges step up when disasters strike When disaster strikes, our lodges and members have always stepped up to lend a helping hand. Never was that more evident than in 2017 when two catastrophic events impacted Texas and its communities.

In late August, Hurricane Harvey made landfall bringing with him high winds and torrential rain that devastated cities and towns all along the coast and inland as far as Houston where record rainfall left the state’s largest city under water for days.

The Home Office responded immediately by delivering a trailer loaded with generators and chainsaws to the City of Rockport.

A call went out to lodges for donations and the money started coming in. In the end, more than $20,000 was donated in the name of Hermann Sons Life to four food banks and six volunteer fire departments. That money enabled the food banks to restock the shelves that had been emptied as they handed out food in the days and weeks after the storm. And it helped the volunteer fire departments

replace equipment and, in at least one case, property that had been damaged or destroyed.

The $20,000 total does not include the money lodges donated directly to other organizations that were providing services. And at least one member volunteered his time to help rescue flood victims in Houston.

Then on the morning of Nov. 5, an armed gunman walked into the First Baptist Church of Sutherland Springs and opened fire killing 26 people and injuring 20 others. One of those who died and one of those injured were our own members.

Again, a call went out to lodges for donations. In just a few weeks, the Home Office received $7,400. That money was placed in the hands of Pastor Frank Pomeroy who pledged its use to helping his parishioners rebuild their lives.

There really is no way to know how many people were impacted by these donations. We are proud to have done our part and stand ready to do it again when the time comes.

By the Numbers $120,721

“Volunteering comes naturally to us because it is who we are.”

Donated by lodges to support their communities

– Kim Krueger, Vice President of Member Benefits

103,350

Serving our communities

Hours members spent volunteering in their communities

$20,000+

Donated to Hurricane Harvey Disaster Relief Rund

$7,400

Donated to First Baptist Church of Sutherland Springs

Countless

Lives impacted in the name of Hermann Sons Life

Pastor Frank Pomeroy of First Baptist Church of Sutherland Springs accepts a $7,400 donation from Community Service Coordinator Laura Adams and Vice President of Member Benefits Kim Krueger.

Top Photo: Seguin Lodge member Anthony Kolbe volunteered for a search and rescue mission in Houston following Hurricane Harvey in the fall of 2017.

Vice President of Member Benefits Kim Krueger delivered the message you see here to a group of members in March as she applauded the community service work performed by lodges and their members in 2017.

Besides the donations they made to the funds established to help the victims of Hurricane Harvey and the church in Sutherland Springs, lodges carried out community service projects of their own throughout the year and especially in the name of Join Hands Day in May and Make a Difference Day in October.

Those projects were far ranging and included everything from charity golf tournaments, to fund-raising dinners, to food drives and nursing home visits. Some cleaned roadsides and cemeteries and placed flags on the graves of veterans while others volunteered at Relay for Life and Special Olympics events.

While the lives of those who received these gifts of time and money were impacted, members will tell you that their lives also were changed because of the opportunity they were given to serve others.

Impacting Lives: A Report to Members

Youth programs making an impact

Page 7

Mom credits Camp for sons’ leadership skills Lisa Patten, a single mom from Schulenburg, says the Hermann Sons Life Camp experience is helping her two sons become strong leaders.

“Hermann Sons Life Camp is helping me raise my boys into strong, helpful, considerate young leaders,” Lisa said. “I am just so proud of them.”

Lisa adopted Seth at 3 months of age and Gabe when he was 2½. She said they came with their own “special gifts” but as a family they have worked to overcome those obstacles and she believes Camp has been instrumental in their development.

Seth, the older of the two, began attending Camp when he was 9.

“He loved it from the start,” Lisa said.

“From his very first year he said he wanted to grow up and be a camp counselor.”

When Seth turned 15 he began working toward that goal. He was a Counselor-in-Training I, Counselor-in-Training II and a Junior Counselor.

Now 17, he will graduate from high

school this year and will enroll at Texas A&M in July as a business major. Lisa says the counselor training and the skills he learned will give him a head start in preparing for interviews for scholarships and other opportunities.

“Camp has helped him become the young man he is today,” Lisa said. “And through the counseling program, he has been given a platform to put those leadership skills he has learned to use in becoming a future leader.”

Gabe is now 13. He attended Camp for the first time in 2017. He has to take medication for his ADHD and that makes being away from home a littler harder for him and his Mom. She was worried about him dealing with a full day of scheduled activities but exclaimed, “He did very well his first time! You just don’t understand how amazing that is! I’m just thrilled,” she said. “I can’t wait for this year.”

Gabe also wants to follow in his brother’s footsteps and become a camp coun-

selor.

“He has become a leader, he’s caring, empathetic – a little mentor,” she said of her younger son.

When asked about their favorite activities at Camp, Lisa said she couldn’t name just one because they “absolutely loved everything! And the food! And it’s so reasonable.”

From student to teacher, dance is Chaney’s life When Rici Chaney says dance has always been a part of her life, she means it literally. The 21-year-old instructor enrolled in her first dance class with the Hermann Sons Life San Antonio School of Dance at the age of 3. Now 18 years later she is teaching for the same school.

“When I was still really young I thought of leaving dance but my mom encouraged me to stay with it a little longer,” Rici said. “And the older I got the more and more I loved it!”

At age 12, she became a senior Polkateer and at the age of 16 she became an assistant dance teacher.

“It was then that I knew this is what I’m supposed to do,” she said.

Rici also was a member of the Star Squad for Spurs Sports and Entertainment in 2016 and 2017.

“I really enjoyed it,” she said. “One of my biggest fears is becoming stagnant and that experience really helped me as a teacher.”

Rici says along with the dance experience came many personal relationships.

She has maintained close friendships with dancers she met at a very early age.

“I have gained so many life-long connections,” she said. “I was basically raised here.”

Rici and her family belong to Vineta Lodge and she remembers attending lodge meetings.

She added that while there may be more competitive studios out there, it is the people and her friendships that keep her with Hermann Sons Life.

“Here it’s family,” she said. “It’s just so

special to me.”

Rici is in her fifth year of teaching for Hermann Sons Life. She teaches in San Antonio four nights a week and one night in Boerne and has more than 100 students.

She will soon graduate from the University of the Incarnate Word with a degree in communications.

She explained that her experiences as a teacher and director helped her in her studies and what she learned in school has helped her as a teacher.

She has every intention of continuing as a dance teacher and is now offering dance to people her own age after seeing a big interest in that area. She is also offering her choreography services for quiñceaneras, weddings and sweet 16 birthday celebrations.

She explained that through her college work she was able to develop a marketing portfolio for her personal dance school, her own website and logo.

“I’m very proud to have been able to do all that on my own,” she said.

“Hermann Sons Life has been a constant in my life,” she said. “I know I want to teach – I know this is what I want.”

Impacting Lives: A Report to Members

She said Hermann Sons Life Camp also provided the positive male role models her sons needed in their lives.

“You have all these young men making a choice to help others – positive male role models,” she said. “That has been the best opportunity for my boys. There is not one other place that can do all that like Hermann Sons Life Camp!”

By the Numbers 1,837

Children who attended Camp

1,826

Children enrolled in Dance

$680,240

Returned to members through Camp and Dance

Countless

Friendships made

Our Programs Hermann Sons Life Camp is open to junior members ages 9-13 as of Sept. 1 of the current year.

Registration is currently under way for the summer of 2018.

Hermann Sons Life Schools of Dance are open to junior members ages 3-17 as of Sept. 1 of the current year.

Registration for the 2018-2019 dance year will open in June.

Page 8

Impacting the young and young at heart Retirement Home resident shares her story Retirement Home resident Martha Willems says life at the Home has only gotten better and better since she and her late husband Joel moved there in 2010.

She admits leaving their own home behind took some adjustment at first.

“It got better and soon felt like home,” she said.

Martha has been a Hermann Sons Life member since 1969. She was born and raised in Sisterdale and later moved to San Antonio to take a job. That’s where she met Joel who was in the service. His military duties took them to California, Seattle and eventually back to Texas.

She said they heard about the Retirement Home and, “It really sounded good.”

Martha said volunteering, meeting new friends and working in the flowers beds all helped make the transition easier.

“Now it feels like home. There’s just no place like this. Meals are provided – you don’t have to cook, do dishes or buy groceries. You don’t have to worry about a house and the maintenance that comes with it,” she said.

Martha said all the residents get along and points out that when you have more than 40 people living together – that’s an accomplishment.

Martha said she enjoys the beautiful scenery at the Home. She enjoys going into town to shop and looks forward to Sundays when her niece joins her for church.

Martha couldn’t hold back her emotion as she expressed her appreciation to everyone at the Home during her husband’s illness and the support she received after his death in 2016.

She said living alone in her own home would have been difficult after losing her husband, both financially and in physically maintaining a home.

“It would have been rough on me. I feel safe here,” she said. “It’s not like living in the city. Here I have peace of mind.”

“Now it feels like home.

There’s just no place like this.”

– Martha Willems Retirement Home resident

Scholarships help Madison Dziuk in first year at A&M Madison Dziuk was the recipient of a $1,500 Retirement Home Scholarship and a $1,000 Camp Scholarship in 2017.

As she had planned when she applied for the scholarships, Madison is majoring in kinesiology at Texas A&M University and her interest remains in the field of pediatric medicine.

“As I learn more about this incredible field, I am open to many more possibilities,” she explains.

“More than ever, I know my heart is to care for the medical needs of children.”

Madison shared that the two scholarships assisted her tremendously toward the cost of tuition and that she is honored and grateful beyond measure.

In explaining the impact Hermann Sons Life had on her in 2017, she reflected, “I am amazed at the countless blessings and the wonderful people that God has placed along my journey. Of significance are family, friends, teachers and mentors who have been there for me through it all. Hermann Sons Life is much like that, having been there with me from the very beginning. Little would I ever dream that a life insurance policy purchased by my parents for me as a toddler wasn’t just about ballet shoes and a recital. I now realize that Hermann Sons Life will be with me for life and beyond.”

“...Hermann Sons Life will be with me for life and beyond.”

– Madison Dziuk Scholarship recipient

Impacting Lives: A Report to Members

Our Home Members applying to live at the Home must have been members in good standing for the past three consecutive years, be 65 years of age or older, be in good health and have a paid up Hermann Sons Life certificate valued at $1,000 or more. The certificate must be whole life and free from debt. To apply, members contact the Home Office to arrange for an interview, complete an application and pay a $200 application fee.

Once approved, a resident is required to make the Home the beneficiary of the first $1,000 of his or her Hermann Sons Life certificate.

By the Numbers 50 Number of residents

$6,850+

Money raised for scholarships during annual Chili Cook-off

Countless

Hours spent playing dominoes

By the Numbers $22,456

Worth of scholarships presented by lodges in 2017

$10,500

Worth of scholarships presented by Home and Camp

Countless

Hours spent hitting the books by our scholarship recipients

BEYOND THE PAGES Go to hermannsonslife.org/impact to read a letter from Madison Dziuk’s parents about the impact Hermann Sons Life has had on her and her sister.

May 2018 – Hermann Sons Life – Page 21

Hochheim-Prairie to present pins at May 6 meeting HOCHHEIM – Hochheim-Prairie Lodge will present membership pins at the May 6 meeting.

If you are a pin recipient this year, call Janet Zabransky at 361293-6281 to confirm your attendance.

At the April 8 meeting, President Zabransky reported on the “Leading with Heart” statewide event held in Seguin. She said the information shared at the educational sessions was beneficial. Members who attended

were President Zabransky, Vice President Roberta Wenzel and husband Tommy, Financial/Corresponding Secretary Carolyn Hoepfl and Financial Trustee Charlie Hoepfl.

President Zabransky appointed Roberta Wenzel, Carolyn Hoepfl and herself to the Scholarship Committee. President Zabransky will present the scholarships at the awards ceremony in May at the Yoakum High School Auditorium.

Get-well cards were sent to Kristy Muehlstein and Ann Richter. Sympathy cards were sent to the families of Johanna Kurtz and Irene Streetman. Carolyn Hoepfl read correspondence from the Lorea Schaffner and Johanna Kurtz families. A moment of silence was observed in memory of the deceased members.

Joy Janak was the birthday honoree. Debbie Zinke won the attendance prize.

– Reporter

First Class Petty Officer Justin K. Janak, a member of HochheimPrairie Lodge, is currently serving in Afghanistan. His grandparents are Wilburn and Mary Pargmann, also members of Hochheim-Prairie Lodge.

Brenham Lodge holds discussion on future fund-raisers BRENHAM – Brenham Lodge members enjoyed a potluck meal and desserts at the March 9 meeting.

A thank-you note was read from the family of Ben Hajovsky for the donations made in his memory.

A moment of silence was observed in memory of Odell Stein and Billie J. Ferguson.

The Cheer Committee mailed get-well cards to Edward Lorenz, Cleo Jaeger, Betty Schramm, James Hyvl and Evelyn Harmel.

Sympathy cards were mailed to Russell and Darrell following

the death of their father, Wm. Odell Stein; to Ricky Ferguson following the death of his mother-in-law, Billie J. Ferguson; to Joyce Meyer following the death of her brother-in-law, Felix Meyer Jr.; and to Darrell Meyer and Cheryl Davis following the death of their uncle, Felix Meyer Jr. A discussion was held concerning possible fund-raisers for the lodge including an Oktoberfest, a steak and sausage supper with a dance and bake sale and a pork steak drivethrough dinner.

– Lena Mae Goessler

Celebrating March birthdays at the Brenham Lodge meeting were, from left, Gary Falkenberg, Robert Preuss and Delores Gaskamp.

Giddings will make cards for residents GIDDINGS – The March meeting of Giddings Lodge was held at the Silos on 77 Hall. All members are invited to attend meetings held the second Thursday of each month at 7 p.m.

On April 26, members will be at the Lee County Youth Center to make cards for all of the residents in the nursing homes and the Beck’s Blessing Homes for Mother’s Day. Youth from the First Assembly of God Church

will be helping. Anyone who can help should meet at the Youth Center at 3 p.m. for set up.

The school of dance recital is set for May 26 at 3 p.m. at the Lee County Youth Center. The lodge presented a donation to the school to help with costs.

The lodge will present scholarships at the Giddings High School awards banquet on May 8.

The $5 drawing winners were Cecilia Martinez, Olivia Mize and Arthur Urban. There were many more items in the drawing presented.

A card was sent to the Arnold Kasper family following his passing and a birthday card was sent to Raymond Lehmann for his birthday.

Everyone enjoyed the pizza dinner.

– Reporter

Montgomery County installs officers CONROE – Montgomery County Lodge President Elaine Swaim and Vice President Lisa Moore have announced they will not seek re-election for 2019.

New officers will need to be

elected at the Christmas party in December.

If you are interested or know someone who is interested, contact Robert Prewitt at 832541-5102. Leave a voice message or send a text.

The lodge met in February and April.

At the February meeting, the 2018 officers were installed.

Marie Cook-Waxler won the door prize.

– Reporter

Alvin and Ruth Lee, members of Brenham Lodge, celebrated 68 years of marriage in March.

Paige Lodge to honor mothers on May 20 PAIGE – Paige Lodge will honor mothers at the May 20 meeting.

Members enjoyed a Mexican potluck lunch prior to the March 11 meeting.

The lodge is considering a garage/yard sale for the summer.

This would be an excellent time for members to get rid of items that are no longer needed or used. More details will be provided at a later date.

Congratulations to La Verne Mattiza on the birth of her third great-grandchild, James Mattiza, born on April 5. The proud parents are Dustin and Alyssa Mattiza and grandpar-

ents are Ricky and Jeanette Mattiza. James has a big sister, Ava. Get-well wishes were extended to Ann Kunkel.

Best wishes go out to Leroy Wobus as he settles in at his new residence in Ardent Courts in Bastrop.

Chelle Dube reported the Elgin School of Dance currently has 28 students who are getting ready for the end of year dance recital.

Sandy Botkin won the attendance prize and Bernice Basward won the dollar pot.

Chelle Dube was the lucky winner of a clock donated by Bernice Basward.

– Sandy Botkin

Page 22 – Hermann Sons Life – May 2018

Bandera County will take treats to nursing home

BANDERA – Bandera County Lodge will host a Join Hands Day event at the Cedar Creek Nursing Home in Bandera. The lodge will treat the residents to flowers and snacks.

The Bandera County School of Dance will hold its recital at Bandera High School on May 19 at 2 p.m.

The lodge recently paid for two Hermann Sons Life banners that are displayed at the Little League fields in Bandera and Pipe Creek.

On April 7, the lodge hosted a Senior Fun Day at the Retirement Home. Residents were treated to a sing-a-long concert by the Ukulele Ladies and Gents led

by Beverly Gagliardi, the lodge’s secretary. Also playing with the group are Paul and Eileen Heath, the lodge’s president.

After the concert, residents

were treated to ice cream sundaes and cookies.

Other lodge members there to help were Pam and Allan Biering, Gary and Kathleen Reile, Joe Gagliardi and Susan and Ken Hillje.

Get well wishes were sent to Lee Fields who has been in the hospital.

Meetings are planned for July 22, Sept. 23 and Nov. 18 at the home of Gary and Kathleen Reile. A covered dish meal will be served at these meetings. At the November meeting, plans will be made for the Christmas party, officers will be elected and the Humanitarian Award recipient will be chosen. The Christmas party will be held Dec. 2 at 2 p.m. at the Lakehills Methodist Church Hall.

All members are urged to attend all of these meetings.

– Reporter

The Ukulele Ladies and Gents perform at the Retirement Home.

Three members of Bandera County Lodge are members of the band.

Retirement Home residents listen as the Ukulele Ladies and Gents perform for them during Senior Fun Day hosted by Bandera County Lodge.

Joe Gagliardi and Eileen Heath took to the dance floor during the Senior Fun Day hosted by Bandera County Lodge at the Retirement Home.

Spring Branch Lodge welcomes new junior member BULVERDE – Spring Branch Lodge will meet Sunday, May 20, at 2:30 p.m. at the Bulverde Community Center.

One new junior member was welcomed at the March meeting.

Alverne Halloran reported sending sympathy cards to the family of Eldred Schneider and the family of Chester Kolmeier.

Members approved the donation of a $100 HEB gift card to the Spring Chicken Festival benefitting the Bulverde Com-

munity Center on May 5. The gift card will be given away in the prize drawing.

Lodge member Ty Schaeferkoeter will be a counselor-intraining at Hermann Sons Life Camp this summer.

Kay and Ed Geffken celebrated their 21st wedding anniversary and Chuck and Sharon Knibbe celebrated their 52nd anniversary.

Kay and Ed Geffken provided the meal.

– Jane Wanke

Celebrating recent birthdays from Spring Branch Spring Branch Lodge President Sharon Knibbe, Lodge were, from left, Kay Geffken, Mildred Bartels left, presents Sandra Duncan, past president of the and Ed Geffken. Not pictured is Carmen Rittimann. lodge, with a card of thanks.

Vineta to honor mothers at May 3 meeting SAN ANTONIO – Vineta Lodge will honor mothers on May 3.

The meal will come from Little Italy. Call Ruth Bailey at 210602-5147 if you will be attending.

On May 16, a social gathering will begin at 10:30 a.m. with bunco. Lunch will follow.

Thanks go to Beth Byron for serving the meal at the March social and Mary Ann Pintaric for furnishing the dessert.

On July 18, the lodge will host a scholarship fund-raiser. Prizes for the drawing and attendance prizes are needed. Call Ruth Bai-

ley at 210-602-5147 if you can help.

Split-the-pot winner was Gladys Garrett.

Attendance prize winners were Ron Bara, Ruth Bailey, Lillian Franckowiak and Janelle Harshaw.

The lodge mourns the passing of Vicki Doerr Fowler, a member for 26 years; Margie Ann Schultze, a member for 52 years; Vivian Bryant, a member for 15 years; Hazel Dawkins, a member for 51 years; Rita Masse Hood, a member for 57 years; Eva Anita Spring, a member for 58 years;

Vineta Lodge President Debbie Jordan presents April birthday celebrant Ron Bara with a card at a recent meeting. and Dorothy Ann Oehler Tietz, a member for 54 years.

– Reporter

Kerrville plans June 6 picnic KERRVILLE – Kerrville Lodge will meet June 6. A picnicstyle meal will be served so members are asked to bring sandwiches, chips and dips, fresh fruit or a dessert. Lemonade and water will be provided. The meeting will be held in the Wells Fargo Bank Community Room, 301 Junction Highway, Kerrville.

Ham and side dishes were served at the April 7 meeting.

Plans are still being finalized for the Join Hands Day event. The lodge is partnering with the American Legion on

a project to help a veteran or veterans. Scott Shoemaker and Tony Straube will work together to get the project selected.

Scott Shoemaker will get a flag for the lodge’s Flag Day presentation to the Hill Country Veterans Center. Final plans for that event will be made at the June meeting.

Other meeting dates this year are Aug. 1 and Oct. 3 at the Wells Fargo Bank and Dec. 7 for the Christmas party at Buzzies BBQ. – Juanice Grona

May 2018 – Hermann Sons Life – Page 23

Pershing collecting teddy bears for Join Hands Day SAN ANTONIO – Pershing Lodge will meet May 2 in the Home Association meeting room beginning at 7 p.m. The lodge will provide the fried chicken and a special Mother’s Day cake.

In observance of Join Hands Day, members are asked to bring stuffed teddy bears. They will be donated to the San Antonio Fire Department and San Antonio Police Department.

At the April meeting, four new members were welcomed into the lodge. They are Sabian Edward Gonzalez, Sparta Emberlynn Gonzalez, Emarosa Mae Sanchez-Arcos and Madelyn Bingham.

Students wanting to apply for the Pershing Lodge Scholarship must have attended at least six regular meetings during a four-

year period and must provide a list of the various activities in which they have been involved as a member of the lodge. Contact the lodge at 210-227-3085 for additional requirements and an application.

Pershing Lodge has bought a page in the pageant program to sponsor Anahi Gutierrez, Miss Pre-Teen San Antonio as she competes in the Miss Pre-Teen Texas United States Pageant.

Chaplain Toni Valek reported on the passing of Greta Dale Davis, Stanley Lee Deitchle, Judy B. McPherson and Russell Eugene Puckett.

Carolyn Valek reported prayers are needed for Morrie Nordland who recently had back surgery.

President Beth Warne won the $25 attendance prize and James

Rosenberg Mayor Bill Benton presents a Certificate of Achievement to Rosenberg-Richmond Lodge President Calvin Lamensky. The certificate recognizes the lodge for its outstanding support of the Channel 13 “Share Your Holidays” food drive benefitting the citizens of West Fort Bend County.

Pershing Lodge is sponsoring Anahi Gutierrez, Miss Pre-Teen San Antonio, as she competes in the Miss Pre-Teen Texas United States Pageant. She is pictured with Agent Carol Krauss, left, and President Beth Warne.

Sharon and Ernest Huegele, members of Pershing Lodge, celebrated their 57th wedding anniversary in April.

Lay was the winner of the splitthe-pot drawing.

Four names were drawn for

the $210 Progressive Pot. Leesa Lohrke Roberts, Tori Mykal Patterson, Gerald Wayne Peeler and

Linda Perry were not present to claim the cash.

– Dorothy Pawlik

Celebrating March and April birthdays from Rosenberg-Richmond Lodge were, from left, Mel Negrete, Rosalie Byrd, LaVerne Tiemann, Johnnie Robeson, Anne Juergens, Doris Boyd, Mike Kassey, Lloyd Engelhardt, Frank Pryor and Raymond Schmidt.

Marjorie and Lloyd Engelhardt celebrated their 65th wedding anniversary on April 25. They are members of RosenbergRichmond Lodge.

Hamburger meal planned

Rosenberg-Richmond to meet June 11 ROSENBERG – RosenbergRichmond Lodge will meet June 11. The lodge will provide the hamburger meal. Members are asked to bring desserts.

The lodge provided the fried chicken for the April meeting. Members brought salads, vegetables and desserts. John and Shirley Pavlock and Rosalie Byrd were in charge of the kitchen. Margie Krenek gave the blessing.

Douglas W. Zappe was welcomed as a new member by way of transfer.

Membership Coordinator Rosalie Byrd reported that sympathy cards were sent to Edna Loesch and the family of Hilda Morris. Get well cards were sent to Evelyn Schmidt, Edna Loesch, Melvin Blahuta and Fritz Oberhoff.

A moment of silence was observed in memory of Hilda Morris.

Mayor William Benton presented a Certificate of Appreciation from the City of Rosenberg to the lodge for outstanding support of the

Channel 13 Share Your Holidays Food Drive.

Agent Chris Stoeltje talked about the Grief Support Camp to be held in July and the Senior Adult Final Expense Plan that is available to those aged 50 and older.

Fred and Margaret Maynard and Margie Krenek donated door prizes.

Winners of attendance prizes were Ray Lehrmann, Tracy Morton, Fred Maynard, Rosalie Byrd and Jose Rivas.

– Reporter

Columbia holds breakfast DALLAS – Greetings from Columbia Lodge.

Thanks go to all the members who came to the St. Alphonso Pancake Breakfast. This was one for the history books.

Special thanks go to those who worked in the kitchen and made this all possible. Chef Bobby Wilbanks flapped all the jacks. Annie and Ian Howe were there to help with the kitchen details slicing ham, preparing plates and keeping an order to the kitchen.

Glenn Marvin and Debra Hundley were there as they are every year. That includes Mary,

Marcel and Selvyn who were all there eating pancakes and bacon.

Lodge Secretary-Treasurer Stanley Whitehead was there telling past tales of the Hall and making guests feel at home.

Barbara Avery was there sans Pat who was home recovering from a serious bout of Kentucky Round Ball Withdrawal.

Bob Sullivan, the man in the hat, was there smiling as he ingested green eggs and ham and then responded with Dr. Seuss-like rhymes.

See you at the Hall.

– Reporter

Page 24 – Hermann Sons Life – May 2018

Shelby collects stuffed animals for Join Hands Day SHELBY – Shelby Lodge will meet Sunday, June 10, at Harmonie Hall. The lodge will not meet in May because the meeting date falls on Mother’s Day. The lodge met April 8 with some members enjoying a game of dominoes and lots of conversation before the meeting.

Stuffed animals were collected in observance of Join Hands Day. These will be shared with the Fayette County law enforcement officers of La Grange who will use them to help children feel more secure if they are involved in an accident. Thanks go to those members who participated in the project.

Agent Linda Mattocks from Round Top has offered her assistance to members of Shelby Lodge. She can be contacted by phone at 512-736-9988 or by email at lindam@industrynet. com. She can help with your current products or help you purchase additional life insurance.

Dwayne Gross’ name was drawn for the progressive door prize but he was not in attendance.

Other door prize winners were Kenny Mueller, Oscar Voelkel, Carolyn Bruening and Lollie Dittmar.

Social hosts for the evening were Oscar and Marie Voelkel and August and Doris Voelkel.

Marie and Oscar Voelkel celebrated their 57th wedding anniversary recently. They are members of Shelby Lodge.

The lodge furnished the ham with members providing the side dishes and desserts.

– Reporter

Celebrating recent birthdays from Shelby Lodge were, front, from left, Doris Christ, Doris Klingsporn, Lollie Dittmar, back, from left, Nolan Krebs and Judy Pieper.

Rutersville to serve burgers on May 2 Adele Lumpkins and David Ehler celebrated birthdays at the March meeting of Cameron Lodge.

RUTERSVILLE – Rutersville Lodge will meet May 2. A meal of grilled hamburgers is planned and members are asked to bring sides and desserts. Sherry Noak, Sheron Citzler and Jo Ann Mueller will provide homemade ice cream.

Bring a prospective member as your guest.

Members enjoyed fried fish, boiled shrimp and many side dishes and desserts at the April 4 meeting.

Agent Linda Mattocks discussed various life insurance plans. Members were reminded to keep information on their policies updated such as any

The Cameron Lodge youth made Easter decorations during the March meeting.

Celebrating birthdays at the April Rutersville Lodge meeting were, from left, Cheryl Kuhn, Dorothy Keilers and Kyle Citzler. Not pictured is Jim Mattocks. name and beneficiary changes.

Door prize winners were James Svrcek, Margie Svrcek,

Kyle Hartmann, Roy Weyand and Darlene Weyand.

– Reporter

Maxwell will donate to school of dance MAXWELL – Maxwell Lodge will not meet in June or July. The most recent meeting was held Sunday, April 8, at the Maxwell Social Club.

In observance of Join Hands Day, the lodge will make a do-

nation to the Luling School of Dance. The school will hold its recital May 5. Several members plan to drive to Luling for the recital and then eat at Blake’s Café.

A get-well card was sent to Vice President Ronnie Duesterheft

who is recovering at home following a hospital stay.

Prize winners were Darlene Bohmfalk and Emma Jean Schulle.

A potluck meal was served.

– Reporter

Cameron plans fish fry

Bexar to hold quarterly meeting May 6

CAMERON – Cameron Lodge will hold a fish fry June 19.

Members enjoyed a chili supper at the March 20 meeting held at Bea’s Kitchen in Cameron.

Members agreed to donate

SAN ANTONIO – Bexar Lodge will meet May 6 at the NW Dancers Studio in front of John Marshall High School.

All members are welcome and encouraged to attend this quarterly meeting.

Members are mourning the passing of Bar-

$200 to Bea’s Kitchen for the use of the facilities.

Two new members were welcomed.

Elected and appointed officers were installed.

– Reporter

bara Stoddard on April 3. Barbara was always there helping with lodge picnics and Christmas parties.

For more information about the meeting, call Linda Wehmeyer at 210-590-1499.

– Reporter

May 2018 – Hermann Sons Life – Page 25

Boerne hears presentation on skin cancer prevention BOERNE – Boerne Lodge will meet Friday, May 4, at 12 noon at Kronkosky Place. Lunch reservations must be made in advance by calling the Rainbow Senior Center at 830-249-2114 by 9 a.m. the day of the meeting.

Members are asked to bring non-perishable food and gently used or new clothing for donation to Hill Country Family Services.

Dr. Monica McCrary and her office staff from Cibolo Creek Dermatology Group were guests at the April meeting along with Mike Solarczyk.

Dr. McCrary gave a presentation on skin cancer and prevention. Skin cancer is one of the easiest cancers to treat if detected early.

Most skin cancers are caused by too much exposure to the sun and its ultraviolet (UV) rays.

However, tanning beds and sun

lamps also can cause skin cancer.

There are three main types of skin cancer - basal cell, squamous cell and melanoma.

Basal cell carcinoma is the most common skin cancer.

These types of cancer usually develop on sun-exposed areas, especially the head, face (nose) and neck. They tend to grow slowly and rarely spread to other parts of the body.

Squamous cell carcinoma also commonly appears on sun-exposed areas of the body such as the face, ears, neck, lips and back of the hands. This type of cancer is more likely to grow into deeper levels of the skin and spread to other parts of the body.

Melanoma is less common but it is more likely to spread to other parts of the body. These cancers are more commonly seen on a man’s back or a woman’s

Dr. Monica McCrary was the guest speaker at the April meeting of Boerne Lodge. legs. Early detection and early treatment is important in treating this more aggressive form of skin cancer.

Easy to remember prevention tips are SLIP on a shirt, SLOP on sunscreen, SLAP on a hat and

Fort Worth donates to Patriot Paws FORT WORTH – Fort Worth Lodge members welcome new junior member Isla Bohnert.

Isla has family members who have been campers and counselors for Hermann Sons Life Camp and she is looking forward to following in their footsteps.

The first part of the lodge’s Join Hands Day project has been completed. On March 27, the lodge presented a check to Patriot Paws at its annual event. The mission of this organization is to train and provide service dogs of the highest quality at no cost to disabled American veterans and others with mobile disabilities and PTSD in order to help restore their physical and emotional independence. This group has entered into a partnership with the Department of Criminal Justice to provide an opportunity for male and female inmates to volunteer and assist in the training of the service dogs. The partnership is intended to provide the inmates a job while serving their sentence, learning a career trade and giving back to the com-

munity.

The next part involves gathering supplies for the animal shelter in Fort Worth. The lodge is collecting bath towels, bleach, dog and cat food, toys and cash donations. Members will deliver these on May 5. If you have anything to donate, contact Robert and Linda Balmos.

The Youth Committee reported it has ordered T-shirts for campers. If you did not send in your order there is still time to get your camper a shirt. They are also having shirts made for junior members who will be working as counselors-intraining and counselors.

Contact Ronnie Jones at 817229-5722 if you need to order a shirt. Campers will be notified when the shirts are ready for delivery.

If you have or know of someone with a child who would like to attend Camp who is not a member, contact Sandra Jones at 817-781-7155.

Milestone makers this month are 50-year member Rodger Gee who joined on April 8, 1968. Joining the lodge on

April 16, 1958 and receiving their 60-year pins are Inajo Gray and Dianna Tutle. We have one member who joined on April 17, 1948, and is a 70year member - Rita Spotts.

Hope to see these members and lots of others on June 10 when the lodge holds its annual picnic and pin presentation.

It will be held at Warren Park Pavilion at 301 SW Johnson Avenue in Burleson. Festivities will start at 3 p.m. with a short meeting followed by the pin presentations and hamburgers and hot dogs. Members are asked to bring desserts. Everyone is welcome. Bring your family and friends.

Sympathy is extended to the family of Rebecca Brauer. Rebecca joined the lodge on Nov. 9, 1961. She and her sister attended the picnic last year to see their dad receive his 60year pin.

Happy Birthday wishes go to Mike Barclay, Hailee McBroom (who turned 21 on April 1), Justin McLaughlin, Lisa Schick, Morris Turek, Brett Walters and Vince Wos. – Reporter

WRAP on sunglasses.

Sympathy is extended to the families of Elizabeth “Betty” Bruzzard and Anita Herbst. Donations will be made in their memory to the Retirement Home.

Marilyn Vogt and Barbara and Donald D’Spain attended the March 17 statewide event in Seguin. They reported it to be well attended and informative.

Colton Munsell was welcomed as a junior member.

Marilyn Vogt reported that five high school students have been selected to receive a scholarship from the lodge. The scholarships will be presented on May 15 for Champion High School and May 22 for Boerne High School.

The Boerne School of Dance will hold its recital May 20 at 3 p.m. at Boerne Middle School North. Members are encouraged to attend.

Celebrating April birth-

days were Harvey Vogt and Erna Vogt. They received a free meal ticket for the Rainbow Senior Center.

Congratulations go to Lloyd and Elizabeth Markell who celebrated their 66th wedding anniversary in April.

At the March meeting, five junior members were welcomed.

They are Daniel Burdick, Kyra Dougherty, Sophie Gibbs, Conley Pechacek and Aubree Smith.

Letters of thanks were received from Kate Nevels and Ty Matter who both benefitted from the lodge’s $250 donation to the Kendall County Junior Livestock Show.

Sympathy was extended to the family of Daisy George. A donation was made to the Retirement Home in her memory.

Lloyd Markell celebrated a March birthday.

– Barbara D’Spain

McGregor collecting food donations for local pantry McGREGOR – McGregor Lodge will meet May 2 at 6 p.m. at The Coffee Shop in McGregor. Members are asked to bring non-perishable food for donation to the McGregor Food Pantry in observance of Join Hands Day. The April 4 meeting also was held at The Coffee Shop.

President Doris Mooney thanked everyone who helped at the Westview Manor Valentine party. Thanks go to Teresa Sneed, El Nora Lawton, Janet Schmalriede, Betty Johnson, Leona Hendrickson and Doris Mooney for making cookies and serving.

Get well cards were sent to

Karen Rice and Hermine Wolf.

A sympathy card was sent to the family of Hilda Witt who passed away April 2.

Thanks go to Regenia Arseneaux and husband Kerry for attending the “Leading with Heart” event in Seguin. She gave a report about the event.

Happy 67th wedding anniversary wishes go out to Al and Hermine Wolf and to John and Teresa Sneed on their 43rd.

Celebrating March and April birthdays were Betty Johnson, Janet Schmalriede and Doris Mooney.

Door prize winners were Jerry Thane and Al Wolf.

– Doris Mooney

Plum holds March meeting PLUM – Plum Lodge met March 12 at the Prairie Valley Schoolhouse. Linda Poncik provided the meal. Other women provided desserts.

Members discussed Join Hands Day and the presentation of membership pins.

Jackie Wessels, Willie Hunger, Verlene Hobratschk and Linda Mattox received the lodge’s monthly door prizes.

Gloria Raschke went home with the quarterly drawing prize.

– Reporter

Page 26 – Hermann Sons Life – May 2018

Kirby men will provide Mother’s Day meal on May 7

KIRBY – Kirby Lodge will meet Monday, May 7, at 7 p.m. The men will provide the meal in honor of Mother’s Day. Members are asked to bring side dishes. The lodge will provide the desserts.

The lodge would like to thank lodge members, their families, lodge youth and Girl Scout Troop 164 for joining hands with the lodge to help “We Back the Blue, Red and Green” with its 5k/10k. All money raised went to help The San Antonio 100 Club and Soldiers’ Angels.

Eleven members and guests from the lodge were there along with eight volunteers from Troop 164. Race participants even got to enjoy seeing the Girl Scouts cheering them on dressed in Girl Scout

cookie costumes. Volunteers had fun helping at several stations throughout the race and cheering on the runners.

Thanks go to all who were able to attend and help with the lodge’s first new member event. Members had a great time playing games for prizes, eating pizza and salad and socializing. The evening ended with popcorn, ice cream and a movie called “Fernando.” The lodge looks forward to doing this event again next year.

The Kirby School of Dance will perform at Kirby HOBO Days at Kirby Friendship Park on Saturday, May 5, at 12 noon.

The recital will be held Saturday, May 12, at 2:30 p.m. at Kirby Middle School.

Two new members were welcomed at the April meeting.

They are Angelina Torres and Aubrey Wollney.

Members celebrating April birthdays were Judy Schulmeier, Lillian Brietzke and Candace Scheibe.

Members celebrating April anniversaries were James and Henrietta Lowak, 57 years; and Judy and Irvin Schulmeier, 37 years. Judy and Irvin brought ice cream sandwiches for the members in honor of their anniversary.

Split-the-pot winners were James Lowak (a three-time winner), Lilian Brietzke and Judy Schulmeier.

Henrietta Lowak won the $25 attendance prize.

Door prize winners were Jimmy Scheibe, Samantha Schulmeier, Irvin Schulmeier, Carol Gloor, Candace Scheibe, Judy

Everyone enjoyed playing games at the Kirby Lodge new member event held in April.

Schulmeier, Linda Lambrecht, Tammy Haecker, Julie Lyssy, Rebeca Chavez, Scherlyn Gleitz, Kenton Gleitz, Carolina McQuatters, Gabby McQuatters, Kylie McQuatters, Wanda Uecker, Keary Lambrecht, James McQuatters, Linda Gloor and James Lowak.

Get-well wishes go to Sandra Bundick.

Don’t forget to pick up the Kirby Lodge 2018-2019 schedule at the May meeting. The lodge has several fun events planned for the year. All members are welcome to attend.

– Angela Netherton

Hannah and Azlynn enjoy the three-legged race at the Corpus Christi Lodge Easter party.

David Garcia Jr. made a mask at the Corpus Christi Lodge Easter party.

Corpus Christi will meet May 7 at Miller’s BBQ CORPUS CHRISTI – Corpus Christi Lodge will meet May 7 at 6:30 p.m. at Miller’s BBQ on Leopard Street.

The April 2 meeting was held at Hilltop Community Center and included a pot luck meal and games The 50/50 winner was Kiersten Hunt.

The lodge hosted an Easter party for all junior members on March 24 at West Guth Park in Corpus Christi.

Sixty or more members and their friends and families showed up and enjoyed games like a three-legged race, egg toss and sack race. All the children enjoyed the big Easter egg hunt.

Hamburgers and hotdogs were served for lunch and there were cupcakes for dessert.

Megan Hunt did face painting for all.

The children enjoyed busting open the piñata at the end of the party.

– Brittny Mcpheeters

Competing in the sack race at the Corpus Christi Lodge Easter party were, from left, Ray Garcia, Shelly Hunt, Renee Trujillo, Jenna Moseley, Pearl Hunt and Cheryl Garcia. Shelly Hunt came in first.

Columbus meeting June 11

Door prize winners at the April Corpus Christi Lodge meeting were, from left, David Garcia Jr., Joel Mcpheeters and Hunter Buitron.

COLUMBUS – Columbus Lodge will meet June 11 at 7 p.m.

At the April 9 meeting, Agent Terrel Maertz spoke about the “Leading with Heart” statewide event held in Seguin that he and his wife, Agent Robin Maertz, attended in March. He also explained the SAFE Plan.

Get-well cards were sent to John Holub and Adrian Fritsch.

Members celebrating birth-

days in March and April were Jessamy Comer, Douglas Lilie, Yeola Jo Felty, David Mazac, Marjorie Brune, Lisa Brune, Elsie Ashorn, Mary K. Williams and Judy Quick.

Kenton and Beverly Lilie celebrated an anniversary on April 6.

Everyone enjoyed the entertainment led by John and Elena Holub and refreshments.

– Reporter

May 2018 – Hermann Sons Life – Page 27

Houston Lodge to gather at Sokol Hall May 14 HOUSTON – Houston Lodge celebrated its annual Family/ Pioneer Day on Sunday, April 8.

James and Darlene Ellison prepared the meal of hamburgers and hot dogs. Members enjoyed many activities and the fellowship of other members.

President Jack Manchack reminded everyone the next meeting is scheduled for Monday, May 14, at Sokol Hall, 1314 West Patton. The social hour begins at 6 p.m. and the potluck meal will be served at 7 p.m.

Members are expected to discuss activities and possibly holding meetings at restaurants.

Input is needed.

For additional information go to hermannsonslife.org/lodges/ houston. This can be accessed from any device with Internet access including a cell phone.

The lodge information is kept up to date about future meetings.

Any changes will be noted there plus meal plans for upcoming

James Ellison, left, receives the 2017 Humanitarian Award for Houston Lodge from President Jack Manchack. meetings.

Join Hands Day will be observed Saturday, May 5, from 1-4 p.m. at the Houston Food Bank.

Secretary Catherine Manchack said she would like for her SPJST Youth Club members to join hands with the lodge that day. Volunteers are needed. For

more information, call Catherine at 832-443-0469.

At the March meeting, President Jack Manchack presented James Ellison with the 2017 Humanitarian Award.

James donates much time to his church and to the Houston Rodeo and Livestock Association.

Celebrating March birthdays from Houston Lodge were, from left, James Ellison, Addison Sewell, Emily Falkenberg and Gary Falkenberg.

Doris Falkenberg announced she had sent a sympathy card to Josie Muskie following the passing of Kermit. She also sent thinking of you cards to Roy Dueitt, Milton Fuchs and Nelda Keilers.

Winners in the monthly attendance drawing were Emily

Falkenberg, Addison Sewell, Kiera Thomason, Lavina Patterson and Reuben Heldberg.

Anyone who knows someone who is interested in becoming a member is asked to call Gary Falkenberg with the referral information.

– Reporter

Louise Schuetze collecting donations for God’s Dogs SAN ANTONIO – Louise Schuetze Lodge members are encouraged to wear pink to the May meeting in honor of Mother’s Day. The lodge will provide the ice cream for the ice cream social.

Members wore their Fiestathemed colors to the April meeting. They enjoyed the salads provided by members.

In observance of Join Hands Day, members are asked to make donations to God’s

Dogs. Newspapers, towels, dog food and monetary donations are needed. These items can be dropped off at the office on Tuesdays, Wednesdays or Thursdays before May 7.

Mary Therese Trujillo, Janice and Vincent Schwab and David James attended the annual NEISD Book Sale to collect bags of books for donation to Christus Santa Rosa in observance of Make a Difference Day. Alice Naughton also donated a

bag of books.

Members were reminded that to report their volunteer hours to the lodge. They can do so when they sign in at each month’s meeting. The hours only count if two or more members volunteer in the name of Hermann Sons Life.

Carol Grill won the splitthe-pot prize and Jo Ann Massengale won the attendance prize.

– Reporter

Louise Schuetze Lodge President Janice Schwab, second from left, presents birthday cards to, from left, Debbie Gold, Lynn Wiede and Vincent Schwab at the April meeting.

Prinz Solms will meet June 10

Lloyd and Elizabeth Markell celebrated their 66th Janet Abell, left, and Mary Theresa Trujillo got wedding anniversary in April. Elizabeth is a mem- into the Fiesta spirit for the April meeting of Louise ber of Louise Schuetze Lodge.

Schuetze Lodge.

BULVERDE – Prinz Solms Lodge will meet June 10 at 5 p.m. at the Bulverde Community Center.

At the April 8 meeting, the lodge welcomed one new adult member and eight new junior members. They are Claudia Jones, Adelaide Smith, Madeline Siebold, Gates Brightman, Warner Brightman, Colton Bowen, Chance Bowen, Jacob Kirk and Sarah Kirk.

A barbecue dinner from Smokey Mo’s was served along

with the desserts provided by members.

Members discussed attending an upcoming performance at the local S.T.A.G.E. Theater in Bulverde and the Aug. 4 new member picnic at Hilltop Camp Members were asked to help with the cake booth at the Bulverde Community Center’s Chicken Festival on April 29 to support the Bulverde Community Center where the lodge meets.

– Reporter

Page 28 – Hermann Sons Life – May 2018

Cibolo Lodge to hold Mother’s Day bunco night CIBOLO – Cibolo Lodge will hold a Mother’s Day bunco night as part of the May meeting. Everyone is invited to come for a lasagna dinner, bunco with prizes and a gift card prize drawing just for mothers.

In June, members will play dominoes for prizes in honor of Father’s Day. Brisket will be served and there will be a gift card drawing just for the fathers in attendance.

You do not have to be a member to come and enjoy fellowship. Everyone is welcome.

Officers are asking for input about possible changes to meetings including locations and times. For members who cannot attend meetings or have suggestions for guest speakers or different topics you would

like to hear or read about, email Tracy Campos at tracycampos78108@gmail.com. She will pass along the suggestions and send updates and meeting reminders. Or you can send a note to Tracy Campos, Recording Secretary, 12340 Schaefer Road, Cibolo, TX 78108, or to any officer.

On May 5, members will be passing out flowers at the Cibolo School of Dance recital that will be held at Jackson Auditorium on the Texas Lutheran University campus. Set up begins at 2 p.m. The recital starts at 3 p.m. and everyone is invited to come and watch the dancers in their costumes as they show off what they have learned .

At the April meeting, Katherine Campos and Mary Ann Gray were the adult attendance

Brenley Bierstedt shows off her decorated Easter egg cookie.

Dawn Bierstedt decorated this beautiful Easter egg cookie.

Dorothy Schneider is pictured in her Easter costume with her Easter poem and jelly beans.

award winners. Brenley Bierstedt was the junior member award winner.

Mary Ann Gray’s beets were

voted the best side dish. Cory Rakowitz’s banana pudding was voted the best dessert.

Celebrating birthdays were

Melvin Dornbusch, Sylvia Schlather and Dorothy Schneider.

– Reporter

New Bielau Lodge President Dorothy Chevalier presents Robert Ulrich with his 60-year membership pin.

Robert has been a member since March 28, 1958.

New Bielau plans project WEIMAR – New Bielau Lodge will hold a meeting at 2 p.m. on May 4, at Parkview Manor. Following the meeting, members will serve cookies to the residents and play games with them.

This is the lodge’s Join Hands Day project.

The last meeting was held March 26 at the New Bielau Community Center. Arlene Marshall celebrated a birthday in February and Robert Ulrich celebrated his 80th birthday in March.

Pizza and desserts were served.

– Reporter

DaCosta Lodge to meet May 8 DACOSTA – DaCosta Lodge will meet Tuesday, May 8, at 6 p.m. All members are welcome and encouraged to attend.

The lodge will soon be looking for new hall management as the

Venglars have decided to retire after 13 years of service.

The Summer Family Social is scheduled for Aug. 12. More details to come.

– Reporter

Barrett Gersbach, Sydney Marek and Barrett Gersbach were among those hunting Easter eggs at the Schwertner Lodge March meeting.

Winners of door prizes for finding the golden eggs at the Schwertner Lodge Easter egg hunt were, from left, Steve Schellenberg, Jerry Grote, Shirley Fischer and Sydney Marek.

Schwertner to hold spaghetti dinner SCHWERTNER – Schwertner Lodge members – young and young at heart - enjoyed an Easter egg hunt prior to the March meeting.

Easter baskets were provided so everyone could look for the candy-filled eggs.

Winning the door prizes by finding the golden eggs were Steve Schellenberg, Jerry Grote, Shirley Fischer and Sydney Marek.

President Irene Schwertner reported on the “Leading with

Heart” statewide meeting she and Randall had attended in Seguin.

The lodge made a donation to the Camp Grief Support Session that will be held in July.

Thirty-one members and guests enjoyed a loaded baked potato supper prepared by Cynthia and Charles Gersbach.

Providing desserts were Shirley Fischer and Mike and Diana Hovatter.

Celebrating birthdays were Cayson Gersbach and Marga-

ret Jones.

Irene congratulated Cheryl and Jerry Grote on the birth of their new granddaughter.

The next meeting will be held May 21. A spaghetti dinner will be served at 6:30 p.m.

The lodge will partner with the First Baptist Church of Bartlett for Join Hands Day. Members are asked to bring non-perishable food items to the meeting.

– Reporter

May 2018 – Hermann Sons Life – Page 29

Gay Hill Lodge will meet July 12 Celebrating March and April birthdays at the recent Gay Hill Lodge meeting were, from left, Patsy Fischer, Marvin Fischer and Mae Fischer. Agent Donnie Blinka gave his report. The next meeting will be held Thursday, July 12.

Anniversary couples attending the April Siemering Lodge meeting were, from left, Paul and Katherine Hess and Elizabeth and Lloyd Markell.

Members of Gay Hill Lodge celebrating March and April anniversaries were, from left, Bradley and Patsy Fischer, Marlene and Curtis Rodenbeck, Shonda and Robert Ziese and Linda and Floyd Bentke.

Siemering to honor moms, pioneers at May meeting SAN ANTONIO – Siemering Lodge will celebrate its anniversary and honor its pioneer members at the May meeting.

Mothers also will be honored so everyone is asked to wear pink.

Members who are receiving pins this year will be invited.

Everyone is asked to make a reservation by calling the office at 210-226-6831 or Sharon Fite at 210-359-6522. You can also email Sharon at sefite.siemering@gmail.com.

Father’s Day and Flag Day will be the focus of the June gathering. Everyone is encouraged to wear their favorite red, white and blue outfits.

Members celebrated Fiesta at the April gathering. Everyone dressed in bright colors, their Fiesta shirts and proudly showed off their collection of medals.

Members agreed to keep the meeting starting time at 7 p.m. and adopted the revised Local Lodge Bylaws.

Melrose Bendele and

Comfort will honor graduates May 14

Ron Bara from Siemering Lodge celebrates his birthday in April.

JoAnn Massengale with assistance from President Donald O’Connor served a fried chicken dinner with lots of spring fruit.

Thanks go to the Bara family for the dessert.

The lodge’s half of the splitthe-pot proceeds will be donated to the Camp Grief Support Session.

– Augusta Fite

COMFORT – Comfort Lodge will honor its graduating high school seniors at the Monday, May 14, meeting. It will be held at the Retirement Home beginning with a social hour at 4 p.m. The meal will be served at 5 p.m. Members are asked to bring sandwiches individually wrapped (the equivalent of a loaf of bread) or two bags of chips to share with members and the residents. There will not be a business meeting.

Scholarships will be presented.

Members enjoyed chicken spaghetti, green beans and cookies with ice cream at the meeting in April.

Members discussed the golf tournament that was held in April in support of the Grief Support Session that will be held at Hermann Sons Life

Celebrating special days at the Comfort Lodge April gathering were, from left, Dusty Bruns (birthday) and Elizabeth and Buddy Preuss (anniversary).

Camp this summer. Including a donation from the lodge, a total of $4,000 was raised. Additional information about the tournament including results and a list of the individuals and donors who made the day possible will be included in the

June edition of Hermann Sons Life.

As always, for the most up to date and latest news for Comfort Lodge find us on Facebook by searching Hermann Sons Life Comfort.

– Reporter

Dorothy and Clinton Ellebracht celebrated their wedding anniversary in April. They are members of Schulenburg Lodge.

Emma Nitschke and Bill Michalke celebrated birthdays in April.

They are members of Schulenburg Lodge.

Schulenburg welcomes new members SCHULENBURG – New members were welcomed when Schulenburg Lodge met in April.

The new members are Colton Allen Garcia, Anahi Lily Moreno, Myles Adam Krenek, Collette Olivia Jahn and Lillia Renae Wotipka.

The Schulenburg School of Dance recital is set for May 5 at the Schulenburg Civic Center. Performances will be held at 1 p.m. and 3:30 p.m.

A sympathy card was sent to Kathy and Nathan Loth following the loss of Kathy’s sister, Agatha.

Junette Rodecap made a donation to the scholarship fund in memory of Otto Kocian. Grace Baylor and Bill and Delores Michalke made donations in memory of Dorothy Ripper.

Members who live in a nursing home were recognized for their birthdays. They are Georgia Ka-

lich, Lillian Manning, Dorothy Ripper and Jack Klesel in March and Leroy Hoffmann in April.

Everyone enjoyed a meal of enchiladas, beans, rice and desserts. Thanks go to everyone who provided food and to Kathy Loth and Susan Kohleffel who helped in the kitchen.

Emma Nitschke won the Arlan’s gift card door prize.

– Reporter

Page 30 – Hermann Sons Life – May 2018

Helotes Lodge members bought and sold medals in support of Saving Grace Dog Rescue San Antonio at the Fiesta Medal Bash held at John T. Floore Country Store in Helotes.

Helotes will meet June 12 HELOTES – Officers were installed at Helotes Lodge’s first meeting of 2018.

They include president, Carl Gass; vice president, Al Michalczak; corresponding secretary, Rebecca T. Henley; financial secretary/treasurer, Susie Michalczak; financial trustees, Shirley Jonas, Mary Lee Sloan and Letty Fragoso; membership coordinator, E.J. Menn; and

communications coordinator, Lisa Fragoso.

Cash door prize winners were E.J. Menn, Mary Lee Sloan, Rebecca Henley, Letty Fragoso and Susie Michalczak.

The next meeting will be held June 12 at 7 p.m. at Braun hall.

Charlie and Mary Lee Sloan will host the dinner. Cash door prizes will be given away.

– Reporter

Lockhart Lodge honored graduating high school seniors at the April 8 meeting. The three seniors in attendance were Hayden Lindsey, Bethany Visage and Logan Till.

Lockhart honors graduates LOCKHART – Lockhart Lodge will meet May 6 at Chisholm Trail Barbeque beginning at 6 p.m. All members are urged to attend.

The lodge honored eight graduating high school seniors with a hamburger party on April 8 at Henry’s Restaurant. Hayden Lindsey, Bethany Visage and Logan Till attended with family and friends.

After the meal Youth Coor-

dinator Carol Schuelke spoke briefly and then each graduate talked about his or her Hermann Sons Life activities in the past several years.

President Ann Schroeder presented them with a small gift.

Gifts were mailed to the other seniors including Braden Dwyer, Kenan Campbell, Damian Herrera, Marinna Sifuentes and Larry Simmons III. – Lil Pfefferkorn

Deanville earns grant for rewiring hall DEANVILLE – Deanville Lodge is completely rewiring its historic hall with the help of the Texas Dance Hall Preservation Society.

The society presented the lodge with a $2,500 grant that will be used to help pay for the rewiring. Members voted in March to spend lodge money to complete the project that was scheduled to begin in April.

On March 23, approximately 600 people attended the third annual Deanville Memorial Park fund-raiser held on the grounds at the lodge hall. Approximately 1,200 pounds of boiled shrimp and trimmings was served. The lodge is a proud supporter of this community event.

The next community event for the lodge is the sixth annual St. John’s Lutheran Germanfest set for Sunday, May 20, at the Deanville Fire Station.

For Join Hands Day, the lodge will partner with Caldwell Middle School and the Deanville 4-H Club.

A fund-raiser will be held in

Members celebrating March birthdays pose at the Deanville Lodge meeting were, from left, Glenn Faust, Joyce Krenek and Tom Krenek.

September to benefit Brazos Valley Hospice.

All members are encouraged to attend the April and May meetings to help in the planning of the 105th annual Fourth of July celebration. If you are unable to attend the meetings but would like to volunteer, call Donnie Blinka at 979-219-3126.

At the March meeting, a moment of silence was observance in memory of Jimmy Lee Laffere

Deanville Lodge hosted an Easter egg hunt prior to the March meeting. who passed away that day. Sympathy is extended to his family as well as the families of Karen Brinkman and Katherine Korth.

Larry Maresh continues to recovery from surgery for a broken hip.

Tammy Jones and Donnie Blinka gave a report on the “Leading with Heart” statewide event they attended on March 17 in Seguin.

– Reporter

Fredericksburg to take part in Relay for Life FREDERICKSBURG – Fredericksburg Lodge will meet May 1. The lodge will furnish the chicken and pork fajitas. Members and guests are asked to bring a side dish.

A memorial service was held to honor the 17 members who passed away in 2017. Family members received carnations.

In observance of Join Hands Day, the lodge will partner with the American Cancer Society for its annual Relay for Life event.

Volunteers will help with the set up for the annual walk, which is scheduled for May 4 at the Fredericksburg ISD football field.

Community Coordinator Kather-

ine Cornehl will coordinate the lodge’s participation. The lodge will also make a $200 donation to the American Cancer Society.

A card was sent to Gail Klein who had surgery recently.

The lodge was represented at the March 17 “Leading With Heart” statewide event in Seguin.

The lodge made a $200 contribution to the Camp Grief Support Session in conjunction with the event.

Attendance prizes were awarded to Katherine Cornehl and Hans Enderlin.

For more information about the May meeting, contact Hans

Lou Awalt, left, and Florence Terry celebrate their birthdays in April. They are members of Fredericksburg Lodge.

Enderlin at 830-895-1343 or Windy Duecker at 830-997-2983.

– Reporter

Kypfer-Salge Lodge to serve spaghetti May 4 CLEAR SPRINGS – Kypfer-Salge Lodge will meet May 4. Darline Preiss will prepare the spaghetti.

Members are asked to bring a side dish or dessert.

Kery and Kathy Noble prepared the ham for the April 6 meeting.

Welcomed as new junior members were Ryan Brown, Travis Miqura, Kairyn Motl, Jaxyn Motl

and Raelyn Motl.

The Nolan Koepp family sent a thank you card and Hope Hospice also sent a thank you for the donation made in Nolan Koepp’s name.

Please let Nelrose Koepp know if someone is sick or has passed away so a card can be sent.

The lodge also received a card

from Hope Hospice for the lodge’s donation of proceeds from the Valentine Bunco party.

The $50 monthly donation went to ARC Hill Country.

Attendance prize winners were Kery Noble, Nelrose Koepp, Art Brinkkoeter, Donna Sureddin and Helen Lammert.

– Reporter

May 2018 – Hermann Sons Life – Page 31

Agents Directory (alphabetized by area) Abilene Diane Marie Smith 325-665-2253

Comfort Norma Bruns, FIC 830-995-3980

Georgetown Brad Klein, FIC 512-497-0678

La Vernia Sharon Tanneberger, FIC 210-827-0526

Adkins Roxy Pruski 210-218-6204

Corpus Christi Frank Brandon 361-241-5593

Giddings Loretta Chilek, FIC 979-542-2806

Marlin Tanneberger, FIC 210-827-7229

Austin Shirley Kuhen Faske 512-789-3975

Pearl Hunt 361-241-0940

Linda Kieschnick, FIC 979-542-5224

Lubbock April Behnke 806-797-3585

Troylyn Sisneros-Gonzalez 361-232-7413

Gonzales Bobbie Polasek 830-672-6317

Marion Lorene Bielke, FIC 830-420-2380

Greg Polasek 830-540-4812

Marshall Donald Robinette 903-690-3193

Bandera Stephanie Brown 210-621-3891 Bastrop William Hinkston 512-284-1684 Bellville Robert Herridge 979-865-3222 Bernardo/Columbus Robin Maertz 979-732-1687

Cuero Laura Tiffin Wayne Tiffin 361-275-8421 Dallas Helen Tyson Brown 214-796-0668 Del Rio Pat Fritz, FIC 432-292-4483

Graham/Wichita Falls David Wolf 940-550-5202 Hondo Stacy Saathoff 830-444-9160 Houston Anna Larie Keith 281-259-6337

Terrel Maertz 979-732-1727

Devine Cynthia Sultenfuss 210-219-6409

Boerne/Fair Oaks Carl Behrendt 210-422-1159

Edna/Jackson County Sam Matlock 361-782-3206

Boerne/San Antonio Pamela Poulk 210-753-2626

El Campo Dennis Wigginton 832-278-9636

Boerne Lisa Rozacky 210-838-3306

Floresville/Poth Beth Cutsinger 210-325-6667

Marilyn Vogt, FICF 210-630-9874

Floresville Lynn Wiede 830-393-4660

Karnes City Abigail Fenner 830-534-6982

Fort Worth Sandra Jones, FIC 817-295-2666

Russell Swize 830-780-4053

Caldwell Donnie Blinka 979-596-1309 Canyon Lake Sandra Duncan 830-905-3233 Castroville Glenford Boehme, FIC 210-219-9792 Cibolo/Schertz Tracy Campos 210-860-6675 Judith Schulmeier, FIC 210-667-1938

Fredericksburg Todd Bierschwale 830-997-2130

Sarah Spencer 361-550-1883 Gerald Ziemnicki 713-622-9001 Jourdanton Valerie M. Vick 210-748-5598 Katrina Wiatrek 210-326-9505

Kirby Angela Netherton 210-831-1293

Dennis Henke 830-997-5290

La Coste Tanya Crisp 830-985-9230

George West Tracy Caron 361-449-0348

La Grange Linda Mattocks 512-736-9988

Maxwell Charles Croley 512-357-6638 Needville Melissa Kostelnik 713-304-1692 Chris Stoeltje 979-559-6127 New Braunfels Kathryn Green 830-463-9455 Shirley Huebinger 830-822-1942 Tim Salge 830-625-4816 Nixon-Smiley Diana P. Moreno 830-379-2244 Orange Grove Paula Gebert 361-384-2375 Paige RaChelle Dube 512-740-3518 Pflugerville Julius Dubcak 512-272-8393 Port Lavaca Nancy Annette Walraven 361-552-9403 Rockdale Judy Marie York 512-446-5914

Marketing Department Staff

210-527-9113 • 877-437-6266 • 888-839-7667 Grand Vice President-Marketing Tim Kolbe timk@hermannsonslife.org Marketing Analyst Ana Vasquez, FLMI, AIRC, FIC anav@hermannsonslife.org Administrative Assistant Gladys Rowley gladysr@hermannsonslife.org Special Representatives: Dan Boenig - 210-705-1815 danb@hermannsonslife.org Becki Carley - 361-550-9358 beckicarley@yahoo.com Gary Falkenberg, FICF - 713-466-6069 • 713-899-4138 gfalken908@aol.com Eulla May Krueger - 210-863-0546 • 830-985-3643 eullak@hermannsonslife.org Teresa Saathoff - 210-276-0361 • 210-422-6996 teresaasaathoff@gmail.com Alfred Stryk, FICF, LUTCF - 281-485-4095 alstryk@sbcglobal.net

Round Top/Rutersville Linda Mattocks 512-736-9988

Seguin/San Antonio Carol Krauss, FIC 210-725-4106

San Antonio Philip A. Abell 210-771-1213

Seguin Annette D. Roecker 830-832-0724

Ruth Bailey 210-602-5147

Tina B. Ynfante 210-859-1973

John Hoog 210-226-8801

Diane Terp 830-305-3564

Darlene Irwin 210-392-2649

Spring Branch Gloria Gass 830-885-4405

Rayna Sue Irwin 210-710-7038 Clif Klabunde, FIC 210-219-6142 Jim McNeel 210-601-2097

Lisa Lanphere 830-221-8128 Stockdale Ronald Wiatrek 830-996-3005

Emma Moya 210-344-3935

Victoria Jason Hybner 361-652-6924

San Marcos/Lockhart Janice Kuhen 512-393-1431

Victoria/Yoakum Laura Thigpen 361-676-8307

Schulenburg/Weimar Mary K. Seifert 979-743-0312

Yoakum Mary Koenig 361-293-1743

Schwertner Irene Schwertner 254-527-4470

Yorktown Judy Wolf 361-564-2452

A list of agents also is available online at hermannsonslife.org

Page 32 – Hermann Sons Life – May 2018

Shining Stars

ARYON SURGINER is a member of La Vernia Lodge.

She is in second grade. Her favorite food is fried chicken and her favorite TV show is “Girl Meets World.”

Aryon has a pet dog, Angel, and a cat, Cinderella. Her activities include dance, hiking and church.

BRIELLE DZIADIK-WILLINGHAM is a member of Lockhart Lodge. She is in fifth grade. Her favorite food is mac and cheese and her favorite TV show is “The Middle.”

Brielle has a pet cat, Leo. Her activities include dance, Girl Scouts, NEHS, church and safety patrol.

MELISSA MAE GREEN is a member of New Braunfels Lodge. She is in kindergarten.

Her favorite food is cinnamon rolls and her favorite TV show is “My Little Pony.”

Melissa has a pet dog, Remy.

Her activities include art, dancing, running and playing.

MACY ANNETTE GREEN is a member of New Braunfels Lodge. She is in prekindergarten. Her favorite food is donuts and her favorite TV show is “Doc McStuffins.”

Macy has a pet dog, Remy.

Her activities include Tball, swimming, running and playing at the park.

CADEN HAECKER is a member of La Vernia Lodge. He is in third grade. His favorite food is pizza and his favorite TV show is “Modern Family.”

Caden has two pet dogs and five chickens. His activities include football, kayaking, dirtbike riding and basketball.

BRYSON PARKER is a member of New Braunfels Lodge. He is in third grade. His favorite food is trout and his favorite TV show is “Star Wars.”

Bryson has a pet named Lily.

His activities include karate, baseball and taking trips.

BRAYDEN PARKER is a member of New Braunfels Lodge. He is in first grade. His favorite food is pizza and his favorite TV show is “Star Wars.”

Braden has a pet named Lily.

His activities include soccer, karate and “being a Jedi.”

KYLER PARKER is a member of New Braunfels Lodge. He is in prekindergarten. His favorite food is candy and his favorite TV show is “Magic School Bus.” Kyler has a pet named Lily.

His activities include racing, karate and playing ball.

Shining Star Registration Form Just send us a photo of yourself (that we can keep) and fill out this form and send to: Tammi Sutherland, P.O. Box 1941, San Antonio, TX 78297. The form is also available at online, hermannsonslife.org. Photos of our Shining Stars also are featured online.

Mother’s Day Maze Help the mom find her Mother’s Day flowers!

Name: Birthday: Home Phone: Daytime Phone: Address: City:

Zip:

Memorial Day Word Search

E-mail Address: Grade in school: Favorite Food: Pets: Favorite TV Show: Activities: It is OK with my parents that I am featured as a “Shining Star” in the Hermann Sons Life newspaper, website and any other advertising publications.

Parent’s Signature: I am a member of

Anthem Cemetery Ceremony Decoration Fallen Flag Flowers Graves Halfmast Holiday Honor

May Memorial Observance Patriotic Remembrance Salute Soldiers Taps Veterans War

Lodge No.

Certificate No.______________________________________________________ Answers on Pg. 10