Grant's Eulogy
Words of Remembrance
September 8th, 2005
Priscilla L. Jensen
I wanted to point out the picture on the front cover that we are using for the order of service today. It is Jesus welcoming one into heaven. When I thanked the pastor for choosing it, he said it just sort of worked out that way because the church ran out of bulletins and he called around to some other churches and the one that had some to spare said these were it. I believe that mom heard the words of Jesus as printed on the front cover as she entered into the joy of the Lord.
The daughter of Gustav and Grace, Priscilla Lois Lohman was born in South Minneapolis on 11/27/1919. Priscilla was the 2nd of 3 children. Her older sister Muriel and her younger brother Richard (Dick), were un-conditionally loved, treasured, admired and often challenged by Priscilla.
In 1936 Priscilla and 6 other "girls" (Bernice, Dagne, Berdine, Arlene, Lorraine and Millie) began what was to become a 68 year relationship of support, laughter and friendship. They referred to one another as the "Club Girls" and their motto was "Gotta Koppa Ghi". Of the Club Girls, Priscilla was the first to get married, the first to have a baby and now the first to die.
Priscilla graduated from South High in 1937, then in1941 she graduated with a BA degree in Bio-Statistics from the University of Minnesota.
Priscilla and Ray met prior to WW II and were married on August 13th, 1942. Out of that bonding of heart, mind and spirit were born Barbara, Mark, Steven, Grant, Scott, Todd, Margaret and Jane.
Priscilla was a fully active and supportive member of Oliver Presbyterian Church since 1947. There she served as an elder, member of the presbytery, Deacon, Vocalist, VBS and Sunday School Teacher (Director and Superintendent, respectively), a supporter of the Mother's Club, Chair of the Worship Committee and boss to Tom Snyder and a stalwart supporter of each and every pastor. Additionally apart from Oliver, she was a leader in BSF and a volunteer for Meals on Wheels.
Priscilla, along with her cherished cousin, Helen and her treasured sister-in-law Char, taught us by example, the joy of the Lord, as seen in the gift of laughter.
I remember one of mom's favorite jokes. She would tell it and then she would laugh and laugh. One day a cat died and went to heaven. At the gate of heaven the cat was waiting to meet God and it peeked over the pearly gates and noticed that there were a bunch of mice going around the streets of gold, on roller skates. When God met the cat, He asked her if she had any questions. The cat responded, “Yes I thought this was heaven. Why are all the mice up here, and why are they on roller skates?” God simply replied, “Oh them… that's Meals on Wheels.”
Priscilla was strong willed, tenacious, stubborn, independent, a clear thinker, highly organized, adaptable and rigidly flexible. Above all else she was a lover of God in Christ Jesus as revealed in the Bible.
Priscilla was a knitter of slippers and afghans, a darner of socks, a senior blood donor and a woman who was willing to do what ever it took to survive, thrive and be alive.
In 1992, at the celebration of their 50th wedding anniversary, Ray and Priscilla were surprised with a gift of a trip to Norway. She also enjoyed traveling to Israel, England, Ireland, Scotland, Alaska and many trips in the USA including Diamond Lake, MN.
Even though the last months of her life were marked by injury, surgery, pain and the death of her beloved friend Doug, she was always directive and uncomplaining.
At the age of 85 years, 9 months and 24 days, Priscilla was relieved of her pain and suffering in Ron and Margaret's Wisconsin home on September 3rd, 2005. Now she lives in her eternal home with God, where many believe that she was met by Jesus with a hug, that she fully accepted, and with the words "Well done thou good and faithful servant, enter now into the joy of thy Lord."
Priscilla leaves behind 14 children (for she told me on more than one occasion that she considered the spouses of her kids to be her kids, too), 20 grandchildren and 10 great grandchildren, plus Muriel, Char, Helen, Evie and her extended family which included many nieces and nephews.
She was loved in life and will be missed in death. Priscilla was preceded in death by Dad and Uncle Dick. I am reminded of what Uncle Dick used to say. At first he read the book, I'm OK you're OK and that seemed right to him. But later on in life he thought maybe it should be “I'm OK but you are not OK”. And then later he thought, no... I am not OK but you are OK. But then he finally came to realize that the truth is sometimes I am not OK and you are not OK, but that is OK. I also remember his translation of the passage in the book of Job. Sometimes it is translated, “The Lord giveth and the Lord taketh away, blessed be the name of the Lord.” But a better translation is: “The Lord gives and the Lord receives again unto Himself, blessed be the name of the Lord.”
In the book of Philippians in the Bible we read the words: “Whatsoever is good, and kind and just and of good report think on these things.” So with that in mind today, I am going to mention a few memories I have of mom and I ask that you think along with me. If any of the memories I happen to mention bring other thoughts to your mind. I just ask that you take the time to share them with some one today and in the days ahead.
Rocky Mountain Camping, mashed potatoes, hot dishes, being a member of the holy rollers (ladies in the church who got together and rolled bandages for the missionaries), chocolate frosting on saltine crackers, Priscilla as a girl climbing trees, glider rides, roller-skating, $10 cash as a gift with the instructions that we were to report back and let her know what she bought us, Mom at the age of 32 taking in 3 kids so that there were now 9 children 9 and under in age, living with the Lohman's, Mom's laugh, Mom's story telling, Ken and Kay and the wrong house, Mom's sense of wonderment, or her saying, “OH GOOD!”, or “That's just perfect!”, White Castle hamburgers and coupons and family eating out, The Old Country Buffet, nickel Dairy queens, The Minnesota State Fair and the Sanitation Department, co-editing the Oliver Observer, or our saying, “I'm hungry” and she replied, “If you are hungry you can have a peanut butter sandwich.” “But I don't want a peanut butter sandwich!” “Then you aren't hungry, are you?” Or being president of the town house association, or keeping track of every (and I mean every) penny that came into the household budget, or her saying, "If you keep that up, somebody’s going to get hurt!" ... and we did, and they did. Or Mom saying "I'm so thankful... it could have been so much worse."
Romans 8:1-2 says, “Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, because through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit of life set me free from the law of sin and death.”
Verses 18-39 of Romans 8 say, “I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us. The creation waits in eager expectation for the sons of God to be revealed. For the creation was subjected to frustration, not by its own choice, but by the will of the one who subjected it, in hope that the creation itself will be liberated from its bondage to decay and brought into the glorious freedom of the children of God.
“We know that the whole creation has been groaning as in the pains of childbirth right up to the present time. Not only so, but we ourselves, who have the first-fruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for our adoption as sons, the redemption of our bodies. For in this hope we were saved. But hope that is seen is no hope at all. Who hopes for what he already has? But if we hope for what we do not yet have, we wait for it patiently.
“In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit Himself intercedes for us with groans that words cannot express. And He who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints in accordance with God’s will.
“And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love Him, who have been called according to His purpose. For those God foreknew He also predestined to be conformed to the likeness of His Son, that He might be the firstborn among many brothers. And those He predestined, He also called; those He called, He also justified; those He justified, He also glorified.
“What, then, shall we say in response to this? If God is for us, who can be against us? He who did not spare His own Son, but gave Him up for us all – how will He not also, along with Him graciously give us all things? Who will bring any charge against those whom God has chosen? It is God who justifies. Who is He that condemns? Christ Jesus, who died – more than that, Who was raised to life – is at the right hand of God and is also interceding for us. Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword? As it is written: ‘For your sake we face death all day long; we are considered as sheep to be slaughtered.’ No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us. For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.”
A number of years ago, Mom sent me a version of the 23rd Psalm that was written from the point of view of the Lord NOT being my Shepherd. Before I share that with you, I'd like to read Psalm 23:
The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not be in want.
He makes me lie down in green pastures,
He leads me beside quiet waters,
He restores my soul.
He guides me in paths of righteousness for His name's sake.
Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death,
I will fear no evil, for You are with me;
Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me.
You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies.
You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows.
Surely goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life,
And I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.
I lost the version mom sent me, but based on what I remembered of it, I wrote my own version. Here it is:
"What if the Lord were not my Shepherd?" or "The Negative 23rd Psalm"
BECAUSE THE LORD IS NOT MY SHEPHERD
I AM LEFT WANTING
MY SOUL IS RESTLESS AND MY PASTURES ARE GONE.
THE WATERS OF MY LIFE ARE TROUBLED AND TOXIC
AND I WANDER WITHOUT DIRECTION.
MY SOUL IS UNRESTORED
AND I WALK IN UNRIGHTEOUSNESS
FOR MY OWN SELFISH SAKE
YEA THOUGH I WALK THROUGH THE VALLEY OF THE SHADOW OF DEATH
I WILL FEAR EVERY EVIL, FOR I AM ALONE.
THE HIRELING’S ROD AND STAFF TORTURE AND TORMENT ME
AND I WALK IN DESPAIR.
THERE IS NO TABLE THAT WELCOMES ME
AND MY ENEMIES ENCROACH.
MY HEAD IS ANOINTED WITH THE OIL OF DESECRATION
MY CUP IS EMPTY.
THERE IS NO GOODNESS, NO MERCY AND ALL THAT FOLLOWS ME
IS TERROR AND JUDGMENT AND I WILL DWELL IN THE HOUSE OF CONDEMNATION FOREVER.
Mom often pointed out that when we walk through the valley of the shadow of death... it is good to realize that if we are in the shadow, there by definition must be a light somewhere.
Then we concluded by saying the 23rd Psalm together... And all God's people said, "AMEN!"
September 8th, 2005
Priscilla L. Jensen
I wanted to point out the picture on the front cover that we are using for the order of service today. It is Jesus welcoming one into heaven. When I thanked the pastor for choosing it, he said it just sort of worked out that way because the church ran out of bulletins and he called around to some other churches and the one that had some to spare said these were it. I believe that mom heard the words of Jesus as printed on the front cover as she entered into the joy of the Lord.
The daughter of Gustav and Grace, Priscilla Lois Lohman was born in South Minneapolis on 11/27/1919. Priscilla was the 2nd of 3 children. Her older sister Muriel and her younger brother Richard (Dick), were un-conditionally loved, treasured, admired and often challenged by Priscilla.
In 1936 Priscilla and 6 other "girls" (Bernice, Dagne, Berdine, Arlene, Lorraine and Millie) began what was to become a 68 year relationship of support, laughter and friendship. They referred to one another as the "Club Girls" and their motto was "Gotta Koppa Ghi". Of the Club Girls, Priscilla was the first to get married, the first to have a baby and now the first to die.
Priscilla graduated from South High in 1937, then in1941 she graduated with a BA degree in Bio-Statistics from the University of Minnesota.
Priscilla and Ray met prior to WW II and were married on August 13th, 1942. Out of that bonding of heart, mind and spirit were born Barbara, Mark, Steven, Grant, Scott, Todd, Margaret and Jane.
Priscilla was a fully active and supportive member of Oliver Presbyterian Church since 1947. There she served as an elder, member of the presbytery, Deacon, Vocalist, VBS and Sunday School Teacher (Director and Superintendent, respectively), a supporter of the Mother's Club, Chair of the Worship Committee and boss to Tom Snyder and a stalwart supporter of each and every pastor. Additionally apart from Oliver, she was a leader in BSF and a volunteer for Meals on Wheels.
Priscilla, along with her cherished cousin, Helen and her treasured sister-in-law Char, taught us by example, the joy of the Lord, as seen in the gift of laughter.
I remember one of mom's favorite jokes. She would tell it and then she would laugh and laugh. One day a cat died and went to heaven. At the gate of heaven the cat was waiting to meet God and it peeked over the pearly gates and noticed that there were a bunch of mice going around the streets of gold, on roller skates. When God met the cat, He asked her if she had any questions. The cat responded, “Yes I thought this was heaven. Why are all the mice up here, and why are they on roller skates?” God simply replied, “Oh them… that's Meals on Wheels.”
Priscilla was strong willed, tenacious, stubborn, independent, a clear thinker, highly organized, adaptable and rigidly flexible. Above all else she was a lover of God in Christ Jesus as revealed in the Bible.
Priscilla was a knitter of slippers and afghans, a darner of socks, a senior blood donor and a woman who was willing to do what ever it took to survive, thrive and be alive.
In 1992, at the celebration of their 50th wedding anniversary, Ray and Priscilla were surprised with a gift of a trip to Norway. She also enjoyed traveling to Israel, England, Ireland, Scotland, Alaska and many trips in the USA including Diamond Lake, MN.
Even though the last months of her life were marked by injury, surgery, pain and the death of her beloved friend Doug, she was always directive and uncomplaining.
At the age of 85 years, 9 months and 24 days, Priscilla was relieved of her pain and suffering in Ron and Margaret's Wisconsin home on September 3rd, 2005. Now she lives in her eternal home with God, where many believe that she was met by Jesus with a hug, that she fully accepted, and with the words "Well done thou good and faithful servant, enter now into the joy of thy Lord."
Priscilla leaves behind 14 children (for she told me on more than one occasion that she considered the spouses of her kids to be her kids, too), 20 grandchildren and 10 great grandchildren, plus Muriel, Char, Helen, Evie and her extended family which included many nieces and nephews.
She was loved in life and will be missed in death. Priscilla was preceded in death by Dad and Uncle Dick. I am reminded of what Uncle Dick used to say. At first he read the book, I'm OK you're OK and that seemed right to him. But later on in life he thought maybe it should be “I'm OK but you are not OK”. And then later he thought, no... I am not OK but you are OK. But then he finally came to realize that the truth is sometimes I am not OK and you are not OK, but that is OK. I also remember his translation of the passage in the book of Job. Sometimes it is translated, “The Lord giveth and the Lord taketh away, blessed be the name of the Lord.” But a better translation is: “The Lord gives and the Lord receives again unto Himself, blessed be the name of the Lord.”
In the book of Philippians in the Bible we read the words: “Whatsoever is good, and kind and just and of good report think on these things.” So with that in mind today, I am going to mention a few memories I have of mom and I ask that you think along with me. If any of the memories I happen to mention bring other thoughts to your mind. I just ask that you take the time to share them with some one today and in the days ahead.
Rocky Mountain Camping, mashed potatoes, hot dishes, being a member of the holy rollers (ladies in the church who got together and rolled bandages for the missionaries), chocolate frosting on saltine crackers, Priscilla as a girl climbing trees, glider rides, roller-skating, $10 cash as a gift with the instructions that we were to report back and let her know what she bought us, Mom at the age of 32 taking in 3 kids so that there were now 9 children 9 and under in age, living with the Lohman's, Mom's laugh, Mom's story telling, Ken and Kay and the wrong house, Mom's sense of wonderment, or her saying, “OH GOOD!”, or “That's just perfect!”, White Castle hamburgers and coupons and family eating out, The Old Country Buffet, nickel Dairy queens, The Minnesota State Fair and the Sanitation Department, co-editing the Oliver Observer, or our saying, “I'm hungry” and she replied, “If you are hungry you can have a peanut butter sandwich.” “But I don't want a peanut butter sandwich!” “Then you aren't hungry, are you?” Or being president of the town house association, or keeping track of every (and I mean every) penny that came into the household budget, or her saying, "If you keep that up, somebody’s going to get hurt!" ... and we did, and they did. Or Mom saying "I'm so thankful... it could have been so much worse."
Romans 8:1-2 says, “Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, because through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit of life set me free from the law of sin and death.”
Verses 18-39 of Romans 8 say, “I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us. The creation waits in eager expectation for the sons of God to be revealed. For the creation was subjected to frustration, not by its own choice, but by the will of the one who subjected it, in hope that the creation itself will be liberated from its bondage to decay and brought into the glorious freedom of the children of God.
“We know that the whole creation has been groaning as in the pains of childbirth right up to the present time. Not only so, but we ourselves, who have the first-fruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for our adoption as sons, the redemption of our bodies. For in this hope we were saved. But hope that is seen is no hope at all. Who hopes for what he already has? But if we hope for what we do not yet have, we wait for it patiently.
“In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit Himself intercedes for us with groans that words cannot express. And He who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints in accordance with God’s will.
“And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love Him, who have been called according to His purpose. For those God foreknew He also predestined to be conformed to the likeness of His Son, that He might be the firstborn among many brothers. And those He predestined, He also called; those He called, He also justified; those He justified, He also glorified.
“What, then, shall we say in response to this? If God is for us, who can be against us? He who did not spare His own Son, but gave Him up for us all – how will He not also, along with Him graciously give us all things? Who will bring any charge against those whom God has chosen? It is God who justifies. Who is He that condemns? Christ Jesus, who died – more than that, Who was raised to life – is at the right hand of God and is also interceding for us. Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword? As it is written: ‘For your sake we face death all day long; we are considered as sheep to be slaughtered.’ No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us. For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.”
A number of years ago, Mom sent me a version of the 23rd Psalm that was written from the point of view of the Lord NOT being my Shepherd. Before I share that with you, I'd like to read Psalm 23:
The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not be in want.
He makes me lie down in green pastures,
He leads me beside quiet waters,
He restores my soul.
He guides me in paths of righteousness for His name's sake.
Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death,
I will fear no evil, for You are with me;
Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me.
You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies.
You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows.
Surely goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life,
And I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.
I lost the version mom sent me, but based on what I remembered of it, I wrote my own version. Here it is:
"What if the Lord were not my Shepherd?" or "The Negative 23rd Psalm"
BECAUSE THE LORD IS NOT MY SHEPHERD
I AM LEFT WANTING
MY SOUL IS RESTLESS AND MY PASTURES ARE GONE.
THE WATERS OF MY LIFE ARE TROUBLED AND TOXIC
AND I WANDER WITHOUT DIRECTION.
MY SOUL IS UNRESTORED
AND I WALK IN UNRIGHTEOUSNESS
FOR MY OWN SELFISH SAKE
YEA THOUGH I WALK THROUGH THE VALLEY OF THE SHADOW OF DEATH
I WILL FEAR EVERY EVIL, FOR I AM ALONE.
THE HIRELING’S ROD AND STAFF TORTURE AND TORMENT ME
AND I WALK IN DESPAIR.
THERE IS NO TABLE THAT WELCOMES ME
AND MY ENEMIES ENCROACH.
MY HEAD IS ANOINTED WITH THE OIL OF DESECRATION
MY CUP IS EMPTY.
THERE IS NO GOODNESS, NO MERCY AND ALL THAT FOLLOWS ME
IS TERROR AND JUDGMENT AND I WILL DWELL IN THE HOUSE OF CONDEMNATION FOREVER.
Mom often pointed out that when we walk through the valley of the shadow of death... it is good to realize that if we are in the shadow, there by definition must be a light somewhere.
Then we concluded by saying the 23rd Psalm together... And all God's people said, "AMEN!"
posted by Maggie | 12:05 PM
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