Memorial Donor Quilts

Nancy Speaker Memorial Donor Family Quilt

Fred Beckard

Ft. Atkinson, Wis.
March 5, 1945–June 28, 2001

His name was Frederick Walter Beckard, but everyone called him "Fred." He was a hard worker, enjoyed reading and loved to do woodworking in his workshop called the "Cobbleshop." He enjoyed watching and feeding the birds. Fred was an active member of St. John's Community Church in Ft. Atkinson. He was also a volunteer at St. Vincent De Paul in Jefferson. But what he liked the best was visiting with people and helping someone when possible. Fred always wanted to be a donor if anything ever happened to him.

At age 56, he suddenly passed away from a heart attack. His wishes were granted and he became a tissue donor. We received a letter from the Eye Bank that my husband's pretty blue eyes had helped two people. Our family was pleased to know this. We received letters of thanks for the other tissues that were donated and a certi.cate signed by the governor. We would like to thanks Allograft Resources for handling everything with great compassion. Our family would like others to consider being the gift of life for someone.
- Carol Beckard, wife

Emma Christensen

Clinton, Wis.
Feb. 2, 1921 - June 20, 2001

The best way to describe her is, in capital letters, MOM and GRANDMA.
- Robert Hurdis, son

Dave Clark

Columbus, Wis.
Feb. 6, 1951–Jan. 16, 2001

Dave was the owner and operator of Columbus Wholesale Foliage, signi.ed by the leaves and flowers on this square. It was a virtual 'sin' to have plastic flowers in the house. Dave was into every kind of sport-baseball, basketball, football, racquetball, etc. And he was good at most.

When Dave was 30 years old, we started to notice the early signs of Huntington's Disease. As years went by, Dave became very angry because of what this disease was doing to his body. He no longer played any sports and television became his only pastime. Dave loved his Lord and I have no doubt that he will be in God's kingdom. Until that day we have some wonderful memories.

- Dolores Clark, mother

Edward Patrick Flanagan

Darlington, Wis.
April 26, 1936 - April 30, 2001

Ed loved life and always had time for helping others. Through his death he brought other people new life. A shamrock symbol was chosen because he loved being Irish. His 'Irish eyes are still smiling' through cornea transplants to two lucky recipients. His 'gift of life' of bone and connective tissue will help others have a better quality of life, which is in keeping with the philosophy of this true gentle man.

- Sara Flanagan, wife

Daniel Hillsberg

Navarino, Wis.
July 29, 1983–March 22, 2002

Daniel James Hillsberg loved to go hunting with his family and friends. In his whole hunting career he got five bucks and seven does or even more. When he was about 10 years old, he won a fishing trip up by Rhinelander on a catch and release.

He could bring one other person so he brought his father. He caught a muskie that was 34 1/2 inches long. He loved telling stories to his family and friends about the deer he shot and the ones that got away. In his first years of hunting, he would always go up in his tree stand and fall asleep.

- Harlo Hillsberg, father

Donald Jax

Mauston, Wis.
June 20, 1933 - Feb. 12, 2001

The square chosen was from Don's favorite cushion. It depicts his work as a mechanic. He enjoyed hunting with friends, fishing up north with the family and his dog Roy, who was at his side most of the time.

- Patricia Jax, wife

Donald Kortas

Milwaukee, Wis.
March 16, 1943 - Dec. 19, 2001

Don liked to wear plaid shirts year round and he looked especially great in his red flannel shirt. He was a devoted, life-long Green Bay Packers fan through thick and thin. Therefore, a section of his green Packer shirt, gold lettering and football are on the quilt square.

Don also was a patriotic proud veteran. He served in the U.S. Air Force with a tour of duty in Thailand during the Vietnam War. He was deeply affected by the September 11 terrorist attacks, so a flag is included. We love Don very much and miss him.

- Mother Ruth and sister Kathy

Bob Mullvain

Marengo, Ill.
June 30, 1936 - Sept. 23, 2001

Bob Mullvain enjoyed the hunting and fishing in the outdoors, especially the Northwoods of Wisconsin. He was active in the veteran's group and was employed at General Electric for 40 years. Bob has two brothers and many nieces and nephews.

- Lois Mullvain, wife

Harvey Schmidt

Aurora, Ill.
July 31, 1919 - October 24, 2001

In memory of my husband, I have enclosed a square depicting the love of his life, fishing. He loved the Minoqua and St. Germaine area in Wisconsin.

- Clara Schmidt, wife

George Stelzer

Cecil, Wis.
Sept. 3, 1929 - July 15, 2001

Fifty years ago, George Stelzer came to this country from Bavaria, Germany. Two years later, we met and in 1954, we got married. Our marriage lasted for 47 wonderful years, with five children and eventually nine grandchildren. George loved his family very much and always tried to help them in any way he could. He was an excellent woodworker and loved building furniture. George is being remembered for always trying to give someone a hand or some advice. Everyone will remember his big smile. He died at age 71. For so many years, George carried an organ donor card. He could not donate organs, but I asked if anything could still be used. I was told about tissue donation, which I had never heard of. I was happy that his final wish could still be fulfilled. I have been spreading the word around.

- Annemarie Stelzer, wife

Alyssa Truitt

DeForest, Wis.
Oct. 21, 1996 - March 1, 1999

Alyssa was nothing less than an angel on loan to us from God. She touched more lives and helped more people in her two short years than most of us could do in our lifetimes. She taught us that the true meaning of life is love, that smiles make you feel better and hugs and kisses can fix anything. Never let others tell you what you can and can't do...you can do anything as long as you try hard enough. Always offer to help, no matter what the situation. Make sure you say 'hi' to everyone you see; there are friends out there who are just waiting to meet you. But above all else - no matter how bad the world seems, how difficult your journey is, how many times you fall, there will always be an angel who will pick you up, dust you off, kiss your hurts and help you try again.

- Chris Truitt, father

Melvin H. Baker

Oshkosh, Wis.
June 14, 1928 - Oct. 4, 2001

My husband was a very talented man. He loved to go fishing in the summer and out on our son's boat with the family. Enjoyed fishing with his grandson, too. He also had hobbies of making ducks and once, long ago, ceramics. He loved to be with his grandchildren. We had twins, a daughter and a son, and later another son, so we have nine grandchildren. Mel was more of a 'stay-at-home' man, but loved our winters in North Carolina at Oak Island. He was looking forward to our going in 2001-2002. He hated the cold weather and snow since his heart attack 26 years ago. He also developed diabetes. He was never ill since his heart attack. Mel was a machine designer with Eaton Corp. in Marshall, Mich. For 15 years. He also worked for Bendix Corp. in South Bend, Ind. for 10 years. We retired in Victorville, Calif. For 10 years. When our daughter and son-in-law left California for Minnesota, we came to Oshkosh, where our youngest son, Phillip, is a dentist.

- Wanda Baker, Nancy Koncur, Steven Baker and Phillip Baker

Robin Marie Bitters

Oconto, Wis.
Jan. 1, 1962 - Aug. 11, 2001

The choice of the type of quilt square to make to sum up a person's life is a very daunting task. The thought expressed here- 'Forget me not while we're apart, and keep me always in your heart' -seemed to jump out. Anybody who ever met Robin either in passing, as family or as a good friend, would most likely not forget her. She had such an optimistic love of life and love-of-fun personality that just seemed to rub off on all that surrounded her. I believe that we were so very fortunate to have known, loved and been loved by such a free spirit. I also believe that the separation we're feeling right now is temporary, as it is only a matter of time and God's will before we will be reunited with all loved ones lost. I know Robin would like us to keep her in our hearts until we meet again. Until that time, her spirit and memory is very alive by her donation of life or improved life for all benefactors of donation programs.

- Lori Ann Bitters, sister-in-law

John Drews

Browntown, Wis.
Jan. 5, 1941 - Jan. 2, 2002

John spent nine years in the U.S. Navy. He was a press operator for 35 years. He loved to watch Packer and Badger football and also the NASCAR races. He enjoyed participating in demolition derbies, racing motorcycles, fishing, hunting and spending time with his family, some of whom lived in Hawaii and Costa Rica. John's smile was only one of his many great qualities. If anyone could solve a problem, it was John. His favorite saying was 'Every day that I wake up and can see the sun, I know it will be a beautiful day.' John suffered from heart problems and God let him be with us 10 years longer than the doctors thought. We loved him very much and miss his presence greatly. He will live in our hearts forever until we can all be together with him!


- Shirley Drews, wife

Roger Hinzman

Viroqua, Wis.
Jan. 14, 1932 - June 9, 2001

My husband and I were married on Sept. 19, 1953, and went to Yellowstone on our honeymoon. We liked the weather at that time of year, but we enjoyed the beauty of the trees most of all. From then on, we traveled in the fall of the year or in the spring when the trees were in bloom. So I chose a tree for the quilt square in Roger's memory. The branches represent the priorities in his life, the causes he worked hard for. The heart is for the 21 years he lived with heart disease. He was grateful for the research and modern medicine that enabled him to live for 69 years. He never lost his optimism and his love of life. We miss him.


- Beverly Hinzman, wife

Jean Borman

Medford, Wis.
Sept. 3, 1931 - Nov. 24, 2000

My mother was a wonderful person who had a heart of gold. She lived her whole life taking pleasure in family. She always said that when we grieve, we need to look at why we are grieving. She didn't want her family to feel sad because she was gone. She wanted us to be happy for her because she was in heaven where pain and sorrow would never touch her again. She never wanted thanks or a big fuss made over her. She preferred to do all the great things she did for her family and others quietly and unnoticed. Even in death, she gave of herself to help others. We've kept her square plain and simple because that's what she would have wanted, but we needed her to be part of this quilt to honor the person she was to us. She gave us her love to last a lifetime and she'll be in our hearts forever.


- Lisa Borman, daughter

James Hodgden

Sherwood, Wis.
May 20, 1940 - Aug. 21, 1998

Jim was a very caring person, a loving husband and father. He was hardworking, and loved his job as a security of.cer at St. Joseph's Hospital in Marsh.eld. Gone too soon, he is missed every day. He will never be forgotten and will remain very special in our hearts.


- Fay and Jeff

Paul Smith

Janesville, Wis.
April 2, 1945 - Aug. 28, 2001

Paul Morris Smith loved golf. He was a truck driver, but he spent all his spare time on the golf course. He and his best friend, Danny Kirsdad, were always together doing something, good or bad. He also liked driving truck. Many years were spent over the road, but he .nally stopped, got himself an apartment and relaxed a bit. Paul loved playing baseball and football when he was young. He would tell his mother to tone it down at baseball games when she'd start yelling. Mom and Paul were two peas in a pod. Now he is up there with his mom and pop. I will miss him dearly.

- Nancy Landdeck, sister

Donald Sohrweide

Oshkosh, Wis.
July 31, 1934 - Nov. 30, 2001

Don started to fish after we got married. We had three daughters and he took them fishing when they were little and later took our grandson. He loved his family and friends and enjoyed them all. He was liked by everyone. He liked meeting new people. He enjoyed taking care of babies before they were adopted. He had 15 and he loved them like our three daughters. At the end, he never complained of all the pain he had that we did not know about. He always thanked us for the things we did for him. To get us through our grief, we keep in mind he is now free of his pain.

- Janet Sohrweide, wife

Nancy Speaker

Dodgeville, Wis.
March 8, 1929 - Sept. 30, 2001

Nancy's smile is what everyone misses the most. She was a very loving and giving person and always available to help wherever needed, be it the church, Kiwanis, a neighbor or friend. She was a wonderful mother and grandmother. Her final gift of her tissues is an indication of what a thoughtful person she was.

- Robert Speaker, husband

Damion Michael Tester

Appleton, Wis.
Dec. 7, 1972 - Jan. 18, 2002

Damion was my only child, but he left two children behind. They are both unique and special, as was my son. We all miss him more than words can say. He loved the outdoors, animals and music. He was very intelligent, always fixing, always making things. I hope through his donation he can fix other people's lives and make them better.

- Karen Huven, mother

Peter Thompson

Rockford, Ill.
June 11, 1962 - Nov. 18, 2001

Not a perfect man, but a good man. Not just a brother, but a friend. Not just a son or a husband. An irreplaceable memory deep in our hearts. He shares himself with others so they can see, feel and just live life. We'll miss you every day. This square was made in honor and to the cherished memory of Pete, who just loved and adored his German shepherd dogs. One of his dogs had a litter of puppies, just one week prior to his death.

- Pete's family and friends

Megan Lee Waldo

Winona, Minn.
Jan. 24, 1995 - Feb. 21, 1999

I made this in memory of our daughter, Megan Lee Waldo. Everything on it is something she loved. She didn't slow down, but when she did, Winnie the Pooh was her favorite thing to watch, with Tigger being her favorite. Balloons and butterflies were also favorites. Her passion was being with her father on the tractors or helping with cows.

- Cassi Waldo, mother

Larry Fulton, Sr.

Janesville, Wis.
Feb. 1, 1939 - Nov. 14, 2000

The fish in the quilt square was selected not only because Larry loved to fish, but because it was his favorite pastime. It also represents the faith Larry had in Jesus Christ. Larry was a 'fisher of men' for Jesus, which he did both very well. Larry and I were married for 26 years, raised six children and have 15 grandchildren, who he loved very much. Larry and I did a lot of things together. It didn't take Larry long to teach me how to .sh and we sure did a lot of it. I learned to love it as much as he did. Larry was my best friend, husband, father and a wonderful Christian man, who I loved very much. We all miss him very much, but we know he is home with Jesus Christ and very happy there. Our family would like to thank you for letting us know Larry's death is helping others through the use of his tissues and eyes.

- Darlene Fulton, wife

Laura Griffith Ransom

Madison, Wis.
Sept. 16, 1957 - April 16, 2002

Laura embroidered this many years ago. It was still in its hoop when we found it. I thought immediately that it was the perfect thing to send you. I was very pleased to discover that it even fits in your 7' x 7' guidelines. Laura was a very creative and brilliant soul. She lived her life like a bright star or comet streaking across the sky. I was struck by the symbolism in the piece she created. It sums up her entire philosophy of life. I signed my drivers license years ago and I was glad to see that Laura had also.

- Leah Boyce, sister