We gather together this morning to remember the life and mourn
the death of Harold “Bud” Mondorf.
In the Bible we read,
Ecc. 3:1-8
There is a time for
everything, and a season for every activity under heaven:
a time to be born and a
time to die,
a time to plant and a time
to uproot
a time to kill and a time
to heal
a time to tear down and a
time to build
a time to weep and a time
to laugh
a time to mourn and a time
to dance
a time to scatter stones
and a time to gather them
a time to embrace and a
time to refrain
a time to search and a time
to give up
a time to keep and a time
to throw away
a time to tear and a time
to mend
a time to be silent and a
time to speak
a time to love and a time
to hate
a time for war and a time
for peace.
This is a time for remembering, a time for
grief, a time to comfort one another and a time to seek God. So with that in mind, will you pray with me?
Our Father, we bow before you at this
gravesite stunned at how hollow and empty it all feels. We need your comfort, we need your
perspective, we need You. Help us to
remember and lead us to hope. Amen
Mr. Harold J. better known as “Bud”
Mondorf Sr. was born August 11, 1932 in Keokuk Iowa to Harold W. and Dorothy I
Stice Mondorf.
Bud served his country in the Army during
the Korean conflict.
Bud married Helen Allen in Galesburg on
June 13, 1968 after dating for many years.
Bud worked at the Burlington Basket
Company until he had a stroke in 1982. Many
thought he wouldn’t have much of a life after the stroke. He proved them all wrong. In 1999 He and
Helen moved to La Harpe.
Mr. Mondorf died suddenly on February 5,
2001. he was 68 years old.
He is survived by his wife; 3 daughters:
·
Cheryl Ann Sears of
Springfield MO.
·
Kathy Fisher of
Burlington Iowas
·
Christy Kienast of La
Harpe
Two
Sons,
·
Charles Waterman of Fort
Madison, IA
·
Harold Mondorf Jr. of
Burlington
In
addition, there are 11 grandchildren; 3 great-grandchildren; and one uncle,
Wayne Mondorf, of Carman, Ill, which survive him.
I really didn’t know Bud except for
meeting him at Christy’s wedding. It
sounds like I would have enjoyed him.
Bud Mondorf was a strong man. He had a strong spirit, which helped him
through his recovery from his stroke.
And he also had strong opinions.
He wasn’t afraid to let you know what he thought about something.
He had a good mind. He loved to read anything he could get his
hands on. He especially liked history
and politics. Bud was one of those guys
who was able to remember all kinds of trivia.
In fact, his love for trivia would often lead to Jeopardy debates during
dinner.
Bud was a man you could talk to for hours
and still be fascinated by what he knew.
He loved the Internet and the wealth of information that was available
online.
Bud enjoyed going camping, fishing,
hunting and though not a “craftsman”, was also quite handy. He enjoyed playing pool. He admittedly liked to drink. He was fond of saying ,”just one more and
I’m going to bed.”
Bud saw grocery shopping as a
challenge. He would save his coupons
and study the sale flyers. He knew
where to go to get the best price on everything. He hated the crowds but enjoyed the adventure.
Bud loved baseball. He watched or listened to all of the Cub
games . . . which says something about his endurance.
He loved Riley and Peanut (his dogs) and
though at times he would tell you he didn’t want Riley around any more, he
would have never let that dog go.
Bud enjoyed Dixieland Jazz, (and Jazz with
Judy on KBUR), he liked the Big Bands and was particularly fond on Ernie
Tubbs. He was frequently heard singing,
“When the world has turned you down, I’ll be there.” To Bud that really was more than a song, it was the way he felt
about his family.
Bud didn’t have a good home life as he was
growing up and so he felt very insecure about his own fathering abilities. He wanted to be a good dad but didn’t know
what that meant.
He wasn’t a real demonstrative guy. But if you had a problem he would make you
feel better. He loved to take Christy
for walks and ice cream at Crapo Park.
He wanted to be friends with his
kids. He wasn’t real comfortable around
babies but he sure loved watching the kids.
Everything the kids ever gave him he kept. They were his special treasures and he remembered the occasion of
each little trinket. To him, they were
declarations of love and affection.
He supported the choices of his kids even
when he didn’t agree with them. When he
was asked for advice, he gave it. He
welcomed the spouses of his children as part of the family.
Bud Mondorf may not have felt adequate as
a dad, but he had a Father’s heart and his kids cherished him for it They wouldn’t have traded him. Bud was a loving husband to his wife, Helen for
33 years. He was a happy man that savored life and cherished his family. Not a bad epitaph when you think about
it. All those who knew him and loved
him will miss him.
In
the Bible, King David wrote,
Psalm 103:13-18 (NLT) The LORD is like a father to
his children, tender and compassionate to those who fear him. For he understands how weak we are; he knows
we are only dust. Our days on earth are
like grass; like wildflowers, we bloom and die. The wind blows, and we are goneBas though we had never been here. But the love of the LORD remains forever
with those who fear him. His salvation
extends to the children=s children of those who are
faithful to his covenant, of those who obey his commandments.
I share these words with you because
as you grieve your loss, I remind you of several things. First, I remind you that this life is not
all there is. The Bible tells us that
everyone who has placed his or her faith in Christ will live beyond the
grave. So we entrust Bud to the Lord
who knew His heart.
But the second thing I want you to
see is that even though death takes those we love from us, the Lord has
promised to stand by our side forever.
He understands your loss. He
knows all those things you wish you had done or said. He is aware of the regrets that you carry. He can help us through the tough times.
The Bible tells us that Jesus came
to earth for the sole purpose of giving his life for us. He wanted to give us a new start. He wanted us to know life as it was meant to
be. God loves you. He is there for you in this time of sadness.
When you love somebody greatly, you
will miss them greatly when they die.
So, it is right and proper that you grieve. There is nothing wrong with tears. They can be a testimony of
love. But in your grieving I encourage
you to turn to the Lord. Tap into the
strength that the He gives. Place your
hope in God’s promise of life beyond the grave. Let Him help you.
It sounds to me like you have many
rich blessings to be grateful for. I
know this loss has been sudden. I know
there was more you wanted to do and share together. But I also know that you have been blessed. And as you mourn your loss I hope you will
also celebrate your blessing.
Will you pray with me?
Father, we entrust Bud now to you. You alone know his heart. We ask that you would deal with him in your
mercy.
I pray Father for this family. I ask that you draw them close to each other. Help them also to draw close to you. Keep their memories rich and clear. Help them to remember the things Bud taught
them. And to remember how much he loved
them. Give them the strength they will
need for the days ahead. I ask in the
name of Christ. Amen.