*L. Richard Jurgensen, 90, of Galesburg, Ill., died Nov. 4, 2014. Even with the ravages of cancer, hearing loss, and probably Alzheimer’s, until his last week on earth, he loved to smile, talk, and eat sweet corn, cinnamon rolls, apples, and Snickers.

He was born Sept. 11, 1924 and raised in Sioux City, Iowa; surveyor and postmaster for the Alaskan highway; Navy veteran in WWII; St Olaf and Luther Seminary graduate; ordained Lutheran pastor for both parishes in Wisconsin, Illinois, and Ohio, and campuses at Minot State University, Northern Illinois University, and the University of Chicago; N.D. State Senator; Dekalb County board member; emissary to China on apple development; beekeeper, goat rancher, photographer, philosopher, poet, and writer. He also enjoyed reading, symphonies, operas, his dogs, raising an orphaned baby moose, and collecting aphorisms.

While his ashes will be scattered in trees near water, his earthly spirit and memory lives on in those who knew him. His heavenly spirit has entered into God’s Kingdom. He is sitting in a magnificent orchard surrounded by golden retrievers, goats, moose, and a grizzly, with eagles soaring overhead.

He was preceded in death by his parents, three brothers, and wife Barbara Bitting Jurgensen ’50. He is survived by his daughters, Janet Kjerne and Marie Volkers and husband Dave; son, Peter Jurgensen and wife Mariza; grandsons, Phillip Volkers ’02 and wife Katie Volkers, Tomas, and Lucas Jurgensen; and a brother in Texas.