Celebration of Life – Bob Lett

Bob
Celebration of Life for Bob Lett
Saturday, May 6th at 10:30 am
Light Refreshments to Follow

Obituary — Robert A. Lett

It is with sorrow that we announce the passing of Robert “Bob” Lett, 88, of Albuquerque on April 10, 2023.

Bob was born in Washington, D.C., and spent his happy and mischievous childhood in Grand Rapids, Michigan. He earned a bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering from Wayne State University and a second degree from the American Graduate School for International Management. He spent his professional career programming computers for IBM, Meadows Resources, and Public Service Company of New Mexico.

Besides his favorite job as a paper boy, he loved his time in the US Navy abroad the USS Cogswell (DD-651). Bob retired from the reserves as a Lieutenant Commander where he was the commanding officer of his Naval Reserve Security Group. It was with trepidation that you asked him about the Navy because the well-told stories would be told again and again.

He lost Patricia Lett, the love of his life, in 2016. Bob is survived by daughter, Karen Brugge; son, David Lett, both of Albuquerque; and son-in-law, Steve Brugge, of Albuquerque; grandchildren Sarah Brugge of Boston, MA, and Adam Brugge of Albuquerque. He’s also survived by brother Richard Lett and wife Suellen of Pittsburgh, PA.

Bob was an active member of Holy Cross Lutheran Church. He volunteered for many years at Roadrunner Food Bank. Memorials may be made to either of these two organizations or a cause of your choice.

A celebration of life will be held at Holy Cross on Saturday, May 6th, at 10:30 AM.

Funeral Announcement – Harold Kinney

Bob

Harold Kinney died on January 29, 2023. We prayed to God for His kindness during the long illness, and God kindly welcomed Harold to Heaven as he slept.

Born on a dairy farm in NJ, he passed on a football scholarship to Rutgers, joining the Marine corps instead. He served two tours in Vietnam, guarded Marine One presidential helicopter, and barked orders as a DI. He owned BRIGHT IDEAS for 30 years, As an accountant, he said: “He who has the money rules". To wit, “if there is no marketing, there is no money", replied his wife. He maintained his ever-optimistic attitude, a shy-but-friendly personality, and his great smile and twinkling hazel eyes.

Harold is survived by Lezlie Ann Kinney, Smartie the basset hound, and Kevin and Lisa, Steven and Christy, David and Clara, and their children.

Services will be on Saturday, April 1, 2023 at 11:00 am at Holy Cross Lutheran Church, 6901 Wyoming NE, 87109.

Martin Luther said: “If I am not allowed to laugh in Heaven, I don't want to go there". So, Harold must be laughing with Luther.

Harold Kinney Memorial via Zoom
Saturday, April 1, 2023
at 11:00 AM Mountain Time (US and Canada)


Zoom Info:
Meeting ID: 859 1748 6325
Passcode: 191094

Funeral Announcement – Oscar W. Wehlander Obituary and Memorial

Bob

Oscar Wehlander, our beloved grandfather, father, brother-in-law, uncle and friend passed away on March 3, 2022 in Albuquerque, New Mexico. He was born on April 20, 1930 in DeLamere, North Dakota. As he grew up, he created many wonderful memories with his five brothers.

Oscar married Marlene Olson in Reno, Nevada on July 15, 1955. They had two daughters: Kim and Keri. Sadly, Oscar was predeceased by his daughter Kim in 1991, and his wife Marlene in 2021.

Music was always part of Oscar’s life. He grew up singing with his father and brothers, and that love of music continued as he became a professional touring musician for a time, and then became part of various barbershop quartets. Oscar sang with The New MexiChords in Albuquerque, and the last quartet he was part of was Brass Rail. He regularly performed in competitions and attended many barbershop conventions.  He also loved listening to jazz greats such as Benny Goodman, Stan Getz, Lionel Hampton, Woody Herman, Louis Armstrong, Stan Kenton, Tony Bennett and Diana Krall.

Oscar served in the Air Force for four years, which included time in Korea during the war.  After attaining a degree in accounting at the University of Nevada in Reno, he worked for the Government Accounting Office and later for the Department of Energy.  After more than 30 years of public service, he shifted over to the private sector, working for Sysco.

Oscar loved traveling to new places, and he and Marlene went on several cruises together. He enjoyed reading books about history, watching college football games on television, and he and Marlene attended home games played by the University of New Mexico Lobos to enthusiastically cheer them on.

Our deepest thanks go to Janet and Jim Schipper, Cheryl and Terry Ragan, Janet Paoletti, Jim Law and Amy Hayward for offering Oscar and Keri so much kindness and support in this very difficult time. Oscar will be greatly missed by the many people whose lives he touched.

A memorial service will be held on Tuesday, August 30, 2022, at 11:00 a.m. at Holy Cross Lutheran Church, 6901 Wyoming Blvd. NE with a graveside service to follow at Gate of Heaven Cemetery. Masks will be required during the service: we ask for your cooperation for the sake of family members at high risk for complications from Covid-19.  Thank you.

The service will be livestreamed as well.

Should you desire, donations in Oscar’s memory may be made to the Youth Jazz Collaborative of New Mexico to help support the love of music for the next generation. This can be done through writing a check to:
AAPAC Foundation
310 San Pedro Dr. N.E.
Albuquerque, NM 87108.

Please indicate on the check that this is for the Youth Jazz Collaborative in memory of Oscar Wehlander.

Oscar Wehlander Memorial via Zoom
Tuesday, August 30th, 2022
at 11:00 AM Mountain Time (US and Canada)

Funeral Announcement – Bill Koch Obituary and Funeral Zoom Link

Bob

William Paul (Bill) Koch, devoted husband, amazing father, and a quiet, kind, funny man who made a life of serving others, died peacefully at his home in Loveland, Colorado on February 24, 2022, after a two-year battle with cancer. 

Bill was born on December 26, 1939, in Philadelphia, PA, to Margaret Ross Koch and Robert Paul Koch. He joined the United States Air Force after graduating high school in 1957 and retired in 1977, at the rank of Major as a Nuclear Research Officer at Kirtland Air Force Base in Albuquerque, NM. 

While serving, Bill earned a bachelor’s degree at the University of Wyoming in 1963, a master’s degree at the Air Force Institute of Technology in 1969 and was awarded two Meritorious Service Medals.

He married his wife, Kathy, on Valentine’s Day in 1976 and spent the rest of his life caring for her and her daughters. 

After retiring from the USAF, he received his MBA from the University of New Mexico and worked for United New Mexico Bank and Wells Fargo as an internal bank auditor until retiring in August 1995.

Bill was an avid reader and enjoyed snow skiing, hiking and mountain climbing and was a volunteer with the Albuquerque Mountain Rescue. When Bill and Kathy had both retired, they enjoyed participating in flyball with their Labradors Annie, Duke, and Kelsey.

Bill and Kathy were members of Holy Cross Lutheran Church in Albuquerque, and Bill served the congregation for many years as treasurer, usher, and communion assistant. 

Bill is survived by his wife of forty-six years Kathy, his twin brother Robert Koch, his daughters Wendy Gram, Barbara McDonald, and Heather Sklarew, his son Randy Koch, his grandchildren Jake and Kyra McDonald, Brett, Levi, and Mackenzie Sklarew, Hunter Koch, and his great-grandson Colter Workman. 

Funeral services will be at the Viegut Funeral Home in Loveland on March 8, 2022, at 9:30AM followed by a gravesite service with full military honors at noon at the Cheyenne National Cemetery. 

Afterwards his family invites his friends to share their memories of Bill and some of his favorite cookies with them at Brookdale Mariana Butte in Loveland.

Bill's funeral service will be held at 9:30 am Mountain Time on Tuesday, March 8, 2022 at Viegut Funeral Home, 1616 N. Lincoln Ave., Loveland, Colorado 80538, (970) 679-4669. Interment will follow at 12 noon at Cheyenne National Cemetery, Cheyenne, Wyoming.

Click here to view Bill's full obituary and additional information from the funeral home.

Bill Koch Funeral via Zoom
Tuesday, March 8th, 2022
at 9:30 AM Mountain Time (US and Canada)

Christmas Meal Food Collection for Local School

Bob

Holy Cross supports a local school where many families are in need of food.  Anyone who wishes to donate food is welcome to bring it to the church Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.  It can be left by the door or brought in.

For further details, contact the church office 821-4676.  

School is out DECEMBER 15th so all food must be delivered by Sunday, DECEMBER 10th. 

Thank you!

Emergency Food Distribution Ministry

Bob

Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. and Sundays 10:30 a.m. to 12:00 noon.

We provide enough non-perishable food for about 2 days for those times when your food budget just won’t get you through the month.

Please stop by if you are interested.

School Supplies Project

Bob
Members of the Congregation Packing School Supplies
Collecting school supplies for disadvantaged children.

Do you remember the excitement of starting a brand new school year? School begins for students at Mark Twain on July 23. For many children at the school the excitement also comes with the anxiety of not having money to purchase school supplies. The counselor at Mark Twain puts together School Supply Kits for these children. He needs our help. Listed in order of greatest need, please bring any of these items to church as you are able:

  • Backpacks (sized for children through 5th grade)
  • One subject notebooks–wide ruled
  • Markers
  • Glue Sticks
  • Scissors
  • Pocket Folders
  • Pencils
  • Copy paper
  • Also needed are 2 GB thumb drives for 3rd–5th grade. They should be new.

Feel free to leave donations in the drop box outside the main door of the church. Thank you for your generous support of this community project.

Gardening for Roadrunner Food Bank

Bob

Its time to start those vegetable gardens, so, as you are planting, remember that at harvest time, you can donate any extra fruit or vegetables to Roadrunner Food Bank by bringing them to Holy Cross. You may want to plant a little extra just for that purpose. Pastor Julie will deliver them to the food bank.