I have to agree with Brian in that Grandma Hazel was an inspiration for all of us. She was always ready and raring to go, with a spunk you could not imagine. She was always prepared for everything and made sure you never left her sight empty handed :) I loved helping her in flower gardens and with her kitchen masterpieces. No one can make a kolache, cinnamon roll, freezer corn or strawberry anything like Grandma! She wanted to make sure everyone was taken care of, she was the last to bed and the first to rise each and everyday.
We miss the talks, the walks and the bounces on the knees when we were young. We miss her laugh and her antics while playing cards. She was a card shark and if you wanted to be her partner you better be good!
We love and miss you Grandma and know that you are at peace. Love from all of us- God Bless.

Ron & Dottie & family, John's family, Brenda & Jerry
I am sorry I won't be able to make it to your Mom's memorial service tomorrow. Distance and a prior comittment in the evening prevent it. Jeanine will deliver my hugs to you all. Many fond memories of Hazel during our growing up years. She was a sweet lady and as someone said earlier, "she ran a tight ship." I didn't see her after her marriage to Don, but was always so glad to hear that they danced up a storm wherever they went. It seems as the years go by this is the way we reconnect with special people from our past. My sincere sympathy to you all.

My favorite memories of Grandma have been adding up in the last few months as I let my mind wonder back to the days of when I was a child. I took so many tours of her flower gardens with her - she was a great botanical guide naming each and every flower she had. surrounding her house. (this would take a good hour or 2.) And she always offered great advice to my mom for planting - "well just stick it in the ground - it will grow!" Yeah, just ask Dottie. (I think it worked better for grandma!)
Like Erin said, her kitchen always smelled of something good - dozens and dozens of buns, sweet rolls, and cookies filled the kitchen. And she was fabulous at making applesauce, sweet corns and jams which we all froze and ate sparingly. Sadly my freezer contains none of these items and I will miss those greatly.
Grandma always had lots of energy - couldn't sit still unless she was playing cards. "Gotta get-a-goin" was the phrase of the day and earned the nickname, "Sarge" by her 2nd husband, Don. She was out chopping wood and scooping snow well into her 70's. Obviously her work ethic and determination was much to be admired.
We have lots of great stories - like, how my brother Brian and I were at an apple orchard with her and being the expert she was, cut into an apple and said to us, "see now, this is no good..." She went on to explain why but Brian and I were too busy giggling to notice.
Another favorite is how she kept her house so warm during the holidays. We all knew to pack t-shirts and shorts for our trips there for Thanksgiving and Christmas. She loved keeping the fire warm as she would hop up at a minutes notice to pop another log on as soon as she noticed a slight drop in the temperature. I giggle thinking about it as I remember my dad, Ron, saying, "Phew!! It is hot in here!!"
I look forward to seeing everyone this weekend so we can share more stories. She is loved and missed.

I will always remember smelling her cinnamon rolls waking up at her house and her homemade rolls.. She was a great cook and always made sure that everyone had their favorite foods for the holidays. Grandma had a lot of spunk and will be greatly missed. I am sure she is playing cards up in heaven right now, with both grandpas & my dad.. RIP Grandma hazel!!! Love you!

Ahhh, so many memories of Aunt Hazel. She was a classy lady. Going to their house and listening to Brenda practice her latest piano piece. We'd pick on Ron and John as they lay on the floor in front of the TV watching a football game. Aunt Hazel ran a tight ship and we could all learn from her ways of doing things.