Lighting ceremony launches the Season of Lights
The tree lighting ceremony for the Season of Lights and Walk of Stars will be held on Friday, December 4, at 4:00 p.m. at the Main Entrance of Crossing Rivers Health, 37868 US Hwy 18, Prairie du Chien. The lighting ceremony will include a welcome from Partners President Dawn Arnold, a message from Hospital Board President Charlie Connell, and a message from Lance Wetter from the United Methodist Church in Mt. Hope, father of honoree Malachi Donovan Wetter. The program also includes a tribute to honoree Floyd ‘Frog’ Wilder.
Floyd Wilder’s family shared that Floyd, known as ‘Frog,’ but with no known origin, was born in Flint, Michigan. He grew up with his brother John and his mother Nona. He moved quite a bit as a child before they all returned to the Beetown-Lancaster area. He settled outside of Mount Hope in 1980. His passion in life was to hunt and fish. At one time, he was part of the 4-Wheel Drive Club and raced at Froggy Flats (named for him after he started racing there). He could do it all– mechanical, woodwork, home repairs, gardening, and was an amazing cook. He lived as much off the land as possible. He worked extremely hard his entire life, and was willing to help anyone and everyone. He instilled in his children to make things better than the way they were found. Floyd Wilder was the proud father of Brandy Schmidt, Ruby Wilder, Jamie Wilder, Hannah Kluedtke and honorary children Tory and Colby Ferguson. He was also proud ‘Grandpa Froggy’ to seven granddaughters and three grandsons. He will surely be missed by all his family, friends, and his coworkers at Crossing Rivers Health.
Lance Wetter, father of Malachi, shared, “Malachi Donovan Wetter was given to us by God early in the morning on May 19th; a few short moments later he returned to be with our Heavenly Father. He was a strong and beautiful baby boy.” His loving family includes his parents Emily and Lance Wetter; his brothers Job and Canaan; his sister Nellie; grandparents Julia and Sam Nelson and Larry and Marlene Wetter; and many close aunts, uncles, cousins and friends. Julia added, “The loss of our Malachi deeply grieves us all but gives us great comfort to know that he went from our arms to the arms of our Lord Christ Jesus. Malachi 1:2: I have always loved you says the Lord.”
Shawna Atterbury reminds area residents, “Tree lights and stars may be purchased through Christmas Eve as a memorial, to honor a special birthday or anniversary, as a thank you gift, or as a unique gesture of friendship. Partners use the proceeds from the lighting program to fund hospital equipment and other projects.”
Season of Lights information is available in at the Concierge desk at the main entrance of Crossing Rivers Health and at most Prairie du Chien banks. To learn about other Partners projects, visit crossingrivers.org.