Barn Boards and Baling Wire

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Jessica Leone Vohland, 4, shown here, and her sister Candi Rinehart, 7, fell through the ice Dec.16, 1984, on a pond near Packwaukee, Wisconsin. They were under the water for 30 minutes. When rescuers brought them up they were not breathing and their hearts were not beating, but they were resuscitated after being taken to the hospital. Then-Divine Savior Hospital spokesperson, Charles Church, said the two girls were technically dead before they were revived in the hospital; they were saved by the chilling effect the icy pond water had on their bodies.

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Ernie Vohland and his wife, Leone Vohland

Leone Vohland, 1918-1979, and her husband, Ernie Vohland, 1915-2004, pose for a photo. They operated Leone’s Bakery from 1960 to 1985 in Montello, Wisconsin. John Sumwalt was a pastor there at Christmas time in 1984 when their granddaughters Jessica Leone Vohland and Candi Rinehart fell through the ice on a local pond.

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Col. John Bourgeouis and Dennis Schrimpf

Col. John Bourgeouis, U.S. Marine Corp Band director, poses with Dennis Schrimpf, a long-time Montello High School band director. ‘When we brought the U.S. Marine Corp Band from Washington, D.C., to perform a concert, Ernie Vohland baked a cake in honor of the occasion because he was a former Marine and was so proud to be able to do so.’ Schrimpf says.

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John Sumwalt For Agri-View

Ernie Vohland was the baker in Montello, Wisconsin, when – fresh out of seminary – I was appointed in 1978 to serve as pastor at Trinity United Methodist Church. He was one of the first people I met Sunday morning. When I stopped in at Leone’s Bakery for sweet rolls the next day, Ernie wouldn’t let the new preacher pay. The smells and tastes of Ernie’s pastries, made from recipes inherited from his German grandfather and perfected under the tutelage of his baker father, were an exquisite pleasure.

John Sumwalt is a retired pastor and the author of “Shining Moments: Visions of the Holy in Ordinary Lives” and “How to Preach the Miracles.” Email johnsumwalt@gmail.com or call 414-339-0676 to reach him.