Post was a community pillar

Last Tuesday, Dec. 26, and the first work day after Christmas, it was a little hard to drive on the second block of West Cherry. A certain void was felt, knowing that a person often seen on that block was not there any more.

Only in a small town does news travel so fast. It was a short time after Linden Post had left this life experience that I received a call informing me. Being hard to believe and not wanting to believe it, when I told someone, I would add that it had not been verified. It wasn't long before another person said, "Have you heard about Linden." It had to be a fact.

A meaning of the word post is that it is a material set up to serve as a support. Certainly Linden lived up to his name in that he was a person that gave support to many in a variety of ways.

The word pillar means one who occupies a central or responsible position. Linden Post was a person of this description. More than a post -- he was a pillar. It seems that we often do not recognize a person for his importance and what he has accomplished, until he has been removed from our midst. It is then that we really realize what that person has meant to us or to the community. This leaves us with the thought -- if we could have visited one more time.

There have been many thoughts expressed in recent days about the memories of Linden. This includes one person saying that he always had a smile. Another person said that he was a wonderful person. A great compliment was made when it was said that he had strong relationships -- with others and his Lord. Many other thoughts such as these have been expressed.

He was reared on a farm in the Bronaugh community and was involved in farming before entering the insurance business. This gave him a good foundation for his career.

It is interesting to note that he purchased the insurance agency a few days after I started to work with the extension office in this county. I am uncertain when I met him, but it had to be in the early '60s -- nearly the entire time we have lived in Vernon County.

He was a good insurance agent and business man. He worked hard and had a great amount of knowledge. He had good ethics -- he was a person you could trust, one who would not lead you astray.

As I worked at the extension with 4-H and youth, Linden was a person who gave encouragement and was a supporter of the accomplishments being made. It is this type of encouragement that means much to a professional person.

At one time in recent years, Linden and his wife Ronda were checking on and caring for five aunts. This was a challenge to them that they accepted and the aunts benefited from their concerns and assistance. This demonstrates their commitment to family members.

He was interested in sports, including baseball. Last summer, as I attended a Griffions game, he observed that I was enjoying watching the game and told me that I should come more often. I do not feel that I have the time. He said that he and Ronda came to almost all of the Griffions games. Knowing that they were busy with their business and other things, I wondered how they had the time. It was events of this type that he supported. Linden supported the organizations in the community and the events more than many of us ever knew. He did it because it was the thing to do and did not seek any fanfare.

Through the years, we have had some great conversations. We usually were in agreement. We were in the same group of people for approximately 30 years. While there were several people in the group, after I had left, he was the only person in that group that came to me to encourage me to come back. While it was not appropriate for me to go back to the group, his concern meant much to me.

An indication of what he meant to a large number of people may be the large number that attended the visitation and the service. There were people that had to wait an hour and half during the visitation. The attendance at the service may have been near the largest if not the largest in attendance for any service since the '50s at the First Christian Church.

It was during that decade that there was a great attendance at churches in this country.

Through the years Linden has held many places of leadership in the community. He served as a trustee or a deacon for his church for a large number of years. He was committed to his Lord, to his family, to his business and to the community in general.

His life was a testimony. Those of us who knew him are fortunate to have had Linden as one of our experiences in life. He helped to enrich our lives.

Certainly the world is a better place due to the things he did during his life experience.

A pillar of this community is being missed by a large number of people. Deepest sympathy is extended to his family.

Linden, many lives have been enriched by you. Thank you for what you accomplished by your service. Until we meet again, so long.