Beacon Sept 2023

Page 2A THE BEACON September 2023
By
Tamara
Taylor
This editorial is unlike any
other that I have written. I
have struggled for weeks
about the wording, how to
phrase things, how to share
the emotions...
I lost a friend.
His name is scattered
throughout this issue. Not
because of me and our friendship,
but because he touched
the lives of so many.
Tom Klump was a lifetime
resident of New Alsace. That
speaks volumes about what
was important to him. As I
read Tom’s life story, I was
fascinated to learn that he
started Klump Excavation and
Construction long before he
could have possibly envisioned
what it has become.
While his fellow classmates
were buying eight-tracks and
going on dates at age fifteen,
Tom bought a bulldozer.
Really. Naturally, when he
and Kathy married during a
snowstorm, they rode in the
bucket of a backhoe to get
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to the church. For those who
knew Tom, I’m sure you are
chuckling and shaking your
head right about now.
Tim Greive, Dearborn
County Highway Superintendent,
and I shared a few
stories about our relationships
with Tom. Tim fondly remembered,
“We would be out
there on the roads fighting the
worst winter storm for days
with no break, and a message
would come across my phone
from Tom saying he knew
what we were battling. And if
we needed any help, just call
him.” A perfect example of
who Tom was.
The memory of how I met
Tom escapes me, but what
a blessing that meeting was.
My jobs were a mere pittance
compared to the corporate
clients he had, but he never
showed it. He was incredibly
knowledgeable about his
business (of course he was)
and knew how to solve so
many challenges. He seemed
to take on every project as if it
was his own. And things were
always done right.
If you didn’t know Tom,
you were still impacted by
the great work he did. Just
recently Tom and I had a
conversation about the event
being held by A Community
Bridge on the Guilford Covered
Bridge. Little did I know
that Tom actually moved that
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bridge to its current location
in 1982 and built the park
around it. The thought of him
driving a dump truck full
of gravel over that covered
bridge makes one pause just a
little...
While Tom’s fingerprints
are on so many things in
our community, his lasting
legacy is how he touched
us all. I think I have met his
wife Kathy twice. She is an
equestrian and will hopefully
remember how Tom’s face
would light up as he talked
about their trail rides together.
And his son Tommy... talking
to him will always be a pleasure
since he chuckles just
like his dad. I’m sure he will
have no problem filling those
big shoes he now has to wear.
I only knew Tom for a blink
of an eye in the grand scheme
of things, but he touched my
life more than I ever realized.
Until it was too late to tell
him. Lesson learned- be sure
to tell those you care about
how you feel when you have
the chance.
The hump of gravel left by
the last load Tom spread on
my driveway will eventually
fade away. But the memories
of Tom Klump, the person he
was- the community leader,
the friend- will remain forever.
I always write about positive
things, and I struggled
with how to write about
Tom’s passing. Then I saw
the funeral procession and
the outpouring of all of his
friends and family- the parade
of trucks, semis, dozers, you
name it, that accompanied
Tom on his final trip. And
it hit me. Tom Klump left a
legacy that filled our lives far
beyond that load of gravel
or final grade. He instilled
friendship in each of us.
A very positive thing.
Publisher/Editor
Tamara M. Taylor
Founding Publisher
Elizabeth Morris
Sales Manager - New Accounts
Gene Belew
Editorial Assistants
Connie Webb, Cherie Maddin
Columnists & Contributors
Debbie Acasio, Melanie Alexander,
Susan Carson, Linda Cromer,
Larry Eaton, PG Gentrup,
Cheryl Damon-Greiner,
Jeff Hermesch, Mary-Alice Helms,
Merrill and Linda Hutchinson,
Amanda Kirchner, Vivian Kist,
Laura Keller, Chris Nobbe,
Marie Segale, Sue Siefert,
Maureen Stenger, Cheryl Taylor,
Rhonda Trabel, Randy Turner,
Bob Waples, Lorene Westmeier,
Lisa West, Debbie Zimmer
Elisha Hunley with her
daughters Hailey, Layla, and
Sophia.
Everyone has a story.
Thanks to my parents, I never
had the thought of worrying
about if there would even be a
next meal, or a roof over my
head.
Countless people have lived
with those fears, oftentimes
unbeknownst to us. One
person, in particular, has an
amazing story of her life and
where she is now. Elisha Hunley
owns a bakery in Sunman.
Sweet! How cool is it to create
all of those sweet confections
that bring smiles to the
faces of each customer?
How she got there is another
story. Cheryl Taylor,
our Sunman correspondent,
shared the following:
Not too long ago, Sunman
welcomed a new business into
the downtown area not realizing
the full scope of the blessings
the owner was bringing
with her. Elisha Hunley with
her three daughters, Hailey,
age 18, Layla, age 13 , and
Sophia, age 9, share the beautiful
art of making goodies
for the store. When I saw the
little Blessing Box all decked
out in pink and sitting outside
of the shop, I went in to talk
to Elisha about it. During our
talk, it became obvious that
this box meant a lot to her. I
asked her why the box was so
important to her. Ms. Hunley
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Tom Klump
replied, “The blessing box
is important to me because I
have been in “those shoes” of
struggling. Either pride would
get the better of me and not
go to food pantries, or when I
would have the moment that
I would really need it there
were none open. With the
blessing box, it gives flexibility
for those in need that don’t
want the judgment to come
at any time or for ones who
just can’t make it to the food
pantry, it opens the window
to work on their schedule.
This also allows people in
the community to help (most
people want to help just
don’t always know how).
These small kind gestures can
truly change someone’s life.
Without the kind gestures of
so many during my struggles
in life, I would not be where
I am today! It truly does take
a village.” Elisha also sets up
her mobile bakery weekly to
benefit local organizations and
has just pledged a full year of
WiFi to the Sunman Community
Park.
I hope that all of you take
away from this column that
life is short. Share how you
feel with those most important
in your life. And above all,
follow your heart. You may
never know the long-lasting
impact it will have on making
someone’s life better.
The BEACON - Great News for Great People.