Annette and Jon Wacker [Click to enlarge]

A wise person once said, "Some people come into our lives and quickly go; others stay awhile and leave footprints on our hearts, and we are never ever the same." As I look back on my life, I see how true this is. There have been a number of people; friends, family members, teachers, neighbors, who have influenced my life in a positive way and hopefully made me a better person through their efforts.

Similarly, our town has been blessed with many wonderful individuals who have left behind a loving legacy to their neighbors and fellow citizens. I think of teachers like E.P. Baruth, Ruth Callen and Rena Roberts; Asa Wolfe, the superintendent of county schools; Ralph Miller, genealogist extraordinaire and vote tallier on election night; Ray Search, local historian and theatre manager; and Leo and Bill Kelly, high school band instructors. These people blessed our town in many different ways and left a positive impact long after their time here was over. Hearing their names brings a smile to my face and a flood of wonderful memories to my mind.

Sadly, our community will soon be saying farewell to a couple who has positively influenced us with their presence, their time, and their talents. They have only lived in our fair town for 12 years, but for me, it is hard to remember a time when they weren't here. And when they drive away from McCook next week, we will feel their loss in so many ways and realize how lucky we were to be blessed by their friendship. That couple is Jon and Annette Wacker.

Jon is a Nebraska native and Annette hails from Minnesota, which is evident when you hear the delightful Swedish brogue in her voice. They both ended up living and working in El Paso, Texas. By the early 1980's, life had dumped some hard trials in their laps. Annette had battled cancer, Jon had survived the death of a close friend and mentor, and both had struggled through a failed marriage and divorce. When they met, Annette had three very young children she was raising alone and both were going through a dark time in their life.

But through God's grace, they dated and married and set out on a journey of healing and togetherness. Jon became "Dad" to Annette's children; Nicole, Katie, and David, and the five quickly began a life immersed in the church and music. According to their oldest daughter Nicole, "We were like the Von Trapps once my parents married. We sang, danced, put on plays and puppet shows, and played instruments. You name it and we did it. Dad brought music to our lives. I learned to appreciate all kinds of music; it has become a part of who I am today."

After finishing school in Texas, Jon found a job in McCook. They were eager to get away from El Paso and move somewhere that was cleaner and safer to raise children. They liked McCook because of its size and location, mainly back in Huskerland! So in late 1992 they rolled into McCook, ready to start a new chapter in their lives. We are so glad they did.

Before I continue their story, I have to tell you something about Annette. She believes strongly in the power of prayer and one of her missions in life is to be a prayer warrior for the people around her. As the Wackers were driving to McCook that weekend, Annette started praying for there to be snow in McCook. Nine years of living in the desert had been hard on this Northern girl, and she wanted her children to be able to see and play in snow. So she prayed for lots of the "white stuff" on the drive north and encouraged the rest of the family to do the same.

Think back to December 2, 1992. It started snowing on that Friday night, about the time the Wackers arrived in McCook. It snowed all day Saturday. When the blizzard finally ceased early Sunday morning, there was over 20 inches of snow gracing our town. As the family settled into their new home, Annette was clapping and over joyous about the answer to her prayer. The kids were excited too, until they were introduced to the concept of scooping snow! Personally, I think the city council should start a fund to hire Annette to be McCook's official pray-er and see if she can get some rain headed our direction. Somebody upstairs obviously listens to her!

Jon and Annette quickly became active in the life of their new hometown. They joined the Methodist church and became involved in many areas of its music and ministry. They have been members of the choir, bell choir, and Significant Light praise band. Jon is the director of the bell choir and praise band, teaches a Bible study course, coordinates the audio/visual team and is the church's information technology guru. Annette also teaches a Bible study course and is Jon's number one cheerleader and encourager in all that he does. They are also members of the church's worship committee, youth advisory board, and prayer room committee.

But Jon and Annette's impact in McCook is certainly not limited to their church. They both sing in the Community Chorus and Jon is co-director, along with Evie Caldwell, for the group. Jon operates the sound system for the Buffalo Commons Storytelling Festival and the Live at the Bieroc programs. He also serves as reviewer for the Southwest Nebraska Community Theatre Association, writing wonderful previews of the organization's productions that are run in the Gazette.

Along the way, the Wackers have been successful in business as well. After working for a couple of different firms in McCook, Jon became one of the owners of Professional Computer Services, located on Norris Avenue. He is an absolute whiz with computers and has been able to successfully repair our computer every time I mess it up. Annette worked for many years at a local music store, dispensing her musical knowledge, capable help, and ready smiles to all their customers. Both of them will be missed in the business arena in town.

So why are they leaving McCook and heading east? Because God told them to, of course! About a year ago, Jon attended a "Walk to Emmaus" spiritual retreat. During the retreat, he felt very strongly that God was telling him to leave behind his business, his town, and his activities to become a minister. At first, Jon didn't welcome this particular message from God and kept thinking of reasons to resist. However, by the time the retreat ended, he had reconciled himself to the fact that he was going to step out of his comfort zone and into unknown waters.

One of the first difficulties Jon had to face after the retreat was breaking the news to Annette. Imagine coming home after being gone for a weekend and announcing, "Hey honey, guess what! We're going to leave behind our friends, our business, our income, our church, and our community so I can go to seminary!" When Jon did drop the bombshell on Annette, he probably ducked, expecting a prolonged argument from her. But in typical Annette fashion, she looked up from the magazine she was reading, smiled a loving smile at him, and answered, "It's about time. I've known for awhile that that's where you need to be."

So almost a year after that retreat, Jon and Annette are ready for the beginning of a new chapter in their lives. Jon is attending Annual Conference for the Methodist Church in Lincoln next week and then heading to seminary school in Kansas City. He and Annette will be moving into the parsonage in Murdock, Nebraska on July 1 where he will be the pastor at Ebenezer United Methodist Church. Jon will be leading a hectic schedule of seminary school during the week in Kansas City and then back to Murdock to pastor and lead during the weekends. Annette will look for a job once they are moved into their new home. It will take three years for Jon to finish his schooling and become an ordained minister. It will be a tough row to hoe for the couple, with little time or money available to them. However, like everything else they have faced, they'll handle it with faith, grace, energy, enthusiasm, and lots of love.

One of the greatest compliments that can be paid to a person is when their children speak highly of them. The Wacker's youngest daughter, Katie, summed up her parents like this: "I remember that we always managed to have fun together. I really have a great deal of respect for my dad because he took on not only a wife, but three young children at a hard time and he has always been there for us ever since. In fact, I don't think my faith would have been as strong without him. And Mom -- well you know my Mom. She's like a ball of happiness. She's taught me a great deal."

So now the time has come for us to say goodbye to two wonderful people whom our community will miss deeply. Their stay here in McCook was short, too short, but we are so grateful we had the opportunity to get to know them. They have touched the lives of many people and deeply enriched our community through their tireless work, enthusiasm, and optimism.

Due to careful planning on Jon and Annette's part, the businesses, committees and programs that they were such a crucial part of will continue without them. It will take several people to fill the voids they are leaving; but the choirs, the bands, the Bible studies, and Professional Computer Services are being left on strong footing and in capable hands. Nevertheless, there will be a place in our hearts that will ache with an emptiness that cannot be filled by anyone else.

Thanks Jon and Annette for everything. We'll miss you!