Thoughts on the Recent Snow Storm from Donna Nickel

I cannot recall all the times I would be in an office in Illinois, wishing I was here at Teal Lake experiencing a good old-fashioned snow storm. I envisioned a cozy fire in the fireplace, a cat curled on my lap, and myself snug on the sofa and under a lap blanket while reading a good mystery.

My wish was granted this weekend, but the dream did not come quite true. We went to visit friends on Lost Land Lake late on Friday afternoon just as the snow began to fall. In only a few hours, the snow had piled up enough to challenge the four-wheel drive. The short trip to home began with an encounter with a tree across the road. It was good luck that the tree could be pushed to the side. We continued on.

The tracks of a previous traveler were all we had of Highway 77 to discern that there was, indeed, a highway under the tires.The falling snow seemed to be being pushed into the headlights. Finding the exact place to turn off of 77 onto Larson Road was not only tricky, it was important. Getting stuck at that time would have been devastating.

There were vague imprints of tire tracks on Larson Road. We had still another turn to negotiate. It seems ridiculous to say that we had to “find” Camp Road, but that is how it was. And, we did find it. Now there was nothing to indicate the way. Tree branches, heavily laden with snow, bowed to a few feet above the ground. We were glad to be in our jalopy as we listened to frozen twigs scraping the top. We could see only a few feet in front of the car. Anticipation was high: would there be a tree blocking our way to home?

As we pulled into our drive, we were thankful for the light beaming out of the porch window. The garage door lifted on command. Whew!

The view outside the windows was much more exciting than any mystery novel. We spent the rest of the evening looking out at snow falling like confectioner’s sugar being dumped from a child’s hand.  It was too windy for a fire in the fire place. As for the cats, they were not the least bit interested in curling onto a lap. They were busy romping through the house playing Chase.

We awoke on Saturday morning and immediately looked out each window, doing a reconnaissance. We were incredulous at the depth of the snow drifted across the door. Good thing we had a shovel inside the porch! All of the trees around the house seemed safe. That was not to be true for one tree in the woods which had decided to fall across our drive. Now we would not get plowed out so quickly.

And plowing is needed! The snow is so deep that it is hard to navigate even on snow shoes. There are drifts in our yard that are a solid five feet deep. The boulders that make our fire ring are mere little bumps in the deep snow.

As I sit in our “lake room” sipping coffee this morning, the sun is shining on Paradise Island. The trees on the island are heavily frosted in snow. Their brushy brown tops wave across a pale blue strip of sky, giving a hint of how windy it is this morning.

The sky itself looks like an agate with hues of blue and gray. Add a wisp or two of fluffy white.

As the sun continues its ascent, its spotlight creeps across the surface of Teal Lake which is deeply drifted. The tops of the drifts remind me of the pock marks on the lunar surface.

This has been a wonderful, powerful storm experience. I have never been in such intense falling snow. The sound of the trees creaking under the weight of their boughs impresses me. They are strong and mighty. The deep crevices made on the surface of the snow testify to the crazy way the wind danced during the storm. Our power stayed on. We will be plowed out soon. Life is good!

Jim Imse

I'm sorry to say that Jim passed away last weekend.  Jim was an active member of the Quiet Lakes Association and always was eager to help when we needed it.  Attached are the details of his obituary.

James Lawrence Imse
(July 20, 1948 - February 16, 2014)

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James L. Imse, age 65, of Spider Lake, Wisconsin, passed away unexpectedly on Sunday, February 16, 2014, in his home. Pastor Imse was born in Cheverly, Maryland, on July 20, 1948, and grew up in western New York. His family moved to New England while he was in high school. He graduated from Holy Cross College in Worcester, Massachusetts, and attended seminaries in Leuven, Belgium, and Baltimore, Maryland, earning a Bachelor’s Degree in Theology. He was ordained as a Catholic Priest on March 27, 1975 in Worcester. He then earned his Master’s Degree in Religious Studies in 1986 and served in that diocese until 1993, when he moved to the Diocese of Superior, Wisconsin, serving four more years. In 1997 he left the priesthood and moved to Spider Lake. In April of 1998 he was licensed by the United Church of Christ (UCC), and called as pastor and teacher of the Congregational U.C.C. in Mellen, Wisconsin, where he served until his death. In 2000 he received full ministerial standing in the Northwest Association of the U.C.C.

Pastor Imse was very instrumental in continuing the annual Veterans Day Service, Lenton Breakfast Services and Christmas Concerts at the Mellen U.C.C. He was an active member of the Spider Lake Fire Dept as an EMT, the Chequamegon Lions Club, the Mellen Thrift Store (Wholly Threads), Memorial day Cemetery Services, the Highbridge Aged Iron Club, the Friends of Copper Falls State Park and an avid outdoorsman and gardener. He was also heavily involved in in several theatrical productions in northern Wisconsin and was named the ;Person of the Year' by the Mellen Chamber of Commerce in 2007.

In addition to his mother, Fern A. (Symons) Imse of Westborough, Massachusetts, Pastor Jim is survived by four brothers: Peter F. Imse of Bow, New Hapshire; John P. Imse of Golden, Colorado; Andrew E. Imse of Simsbury, Connecticut and Mark W. Imse of Auborn, Massachusetts; one aunt, Janet Tiernan of Lakeland, Florida; 12 nephews and nieces.

Pastor Imse was preceded in death by his father, Dr. Thomas P. Imse and his brother, Thomas Paul Imse.

A Memorial Service celebrating Pastor Jim’s life will be held on Saturday, March 1, 2014. A gathering of family and friends will be held at the Congregational United Church of Christ, in Mellen, beginning at 9:30 a.m. The Memorial Service will begin at 10:30. Lay Pastor Deanne Allen, Lynn Larson and Pastor Marina LaChecki will officiate. A fellowship luncheon will follow the Memorial Service.

Interment will be private.

Memorials are preferred to your local food pantry.

Our Mellen Chapel is assisting his family with the details of his memorialization.