On Friday, April 17, the Lancaster siblings and their spouses and a few of the cousins gathered at Rice Lake Baptist to sing some hymns and read some pslams before leaving to escort Grandpa's hearse to the cemetery in Spooner. Here is the audio from that brief tribute in addition and the text of a poem Sherry wrote about the hour of his passing:
Ingathering
Chilled offspring of sun and soil,
I cut you from the mother stem.
The frost is falling.
Dusk advances, frosty air suspended,
Warm hands close the gathering in
Before the crushing weight of frost.
Boisterous offspring of aged parents,
My eyes absorb each ruddy cheek.
The clock is ticking.
Hush descends on laden table
As warm hands clasp in joyful prayer
Before the shining face of God.
Spent fountainhead of my substance,
Tearful eyes behold your face.
The stillness echoing.
Grief diffuses on gathered generations,
Warm hands grasp the chilling hand
Before the settling weight of death.
Blessed offspring of eternal grace,
Renewed eyes will open wide.
The light is dawning.
Glory streams in rolling waves,
Cold hands will be warmed again
Before the smiling face of God.
—Sherry Borstad
