Friday, September 7, 2012

Caroline Grace Thallman

Blue Hill resident CarolineGrace Thallman, 10, died Wednesday, September 5, 2012 as a result of injuries recieved in a motor vehicle accident.
Services were 10 a.m. Tuesday at United Methodist Church in Blue Hill with  the Rev. Steve Marsh. Rev. Jenae Bauer. Rev. Richrd Turner, and Rev. Baldeo Singh officiating.
Memorials can be directed to the Blue Hill United Methodist Church, 302 South Webster St. Blue Hill, Ne 68930, or the Caroline Grace Thallman Scholarship fund for the Blue HIll Class of 2020 and byond, South Central State Bank, P.O. Box 157, Blue Hill, Nebraska 68930.

Caroline Grace Thallman was born on Feb. 24, 2002 to Mark and Cheryl (Bauer) Thallman at Hastings.  Caroline has lived on the family farm south of Blue Hill her entire life and was currently in Mrs. Kranau's fifth grade class at Blue Hill elementary school.
 Caroline was an excellent student routinely testing several  grade levels above  her current grade.  She was elected to the Blue Hill Elementary School Character Council in 2011 and in 2012.  She won third place in the FairPort 4-H competition at the 2010 State Fair.  She was the Reserve Grand Champion $-H clothing and the Reserve Champion (Junior Division) 4H style review Exhibitor at the 2012 Webster County Fair.
Caroline greatly loved her cats and dog.  She loved dancing, shopping and spending time with her friends.  She also loved traveling to see her extended famly in Nebraska, Texas and Minnesota.  Caroline spent her summer planning the family vacation.  The destination she chose was New Yourk City.  She spent countless hours over the summer using the internet to research attractions, ticket packages, hotels, resturants, and bus tours and organizing the information.  It is such an incredible blessing that Caroline was able to experience this trip in the first week of August 2012.  She thoroughly enjoyed every minute.  It was likely the most enjoyable experience of her life.

Caroline is survived by her Parents:  Mark and Cheryl Thallman and Sister:  Allie Thallman of Blue hill her Grandparents:  Richard and Joanne Thallman of Dallas Texas and Gene and Sharon Bauer of Pleasanton, Nebraska.
Aunts and Uncles:  Tricia (Thallman) Morgan North Richland Hills, Texas,  Karen (Thallman) and Mike Keeter Dalas, Texas, Pam (Thallman) and Dean Davis, Plano, Texas; Jeff and Jenae Bauer, Adams Nebraska; Marc and Lisa BAuer, Hawley, MN;  Bryce Bauer, Lincoln, Ne.
Cousins:  William Hunt Morgan, Camp Lejune, NC; Zachary and Maddie Morgan, North Richland Hills, Texas; Sam, Will and John Keeter, Dallas Texas, Russell and Hank Davis Plano, Texas, Blair Bauer, Adams, Nebraska, Katie Bauer, Kearney, Nebraska Ellie and Will Bauer, Hawley, MN


Caroline Thallman was described as a shining light by a teacher during the memorial service held thursday evening to remember Caroline and the others who were killed or injured in the school bus-semi truck accident south east of Blue Hill..
Her sister Allie, 8, was still recovering from injuries at Mary Lanning hospital in Hastings.
The Thallmans are active members of the United Methodist church in Blue Hill where the services were conducted by Pastor Steve Marsh.   The Sunday before the accident the sisters lit candles at the morning service .
Caroline was involved in 4-H, baking and sewing with the help of her aunt. She also showed a dog at the county fair. At the time of the accident her father Mark was waiting to take the girls to Dance Lessons in Hastings.
She was a fifth-grader at Blue Hill Community Schools, a member of Mrs. Kranau's class.
Her father, Mark Thallman, is a research scientist at the U.S. Meat Animal Research Center near Clay Center, and her mother, Cheryl, works for the Women, Infants and Children program in Hastings.
They were described by fellow church members as  a kind, loving family.
The family had just returned from a trip to New York City, carefully planned by Caroline..
And the most enthusiastic one about the trip, the one who planned and posted Facebook pictures of her dream vacation, was Caroline.

"Dance like no one is watching, sing like no one is listening: live each day as if it were your last."

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"I'll lend to you for a little time,
A child of mine," God said,
"For you to love while she lives
And mourn for when she's dead."


"It may be six or seven years
Or twenty-two or three,
But will you till I call her back,
Take care of her for me?"


"She'll bring her charms to gladden you
And should her stay be brief,
You'll have these precious memories
To comfort you through grief."

"I cannot promise she will stay
Since all from earth return.
But there are lessons taught down there
I want this child to learn."

"I've looked this world over,
In my search for teachers true.
In the crowds of this great land,
I have selected you."

"Now will you give her all your love
Not think the labor vain,
Nor hate me when I come to call
To take her back again?"


It seems to me I heard them say,
"Dear Lord, thy will be done.
For all the joys a child shall bring,
The risk of grief we'll run."

"We'll shelter her with tenderness,
We'll love her while we may,
And for the happiness we've known
Forever grateful stay."

"And should the angels call for her
Much sooner than we've planned,
We'll brave the bitter grief that comes
And try to understand."

© Edgar A. Guest

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