Blessing a Servant

Hello! This is Sandy and Dave Hiltman, and Jon and Diane Kaelberer. We are asking for your help in supporting our dad, Ed Kaelberer. Dad is 91, and he moved to Parker from Canon City, CO, after losing his dear wife and our mom, Ruth, in May of 2020, to cancer.

Dad also has cancer, and while we are grateful it has been slow growing, it is not treatable. He hasn't let his cancer slow him down and he feels like he has been called to keep serving his neighbors where he lives. However, he is running low on funds for medical and housing costs. Our goal in asking for your help is to be able to keep him at the community where he is currently living. He has made friends here, he is comfortable, and he still leads a sing-a-long every week for those who love to sing.

A bit about his story...Ed loves music! He has dedicated his life to it and has served in this capacity for over 70 years. He graduated from Concordia Seward, and while a student there, he played trumpet in a band and orchestra, was a member of a trumpet trio, formed a men's quartet, and sang with the concert choir. He earned a Master's Degree in Music Education from the University of Colorado. He served as a Minister of Music in congregations in Minnesota, Chicago, Illinois, and Colorado, by leading adult and children's choirs, handbell choirs, band, and orchestra. Ed also directed Convention Choirs and served as Convention Organist for the Lutheran Church Missouri Synod. He was an excellent organist that many consider to be one of the most accomplished, serving as a guest organist for installations and events, he played with the Brass Consort of Denver, and was active in forming the Southeast Minnesota Chapter of American Guild of Organists. After moving to Canon City from Denver, instead of retiring, he continued as a full time organist and concluded his music ministry by performing Christmas concerts with his good friend, pianist, and baritone soloist, Charles Rann. Ed also played Good Friday and Patriotic concerts during this time.

That brings us to today, where he still leads sing-a-longs in the community where he lives. Usually most of the 30 seats are taken! He has even given up family time on Christmas Day in order to have a Christmas sing-a-long for those who live in his community that have no family locally or were unable to get to a service to hear music and sing. His love for music and serving others runs deep!

If you have been personally touched by his music ministry or you have an appreciation for the impact music has in our lives on earth and for the Kingdom, please consider helping him now and blessing him by supporting him financially.

We appreciate you and God bless!

Jon and Diane Kaelberer 

Sandy and Dave Hiltman