Kliewer family plants historic seedling

JonahKliewerTreeP7078550.jpg

JonahKliewerTreeP7078550.jpg
Surrounded by family and friends from the Tabor College faculty and staff, Jonah Kliewer (seated) clasps hands with Lawrence Ressler for a dedicatory prayer during a tree planting ceremony on the campus Monday morning. Kliewer, professor emeritus of vocal music at the college and recent chairman of the Hillsboro Tree Board, has been growing the young oak tree (shown in the foreground) at his home for the past three years. He had hoped to plant it this fall during the centennial celebration of the college. The seedling is a descendent of a well-known oak tree in the former Chortitza Colony of Poland, where many Mennonites lived before migrating to Kansas in the 1870s. The ceremony was moved to this week so Kliewer, who is battling cancer, could see it planted. A plaque will be placed near the tree to identify its origin and to honor Kliewer?s contributions to the college and community.

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