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When he called and asked me to “geuess what I got”, I thought for sure it was another wooden sword or a hockey stick. I don’t think those things could hold a candle to his very own library card. Yep, he’s heather’s boy.

Richard “Dick” Clark Ilse, age 64, of Minneapolis, died peacefully at home with family by his side on Wednesday, December 23, 2009 after a four-year journey with bile duct cancer.

Dick was born in Duluth, MN, and lived there for 52 years before moving to the Twin Cities. Dick served in the Minnesota National Guard while studying geography at the University of Minnesota, Duluth. After graduating, he worked at the Duluth City Planner’s office, then went to the Arrrowhead Regional Development Commission where he was instrumental in introducing personal computer technology to small government units in the area. Dick was an independent information technology consultant until 1998, when he began working for the Minneapolis Urban League, where he worked to within the last two weeks of his life. He managed information technology, and is widely regarded as the most friendly, helpful and sociable “I.T. guy” ever. He frequently went above and beyond the call of duty in volunteer service to MUL’s many outreach projects, which included running the photo shoot for the Black Santa event, coordinating the parade for Family Day, teaching afterschool and summertime computer classes for youth in the Other Options Program Services, and making tax preparation assistance more accessible through the Accountability Minnesota Tax Clinic.

Dick had a kind, gentle personality. People were drawn to his humanity, inclusiveness, and compassion. He was known for his bright smile and self-deprecating humor in the worst of times, which especially shone through near the end of his inspirational battle with cancer. One of his gifts to the family he loved was his infectious and complete enjoyment of being in their company.

He loved observing Lake Superior and its shipping activity, hiking and bicycling along its North Shore, taking sailing and paddling adventures with family in the Apostle Islands and Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness, babysitting his grandkids, and creating elaborate transportation schemes involving multiple vehicles (and perhaps a brother or two) to get kids, cousins, and/or pets from Point A to Point B. He had a propensity for telling Prairie Home Companion jokes at inopportune times and was prone to burning popcorn. He will be greatly missed by all who knew and loved him.

Dick is survived in life by his wife of 40 years, Sandra of Plymouth, MN; his dog, Gabrieli; children, Bryan (Sara) Ilse of Minneapolis and Jeff (Heather) Ilse of Minneapolis; grandchildren, Ethan and Lillian; brothers, Bob (Margo) Ilse of Duluth, John Ilse of Finland, MN, and Bill (Kate) Isles of Duluth; sister, Judy (Larry Heinis) Ilse-Heinis of Hermantown; mother-in-law, Carol Randall of Tampa, FL; aunts Doris Elg of Brainerd, MN, Betty Flax of Oro Valley, AZ, Josie Ilse of Virginia, MN; along with nieces, nephews, and cousins by the dozens.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Kay and Clark Ilse and father-in-law, Darrell Randall.

A funeral service and celebration of Dick’s life will be held Saturday, January 2 at 2:00 pm, at Grace University Lutheran Church, 324 Harvard St SE, Minneapolis, MN, 55414, 612-331-8125, www.graceattheu.org. Following the service, there will be plenty of time and space for sharing food, stories, songs, readings, or whatever you would like to contribute in remembrance of Dick’s life.

See www.caringbridge.org/visit/dickilse for more information. We have savored and appreciated all the stories, prayers, condolences, and notes of support left at Dick’s CaringBridge guest book.

Flowers and live plants are welcome. If preferred, donations may be sent en memorial to an organization Dick supported, Heifer International, which works with communities to end hunger and poverty and care for the earth. With gifts of livestock and training, Heifer International gives families a hand-up, not just a hand-out, empowering them to turn lives of hunger and poverty into self-reliance and hope.
Heifer International
1 World Avenue
Little Rock, AR/USA 72202,
(800) 422-0474
http://www.heifer.org/

we had a little impromptu pumpkin carving party tonight. Here’s Heather’s latest creation.

Ethan and I headed out to a rock and mineral show this morning. He was soaking up all kinds of good info about one of his favorite subjects. Maybe tying rocks on Ethan’s list of favorite things to do, we went out to look at some stars at the observatory on the darker outside of town in the evening. Jupiter was very bright, and through the telesocpes, I was able to see 4 of the moons and even some of the bands on the planet. It was a super time. Here’s a couple pictures I took of ethan near lake nokomis. Click through for more.

Every fall, our CSA farmer has a harvest party and we pack up the car and head north. It’s an amazing thing for Ethan (and us) to be able to see where our food comes from and get to know our farmer and his family. We’re very thankful that there are people, like Charlie, that care enough to do such an incredible job of producing fresh organically grown produce and bring it (literally) to our door. Ok, not everyone gets it brought to their door; we’re the pickup site for 25 other families. Thanks, Charlie!

Golf and pirates may come and go, but Ethan has always liked digging in the dirt…and probably always will.

Lilly hit 6 mthns, so it was high time to hit the park to take some pictures of her. Ethan and I had a nice remander of the morning; we had breakfast at french medow and then went to check out the progress on the new 35w bridge.

I actually spent an evening that had nothing to do with boat building. How about that. Heather, Ethan, and I had a nice night out together before they head off to the energy fair for the weekend. We hit the birchwood cafe and then on to the co-op. Ethan and I sat on the bench soaking up the nice June evening while Heather did some shopping.