There for a grieving community

K-9s bring God’s presence to two Deshler, NE, schools after tragic death of kindergartener

In a small town, there are few strangers.
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Neighbors know one another. Children grow up together. Families gather at the same ball games and celebrate one another’s joys. And when tragedy strikes, the pain is felt throughout the community.
That was especially true in Deshler, NE, when 5-year-old Tucker Sorenson was tragically killed in a bicycle accident on Sept. 10.

Tucker was a kindergartener at Deshler Public School. He was riding his bicycle after a high school volleyball game when he was struck by a car as people were leaving the game. Many students and community members were nearby, and some witnessed the accident.

In a town of about 800 people, Tucker’s death touched the entire community — including students and staff at Deshler Lutheran School, even though Tucker did not attend there.

As students prepared to return to school following Tucker’s funeral, Deshler Lutheran Principal Todd Voss reached out to the LCC K-9 Comfort Dog Ministry, asking if the dogs could simply be there for his students and staff. They could, and they did.

On Tuesday morning, Glory Comfort Dog (Christ - Lincoln, NE) and Meshach Comfort Dog (Peace - Grand Island, NE), along with their handlers and ministry partners, Judy Hanika, Susan Holland and Ryan Rathke, arrived at Deshler Lutheran School.

The dogs greeted students at the door before joining them for their morning assembly. Rathke led the students in singing “Rise & Shine & Give God the Glory,” while Glory and Meshach demonstrated their “rise” command.

The rest of the day, the team spent time visiting students and teachers from kindergarten through eighth grade.

Students who had witnessed the accident were able to focus on the dogs for a while rather than think about the tragedy; older students found comfort in keeping their hands busy braiding Glory’s fur.

There were also quieter moments. A teacher with tears in her eyes held a palm cross given to her by the team and shared that her father had treasured his own palm cross while facing death.

“We were amazed at God’s perfect grace and timing,” the team shared.

Voss was grateful the K-9 team could respond so quickly to the school.

“Getting two dogs here on such short notice was an incredible blessing to our students and staff,” he said. “They just flowed with everything we had going on. It added great value to our day.”

The K-9 Ministry’s response did not end with the visit to Deshler Lutheran School. K-9 teams also visited the students and staff at Deshler Public Schools where Tucker attended and where his two older siblings still attend, providing a second opportunity to walk alongside children and adults who were grieving his loss. Judy Hanika, Kim Eitzmann, and Rich Hanika with Glory Comfort Dog (Christ – Lincoln, NE); Marlene Olson and Mary and Warren Hellbush with Eden Comfort Dog (Peace – Columbus, NE); Dawn Gilfry, Theresa Winter, and Marily Bonow with Phinehas Comfort Dog (Trinity – Fremont, NE); and Mike and Linda Rust with Keren Comfort Dog (Immanuel – Ellsworth, KS) visited with staff first, then grade school students and finally highschoolers.

Two schools. One hurting community.

In both places, the K-9 teams offered a gentle reminder that even in the midst of heartbreaking circumstances, no one has to walk through grief alone.

“Providing comfort in times of heartbreak is what we do,” Meshach’ team said. “Sometimes life is hard and we don’t always understand, but we trust in our God who is with us and loves us even then.”

In Deshler, a community is grieving. And through the presence of the K-9 teams, that community was reminded of God’s presence and love in the midst of sorrow.