For anyone who has lost a loved one, the Kiwanis Memorial Garden offers a place to reflect. Late Thursday morning, the Kiwanis Club dedicated its memorial garden at Kiwanis Park, East Smith Street, Warsaw. Kiwanis Past President Renea Salyer explained Fran Kelsey had an idea to honor lost children with a memorial garden. As Kiwanis members started working on it, they came up with the idea of opening the memorial garden to all who have lost a loved one, because the Kiwanis’ focus is children and the community. The garden, designed by Katy Berger and Chuck Whitcraft, is in the shape of the letter “K.” “Our mission of the Kiwanis is improving the world one child and one community at a time,” Salyer said at the dedication. The angel in the garden also evolved. Originally, it was to be a bronze angel, but the club decided to go with more simple one. In the spring, the Kiwanians hope people will plant flowers for those they have lost and reflect. Salyer said anyone will be able to plant flowers anytime in the spring as space is available. Earlier this year, Kiwanis members repainted the pavilion at the park. Salyer said the memorial garden is a good addition to the Kiwanis Park. Salyer had three goals for her term as Kiwanis president last year, with one being a playground to celebrate the 100th anniversary of Kiwanis, she said Thursday afternoon. With a limited timeframe and money, the garden made more sense when Kelsey presented it, Salyer said. A playground is still in the plans for the park down the road. The Indiana Department of Natural Resources has a boat ramp at the park to access Winona Lake. The land is owned by the city, but the Kiwanis have taken on the park as one of its long-standing projects. The club provided the shelter and now the memorial garden. During the dedication, Salyer thanked the volunteers and supporters, including Warsaw Kiwanis Club members Larry Peppel, Bruce Andrews, Joni Truex, Michelle Boxel, Pam Starkweather, Joy Lohse and Jeremy Walters; the Warsaw Community High School Key Club; Cindy Cates, Jeff Salyer and Dale Truex. She thanked the Warsaw Parks Department for all its assistance in planning and excavating, and Brett Harter for helping to deliver materials. Funding support came from Kosciusko Community Hospital, Redpath Fruth Funeral Home and Farmers State Bank. Superior Excavating supplied the stone and topsoil. Warsaw Mayor Joe Thallemer thanked the Kiwanis for the memorial garden and said it was “very nice” to see the public-private collaboration. The park is a peaceful, quiet area, perfect for reflection, and the pier at the park is an important place to access Winona Lake, he said. “It’s beautiful,” Thallemer said of the garden. “I appreciate the time you have spent.” He told Parks Superintendent Larry Plummer, “Larry, we will accept this and take care of this as we need to.” Jim McDonald, Kiwanis member, provided a prayer, followed by a few comments by Kiwanis President Adam Clemens. “This is a great project. Thank you, Renea, for this. It’s a great place to reflect. Thanks to all who contributed to this,” Clemens said.
