REMEMBERING OUR LODGE OF ONDESSONK & TEKAKWITHA BROTHERS
We remember those whom we have recently lost. They were members of our Ondessonk Family as well as members of the Lodge of Ondessonk & Tekakwitha. Their lives made a distinct impact on the campers of Ondessonk and all of us.
Paden Schultz
February 5, 2003 – January 30, 2023
Lodge Member, Camper, C.I.T.
Paden passed away suddenly January 30, 2023, just shy of his 20th birthday. From Waterloo, Ill., he was a 2021 graduate of Gibault Catholic High School. He was heavily involved in numerous activities including theater, Actor’s Attic, drama, improv, track, cross country, choir, and art; receiving awards in many of these areas. As a senior, Paden painted the mural below on the wall of the principal’s office at Gibault during the pandemic. He wanted to do something special for the principal because he worked hard to keep the Gibault Family together and safe during that hard time.
Paden went on to study Zoology at Southern Illinois University Carbondale hoping to work with tiger rescue. While at SIUC, he was a member of the Marching Salukis, Pep Band, Baking Club (which he organized), and he had just joined the Rock-Climbing Club. He led the university’s new student orientation team, was a mentor in the Saluki Summer Bridge program, and was a Marching Saluki.
Paden was a member of Belleville Boy Scout Troop 9 and Sea Scout Ship 9. His Eagle Scout project was the reopening of the Turtle Bob Hiking Trail at the World Bird Sanctuary in St. Louis. He was also a member of the Order of the Arrow.
He volunteered much of his time working at Morrison Talbott Library, House of Neighborly Services, and the Lions Club Thanksgiving Meal.
He was an Ondessonk camper from 2012 through 2017, becoming a Lodge Member in 2017. He also was a C.I.T. in 2018.
Despite injuries and health issues, there was never an obstacle that he couldn’t overcome. His family stated that his best life lesson for others was, “Don’t be afraid to stand out,” and Paden loved the quote, “You have been assigned this mountain to show others it can be moved.”
Bryan D. Hallengren
January 10, 1983 – February 29, 2024
Lodge Member, Camper, C.I.T., Counselor, Volunteer, Donor
Originally from Peoria, Ill., Bryan was a graduate of the University of Illinois with a Bachelor’s Degree in Botany. He went on to earn a Master’s in Plant and Soil Science from Southern Illinois University Carbondale. Bryan recently achieved his lifelong dream of owning his own business. He purchased Greenridge Landscaping in Carbondale where he worked tirelessly to maintain a very successful and reputable business.
He was a devoted father to his son, Jack, and the two spent much time with their Corgis, Evee and Lily. Bryan loved the outdoors whether he was working with his landscaping business, fishing, or mushroom hunting. His family was his life, and he cherished the time spent with them. Bryan’s final wish was for Jack to attend Camp O and cherish his time there as much as he had.
Camp Ondessonk was the perfect place for Bryan to revel in his love of nature. He was a camper, C.I.T., and Counselor, becoming a Lodge Member in 2002.
Bryan was a volunteer at Camp Ondessonk from 2009 through 2012, and he regularly attended Stable Round-Ups. He brought his talent to Camp and landscaped the area around the Builders and Founders recognition rocks. He was an excellent guitarist and loved entertaining. He was the consummate host anytime for anyone. In his home, Bryan had a revolving door policy for family and friends. He loved grilling for people anywhere, Camp included! Any and all were welcome at any time to eat, drink, and have a good time.
According to Bryan’s best friend, Ben Merker, “Many called Bryan their best friend, not just me, because he was known to make friends everywhere. He was a great supporter of Camp, and while a Counselor, he showed ingenuity and hard work in the projects he accomplished.”
Bryan passed unexpectedly February 29, 2024, at the age of 41, leaving behind many who will greatly miss him.
David Sullivan, Sr.
September 27, 1948 – February 4, 2024
Lodge Member, Counselor, Volunteer, Donor
Originally from LaGrange, Ill., Dave was a veteran of the United States Navy where he served as a Fleet Marine Force Corpsman. For most of his life, he worked as a professional salesman, retiring from Northwestern Mutual Life Insurance where he ran the Southern Illinois University Carbondale Internship Program. After his retirement, he served as a member of the Murphysboro Police Auxiliary, and was a member of the Murphysboro Elks and the American Legion, Post 127.
Dave was never a camper at Ondessonk. His brother, Chuck, was a seminarian, working years at Camp, and he introduced Dave to Ondessonk. In 1969, Dave was supposed to go into the Navy, but he wanted to take a break before going into the service. That break was taken at Camp Ondessonk. In that one year he worked at Camp, Dave was made a Unit Leader during Boys Season with Gene Canavan as his Assistant Unit Leader. Gene taught him everything he knew about Camp Ondessonk and instilled a deep love of the place. During Girls Season that year, Dave was on maintenance, and since he was a carpenter, he built many of the picnic tables in the units.
Dave was inducted into Lodge that first year. He loved the Lodge Ceremonies, as he had been a Boy Scout and valued the Native American theme of the ceremonies.
That same year, 1969, Camp needed help in the Stables during Boys Season, and a girl by the name of Kathi Morgan went to work in the Stables during Boys Season. She pulled into Camp’s parking lot one weekend and there Kathi and Dave were introduced. It was ‘love at first sight’ according to Kathi – plus Dave’s 1969 red Camaro! They were married in May of 1970 and their love grew stronger every year. They introduced their children to Camp and their son, Dave, Jr., was on staff in the 1990s.
Dave’s passion was volunteering countless hours at Ondessonk. Dave and Kathi helped with programs, cooking, and working in the Stables. They were ready to help whenever Gene Canavan (then Camp Director) called upon them.
Dave helped Gene create the first Friends Weekend. His favorite things at Camp were the campfires and the singing. He could sing all night around the campfires plus make up the scariest ghost stories. (In Boot Camp, Dave was a member of the Navy’s Blue Jacket Choir.) He served on Camp’s Board of Directors and received an award as volunteer of the year. Dave truly loved Camp.
Louis Jay Hall
September 19, 1961 – July 2, 2024
Lodge Member, Counselor, Donor
Jay (Bird as he was known to his friends) Hall was from Louisville, Ky., and his first experience at Camp Ondessonk was during Spring Break in 1979. He was an 18-year-old senior at Bishop David High School, and he and a group of neighborhood friends came to Camp to volunteer. Jay had never been to Camp, but one of his friends in the group had. The Springfield Lodge Clan was at Camp that same week working on projects, and many in both groups became close friends.
Jean (Schwartz) Weiss stated, “I was lucky to meet Jay on his first trip to Camp in 1979, and we have remained lifelong friends since. People just gravitated toward his big personality. He was all heart, fun to be around, a good listener, loyal to his friends, and he loved his family deeply. Jay touched lives and is greatly missed by so many people.”
Jay was hooked on Camp after that first trip and became a first-year Staff Member that Summer. He was one of the unit leaders in Lalemant, but he mostly worked in Ordinance (Maintenance) with Ranger Royce Reeder, and later Ranger Larry Barger. He was inducted into Lodge his first year on staff in 1979. His brother, Don, said “Jay was very proud being in Lodge. It meant a lot to him.”
Steve Hutsch, another Camp friend, fondly remembers, “Jay was larger than life. His energy, his work ethic, his sense of humor, and his sense of service…we became very close friends…we learned how to take on leadership roles, and both of us chose to lead by example. We sure fell down a lot, but we got back up and learned from our experiences. ‘The Beak’ always led the way. I was fortunate to see him before he passed. The days are just not as bright without him in it.”
Jay was passionate about rock music and loved to tell a good story or joke. He was year-round, full-time Staff through 1986, taking off the Summer of 1981 to work as a dispatcher for the Vienna Sheriff’s Department.
During his time at Camp, Jay worked on many projects, including helping to rebuild the units of Goupil, Daniel, LaLande, and the Stables. Jay loved Camp and one of the first places he showed his wife, Shelley, and their son, Wade, was his favorite place, Pakentuck.
In 2016, Jay won the Bell Award, a prestigious community-wide recognition for his volunteerism. Jay was a volunteer Clarksville Indiana Baseball Coach for many years and served on the Little League Board. Jay was also the President of the Clarksville Chapter of the St. Vincent De Paul Society Food Pantry volunteering several days a week – including holidays – collecting, stocking, and passing out food.