Editor’s note: To celebrate Christmas, the Times Herald invited several local authors to submit holiday-related articles for publication. Here are their submissions. Dad and I had always been close. It could have been because I was his eldest daughter or because we seemed to think and laugh alike. Or maybe he only doted on me because my little sister died some years before.

Clemeth G. Schuessler, 98, Oconto Falls, died Thursday evening, Dec. 19, 2013, at home. She was born Nov. 18, 1915, in Oconto Falls to Antone and Nellie (Tempele) Umentum. Clemeth grew up in Oconto Falls where she attended public schools, graduating from Oconto Falls High School with the Class of 1934. Following graduation, she worked for WPA earning $40 a month to help support her parents and siblings. On Nov.

Mary Lou Wickman, 69, of Oconto Falls, formerly of Abrams, died Tuesday afternoon, Dec. 17, 2013, at MeadowLands Assisted Living. She was born Jan. 8, 1944, in Manitowoc to Richard and Mary Ann (Stradal) Rhode. Mary Lou grew up in Manitowoc where she attended school, graduating from Lincoln High School with the Class of 1962. On Sept. 26, 1964, she married Willy Wickman at St. Innocents Catholic Church in Manitowoc.

Gaylord “Bub” Harry Strehlow, 88, Suring, passed away at Woodland Village Nursing Home on Tuesday, Dec. 17, 2013. He was born Nov. 22, 1925, to the late William Jr. and Clara (Guelker) Strehlow. Bub was a graduate of Suring High School, where he excelled in boxing, track and football. He married Melanie Lanser on Aug. 30, 1946, and she preceded him in death on Nov. 13, 2003.

Andy Kranick, 65, Oconto Falls, loving husband, best friend and “little buddy” of Barb Kranick, died Wednesday evening, Dec. 18, 2013, at Bellin Hospital.

To the editor: I recently rang bells for the Salvation Army at Witt’s. I was very impressed with the teenagers who donated money. We often hear negative things about our young people, but the good things they do are not noted. I have two teenage boys who live across the road. I can count on them when I need a hand. Verna Peterson, Morgan

Every Christmas Eve, Marilyn sings a song she taught to elementary school kids back in the early 1960s when we first came to Beaver Dam. The song begins, “Tomorrow will be Christmas, and we will carols sing, and early in the morning, the sweet church bells will ring, ring-a-ling.” And if our kids are not going to be with us on Christmas Eve, as sometimes happens, she’ll call and sing to them or to their answering machines.

The spirit of giving has been drifting briskly through the air over the path around the Falls. In some situations that spirit relates to family members who may be coming together for an annual gathering.

Throughout December, members of the Oconto Falls High School Future Business Leaders of America chapter engaged in numerous activities to give back to the community. To kick off the holiday season, FBLA hosted the annual Stick It to Hunger food drive. From Dec. 2-19, students at Oconto Falls High School and Washington Middle School donated a variety of nonperishable food items for Kingdom Come Food Pantry in Oconto Falls.