Tree of Lights

2025 marks the 20th anniversary of Compass Memorial Healthcare’s Tree of Lights, a cherished holiday tradition presented by the CMH Foundation. Each year, team members, families, and community members come together to honor and remember loved ones during the holiday season. 

Make A Donation & Honor A Loved One 

You are invited to take part in this meaningful tradition by dedicating a light in honor or in memory of someone special. 

The cost of each light is $10. Your gift is tax deductible, and all proceeds from the event help support the mission of the Compass Memorial Healthcare Foundation to support future healthcare needs for the hospital and its patients, all while adding a heartfelt tribute to our community Tree of Lights. Thank you for making this annual event part of your holiday traditions.

Donate to Light a Tribute

Donations are represented through glowing blue and white lights that shine throughout the holiday season. The Marengo town square becomes a place of reflection and togetherness as the community gathers around the illuminated memorial tree. 

Light Symbolism  

Each light on the Tree of Lights carries a heartfelt meaning:  

  • Blue Lights – In honor of loved ones 
  • White Lights – In memory of loved ones
  • A Single Red Light – In memory of all Compass Memorial Healthcare team members we have lost 

The Tree of Lights Ceremony

The annual ceremony is a deeply meaningful event that opens the holiday season with unity and warmth. During the gathering:

  • CMH team members share the History of the Christmas Tree Lights
  • All individuals recognized in honor or memory are acknowledged
  • The tree is illuminated in a moving moment of remembrance
  • The evening concludes with a touching performance of “Silent Night,” this year sung by Cooper Bott and Ruby Allison 

A Heartwarming Tradition

The Tree of Lights, hosted by the Compass Memorial Healthcare Foundation, is more than a ceremony, it’s a tradition that brings the community together to celebrate love, remembrance, and hope. Whether honoring someone special or cherishing a memory, this event offers a peaceful, uplifting start to the holiday season. 

2025 Tree of Lights in Memory of:

  • LeAnn Ackerman
  • Henry Albers
  • Dorothy Albers
  • Raymond Alexander
  • Sarah Marie Alexander
  • Julie Alexander
  • Don Auman
  • Juan Banis
  • Gloria Barb
  • Larry & Janice Bartachek
  • Karl Berger
  • John Beyer
  • Mike Beyer
  • Julian Boudonek
  • Dorothy Bral
  • Leroy Bral
  • Dwayne Brecht
  • Adam Burns
  • Ross Butler
  • Phillis Cain
  • Mike Cain
  • Mary Calkins
  • Marv Carney
  • Mark Chvala
  • Connie Cooling
  • Laura Cronbaugh
  • Raymond Cronbaugh
  • DeWayne Cronbaugh
  • Tina Cronbaugh
  • Cora Cullum
  • Glenn Cullum
  • Douglas Dauenbaugh
  • Kenneth DeFauw
  • Paul Dietze
  • Gladys Dietze
  • Beulah Ealy
  • Vivian Ebel
  • Rae Jean Fee
  • Joann Felker
  • Sandra Fox
  • Dwayne Frahm
  • John & Sandra Frahm
  • Warran Frahm
  • Harry Gerner
  • Ernestine Gerner
  • Dr. Gerald Goettsch
  • Dr. James Goettsch
  • Herb Goettsch
  • Myrtle Goettsch
  • Ruth Grafft
  • Russell Grout
  • Emerson & Helen Guth
  • Donald & Darlene Hacker
  • Sharon Hagist
  • Floyd & Jeanette Hammes
  • Roy Hauschilt
  • Roger Hawkins
  • Cody Hawkins
  • Gary Hinrichs
  • Tracee Hinrichs
  • Jerry Hinshaw
  • Ireme Hlubek
  • Dixie Holland-Frahm
  • Vivian Holst
  • James Honn
  • Terry Housman
  • Phyllis Huedepohl
  • Darwin Huedepohl
  • Richard Icenbice
  • Carl & Linda Johnson
  • Cecil Johnson
  • Dick Johnson
  • Judy Jones
  • Dr. Joe Jones
  • Lloyd Jones
  • Veda Kanke
  • Wayne & Linda Kanke
  • Evelyn Kaplan
  • Louis Kaplan
  • Amy Kehoe
  • Erna Kehoe
  • Gertrude Kehoe
  • Garth & Norma Kelting
  • Harold & Elenor Kelting
  • Orville & Lavanda Kinsinger
  • Curtis Kinzenbaw
  • Russell Kinzenbaw
  • Ronald Dean Kinzler
  • James Allen Kirchoff
  • Lloyd & Rae Jean Klever
  • George Klingler
  • Don Knock
  • Harold & Martha Koehn
  • Seth Kolosik
  • Robin Lascon
  • Monte Lehmkuhl
  • Robert & Judy Lehmkuhl
  • Josephine Less
  • Vernon Less
  • B. Lind
  • Grace Lohrer
  • Myron Lohrer
  • Kathleen Lucas
  • Theresa Maday
  • Karen Sue Martinson
  • Denise Martinson
  • M.J. (Martin) Martinson
  • Debbie Martinson
  • Thomas J. McClure
  • Bill & Kathryn McKusker
  • Lila Megchelsen
  • Chuck Merritt
  • Martha Meyer
  • Jerry Miller
  • Linda Miller
  • Dick Miller
  • Jean Miller
  • Leo Milota
  • Gwen Milota Overmann
  • Al & Betty Misel
  • Don & Marilyn Misel
  • Kim Misel Scott
  • Larry & Maryjean Moore
  • Brian Moore
  • Henry W. Moser
  • Gloria Neuhaus
  • Marlin Niday
  • Charles & Shirley Pech
  • Dylan Penning
  • Kirsten Phillips
  • Mary Pierce
  • Parlyn Plotz
  • Dawn Pope
  • Stephen Pope
  • Joseph Pope
  • Deb Quinlan
  • Dan Quinlan
  • Amy Richard
  • Fay Risner
  • Jim Ritchie
  • Francis Ritchie
  • Aubrey Robbins
  • Nancy Robertson
  • Ron Rodemeyer
  • Leona Brandt Rodemeyer
  • John Rodemeyer
  • Dean Rodgers
  • Mike Roggentien
  • Dean Roggentien
  • Ryan Rose
  • Harmon & Myrna Rose
  • Paul Edward Sauter
  • Tate Schaefer
  • Val Schafbuch
  • Arnold Schnebbe
  • Ronald E. Schumacher
  • Wayne Schwarting
  • Glenn & Kathryn Scott
  • Patricia Seye
  • Deceased family members of Seye, Stevens, DeSutter and Minnaert
  • Merritt Shaull
  • Greg Shevokas
  • Fred Shifflett
  • Charlene Simmons
  • Rhonda Simpson
  • John & Donna Sims
  • Steve Slagle
  • Violet Slaymaker
  • Janet Slaymaker
  • Delma Spence
  • Florence Stanerson
  • Bridget Stanerson
  • Dena Stanerson
  • Dean Strellner
  • James Anthony Tamayo
  • Donald Teggatz
  • Rose Thorn Tanner
  • Susan Turnbull
  • Floyd Van Dee
  • Esther Van Dee
  • Marge Van Dee
  • Alice Van Quekelberghe
  • Cleamour Varo
  • Norma Lea Vogt
  • Larry Waddell
  • Kevin Waddell
  • Brett Waddell
  • Shirley A. Wade
  • Hunter Wardenburg
  • William Clyde Warwick
  • Mike Wilhelm
  • John J. Wilkinson
  • Barbara Wilkinson
  • Diane Wilson
  • Betty Simmons Wyant
  • N. Dean Wyant
  • Corey Yardley
  • Harlan & Vera York

2025 Tree of Lights in Honor of:

  • Nikki Alexander
  • Robert Alexander
  • Kate Bauer Family
  • Ronnie Baxa
  • Amy Bird Family
  • Auli'i Clark
  • Abigal Goettsch
  • Bennett Goettsch
  • Eva Goettsch
  • Babe Hauschilt
  • Mallory Hauschilt
  • Steve & Cindy Hauschilt
  • Tony Hauschilt
  • Steve Hauschilt Family
  • Rex Kehoe
  • Alan & Pauline Kehoe Family
  • Greg & Olivia Kelting
  • Jaycee Lyons
  • Diane Patterson
  • Elliott & Nichelle Schiffman Family
  • Paul & Margaret Staman
  • Payton Stout
  • Compass Memorial Healthcare Board of Trustees
  • Compass Memorial Healthcare Foundation Board Members
  • Compass Memorial Healthcare Team Members
  • Compass Memorial Healthcare Volunteers