I never got to say good bye to you Werner. It is today that I am feeling very very sad, for unknown reasons, and all I can think about is "What would Werner do?" I remember when I got my car, in July the summer you passed. I was ashamed of it. My siblings said it was too fancy for a 17 year old. I felt spoiled and rotten and every emotion one could have after getting such an amazing gift, then feeling bad for accepting it. You came to my birthday party, where I had spent most of the day crying in my room in shame, and said (German Accent Emphasized): "I hear you have a new car. Lets see it!" Shamefully I walked you to the garage where I slowly opened the door to reveal my shiny Volkswagen. I was expecting the response I had gotten from everyone else that day: "Thats a nice car for a 17 year old" or something along those lines. I didn't get it. You stood there for a moment, looking it over. Then you turned to me, and said something I will never forget. You said "Wow thats a nice car! Enjoy it!!" This was said with a huge grin on your face. I will never be ashamed again Werner. Not for anything. You have taught me that. I miss you everyday. I regret not having spent more time with you. I was young and stupid and didn't realize what a great man you were. I am still young and stupid, but hopefully I am getting better. I am sorry for not saying this earlier, but to your family, I am so sorry for your loss. I hope you all can forgive me for taking this long to write. I have never had anyone I know die, and I didn't know how to talk about it. I love you all.

Oh, dear Mr. Tismer! I remember you being my Lincoln School principal many, many years ago.There is also a tribute to you on this site from my older brother, Douglas Skramstad. It's taken for granted that most schoolchildren are afraid of the school principal...but I never was. All I remember about you is your shiny hair and your big smile. However, my little sister, who was afraid to go to Kindergarden at Lincoln, insisted that she be allowed to stay home! We lived very close to the school... not even any streets to cross. So for awhile I actually had to help my mother literally drag my little sister to school, under protests, of course. But when we got to the school, the door suddenly opened, and there you stood, Mr. Tismer, with your big smile and kind expression, and you said to my sister, "Well, hello there! I've been waiting for you! I am SO happy you could come to school today!" Then you took my sister's hand and said he would take her to her class. And after that, my sister had no trouble going to school. Right now she is working on her Master's degree; I am a former teacher, and my brother served in the Navy and retired a few years ago. So, dear Mr. Tismer, your desire to teach children to keep on learning really influenced our whole family. My condolances and sympathy are with your family and friends, and I look forward to seeing you again someday. But you are greatly missed. Farewell for now. Sally

Парнуха

Dear Werner, We are back to Shanghai after visiting everyone in MN. The weekend trip up north was the first one without you in the past 20 years. We were happy to be all together with Harpreet and Stephanie's family and of course you knew how we felt without you. Along the way we took the same path which you used to take us in the past years. Betty's Pie, Northern Light for lunch( ordered your favourite food), Wolfridge Environmental Learning Center( signed up Eric for a life member. Met with a lot of people there including the Chinese girl working there ), Shops in Ely and of course the Cabin. I did not sleep much the night we were in Ely as I was not sure how I would react when I got to the cabin where you left us for your big journey. As soon as we entered the cabin the second morning, I was not able to control my tears. It was so quiet and different without your cheerful voice and your laughter. The cabin was the same, the lake was the same, the sauna room was the same... YOU were not there anymore....I cried...and cried....and we all cried together. Thinking about the great time we had together over there, thinking about you as fishing bait in the lake and let us catch some fishes, thinking about the happy birthday party we had for you there over 2 years ago etc....I laughed and we all laughed together. I really believe you could see us that day and were communicating with us in your special ways. I hope you knew the pictures we took that day and we left a big space in the middle for you. We all miss your bear hugs. You touched so many people with your big heart and you were loved by so many people too. Although we felt there was some sort of closure with this trip, the love to you will never stop......

I was a student at Lincoln Elementary in White Bear Lake with Principal Tismer in the early 1960's. After knocking myself out cold by misbehaving one afternoon, he made certain I got home by PERSONALLY escorting me to my house near the school and explaning my predicament to my Mother! A fond and lasting memory of a caring man.

september20,2009 i knew werner through herpeet since 1989.the summer of 2007 will remain for ever in my mind as he took me to various parts of mn as well as to the lake where he breath last.only regret i will always have he could not visit my place in india though we were always planning for it.werner was a great friend whose memories will remain always fresh in my mind. krishna raina

I got to know Werner (we called him Tismer for a long time until I came to Minnesota) through Ningchu when he came to my hometown Ninghai in Zhejiang Province in China. I still remember his contagious warm smiles from that first dinner get-together at my mother's company cafeteria when Ningchu was singing a song with Karaoke. Werner was the very first "foreigner" that I spoke with in English. I came to MN when I was 20 and now married and a mother, Werner has since been a fantastic (it's a word Werner likes to use a lot) guide and grandfather. Werner, one thing that you taught me that I will always remember is never lose our childlike heart and curious mind. When John and I told Belle that we will not be able to see you again, she said "how about we make a new Werner"? Like Harpreet said, hopefully all those who have been touched by your exciting life and wonderful spirit, all of us together, we can collectively make a new Werner. Until we meet again in another place. We miss you so much. John, Ming and Belle

Werner was a grand friend and we shall miss him. As we recall the many life experiences that we have shared with Werner and Harpreet, we can be assured that his essence continues his kind-heartedness and enthusiasm! Ron Lambert (Merritt Island, FL)

Dear Werner, Just realized that I did not write to you much at all since I got to know you over 20 years ago. We spent a lot of times together in the first 10 years in MN. The second 10 years passed with one phone conversation every other week across the Pacific Ocean and seeing each other at least twice a year either in MN or in China. From a poor student in MN to someone with some success, I know you had always been there for me with your cheerful spirit. A lot of people said you were my spiritual father. I have cried a lot since your departure although you had never seen my tears before. Every phone call in the past and every time we saw each other was full of laughter. I still can not accept the fact that I can't hear your cheerful voice anymore. I have to be honest with you that a few times in the past weeks I even got upset with you for leaving me so suddenly and so quickly. I know you always wanted me to be happy and cheerful. I will try my best although it is not possible yet whenever I think of you. Your departure taught me for the first time in my life how I could miss someone so much. I will write to you more after my MN trip. I will be at the cabin where you left for a different journey. I will also visit the Wolf-Ridge Environmental Learning Center which you always felt so proud of. I will certainly miss your sauerkraut meal. Just one request, please allow me not to hold my tears during this trip. I promise I will be better afterwards. Love

We thank God for have known and shared unforgettable moments with Werner in Lima Peru. We will miss his oki dokis and greeting cards. God now has an angel in heaven. Werner was a great man and friend. Someone we will never forget.