In Memoriam: Guttorm Gregersen

Guttorm Robert Gregersen 10/3/1919 - 8/16/2007 Guttorm (Greg) was born in Luroy, Norway and passed away in Tacoma, WA.

Guttorm was the loving husband for 58 years of Inger Gregersen; father of Gerd-Inger (Mark) McDougall and Paul (David Cahail) Gregersen; grandfather of Heather Liv (Erik) and Annelise; great-grandfather of Anika Liv and Saskia.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Ole and Oluffa, and his brother Paul, who died in childhood.

As a boy of 10, Guttorm immigrated with his family to Anacortes, WA. He earned a BA in Journalism from the University of Washington, a BA and an MA in Education from Pacific Lutheran University, and was a Fulbright scholar at the University of Oslo. A WWII veteran, Guttorm served in Europe, in the Pacific, and studied Japanese at the University of Chicago.

Guttorm taught in the Tacoma School District, was principal for Department of Defense Schools in France and Germany, and completed his career as elementary principal in the Puyallup School District.

An active member of the Norwegian-American community, Guttorm served leadership roles in the Sons of Norway and Nordlandslaget. For many years he was a Tacoma correspondent for the Western Viking newspaper. In recognition of his consistent fostering of Norwegian culture, Norway's King Harald VI honored Guttorm with the Saint Olav's Medal in 2000.

Always active, Guttorm had a strong zest for life, rooted in his strong religious beliefs. He was a faithful member of Trinity Lutheran Church since 1951. He enjoyed gardening, fishing, time with his family, socializing with friends, playing card games, and visiting family in Norway. Guttorm was a firm believer in the democratic process, and never missed an election in over sixty years.

Guttorm actively supported Pacific Lutheran University as a Q-Club member, and was a regular attendee at reunion banquets, special programs, and many athletic events. He was proud to attend the PLU graduation ceremonies of both of his children as well as both of his grandchildren.

A memorial service will be held Wednesday, August 22, 2007 at 2 p.m. at Trinity Lutheran Church, 12115 Park Avenue South, Tacoma, WA 98444, (253) 537-0201.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Trinity Lutheran Church.

Published in the News Tribune (Tacoma) on 8/19/2007.

Goodbye Katie

After three and a half weeks (already?) we said our final goodbyes to Katie at 6 in the morning just before leaving to school. This one was hard.

Katie, you'll always have a place in our hearts and home. It is not very often that you meet a true kindred spirit. You are that to us. Peace and love to you in the year ahead back under the Lutedome.

Hong Kong through Katie's Eyes

From the photo journal of Katie Allen, babysitter turned travel bug...

First Day of School

So it's the a-crack of dawn and we're waiting for our light-bus to arrive and pick us up from the bus & taxi station at Granville Garden. I don't remember it being this light out at 6:30am.

ICS is divided between two campuses at the moment. We work at the Middle & High School in Kowloon (about a twenty minute bus ride and 10 minute walk away from home).

We share the buildings with another mission (Bethel) at Hong Kong. This is the second of two entry ways. To the right of the pillar up ahead is the main office and beyond that is the main courtyard for ICS' half of the premises. The computer is there to scan student IDs as the schoolers arrive.

At 7:15am Bethel Campus is like a ghost town. Every once in a while you'll come across another teacher walking to their desk or heading to make a copy or two. It's just the calm before the storm.

From the balcony outside my home classroom you can see the blue of the greenhouse and the second half of the main courtyard from above. That's the main office again to the left of the pillar this time.

Now looking back across at the balcony where the last photo was taken: the main courtyard. That open door on the right is Heather's office.
And there's Heather working now, getting ready for her first clients of the day. Students and parents come to her for advise on everything from depression issues to academics.

Heather found out today that she has a subordinate social worker that interns under her. Add that to the fact that she didn't know about the psychology class she's teaching on top of her regular work load and that makes her a little on edge today trying to keep all the balls in the air. She did remarkably well taking everyone and everything in stride. First day of school is pretty much controlled chaos for everyone.

Back to the tour: Here is the side of the gym from third floor balcony.

And the gym from the inside. They are getting ready for the middle school assembly at the moment.

Meanwhile, the faculty swap last minute notes about the day ahead and get a couple cups of coffee down to push out the last few cobwebs from two weeks of moving to Hong Kong and coming back from vacations.

The faculty room has a new set up this year. The space is tighter to accommodate more students coming to campus before we move to the new building in the spring. That means only two fridges (the one on the left works the best) and two waves for everyone. Worked splendidly from what I could tell.

The faculty sink is pretty ghetto, though.

There are vending machines with coke products and junk food right around the corner from Heather's office. The coke machine broke down today about 12:30 (middle of first lunch) and dispensed free drinks to all the middle schoolers. The cans were gone in a matter of minutes; way before they brought someone out to turn the machine off all together. I happened to be on lunch duty in my homeroom when a few of the boys came back with arm loads of soda. Nothing like getting 12-14 year-olds hopped up on sugar before 5th period.

Morning assembly started with some songs. There was clapping hands and praising Jesus for about 10 minutes before the middle school principal laid down the law with a 20 minute speech about rules and expectations for the year.

Each of the faculty, old and new, were brought in front of the student body one at a time for introductions. I used my time to snap a couple shots of everyone I would be working with this year. Say cheese!

After assembly I got to meet my 7th grade advisory class. Think of home room for 50 minutes each day and you get the idea. Essentially, it's a student support group throughout the year Monday through Friday until June. This picture will look a lot different next summer. If today is any indication, I have a terrific bunch of kids to start each day.

Back up to second floor just downstairs from my home room in between classes.
This is a shot of just outside my homeroom on the 3rd floor. That's a high schooler exiting photo left, a sixth grade boy center back and a few 7th grade girls loading their lockers I just assigned them. Pretty nice frame to show the gamut of ages and hormones running around this place.

A final look down on the courtyard from above.

Big news: I have arranged to lead a drama club every Thursday after school starting at 3:20pm. I have got approval from the principal to put on a production on November 16 in this space (my first official show as a middle school drama teacher!). As it stands right now I have a ton of interest from girls in all grades. No boys have stepped up as confidently. I'm already thinking that an all female production of a condensed Macbeth could rock this place. We'll see what happens in the next few days as sports finish signing people up for soccer and basketball season. I might end up creating something original with the kids as well if the Macbeth pitch doesn't take with my club members.