Prizes
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Nominee: Jaz Gikling(posthumous)
Age: 51
Group: Varied
Contact information: Kim Hammer, c/o People's Food Co-op, Attn: Katie Stevenson, 315 5th Ave. S, La Crosse WI 54601
E-Mail: c/o addisonwren@gmail.com
Type of nomination: Inspiration/Creativity
Description of nominee: Jaz Gikling was born Oct. 27, 1956, in La Crosse to Vernon King and Rosella Hessellberg Gikling, who preceded her in death. She grew up in Bangor, Wis., and graduated from Bangor High School in 1974. Jaz graduated from the Acupressure Institute in Berkeley, Calif., in 1986 to pursue a career in massage therapy and alternative healing.
Jaz made many powerful transitions during her 50 years on this earth. Her various occupations through the course of her life included being an open-pit coal miner operating heavy equipment, construction worker, silversmith, massage therapist and a healer who introduced physio-acoustic sound therapy to the La Crosse area.
Jaz was one of those rare individuals who walked her talk through her many passions. She was an environmentalist, visionary, world traveler, organic gardener, peace activist, avid photographer and crafts woman, bicyclist and outdoorswoman. She created an exquisite Chartes labyrinth that was open to the public for many years at Franciscan Skemp Healthcare. Jaz was a friend of the Youth Initiative High School, and especially present in their founding years. Jaz set up her Labyrinth in the school’s Landmark Center during their first year, and she and Kim Hammer: her life partner, were regular presenters at our annual Spring Health Conferences.
Jaz passed away January 5, 2007. She is survived by her life partner, Kim Hammer, and their cat Petra; brothers, Harry Gikling and wife Ellen Drury and their sons Noel, Ivan and Myles, and Scott Gikling and wife Maggie and their children Andy, Hannah Rose, and Kyle. She also leaves behind several aunts, uncles and cousins. A celebration of her life was held on Saturday, February 3rd, 1:00PM at Three Rivers School, in La Crosse. Jaz named the Youth Initiative High School, Pleasant Ridge, Three Rivers School and the Mississippi Valley Conservancy to receive her memorial gifts.
Jaz wanted to be remembered as a woman who loved the earth and her many creatures and who took life to the edge. She wrote before her death, "Carry on to protect the earth. If you are here with me, then you know I love you and I carry you in my heart."
(Information volunteered by Kristathyst, and gleaned from an article on the Youth Initiative site, at: http://www.yihs.net/archives/Weekender2007-01-12.htm)
Nominator(s): Kristathyst, ShadowDarkFyre