< < < Hans at three years old poses nicely for me in the field by our house.

< < < While snowshoeing in our field one winter day, I caught him scanning the horizon with his characteristic unblinking concentration.

< < < Hans loved romping in the snow. His head was full of snow from prospecting for field mice!

< < < Less than a month before cancer took his life he still enjoyed a romp in the snow (December 2005).

< < < My buddy and me at the entrance to our Christmas Tree Plantation.

< < < When he was a year and half he went to Alaska with us. Here he and Jo take a rest on a hike above Skagway, Alaska (1998).

< < < Several years later they take another break together while hiking Pukwaska National Park in Ontario (2005).

< < < At Copper Harbor, Michigan's Keweenaw Peninsula.

< < < At Artists Point, Grand Marais, Minnesota.

< < < At Lake of the Clouds, Porcupine Mountains, Michigan Upper Peninsula.

On our pier at Buffalo Lake in Northern Wisconsin.> > >

< < < Hans stayed all night by our Grand Nephew's side - making sure no boogeyman came around! (August 2005)

Two days after Christmas, 2005, with his three favorite people: Mom Joanne, "brothers" Kurt and Karl. Three nights later, in the early morning hours, Hans woke us up knowing his time had come. We held and comforted him till he slipped away to everlasting peace.

Rest in Peace Good Buddy. Someday your spirit will rise and teach a new puppy the "ropes" of taking care of this family.