Jim and Kathie Loewenhagen of Mondovi have been named the beneficiaries of the upcoming Lions Club chili and grilled cheese supper, set for Thursday, Jan. 29, at the Mondovi Schools. The Loewenhagens lost their home in a fire Nov. 5.

Proceeds from annual Lions Club supper to help Mondovi couple recover from house fire

 

by Beth Kraft

 

The fire that caused heavy damage at Jim and Kathie Loewenhagen’s home two-and-a-half months ago lasted less than an hour, but the Mondovi couple is still dealing with the aftermath of the blaze.

After losing the majority of their personal property and three beloved dogs to the smoke and flames, the Loewenhagens have been in a state of limbo as they work with contractors and their insurance company to determine their next move.

They had hoped to fix up their Monroe Street home, but the list of repairs was lengthy and the costs kept mounting.

Kathie estimated the home needs over $160,000 worth of renovations, making it more cost-effective to tear down the home and rebuild if they choose to go that route. She and Jim also lost about $100,000 worth of clothing, furniture, appliances, and other personal property, largely due to smoke damage.

In an effort to help the Loewenhagens get back on their feet, the Mondovi Lions Club has named Jim and Kathie as the beneficiaries of its upcoming fundraiser.

The group will host its annual chili and grilled cheese supper in the Mondovi Public School cafeteria next Thursday, Jan. 29, from 4:30 - 7 p.m. The annual event also helps support Lions projects throughout the year.

Kathie says she was “really surprised” to learn the club had tabbed she and her husband to benefit from its 2015 event.

“It’s amazing,” she said. “I had no idea that they would consider us. We were very appreciative and surprised.”

Since the early-morning fire on Nov. 5 rendered the Loewenhagens’ home virtually uninhabitable they have been living with their daughter, Jenna Fink, and her family nearby until they figure out their next steps.

Their damaged home will be torn down within the next few months, Kathie said, but she and Jim are still waiting for answers to some key questions before they decide whether to rebuild their home or buy or rent elsewhere once the weather warms up.

“Because of insurance, it’s just such a long process,” she said, noting a meeting with an insurance adjuster in the coming weeks may help give them some direction. 

Some of their clothes and a few antique family heirlooms were sent out for cleaning in the days after the fire, but they haven’t received much back yet.

“We’re just kind of living with what we have right now,” Kathie said.

The couple was not home at the time of the fire, which started in the kitchen and was called in around 6 a.m. after Jim and Kathie had already left for work.

Looking back on the day of the blaze, Kathie said it’s amazing to think about how much their lives were forever changed by the events of a few minutes.

“I think some days I’m still in shock about it all,” she said. “Every now and then something just hits you.”

Even the smallest items lost to the fire, like Kathie’s address book, have had major impacts, she explained, noting the simple act of sending out Christmas cards without it was a bit of a struggle this year.

Through it all Jim and Kathie have worked to keep a positive mindset, helped greatly by a strong support network of family and friends.

“We have good days and bad days just like everybody else,” stated Kathie.

“I can’t thank the community enough for being there and supporting us,” she added. “I don’t know where we would be without the people in this community.”

The helping hand recently offered by the Lions Club comes as an added bonus.

Kathie says the funds they receive will help them replace their personal property and purchase items for day-to-day use short term. The rest of the money will be deposited into their fire fund account at United Bank to save up for furniture and appliances once they have a place of their own again.

In the meantime, Kathie says she and Jim are doing their best to stay busy and focused on the future.

“Right now we’re just going to live each day,” she said. “Your life changes a lot with something like this. It takes a toll on you.”

Re-involving themselves in their favorite hobbies is one way the couple hopes to de-stress as they work through some tough decisions in the coming weeks and months. For Jim, that means ice fishing while Kathie plans to pick up a pair of knitting needles once again.

Positive support from area residents is still going strong in the months following the fire, providing unexpected bright spots for the couple on a regular basis.

“We’re thanking people all the time,” says Kathie. “We just so appreciate everything everybody has done.”

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