The Koopman light display continues as a tribute Larry and Carolyn Kersten.
This American eagle is one of the displays that draws visitors from many states to Koopman's farm.
Scooby Doo is among the displays at the Koopman farm, where Larry Kersten's tradition continues.
Recent stories about the Christmas light display at the Dean and Heidi Koopman farm northwest of Vinton have people looking for directions.
The Koopman's live on the farm where Heidi grew up, the home that her father, Larry Kersten made famous because of his Christmas light displays.
The lights are located at 5598 22nd Avenue Drive. To get to the display from Vinton, take Highway 218 north to V61. The Koopman farm is 2.5 miles north of Highway 218. From areas north of Vinton, go to Mt. Auburn and take V61. The Koopman farm is approximately 5 miles south of Mt. Auburn. Their home is at the intersection of V61 and 22nd Avenue.
Here's a brief history of the lights and the man who created the display:
Forty five years ago, Larry Karsten built the first of dozens of holiday decorations. He applied what he learned as a machinist as well as his artistic skills to make lighted, moving Christmas decorations.
Pretty soon, people started driving slowly by the Kersten residence, admiring Larry's Work. Seeing that people loved his decorations inspired him to do more. Eventually the display grew to have tens of thousands of lights and at least one new display each year.
The display includes a crane moving Christmas presents, reindeer pulling a sleigh, Santas pulling a sleigh with a reindeer at the reins, a chimney with Santa ascending and descending, and many cartoon characters, icons from history (space capsules and rockets) as well as Nativity scenes.
Larry and his wife, Carolyn, both passed away several years ago. The couple's daughter, Heidi Koopman, and her husband, Dean, continue maintaining and setting up the light displays. One of the more recent displays is a painting of Heidi's parents.
The lights are on through Dec. 27, until 9:30 p.m. on weekdays and 10 p.m. on weekends.
Why did Larry Kersten work so hard for well over 30 years to bring holiday cheer to strangers?
He answered that question -- which many journalists asked him over the years -- with this poem, which he shared with Vinton Today Editor Dean Close in 1995:
I do it to bring a little Christmas cheer If for only a few days a year I do it to change the faces of little children of sadness and fright Into faces of happines and delight. I do it to help warm your heart and soul Something you can't do with fire and coal I do it to bring smiles on the faces Of people from near and faraway places I do it to see the many colored lights glow And place their pretty reflections upon the ice and snow I do it to help you remember days gone by And what could I have changed and why I do it to help you remember the times when you were down and really sad But isn't it more fun to be happy and glad? I do it to help you remember the reason for the season -- it's God's birthday Happy birthday, God -- we are glad you were born in every way
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A few years after they started the CHRISTmas display, I remember being able to locate it in the air from as far away as Rockford, Illinois !! That is obviously the need they had for a second power line.
Heidi once told me that she keeps the lights burning as a tribute to her folks, and I, having known them so well over the years, am glad, just as are all of your readers.
Please be sure to leave a donation in the box along the road to help pay for all of that electricity and lighting equipment.
God Bless the Koopmans, and Merry CHRISTmas to you all !!
Jerry Easter
Times/Eagle subscriber
Waterloo