IN MEMORY — Stuffed animals and toys donated in memory of Carol Selnes, who died earlier this month, line the front of Trinity Lutheran Church in Truman. The obituary for Selnes, who loved children and spent time with them, asked people to donate toys instead of flowers.

TRUMAN — He was a man who loved children. He served as a playground monitor on the Truman schools playground, drove a school bus and took pretty much every opportunity he could to be around kids.

So it was no surprise, when Carol Selnes died earlier this month, that his obituary told people the best way they could honor and remember him was to help children.

And so Selnes’ legacy lives on.

Instead of flowers, the obituary for Selnes, 73, asked people to donate toys and games to area children.

The response, says John Zaharia, owner of Zaharia Family Funeral and Cremation Service in Truman, has been overwhelming.

Zaharia knew Selnes, who had worked at the funeral home for the past six years. Selnes helped with visitations and funerals because he liked helping people, Zaharia said, but his passion for children was especially evident.

“This guy just absolutely loved children,” Zaharia said.