Friday, June 16, 2023
I met John when he walked into my basement in 1964. He wanted to learn how to wrestle. I was going into my senior year at Lincoln High School and John was going into 9th grade. We wrestled a bit and I told him to join the Lincoln High School wrestling team workouts while he attended the Kunsmiller Junior High School. My initial impression was that John was fearless, brave and had the determination to succeed in life. We both came from modest means and wanted to be successful in all that we did. He wanted to learn how to wrestle from me. Because of the age and size difference the only thing I helped him with was serving as a role model. He was a very successful high school athlete and wrestled at the College Division 1 level. Wrestlers have a well-earned deep mutual respect for each other.
Time passed. John and I followed our careers and spoke occasionally. After we both retired, we reconnected, and had frequent phone calls reliving life, and his love for his children and his wife Diane. I was extremely impressed with the love and devotion John had for Diane. John was as passionate as any husband I have ever seen. Diane returned the love and devotion to John. The longer John and I talked the more I became aware of what an amazingly loving couple they were. Great role models for any couple. Completely in love and devoted to each other. What a beautiful sight. John was showing me what it was like to be in love.
And, did I mention that I have never laughed so much with anyone as I always did with John. We laughed at everything and at each other probably the most with politics close behind. His favorite comment about politics was “you can’t fix stupid”. John’s laugh was truly infectious and the more we laughed the louder we laughed. We were laughing at and with each other. What a blessing John was to my life and to all his friends’ lives.
John’s career was mostly in the energy industry as was mine. Our paths never directly crossed but he helped design a facility that years later I operated. John was a heavy hitter working in the energy industry. He helped startup Prudhoe Bay facility on the north slope of Alaska and moved into the nuclear energy field working as a construction project manager for facilities in China and the US. He was a man’s man and no doubt brought much needed laughter to the intense and demanding construction jobs he handled.
John struggles with his health for years and handled that struggle with the strength and courage of a champion. He kept his positive attitude thru thick and thin.
John told me that I changed his life, that somehow, I put him on a different path for the better. What an honor! That’s the nicest thing I have ever been told. Thank you John, you made my life better old buddy. As I write this I ‘m thankful I can hear your laughter and remember your smiling face.
I am humbled and proud to be considered one of your friends. John you brightened my life and I want to thank you for that. Rest in peace my friend, you are missed but will always be in my heart. You made this world a better place because you lived. God Bless!!
