I lost a good friend early Monday morning, someone I had grown to think a lot of and a person I had learned to respect.
John reportedly died in his sleep. I started getting calls a little after 7 that morning from friends wanting to know if he had passed away. They had gotten some indication that maybe he had, so I began making a few calls myself.
One of those who I had called got back to me in a short while and confirmed it.
He had passed away. The mutual friend had talked to John’s wife who told him he’s died in his sleep. That mutual friend was shocked when I called him asking about John because he had been with him on Sunday evening.
John’s wife apparently had placed it on Facebook, too, but since I don’t do Facebook, I was out of the loop from that standpoint.
On Monday, and still today as I write this, I have been thinking a lot about my good friend and his family.
It’s hard enough anytime to lose a spouse, a father, a good friend. I think at this time of year, with Christmas just a few days away, it’s even tougher.
As I was walking by one of my vehicles Monday afternoon, I glanced and saw two tires I had told John he could have and he had told me he would drop by some day and just pick them up.
It made me sad to think he wasn’t able to get those and realizing again he was no longer with us.
He was a great guy I thought, someone who had become a confidant when needed as I believe I was to him.
My wife Pat and I were talking Monday afternoon that he had been so helpful to us when we needed assistance with moving some items from her mom’s house and we didn’t know how we were going to get it done.
John was a great mechanic, working around 20 years for an area trucking company before it decided to close down. He continued working as a mechanic for another smaller shop in the area.
Each morning John would send out messages to a large group of people for us to read.
I considered them spiritual in nature, others might have different thoughts about them.
Regardless, they could be considered inspirational and were able to set the tone for the day if we let them.
I’m sad for his spouse and daughter, especially during this holiday season I will take the opportunity later this week to attend his funeral. I will always remember him as a great friend.