Thanks to everyone at Barrie Welding

Rob Wierdsma
Brother of Jeff


The new testament of the Bible is written in Greek. In Greek, there are three words used for love, Agape, which is the kind of perfect love God has for us; Eros, the kind of love a man and woman share; and Philios, brotherly love. If a country was at war, in the army there would be squads of men. The kind of relationship that develops in those squads where guys look out for each other, watch each other’s backs, and, in extreme cases, might even take a bullet for their buddy, is Philios.

I have in my hands the urn that was made here at Barrie Welding by many of the guys here. It looks beautiful and was crafted with care. It is cold to the touch, but warm with Philios.

We’d like to thank the folks here at Barrie Welding for all their tremendous support. It has been good to know that we are in your thoughts and prayers. Thanks.

More Pictures of Jeff

LanaJoy Wierdsma

Some Pictures of Jeff

Ernest Hovingh
University Park, PA

Memorial Service Meditation: “The Source and Flow of Comfort and Hope”

Doug VandeKamp
Orillia, ON
Friend, Pastor


Text: 2 Corinthians 1:3-11 (Translation: The Message)

3-5All praise to the God and Father of our Master, Jesus the Messiah! Father of all mercy! God of all healing counsel! He comes alongside us when we go through hard times, and before you know it, he brings us alongside someone else who is going through hard times so that we can be there for that person just as God was there for us. We have plenty of hard times that come from following the Messiah, but no more so than the good times of his healing comfort—we get a full measure of that, too.

6-7When we suffer for Jesus, it works out for your healing and salvation. If we are treated well, given a helping hand and encouraging word, that also works to your benefit, spurring you on, face forward, unflinching. Your hard times are also our hard times. When we see that you're just as willing to endure the hard times as to enjoy the good times, we know you're going to make it, no doubt about it.

8-11We don't want you in the dark, friends, about how hard it was when all this came down on us in Asia province. It was so bad we didn't think we were going to make it. We felt like we'd been sent to death row, that it was all over for us. As it turned out, it was the best thing that could have happened. Instead of trusting in our own strength or wits to get out of it, we were forced to trust God totally—not a bad idea since he's the God who raises the dead! And he did it, rescued us from certain doom. And he'll do it again, rescuing us as many times as we need rescuing. You and your prayers are part of the rescue operation—I don't want you in the dark about that either. I can see your faces even now, lifted in praise for God's deliverance of us, a rescue in which your prayers played such a crucial part.




LanaJoy and Mom Wierdsma,
(and Jonathan and Dad Wierdsma, when you hear this recording),
Family,
Church Family,
Coworkers and friends of Jeff’s,

It’s an honour for me to say a few words on this passage that I know, LanaJoy, meant a lot to you and Jeff especially in the final days. I’ve found that words are hard to find on days like today, especially getting ready for days like today. Words can be hard to find…and in one way, having few words seems appropriate for a message in honour of a guy like Jeff. As we know, for Jeff fewer words were better when other people were talking…whether that meant prayers offered around a family meal or an extended family meal, or (as Jeff loved to point out to me) fewer words are better when I preach sermons! (as tempted as I am to have the final word –something very rare with Jeff Wierdsma—with a 45-minute-plus sermon… I will do my best in honour of him to keep it as compact as possible.)

So, few words seem appropriate. In another way, not having much to say seems inevitable. It’s inevitable…after all, today, what can we really say? Can any amount of words really, accurately and fully describe what we’re feeling about everything that’s happened?

Yet, at times like this it’s so encouraging to notice how God brings people into our lives. And, we’re blessed to learn that through them it’s inevitable that God gives us comfort and hope through words that touch our hearts in profoundly appropriate ways, special ways and words that can mean so much.

Since Jeff was a total outdoors guy, I thought an example about being outdoors and sunshine and maps would be helpful. In his book A Grace Disguised: How the Soul Grows through Grief and Loss, Jerry Sittser shares about how God brought people into his life to help him process his devastating loss. And he tells about a dream he had. He had a dream about seeing a sun in the distance, and it was setting…and it was setting and it was setting. And no matter how hard he tried to run towards that setting sun, he knew that he could never catch up to it. And as the sun sunk over the horizon and twilight was setting in, he noticed the darkness moving in from the west [I meant east]. He noticed it, he saw it closing in on him, and he wanted to keep running after the sun even though he knew it was useless. And he said, “I lost all hope…I thought at that moment that I would live in darkness forever” (page 41)

But he noticed people come alongside.

For example, a few days later he talked about the dream with a cousin of his, who is a minister and a poet. He pointed out to him that there was a poem by John Donne that turns on the point that, though east and west seem furthest away from each other on a map, they eventually meet on a globe. That was very helpful to him.

Later, another person (his sister) came alongside him and told him that the quickest way for anyone to reach the sun and the light of day is not to run west and chase the setting sun. Instead, you head east, plunging into the darkness until you come to the approaching sunrise.

Thanks to these helpful insights, he could see that he could not avoid the darkness. So, he realized he had a choice. He could walk into it instead of trying to outrun it. He found himself learning and growing. He even said he could write a book about the whole experience and say he was transformed by his suffering!

How does a person do that?

Well, we have an example of this in the scripture passage that was read for us about a church leader named Paul. Paul was also a man who knew all about darkness. Paul understood suffering. Even so, Paul still writes about comfort and hope. He mentions the source, first of all, and he gives thanks to and for that source: “All praise to the God and Father of our Master, Jesus the Messiah! Father of all mercy! God of all healing counsel!”

And how does Paul notice this hope? “He [God] comes alongside us when we go through hard times, and before you know it, he brings us along someone else who is going through hard times so that we can be there for that person just as God was there for us.”

As an example of that, Paul tells his readers of the hard times that he had as he travelled in Asia telling people about the good news about Jesus. On one hand, it was so bad he didn't think he and his friends would even make it. On the other hand, as it turned out, it was the best thing that could have happened. Why? Because, instead of trusting in their own human strength, they were forced to trust God and his strength totally.

From that trust in God, Paul and his friends looked back…looked back and experienced comfort. They knew they could trust God because they knew they could count on God’s people in Corinth, for example (the people he wrote this kind of thank-you letter to, and they were in touch about this and this is the second letter that we have about their conversation). He knew he could count on God’s people in Corinth coming alongside him and his friends with prayer and encouraging words. Paul gives these people credit for a rescue in which their prayers even, he says, “played such a crucial part.”

So, Paul looks back and notices the flow of comfort. Did you also notice how he also can look forward in hope? He knows that he can move forward no matter how dark things would seem. Why? Because his hope was based on a life defined by a relationship with God through Jesus Christ. Because his hope was based on a life that knew that God would bring others alongside with comfort and hope, and help Paul pass them along as well. He knew that because Paul’s hope (as he reminds his readers and reminds us today) that he follows a God who even raises the dead…prime example: Jesus Christ! The cross is empty…the tomb is empty. God raised him from the dead. With a God like that, full of hope Paul can say: “God rescued us… and he'll do it again.”

I know that’s the kind of comfort Jeff had and passed along to us: LanaJoy, Mom Wierdsma and others. I know that’s the kind of comfort and hope which I and so many others have noticed you and Jeff sharing with each other...lots of different times, especially recently, and also with Jonathan, and so many other special people. It was, and is, God pouring out his comfort and hope, flowing to Jeff and to other loved ones — sometimes directly from God, and often through other people, like through family, through church family, relationships at work and all sorts of other relationships too. A flow that even let Jeff look cancer and chemo right in the eye, and helped him give encouragement to us along the way as well.

Yes, words can be hard to find on days like today. We’re sad. We are intensely sad that the hope for Jeff’s healing wasn’t fulfilled here on earth. But as we continue with life here, I’d say that the comfort and hope of knowing where Jeff is now—knowing that he went from the Lord’s hands here on earth straight into the Lord’s arms in heaven—that is Jeff would want for each of us to share and to know. It’s the assurance available to every person here, every person listening to this recording: the comfort and hope of knowing that through a relationship with God through Jesus Christ, God will take care of us…God will take care of you…no matter how dark life is, no matter how dark life gets. It’s knowing that as followers of the One who raised Christ from the dead, Christians never need to say “Goodbye,” but “Until we meet again, Jeff.”

That’s what Jeff would want for us to remember and to carry from here.

And so, as you (as we) walk through the darkness together and wait for the light, lean hard on God. Lean hard on the people God gives you. Let others lean hard on you. Let the love flow. That’s how you—that’s how we—will discover God’s comfort and hope.

May the Lord bless you and keep you.

Amen.

Fish Feared Him

Gloria Sewell


Jeff and Lana Joy Wierdsma have always loved the great outdoors and together they spent time canoeing the waters of many parks across Ontario. Anyone who knew Jeff well was aware that he loved to fish, his line was in the water “trolling” as they paddled along. Picture him in that big black cowboy hat, a smile as wide as life, looking a little bit like the lone ranger! We have a special memory of Jeff when he came with Lana Joy to Red Pine Lake in the Haliburton Highlands to visit and have dinner at our humble cottage, that is accessible only by boat.

Bruce & I are not fishermen, although we love a good a feed of fresh fish! Bruce always jokes with people that his idea of fishing is a trip to the Red Lobster. However, we have a Golden Retriever who shares Jeff’s passion for fishing. As soon as she gets let out of the cottage in the morning she heads straight for the lake through the morning mist. Gelert will spend as much as 4 or 5 hours standing in the water patiently watching the little rock bass in the shallow waters at the shore line. They taunt her, watching with their beady red eyes, opening and closing their mouths as if mocking her, swimming right up to her feet without fear. Gelert whines, wags her tail; pursues the fish relentlessly hour after hour, stalking, then swimming after them. She never tires of this game all summer long, year after year she goes back into the water to fish with out success.

Gelert looked up from her fishing one beautiful summer afternoon, there in the distance was Jeff & Lana Joy Wierdsma paddling into the bay. If you listen closely you can hear music, like in a movie when the hero enters the scene. Jeff got his long legs out of the canoe on to the dock and his fishing line was in the water within minutes. The rock bass love to hide on hot summer days among a few big old logs at the end of our dock. It wasn’t long before Jeff pulled out his first rock bass! “Gelert” was ecstatic and watched the fish wiggle in Jeff’s big hand as he pried the hook from the slippery fellow. A few moments later back into the water it was released, much to “Gelert’s” disappointment. Well this went on for several hours during the day, Jeff pulling them out one after the other, the dog wagging her tail joyfully by his side admiring his every move. It was as if she perceived Jeff as some sort of fish “God” looking at him in awe wondering how he accomplished this marvel so effortlessly.
.
Our afternoon ended all too soon, the sun slid lower in the sky cooling the air with the scent of sweet pine. We started to think about dinner and began gathering up the empty glasses and bottles, heading up to the cottage. Jeff dropped his line into the lake one last time snagging it into one of those old logs at the end of the dock. Unfortunately the line broke when Jeff tried to free it from the log and he lost his lure. I didn’t realize that losing a lure is a traumatic event for fishermen, a type of fishing emergency! Jeff considered going after it but it was late in the day getting pretty cool by now. Jeff’s appetite for dinner may have also been a factor in his decision to leave the lure. He mentioned his sorrow several times that evening but managed to console him self in the enjoyment of dinner and a cold beer. I learned from Lana Joy that he talked about coming back for that lure many times.

Jeff was the kind of guy who had a “big” presence. When he walked into a room or out on to a dock, his infections smile and booming laughter filled the space around him; endearing him to others, (pause) but fish feared him!

Mike Wierdsma
Brother of Jeff

[These are the words Mike spoke at Jeff's memorial service.]


I have a passage that I would like to read, that’s one of my favourites. It’s not one that is read very often, and its not one I have ever heard a sermon preached on. I read this to Jeff near the end as he was fighting to stay.

These are the names of David’s mighty men:

Josheb-Basshebeth … was chief of the Three; he raised his spear against eight hundred men, whom he killed in one encounter.

Next to him was Eleazar … As one of the three mighty men, he was with David when they taunted the Philistines gathered at Pas Dammin for battle. Then the men of Israel retreated, but he stood his ground and struck down the Philistines till his hand grew tired and froze to the sword. The Lord brought about a great victory that day.

Next to him was Shammah … When the Philistines banded together at a place where there was a field full of lentils, Israel’s troops fled from them. But Shammah took his stand in the middle of the field. He defended it and struck the Philistines down, and the Lord brought about a great victory.

During the harvest time, three of the thirty men came down to David at the cave of Adullam, while a band of Philistines was encamped in the Valley of Rephaim. At that time David was in the stronghold, and the Philistine garrison was at Bethlehem. David longed for water and said, “Oh, that someone would get me a drink of water from the well near the gate of Bethlehem!” So the three mighty men broke through the Philistines lines, drew water from the well near the gate of Bethlehem and carried it back to David…

Abishai .. was chief of the Three. He raised his spear against three hundred men, whom he killed, and so he became as famous as the three …

Benaiah … was a valiant fighter from Kabzeel, who performed great exploits. He struck down two of Moab’s best men. He also went down into a pit on a snowy day and killed a lion. And he struck down a huge Egyptian. Although the Egyptian had a spear in his hand, Benaiah went against him with a club. He snatched the spear from the Egyptians hand and killed him with his own spear. Such were the exploits of Benaiah ..; he too was as famous as the three mighty men. He was held in greater honour than any of the thirty, but he was not included among the three … there was thirty seven in all.


This passage describes such great events and men that if they were not written in the bible I wouldn’t believe that they were true, but rather that they were only myth and legend.

OK, so that may be one of my favourite passages in the bible but what does it have to do with my little brother Jeff’s passing? It probably doesn’t seem particularly applicable to you. Well, hold on a minute, I’ll get there.

I know people who have, in a situation like what happened to my brother, become angry at the injustice of a young man like Jeff leaving us to no apparent purpose.

How can God be a kind and just God, full of love and mercy and yet let some chemo drug reaction as ridiculously rare as what affected Jeff come along and take him away? That isn’t right. What’s the point of believing in a God, … whose will it would seem, … is to take away a man in the prime of his life with a young wife and a little boy that still need him, with other family and friends that didn’t get to be with him near as much as they wanted to do?

I can understand why people would be pissed at God and why a lot of anger would be turned his way, to the point that they reject Him and turn away.

But that would be wrong. It certainly wouldn’t be the way Jeff would see it.

I do not believe it was God’s will that Jeff be taken away from us.

We live in a broken and imperfect earth, shattered by sin. And that messes up our lives and the joy and happiness that was intended for us, and bad things happen to good people.

The way I see it, if God was such a Machiavellian tyrant, micro managing our lives to the point of purposefully willing Jeff to leave us when he did, then there would have been no need for the free will that God has given us. There would be no need for faith, no need for his grace, no need for us to know of his boundless love, no need for us to seek his guidance, because after all, God is going to do whatever he wants to anyway, right?

But we do have free will, we do have faith, God is loving and gracious, and we do need his guidance, all which tells me that he isn’t a micromanaging tyrant, and that when bad things happen it isn’t necessarily because God willed it. I think you only have to look at what happens in the world, what happened to Jesus’ own disciples to know that.

OK, great, but then how does a person explain why God didn’t heal Jeff when so many people were praying for Jeff’s healing in the name of Christ Jesus, … just the like the bible tells us to, … and in the manner in which the bible tells us healing will be given?

That one is tougher for me, and I expect that I will be wrestling with that for a good part of the rest of my life. And truth be told the odds are I will never know the answer. You can be sure that that will be one of the first questions I ask God when I see him.

But for now I prefer to see it this way. I think maybe King David came to God and said, “Lord, I could use another man in the struggle against evil. He will need to have great faith, he will need to be strong, he will need a great capacity for love, he will need great loyalty, he will need great kindness, he must be a righteous man, he will need deep compassion and a be a man who does what is right in your eyes. Do you have anyone you can recommend?”

And I would like to think that God said “I have just the person for you, he is just arriving. King David, meet Jeff Wierdsma, Jeff, meet King David, he has a need for you in the ranks of David’s Mighty Men.”

And if I try hard, and do the best I can to be what God requires of me. If I can become half the man my brother was, half the Christ follower that Jeff was, then I would like to think that when I go to God Jeff will be there. He’ll smile at me and hold out his hand and say “Mike, it’s good to see you’re here, I need you beside me, to serve God, to stand with me as one of David’s Mighty men.

I love you Jeff

And I miss you.

You left us too early,

And I’ll see you soon.

Dr.Michael Tut Pur,M.D-Medical Mission-Akobo Hospital-South Sudan.
Friend to Rob Wierdsma.
Member of ClearView CRC, Oakville

Jeff Wierdsma is a great guy, I met him in HERSHEY CENTRE-PROMISE KEEPERS in 2005. Rob Wierdsma invited me to come to PROMISE KEEPERS where the Gospel Musician Robin Mark sang tirelessly.
Jeff can tell good stories with sense of humour. He is a great man and faithful to the Lord.
For sure he will be missed by all of us.

Jeff has a caring family

Brandon Wang
Peterborough, ON

I would not say that I know Jeff very well. But I liked him from the first time I talked to him. On one point, I am proud to say now that no one was closer to Jeff than I was. I lived in his room, slept on his bed for about 4 months when I just started to work in Lakefield. On the door of the room, it was still marked as Jeff's room, and on the edge of the bed, it carved as Jeff.

At that time, I was just a new comer from China. My wife and my son still lived in Toronto. Every things were so hard when you moved to a completely new world, spoke another language. But I was so lucky that I could live in Jeff's room, rent was almost close to free. I would never forget what Jeff's mom Mary told my co-worker in Lakefield that she asked me to pay for the rent like almost nothing because I had a FAMILY to take care. Until now, I still think that this was the most important and valuable lesson I learned in Canada: what is a caring family? Jeff was lucky that he had such a caring family that always ready to help and care, I believed he built his own caring family too. Four months later, my family moved to Peterborough, I moved out of Jeff's room. We became close friends to Mary and Andy. Later in another year, my wife found a accounting job in Peterborough, we managed to buy a house. My job in Lakefield was a success too. I always think my family's success and happiness financially and spiritually because of the help and care from friends like Jeff's family.

We met him every year once or twice, mostly in his mom and dad's home. As you all knew Jeff that he was a big kid, he always had unforgettable smile on his face. The last time I saw him was right after the past Christmas in Mary's home. Everything was fine, we even talked about his family's plan of adoption a girl from China when Jonathan was play a big truck with my son Matthew. Bright future just began for him and his family, only five months past, and now he left. My son have some of his books, and my family has his beneficial spirit and memories.

Ed Irwin
Orillia, ON


I have known Jeff for probably six years now because we both work at Barrie Welding. He came to me one day and asked if he could car pool with me. I had no idea what a special and precious friend he would become. As we rode back and forth to work each day we shared lots of things and I enjoyed his booming laugh and his zest for life. If it was raining I would drive him home as they live just around the corner.

Often in the summer LanaJoy would come over to our place to meet Jeff. The first thing Jeff would say as we came over the hill was "I have an escort home tonight." After Jonathan was born we would see the stroller as we approached the house and he would get so excited. He would lift Jonathan way way up onto his shoulders and off they would go on their way home.

Sometimes he rode his bike to our place and I often watched him as he rode down our driveway and marveled at how he could spin the bike tire all the way down our graveled driveway. I always hoped there was no cars coming because he would turn out onto the street going so fast. That was Jeff always going full blast at whatever he did.

Last fall I asked him to help me pick up an organ I had to move. It weighed 420 lbs and it was in a rather difficult place to get to. My worries were over when Jeff got hold of it. With very little help from me we soon had it in the truck.

In 2004 we bought a new van and on the way home the very first day I came to an amber light. As I slowed to a stop I could hear the screeching of brakes. Jeff yelled out GO GO GO. I was so startled that I did.

Right through the red light. When we looked back there was a camper van stopped right at the lights where I had been a second before. I know that Jeff's warning saved us from a bad accident.

Jeff's memorial service was such a tribute to a wonderful friend, and co-worker, and I feel privileged to have known him.

First Memory of Jeff

Rob Wierdsma
Brother of Jeff


My first memory of Jeff is my Grade 7 teacher, Mrs. Gibson, asking how my mom and the baby were doing. Rumour had it that he was conceived on a camping trip to Jack lake, up by Apsley. On that weekend I caught a 4 – 5 pound lake trout, trolling in the canoe while my dad paddled. Shades of things to come.

I always thought it was fun to have a baby around, an opinion I hold to this day. While I was less involved in taking care of him than Malinda, I still changed my share of diapers. By the time Jeff was in school full time, I was off to university. Jeff always loved it when I came home because I would beat Mike up for him. That doesn’t happen anymore!

When I first brought Rose home, she met about 25 of my relatives in one weekend. Jeff was the least pleasant of that experience. He continued to be a pain through high school and college. Had a couple of girl friends to no significant positive effect. Then he met LanaJoy, we thought ‘but she’s so nice, seems to be so sensible. What is she doing with Jeff?’ But big changes were in store for Jeff. To me it seemed overnight Jeff had grown up. He still maintained his over the top ways, but there was a balance. Now he was looking for advice on savings, how to buy a house, how to get ahead at work. He married Lana, became a deacon at the church here in Orillia, became a father.

As Malinda has mentioned in the last couple of days, he was much more faithful than we sometimes were. He always called, always stopped by, even if it wasn’t his ‘turn’.
We were all so impressed with the man Jeff had become.

Snippets of Jeff's Life

Rob Wierdsma
Brother of Jeff


Jeff’s dog, Gypsy, died of some mishap. Next spring, Mom and Dad are in Florida. On a phone call, Jeff says he’s getting a dog. Mom says, ‘No way’. Jeff thinks, ‘hmm, Mom and Dad in Florida. Jeff in Lakefield. Should I get a male or a female?’ Jeff gets Jane. She’ll be outside afterwards [after the funeral service, when Rob spoke these words].

Jeff sailing in a regatta, soon after I had bought my sailing dinghy. Long distance race, 20 klicks. Get on a nice long leg, single tack, we cleat down the lines and unpack our lunch. Wind shifts, we dump the boat. Look around, Jeff’s swimming with one arm out of the water, bun in the air. We get the boat upright, bail it out, resume sailing. Jeff still munching on his bun, it’s still dry.

Jeff swimming at the government doc below the locks in Lakefield. Looking around for lures, snorkeling. Jane’s in the water with him. Jeff climbs up the ladder, Jane climbs up the ladder behind him.

Camping at Presque ‘ilse park. Jeff biking like a mad man in his bathing suit through the mud. Jane following as best she can. Jeff gets back after about an hour, covered in mud. Jane so tired she flops down into a puddle and won’t move.

Mom and dad moving to the house on Bishop St. in Lakefield. Deck isn’t built onto the back yet, but there are some supports built into the wall. Mike starts climbing around on the wall. Kid from next door is watching, wide eyed. Jeff says ‘Our dad is Spiderman. That’s why he can climb around on the wall like that.’

Jeff building a whole bunch of plastic plane models. Attaches fishing string to them and hangs them from the ceiling in his bedroom. Sticks little glow-in-the-dark stars and planets to the ceiling. At night, the ceiling is covered with little lights, bathing the room with an eerie green glow.

In the fall, going to Greg Sikma’s farm to shoot. Shooting at paper bulls eyes. After a while, Greg gets some pumpkins from the field. Pumpkins are a lot more fun than a paper!

Jeff and Mike are not at home at the same time a lot. They look enough like each other that the kids get confused about which one is named what. One weekend at Pake and Beppe’s when Mike walks in the door, Samantha turns to me and says ‘Which one is he this time?’

Jeff and the kids wrestling on the couch. Daniel gets a little pissed off and bites Uncle Jeff on the butt. Daniel’s loose tooth comes out!

Ben goes gaming with Jeff and his friends. Jeff’s buddy Grant picks Ben up. At the end of the day, Ben says to Jeff, ‘When are you taking me home?’ Jeff says, ‘You didn’t ask me, I’m not!’ Ben stays an extra night; Grant takes him home next day.

Ben, Jeff and I go canoeing to Bottle Lake for a weekend. Chilly weekend, but the water’s warm and the swimming is great. Camp fire to cook by, to stay warm. Million stars at night. Head back to the car. The tradition is that the last 100 metres, you go as hard as you can. We all start heaving on the paddles. We get 40 metres, 50 metres, SNAP! Jeff breaks his paddle in two! That paddle was a wedding present!

Jeff laying in a bed. I ask, ‘How do you feel?’ Jeff says ‘Not so great, I’ve never had a doctor tell me I’m going to die before’

Grant Bowles
Nobleton, ON
Friend


This is the hardest thing I will ever write, but it is only a small part of what made up the whole man we knew as Jeff. Jeff's spirit for life was strong and infectious. He had this fearless attitude towards life. It seemed as nothing would stop him from doing what ever he wanted to do.

The first time I met Jeff, everyone was calling him EDE. Now this was Grade 12 for me, so Jeff would of been in Grade 11. We were in a mixed computer class.

On one of our canoe trips, Jeff gets this idea to jump from the cliff into the water. He jumps into the water below the cliff and checks it out. Within minutes he has the majority of the guys a top this cliff looking down at the water below. Jeff turns and walks a few paces back, then spins and takes off for the edge of the cliff and jumps. Once he surfaced it did not take much for the Monkey see monkey do effect to take place.

It is these little nudges out of my comfort zone into the unknown, but also knowing that he will be there to pull me back if I needed him; that I think I will miss the most.

More to come...

Marlene and Brian Vos
Severn Bridge, ON
Friends (Orillia CRC)


Words cannot express how sad we were when we received the news last Tuesday about the passing away of a dear man, Jeff Wierdsma. What can one say to lose such a great guy? Jeff was so full of life, full of fun and full of laughter. We will never forget his belly laugh! It was so loud and infectious. No matter where you were, if Jeff was there...you knew he was there. You would always hear that laugh.

We must admit we do not have as many memories as we would love to have had of Jeff. But what we do remember of him was of happy times. Playing baseball with Jeff was one of those times. Jeff was on our church’s baseball team. Boy, he had an arm, and we were thankful that he played so well. Not only could he throw the ball from out in the field all the way to home plate, but he was also able to hit the ball from home plate to out in the field. He often made attempts at getting a home run. That was the reason I, Marlene, (being scorekeeper) placed him in that all important place of 4th or 8th in the lineup, hoping he would get a grand slam. Whenever that happened, he took off like a bullet. His legs were soooo long, that he had to slow down from time to time to avoid running the person down in front of him. He would chase them as he hooted and hollered, clapping his hands behind them trying to get that person to run faster. It was so funny to watch. I also remember one time when Jeff ran so hard over the home plate, he ran right into the backstop fence. And then there was the time he fell, and cut his legs and arms...OUCH! But then again, our team did not go through a season injury free! It was just like Jeff to take one for the team!

Jeff was always the life of the party. We remember at one of our end of the year baseball parties at the Groen’s, Jeff threatened people that he would throw them in the pool. Well, he decided to welcome our (then) new pastor to our team. Pastor Doug was quietly eating his pizza at the poolside, and Jeff decided to push him in. You should have seen the look of surprise on Pastor Doug’s face. Well that got the whole team (the guys, that is) involved, and it took the whole lot of them to get Jeff into the pool. He lost his glasses, but it looked sooooo funny.

Jeff’s baseball days ended once Jonathon was born. Jeff, being the devoted father that he was, quit playing baseball with us, as he decided to stay home to help Lana-Joy with their new son. We missed having him on the team, but it was wonderful to see someone so loving to stop doing something that he enjoyed doing to lend a helping hand. That was Jeff!

Our two teenagers went on SERVE with Jeff, and they tell us that it was one of the best mission trips they had. They had a lot of fun with Jeff as he acted like a big kid, and always did things to make them laugh. He was a great leader, which we were grateful for. We look back at the pictures of him, and smile. We are glad Dan and Nicole had that opportunity to spend that time with Jeff, and learn along with him. We are sure they have some great memory stories of their own to share. We will never forget watching Jeff at the front of the church upon their return at the service when the mission team reported on their trip. When the song, Days of Elijah, started playing, Jeff got up on stage and did the actions. Can you picture him...a big lug acting like a teenager, dancing and moving? Think about the line where he is riding on a cloud, and Jeff pretending to ride a horse. Or the line... in the year of Jubilee... where you turn with your finger twirling in the air (you can’t help but laugh). I, Marlene, pictured that today as we ended the memorial service with that song, which helped me get through it!

Jeff was a true outdoors man, which is what we have heard over and over again. He often talked about hunting and fishing (hoping to go on a trip with Brian one day), and it was no surprise that Jeff enjoyed hiking and such. We remember going on a hike with Jeff and his family at one of our church’s family socials. There is a picture of Jeff hiking with Jonathon in a pack on his back on our church’s Outreach board which will forever be etched on our minds. That is how we often saw Jeff...with son in tow. He truly loved Jonathon and was so proud of him. We could see it in Jeff’s eyes. After church on Sundays, Jeff always watched out for Jonathon; holding him, hugging him and walking around with him in his arm (on one hip) as Jeff talked to his friends. If was such a precious thing to see. He was definitely a loving father and husband.

There is one regret that we will always have. As Jeff lay in the hospital bed, Brian and I talked about going to see him. However, we never did! Life is too short, as we now know, and we wish that we would have taken the time out of our busy schedule to go and see him. Now it is too late, and we are sorry! We wished we would have taken more time to get to know him even better. Thank goodness, we have such happy memories.

Today we said goodbye to Jeff. The service was so beautiful, and I was honoured to sing as part of the Worship team at the memorial service, and it was a pleasure for Brian to cook at the BBQ, as Jeff would have done. The service was so full of love and hope. There was not a dry eye in the church, and that is because we will miss Jeff terribly! Jeff is now in a better place, free from his pain and suffering...and waiting for us to join him. So Jeff, our friend, this is so long...not goodbye, as we know we will see you again. Rest in Peace!

In Christ, Marlene and Brian

Bayden
A friend


I Remember one day after church in the church parking my brother Jordan, some friends and I were pushing My dad's Jeep around the parking lot when I who was driving accidentally locked the steering wheel. So I went inside to get the keys from my dad. Jeff over heard me asking for the keys and followed me out. Jeff hopped in the driver's seat started it up and we were off driving around the church parking lot with 10 kids hanging on and we eventually stopped on the grass behind the church. Jeff will always be missed by the young and the aging.

Memories of Jeff

Bill Dykstra
Orillia, ON
A friend

I had the opportunity to share a few words about Jeff at the funeral today. While I was honoured to be asked to do this, it was of course something that I wished nobody had to do. For those of you who were unable to attend today's celebration of Jeff's life, the following are the words I shared.



I’ve known Jeff for almost six years. Not a long time, but long enough to be able to say that Jeff had become my closest friend. Jeff was a cheerful, outgoing, friendly guy who was easy to get to like. He had a gift for making people laugh, probably because he loved to smile and laugh, and it was contagious.

Many of us referred to Jeff as “the big kid”, as he really was a big kid at heart. Jeff loved kids too and got a kick out of taking his big mitt of a hand and rubbing it over each of our three kids’ heads, especially when they had that almost-newborn peach fuzz of a head. It was like Jeff’s special anointing of each of them. That memory will stick with me. He just couldn’t resist it. Maybe he missed his own hair!

LanaJoy told us that Robin Mark’s Revival in Belfast CD was playing during Jeff’s last moments here on earth. “When It’s All Said and Done” would have been the second last song that played while Jeff was yet with us … and it seems a fitting place to begin when talking about Jeff and his friendship and the blessing he was among us as a church community.

When it’s all been said and done
There is just one thing that matters
Did I do my best to live for truth?
Did I live my life for You?

When it’s all been said and done
All my treasures will mean nothing
Only what I’ve done for love’s Reward
Will stand the test of time.

Jeff lived for truth. He was a stand-up-and-be-counted kind of guy – and you know when Jeff stood up, it was hard not to count him. Jeff often took part in the annual prayer walk through Orillia, and attended PromiseKeepers events, and reminded us through these actions that he wasn’t afraid to let people know that his faith guided his life and that he lived for the Truth.

He was honest, sometimes too honest, and he spoke what was on his heart and mind. He was true to himself and quite frankly, didn’t really care what other people thought of his opinions or actions. He let it all hang out (kind of like the way he’d unbutton his shirt and let it all hang out – dress code or not.) That’s the Jeff we can’t forget.

And Jeff didn’t live for earthly treasures – always going after more “stuff”. What he did buy was for a practical purpose – even that crossbow that he had his sights set on and was saving up for would have been to get him into God’s great outdoors, where Jeff loved to be.

Jeff got a lot of pleasure out of the simple things in life. I recall the trip we took together to our family’s cottage and how Jeff mucked about at the water’s edge till he caught our then two-year-old son a bullfrog, then promptly followed that up by picking up a garter snake slithering nearby, and later on placing a fuzzy caterpillar on little Nathan’s arm.

And what did Jeff do for love’s reward? He loved, cared for and provided for those God placed nearest and dearest to him with all his heart. He was a devoted father and husband, and a terrific friend. Jeff was also a roll-up-your-sleeves servant-hearted kind of guy - whether it was flipping pancakes or burgers for church events, aerating lawns with the youth for fund raisers, going on a week long summer SERVE project, serving as deacon or sound technician, or helping people move – you’d find Jeff there, and he did it all with that infectious smile on his face and with a great sense of humour, lightening the mood at any opportunity. Sure, Jeff had his down times, and could get bummed about the things that were weighing on him (and he could be cranky if he didn’t get enough sleep), but it was his goofy humour, teasing ways, and his dedicated work that we’ll all remember.

The song ends this way:

I will always sing your praise
Here on earth and ever after
For you’ve shown me heaven’s my true home
When it’s all been said and done
You’re my life when life is gone.

LanaJoy, Jonathan, Jeff’s family and friends, Jeff’s in his true home now, with our Lord in Heaven. But I’m going to miss him in my home as I know you will in yours. God be with you and give you the strength to hold Jeff in your hearts as you journey on, until you see him again.



While looking at the picture above, I asked Nathan if he remembered who gave him the fuzzy caterpillar. He said "Uncle Jeff". Even though Nathan was little, Jeff was able to connect with him, and he still remembers it.

Hannah Woodhouse
London, On
A Friend


I must say Jeff Wierdsma was one of the funniest guys I knew, and the only friend of my parents whom I was really comfortable around, and I think that's because he was like one big kid. There are three things that have and always will remind me of Jeff. The movie A Bug's Life, Tetris and Apple Sauce... As Cody (my brother) has mentioned in another blog, Jeff used to babysit us all and take us to movies. Our first movie experience was the most exciting, going to see A Bug's Life in one of the most crowded movie theaters I have ever seen! None of us even got to sit together. My brother and sister were stuck in the front row next to another family who constantly provided them with tons of goodies. It's strange how what should have been a bad experience at the movies was one of the most memorable and fun.

As I said earlier Jeff was a big kid who loved video games. One of his favourite at the time was Tetris, which he taught me how to play and have grown to love... still to this day. However it was always a competition between us and unfortunately I never was able to beat him.

Probably the strangest thing that reminds me of him is the apple sauce. But I knew him the best when he was a bachelor, living on his own unable to cook a meal. You would walk into his house with a table full of empty apple sauce jars which he had eaten for dinner the night before. And even when he would come over for dinner he would have apple sauce with EVERYTHING.

The last time I saw Jeff was 3 years ago, the summer before I moved off to school. I was walking home from work when this car drove by and the guy driving gave me this weird look, which I must say it creeped me out a little. Then a little further down the road the car pulled over, scaring me a little more. As I got closer to the car I started to recognize the driver. It was Jeff, my dads good friend whom I hadn't seen in years. I was surprised he recognized me. But he offered to give me a ride home and we caught up all that we could in that short amount of time. He told me about living in Orillia and how happy he was with Lana and becoming a father. It was then I saw a huge change in him. He had grown up and was so happy with his life and I will never forget what a great person he was.

Jeff @ Serve

Here are a few pictures of Jeff working hard (or thinking about working hard) at a Serve project.










































(Don't be bashful, Jeff! Be yourself!)

Simon Lyons
Peterborough, ON
A friend


What can I say about Jeff that everyone doesn't already know. He was a great man. I met Jeff (A.K.A. EDE) in grade 9 and he was a lot bigger than I was. He scared the crap out of me until I realized that he was a really nice guy. We became great friends shortly after and began hanging out every Friday night with the rest of the guys. If it wasn't movies it was camping, gaming, or just talking all night long. Jeff was a grooms man in my wedding and we had a blast through the whole thing. I didn't think they made suits that tall...

I remember our camping trips that started out as "all guy weekends" that turned into co-ed weekend trips. We would portage in to the camp site, set up camp then play cards, cook, or fish. I don't ever recall any of us catching a fish on our trips though. Jeff always had a story to tell but he was always a great listener too. I remember we were out tubing on the lake and the ropes were not set up right and every right hand turn the guy in the middle would get whip-lashed off the tube. Poor Jeff got knocked out once by that and he never laughed so loud as he did that day. He wanted to go again. Jeff was always there for me if I needed to chat or vent. He always seemed to have some insight on almost every subject.

I remember third period spare playing euchre in the cafeteria (which often ran into fourth period class). He was a card shark. He always seemed to get the right cards exactly when he needed them.

I clearly remember the day that Jeff introduced LanaJoy to me. It was at Chris Sidsworth's wedding in Marmora. We all asked him who she was and he said "this is just a friend" so I said "so it's a date" and he replied "no it's not a date" Well wouldn't you know it, they soon began dating and then got married.

I will greatly miss Jeff. He was not only one of my best friends but more like a brother. He always looked out for me. I know that he will be watching us all from above in heaven and he will live forever in our hearts, minds and souls.

till we meet again Jeff.......take care

Cody Woodhouse
Barrie, ON
A friend


Jeff was such a great guy. I have known him for approximately 11 years. I met him when I was only 5 years old. He was a friend and a co-worker of my dad. I remember he used to come over to our house and we would play soccer in the back yard and I would try to dribble the ball past him. I never could but I would try so hard. I also remember during the winter one time he came tobogganing with my dad, my sister, and me. I had my GT with me and we went to a big hill where Jeff saw a jump someone had made. He pointed it out to me and dared I go off it. Me being as young as I was at the time I said “No way man! You’re crazy!” but after a few minutes of debating he managed to convince me to go off the jump. So I got on the GT and Jeff said “Okay I will give you a push, just a small one though.” But it wasn’t small at all! He ran halfway down the hill pushing me faster and faster. I went off the jump and in the end only ended up with a small cut on my chin. Jeff even said he would bring me home to get me a band aid. It was the best time I ever had tobogganing.

There was another great memory I have of Jeff though. One night my parents wanted to go out so Jeff volunteered to watch my sisters and myself. My mom suggested taking us to the movies if he wanted. But she said to him not to buy us any popcorn. Obviously he said okay that was fine. But when we got to the movies I asked for popcorn, not knowing he wasn’t allowed to buy us any. He said “okay you convinced me” and bought us popcorn. When the movie was over and we were leaving the theatre he said to us not to tell our mom that he bought us popcorn. Then I said, “Then why did you?” He replied, “Because you wanted it and I’m a nice guy” with a big smile on his face. Jeff Wierdsma was a great man and was a greatly respected friend. Jonathan is lucky to have Jeff as a father. I would be proud to be able to call Jeff Wierdsma my father. Jeff will always be deeply missed and will never be forgotten.

Tony Posthumus
Peterborough, ON
Second cousin


As I write this I am trying to remember when I first met Jeff. I’m sure there were times we played together as really little kids, but my first memory was going to his house in Lakefield and I must have been 7 or 8. I remember playing in a barn which I think was on their property, but I don’t even remember that. Then there was playing in a school yard near their house. I remember playing with Jeff at Oom Roel and Tante Ma’s house too. Then there were all those mid-summer camping trips with all the Visser’s. The crazy thing about all this is it’s the classic grow up, move away and apart story. I haven’t seen Jeff in several years.

I’ve never met LanaJoy or Jonathan, but feel oddly connected to them. My wife (Theresa) and I have 3 boys between 9 months and 5 years old. As I’ve read the email updates from Tante Lena & LanaJoy I found myself imagining what it would be like to be in Jeff’s spot. I can’t even begin to imagine the thoughts that were going through Jeff’s mind. As a father and husband wanting to love, provide for and support our families as God has called us to, the realization that he might not be able to in a very real, physical way must have been terrifying. LanaJoy, as I was reading your post to this blog, I realized that I too might have asked the hospital not to call my wife in the middle of the night. It amazes me how the strong love for your wife can blur the lines of practicality. I believe that Jeff always had your best interest in mind (and Jonathan’s too). LanaJoy and Jonathan, please know that Theresa and I are praying for you like crazy right now. I can’t begin to imagine all the emotions and thoughts that you are experiencing, but I do know that “God is bigger than the boogie-man, bigger than Godzilla and the monsters on TV”. You might not be able to feel it, but God has you wrapped so tightly in His arms that you can’t possibly fall. May you experience God’s everlasting peace that passes all understanding.

When my mom first told me about the funeral details I was unsure I wanted to go. I used excuses like, “I haven’t seen him in years”, or “we weren’t that close”. But then I realized that I was not allowing the memorial to fulfill its purpose. It’s not about me wanting to go or me being comfortable. It’s about remembering a man that chose to honour God with his life. And I’m going to do just that on Saturday.

Jeff, thanks for the childhood memories. I pray that all your dreams for your family will come true. ‘Till we meet again…

Bianca Tessier
Kemptville, Ontario
Friend


Looking back over the years, it hardly seems like 14 years have gone by since I first met Jeff, of course back then he liked to be referred to as EDE (all capitals). I met Jeff through Melanie, a girl whom Jeff had went to highschool with, and who I was going to college with. The night we first met, Jeff needed to know two very important things, did I have a Canadian flag? and did I have a Swiss army knife? It seemed if we were going to be friends these would be two things I would have to have. I had the Swiss army knife, and Jeff got me the Canadian flag, so I was set.

Over the years, our friendship withstood many tests, but for me the best day with Jeff would be in the spring of 1997. I had just finished up my courses from Fleming, and was moving back home. Dennis was having everyone over to the cottage for the May long weekend. One evening Jeff and I went out canoeing on the lake and had the best in-depth conversation we ever had, from then on I would look at Jeff in a whole different way, and our friendship took on a whole new meaning.

Over the next few years....our single years....Jeff and I talked quite a bit, he was in Barrie, I was in Ottawa, and it was nice to know that I had a friend who was feeling the same way I was. We talked about religion, music, t.v., books, and of course love lives, or the lack of. Before long, I met a man who would become my husband, and we drove to Barrie so Jeff and Jason could meet. After the weekend, Jeff gave me his approval. And the next thing I know, Jeff calls me to tell me about LanaJoy. After all the telephone conversations I had with Jeff, once he started to tell me about Lana I knew he was struck. Jeff became a lot softer around LanaJoy, and I wasn't surprised when he called to tell me they were getting married.

We both married in the same year, and had our children less than a year apart, and soon my conversations with Jeff became less and less and my conversations with LanaJoy become more and more, it was now Lana and I talking about motherhood, and husbands, and life in general.

I will deeply miss Jeff whom I like to think was one of my best friends, but I have been blest with the friendship of LanaJoy, and will continue to keep everyone in my hearts.

Love and prayers to LanaJoy, Jonathon and the whole Wierdsma family.

Jeff’s Passing

LanaJoy Wierdsma

As I (LanaJoy) have been talking and crying with my friends and family over the past several days I have noticed myself sharing the story of Jeff’s last few days with us. I would like to share this story with all of you.

On Thursday April 24 Jeff was transferred to the Critical Care Unit from the 3rd floor of the Royal Victoria Hospital. The Respiratory Therapist that assisted with his transfer to the CCU told me that Jeff didn't want the doctors to wake me up as he did not want me to be worrying in the night about him. The hospital did call me but they were able to stabilize Jeff and called back to say that he was doing OK, but that his oxygen levels were at a point where he couldn't be on a regular floor at the hospital.

Jeff was put on a BIPAPP machine in the CCU which pushed oxygen into his lungs. It is somewhat like breathing with your head out the window of a car. When I saw Jeff on Friday morning he was struggling a bit with his breathing but as time went on he learned how to breathe with the machine. On Friday afternoon the CCU doctor came in and talked with Jeff and myself. While the doctor was holding Jeff’s hand and I was holding his other hand the doctor told us that they were now quite certain Jeff had bleo lung and he would not live for much longer. Bleo lung is a rare side effect to the chemo therapy drug bleomycin. It is so rare that the doctors have not been able to do much research on how to control it or to determine exactly what drugs could prevent its occurrence. Similar to a bee or wasp sting, bleo lung can range in severity in people who get it. A person can recover from a mild case of bleo lung. However it does cause irreversible lung damage. Jeff did not have a mild case. We were devastated by the doctor's news. Jeff and myself began to cry and we just sat together holding hands. After crying for some time I called Jeff’s family so they could come as quickly as possible to be with him. Jeff’s brother Rob was able to come Friday night and he talked with Jeff late into the night.

We all could hardly process the doctor’s news and hoped that Jeff would somehow pull through. On Saturday Jeff and I talked and cried and prayed through the day. We talked about dying and heaven. Jeff told me that he did not want to die and we cried more. His mother, brother Mike and sister Malinda arrived and we all took turns being with him, and holding his hands. I asked Jeff to write Jonathan a letter so I could give it to him when he was older and had questions about his dad. Jeff was weak and so I was going to transcribe the letter for him however it caused him to cry so much that he wanted to write himself as best he could instead. I asked him after he put the letter down if he was finished. He said "no" but was unable to complete it. How can you finish a good bye letter to your son? Jeff would have always had one more story to tell Jonathan or one more thing to teach him, no matter how long his letter became.

The nurses kept asking Jeff on Saturday and Sunday if he was in pain and he continued to say "no". When Jeff said "no" he meant it and he was sleeping and talking with us both days so I believe he was comfortable. On Sunday the nurse and respiratory therapist needed to remove Jeff’s BIPAPP mask to put a protective patch across his nose and they put him on a looser fitting mask to do this. They felt he would not tolerate this but his levels remained stable and he was able to keep the other oxygen mask on for a few hours. It was so nice to see his face and talk more easily with him. We clung to the hope that maybe he was doing better and would tolerate more later.

When Monday arrived it was clear he was doing worse. The chest x-ray showed the bleomycin was continuing to damage his lungs. Jeff was weaker and did not often open his eyes. The nurse asked him if he would like morphine and he said "yes". After lunch I spoke in his ear and squeezed his hand but he did not respond. After dinner the doctor came and told Jeff’s family he was going to die soon. We all sat around Jeff’s bed listening to a Robin Mark CD Celtic Worship, holding his hands, touching him and sharing stories about Jeff. His breathing became very irregular so we asked if we could remove his BIPAPP mask and we were given permission to do so. We were able to touch him and kiss him and cry freely. As Jeff’s spirit left him the song "Be unto your name" began to play on the CD player. The music so clearly spoke to us and I believe God was speaking, here are the lyrics:

We are a moment You are forever
Lord of the ages God before time
We are a vapour You are eternal
Love everlasting reigning on high

Holy holy Lord God Almighty
Worthy is the Lamb Who was slain
Highest praise honor and glory
Be unto Your name

Dorothy Williams
Cincinnati, Ohio
Rose Wierdsma's sister


My first memories of Jeff are of a young boy of 12 or so who visited us along with his big brother Rob (my brother-in-law) at a cottage that we had rented in Lakefield. Even then he spent his time messing around in the river, running around and having a grand old time. We met again over time at the wedding of my sister Rose to his brother Rob and at the baptisims of their three children. Each time I was amazed at how he had grown and his big smile.

It had been a dozen years since we had seen him when we met up again in late December at Rob and Rose's home and met Lana Joy and Jonathan for the first time. Again I was amazed at the size of him. Where was the tall, skinny teenager I remembered? His laughter filled the house as he goofed off with our mutual nephews and niece. Our family went away smiling and laughing at how little Jeff had grown.

Losing him seems so senseless. There are so many questions. Our hearts go out to his wife and son, his mom, brothers and sister and in-laws. I pray that our Lord will comfort and sustain them and all who grieve for him.

I know that he died in the arms of Jesus, surrounded by the one's he loved and who loved him. Rose shared with me that Jeff's brother Mike said to him at the end, "you're going home Jeff, we'll see you soon." Praise God for that comfort. I look forward to the day I meet Jeff again in heaven where I am sure I'll find him doing all the things he loved and more and laughing just as long and as loud as ever.

Till we meet again Jeff, till we meet again.

My Friend Jeff

Bill Dykstra
Orillia, ON
A friend.


I've known Jeff for almost six years. Jeff and LanaJoy became friends of myself and my wife Cindy shortly after they moved to the Orillia area. My memory is faint with regards to how we first got together, but I know we pretty quickly became friends, enjoying dinners, movies, and the outdoors together.

Jeff loved the outdoors. Hunting, fishing, hiking, canoeing - these were some of his favorite past-times. In the winter he enjoyed snow-shoeing and even went dogsledding with LanaJoy. On a trip to our cottage, Jeff caught our son a bullfrog and a garter snake, and enjoyed showing him the little details of God's creation (like bugs). After Jonathan was born, Jeff would go hiking with Jonathan on his back. Jonathan always had the best view from up there (and Jeff's hair never got in the way)!

Movies with Jeff were typically done in "guys night out" fashion. He loved to watch movies at home too, but going to the latest big budget "blow stuff up - twice if possible" movie was always enjoyed. Jeff would usually startle half the theatre audience with his loud bursts of laughter. I recall his voice booming out during a silent moment, saying "I'm scared! Who picked this movie?!? I keep jumping out of my seat!" I think everyone in the place laughed. I think I picked the movie (though typically there weren't many choices worth watching).

Jeff introduced us to venison (after one of his successful hunting trips), and loved to fire up the BBQ to cook some steaks - and he knew how to cook them. He also knew how to eat them, and we didn't usually have to worry about leftovers when we had a dinner together. His hulking frame needed lots of fuel! He'd always be sure to have room for his favourite blueberry pie when dinner was done.

When we learned of Jeff's cancer, we were shocked and of course, quite bummed about it. Jeff, however, faced it with such peace, through his faith in our Lord Jesus Christ, that we couldn't stay down about it for long. His attitude and cheerfulness was ever encouraging, never seeming to need encouragement from others. Jeff and LanaJoy brought all aspects of Jeff's fight with cancer before the Lord, reminding us, through their actions, where all hope lies.

I visited Jeff in the hospital a couple of weeks ago. He had a troublesome cough when he took too deep a breath, but it did not seem to be a big concern. Jeff was tired, having not eaten much in over two weeks, but he wanted to hear all about the kids, my work, and so on. He was still joking and being "the Big Kid" and when I left he had probably brightened my day more than I had his.

The past two weeks since then have been rough, as this troublesome cough got worse, and finally, a few days ago, things really went downhill. It caught us off guard. I am thankful that I was able to see him and pray with him the night before our Lord called him home, but I cannot yet accept or understand why this has happened.

Jeff was a great husband and father, who loved his family with all his heart. Jeff was also my best friend. A true friend.

Jeff, I'm going to miss you. Until we meet again in God's glory.