John, our brother is no more. He was ill for only a short time. When we heard it two months ago we were devastated. John said: "That’s the way things are. I am 77 years old and I have had a good life, I must go."

As brother he was our questionaire. If we didn’t know something, we would say; "Ask John, he will almost certainly know." He could tell lots of things about years ago, whatever you wished to know.

He was proud of his six sons (and rightly so!), his daughters in law and the grandchildren. With happy pride he would tell about the many phone calls from the states: Pete, Keith and Bill already called again. I would then say: "That’s how you can see how much they love you and he would eagerly agree with that.

They have all yet been there, the saying goodbye was very difficult. It was: "never again", and that hurt.

During his illness he stayed full of humor. After a severe difficulty breathing he said, smiling a bit: "I am sure making a fool of myself, exaggerating the choking, aren’t I?" He kept on smoking his pipe and cigar, saying: "It doesn’t make any difference now any more."

We didn’t hear a complaint. It was even "gezellig", when there was no choking.

He told us of his choir, in which he loved to sing along. Now we know that he is singing in the heavenly choir.

The last week we pleaded for deliverance of his bodily suffering. He has been redeemed, God has done well to him.

We will miss him very much, but grant him the peace.

We pray, especially for Fran, his children and grandchildren for strength with this great loss.