lost a friend

[bud vanhouten]

just came back from the funeral of a very close friend and fellow hot rodder. the fellow who has done my auto painting for the last 6-7 years had a heart attack in his sleep this past monday. he had just came back from his daughters graduation and mowed the yard, then told his wife he was tired and was going to lay down awhile...never woke up!. jeff is the guy who repaired the wrecked blakely-bernardi i bought last year and he has painted on my lightning pickup, other old cars, motorcycles and was going to do some touch-up painting on my sport trac in the next couple weeks. he had not been sick at all. and he was only 47. jeff had just changed his full time job as he was lead painter/bodyman at a chrysler dealership that is closing here in raytown. he had just started work at a major independent body shop here and had only worked there 4 days, but said he loved it.

our car club was asked to escort his body from the funeral home to the church where the services were and then he's to be cremented. pretty awesome site to see about 25 hot rods and customs following the hearse. jeff was a fellow hot rodder and had restored a '68 buick skylark.

here's to a very dear friend who passed way to early. we'll be thinking about you pal.

dutch

 

[TrainTrac]

Sorry for your loss, dutch.

 

[Jerry Abson 3]

Might want to let Todd Z know, set this up in Memorial section.



My condolences to his family, may they find peace amongst friends. And my prayers go out to them and all he came in contact with, he sounds as though he touched alot of hearts.



One never knows how important, how loved, nor how many lives were touched until its their time to leave us. We all should let those we love know every day thier importance to us and those around them.

 

[Thomas Rogers]

Condolences.

 

[John Z]

I feel for you dutch, and I am sorry for your loss. A very good friend of mine which I knew for years died from a heart attack at the age of 39 - it will be two years this June. Your friend and my friend, both dies at such young ages...

 

[EddieS'04]

Sorry to hear it dutch...

 

[Rodger Tellefson]

Sorry to hear about the loss of such a good person.

 

[rob chaw]

sorry to hear about your loss of a good friend.

 

[gary s]

sorry for your loss.

i lost my brother & father at 46 from heart attacks. everyday i think of them. it's tough



reach out and touch faith. remember your time with your friend and how important he was in your life.



keep your head up

 

[Ed Fenwick]

Aloha Dutch,

I am sorry to hear of your loss of a friend. It is a difficult experience for anyone to go through but we all must. My brother in law died in March. Fortunately my wife and I were able to get to the mainland to say good by.

God bless Ed

 

[bud vanhouten]

thanks for the condolences guys. jeff was a great family guy and very religous. even though there was 16 years difference in our ages(yeah, i'm the older), we travled in the same circles and had become good friends. he raced circle track, motorcycles, and the '68 buick he just restored had a built 455 in it, so our car club even made it to the strip sometimes to do a little grudge racing against each other. jeff was a "gearhead"!

thanks again,

dutch

 

[Shaun Tucker]

Its never easy.



sorry for your loss.

 

[david callan 2]

I had the same thing happen with my uncle this past fall. He came in from mowing the yard and died from a heart attack while talking to my aunt. I know how tough these sudden things can be. I send my deepest condolences to you and especially his family.