It was evident that Diane and Tom had touched many, many lives. The wake for Diane was on Friday, and to see a line out the door of the funeral home with people waiting for as much as an hour and a half to talk to Tom and Debbie. Well that was just amazing to see.

The funeral was held on Saturday, that was hard for everyone. Tom was doing very well up to that.. He was good at the wake, but I could tell that this was going to be a very hard day. Diane was laid to rest in the plot is right next to her daughter Cindy.

This was the day that I was not looking forward to since I heard the news of Doug’s death. The viewing and graveside service was mostly family. A few of Doug’s coworkers drove up from Lubbock, but mostly it was my parents, brother and sisters, Tammie and her sons. Tammie’s mother, brother and sister and nephews were there. Also. some of Mom’s brothers and sister-in-laws drove down from the Chicago and southern Michigan Area.

Doug was buried with full military honors. It was a very solemn ceremony, one that I think Doug would have appreciated. He is buried at Leavenworth National Cemetery in section 58 row 9 site 5.

It was a tough day for everyone. It was hard to see my brother at the viewing. I sat there for a long time just staring at him in the casket, remembering the good times we had. Also, regretting the lack of contact we had, but then no matter if we called each other every day… that would still not be enough….

Good Bye Doug… I love you….

For me, it was on my cell phone while I was shopping at Kohls. My sister-in-law told me of the death of my brother. It seemed like the whole world started spinning in slow motion, I could not believe the news. “He died this morning from a heart attack” she said. I stopped listening sometime after that and I slowly handed my phone over to my wife. At that point, the problems I had, seemed small and insignificant.

My mind raced to when we were kids, the teasing and torture that an older brother, I am the youngest, inflicts to a younger brother. To the time I called him on autovon because of some girl problem that I had. To that summer in ‘79 when my oldest brother and I drove down to Clovis New Mexico to see him. It was the first time I drove a stick.

I spoke with my remaining brother this evening, he has had his own struggles as his daughter was killed in a car accident. We talked about how each were feeling, sharing our memories of our brother. tallking about how the other members fo the family were doing…

Both of us shocked, at the words we don’t want to hear.