We have lost a great man, Gerry Lammerding

Not sure how many of you knew Gerry, those who did will mourn his passing last night.  Gerry was unique, loved airplanes, cars, people, eating, laughing, helping with plans for construction, the Reno air races, his cabin, his motorcycles and fun in general.

Barbie has been such an excellent to a man that could be a little difficult at times. Born of German stock this guy was something else.  For years he was a building inspector for the county and as such traveled all over looking hard at places being constructed or remodeled.  His travels including the top of the TV tower seen in the distance as one traveled south out of  Sacramento.  Somehow he talked his way to the top of the tower, not something I would ever want to do.  I remember being the back seat when he was learning to fly and I took a video of the experience.  Gerry was always child like in his love for adventure and fun.  I see him in Hawaii on little scooters he insisted we rent.  I held out for days but Gerry was pretty good at selling an idea.  So we ended up putting along beside a highway for hours on our little scooters.  It was a great day.  And there was that day beside the pool on a cruise ship when somehow he decided the social director needed to be thrown into the pool.  Oh yes Gerry was a character bigger than normal life.

There was a day, the day before he was to have hernia surgery, when we rented a post hole digger that took two of us to operate and we dug holes for the piers for my new deck.  By evening we were both so tired we could hardly move and the next day he has his surgery.  Amazing really.

Gerry loved things in order so when he came to visit and my garage was a huge mess he spent the day and that night we could park cars in it again.  He designed the second story when I was building the home I'm in now, he designed the deck shade covers and then came to help build them.

When Nan was ill Gerry and Barb would come for a few days to help.  They were wonderful in all that they did to cheer Nan up.  Gerry always cheered Nan up by his antics and comments, what a great bigger than life guy he was.  Not always easy to be with, he sometimes would just push too hard but his motives were always good.  He just loved to live and wanted everyone else to live life big too.

Will I miss him?  Oh yes and so much.  He is one of those people who can't think about without smiling,  Jesus had his work cut out when he made Gerry and I think He is pleased with the life of family, service, dedication that Gerry lived.  God bless Gerry Lammerding.  He has finished his work and we bid him a teary good bye.

In the second coming Gerry will be the one beside Jesus urging him to try something new or telling him about a new airplane that is just coming out.  He will be Gerry for eternity.

In Christ,

Tim