It has been one year now since Dad passed and one year ago today we buried him.  The hurt is still there and I suppose will always be...and life has certainly gone on.  But... there is a void where Dad should be.

I only went mushroom hunting once this past year, my heart just wasn't in it.  I only went hunting once as well and have not once picked up a fishing pole, somethings missing or should I say someone is missing, Dad.

I sometimes sit on the back porch out at Moms, or go in the garage and mess around because these are the places I sense him the most.  These are the places where he sat and told stories of his life and of our grandparents, aunts and uncles lives.  Where he repaired a lawnmower, helped me build seats for the johnboat and oh so many other things.

I visit him often, and have those awkward one sided conversations at his grave site and imagine his reply in my mind and I have to smile cause I usually know what his response would have been.

In his final year when his mind was bad and getting worse with Dementia, I would visit and he would not know me or would slip in and out.  On a bad day he would call me Paul ( his brother long since passed away), on a good day he would call me by name and I would count that as a small victory.  Later in the nursing home he would ask us to take him home... heart breaking, knowing you could not...how do you respond to such a request?

His suffering is over now, his soul is at peace...he is young again...he remembers all the stories, everything.  He is with loved ones who have gone before, parents, grand parents and even the great grand parents and beyond.  He has met famous people...and has been reunited with his beloved pets.

He now waits for his family while enjoying the company of the saints.

Until we meet again...
Rick

Lit a candle in memory of John Kochensparger

I remember Uncle Jack coming to see grandma in Newark Ohio, he an Aunt Eddie, or Momma an grandma would drive down to see them in Circleville. My thoughts and prayers are with the family. MAY GOD comfort you in your time of need.

"Life, like a mist, appears for just a day, then disappears tomorrow
All that we are can quickly fade away, replaced by tears and sorrow
If a man should die, can he live again?
Hear the promise God has made:
He will call; the dead will answer
They shall live at his command, for he will have a longing for the work of his own hand
So have faith and do not wonder, for our God can make us stand
And we shall live forever, as the work of his own hand"
Job 14:13-15

Today...I buried my Dad...  And the world has changed forever...  I can no longer go ask him for his opinion of this or that.  I can no longer ask for his help when I work on a car and can't quite figure out what is wrong.  I can never again stop by the house on a warm spring day to pick him up and go mushroom hunting. Never again will I pull up in the drive on a warm summers day to find him sitting on the porch just enjoying the day and sit to enjoy it with him.

To think of the empty recliner in Mom and Dads front room, the empty garage work bench where so many things were fixed, the empty seat on the riding mower.  So many places that will remain empty for the rest of my life. My Dad, my indestructible Dad is... gone.  Wow, what a void.

I realize I am not alone in this grieving, the older grandchildren, my sisters and especially Mom are feeling it as well.  But we all must deal with this in our own way and time. 

And I know as time goes by, the pain and emptiness will become less, the memories become warmer and more cherished and I pray those days come quickly.

The visits now will come in the form of trips to the Cemetery, taking flowers, trimming the grass around the stone and having one-sided conversations with Dad at his grave side. 

I will miss everything about him, I will remember everything about him, and I will morn his loss everyday I live until I am laid to rest just two spaces down from him.  They say it's not goodbye...so I will just say...till we meet again.

Your son, Rick

Sherryvonne, Aaron, and Chad (Sy-Marin Family) purchased the Angel Arrangement for the family of John Kochensparger .

My deppest sympathy to the Kochensparger Family!

My sincere condolences to all the family.
Roger Oiler
LEHS Class of '76.

My Uncle Jack, such a wonderful person. Always opened their house to a little county girl every summer for about a month. I enjoyed every moment. I can still see you sitting in that chair reading. I will miss you. Inge I wish I could ease your pain. Nothing like a daddy's love. Lots of love and prayers for your family!!!

Janet and family
So sorry to hear of your dads passing.

Gloria Fausnaugh-Runnels
(Jason's mom)

I remember as a little girl coming and visiting Aunt Edris and uncle Jack, I thought it was such a thrill because we never got to go many places, they hung water hose over clothesline for us to play, how exciting it was for us, Jack was a favorite brother in law to my dad. May God bless his wife Aunt Edris and all the family.

To my grandpa, I love you more than words can say! I can't believe you are gone. I'm going to miss you so much! All of you stories you told about the past was always interesting to listen to. Thank you for helping to raise me when I moved to live with you! I did enjoy the time we had those years ago. I hated to see your memory fade... That was not you but now your free!!! Free if pain... Living with the great memories that you thought you lost!  I'm so sad your gone and want you to stay I understand it was time! You will always be in my heart... Never forgotten. I love you sooo much! I will always be your Tootle Bug!!!! Love, Dana

OBITUARY

John Kochensparger

October 27, 1930 – July 28, 2015

Schoedinger Midtown

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