An open letter to our dad, brother, Pere, uncle, cousin & friend:

You always said, "All is well that ends loud!" And you lived that until the very end; you definitely didn't go quietly. Over the last 71.5 years, you symbolically composed and conducted your own opus, and we are thankful to have been witnesses to it - sometimes as spectators, often as beneficiaries, (almost) always as listeners. Allegro or elegy, you kept playing, and that has allowed those of us around you to witness a beautiful life song. Thank you for - however forcefully - introducing music to our lives, for the major and the minor memories, and for your countless contributions to your family and friend's eternal soundtrack. While so many (if not all) of us might say we thought there were more stanzas to come, our Heavenly Maestro had another arrangement in mind.

Your symphony started to write itself with each and every measure: the prelude of your life consisted of a faith-based upbringing, a nomadic childhood and an Aggie engineering degree; the interlude covered your career, a marriage + 4 daughters, and serving church after church; the postlude sure was wild - a cadence of grief, a gaggle of dogs, a few forms of retirement, and an unparalleled addiction to guitars. No matter the circumstances, your music always centered you and brought you back to Middle C - Christ as your director and your hope and your peace.

The Psalms say "Make a joyful noise to the Lord, all the earth; break forth into joyous song and sing praises! Sing praises to the Lord with the lyre, with the lyre and the sound of melody! With trumpets and the sound of the horn make a joyful noise before the King, the Lord!" ‭‭Psalm‬ ‭98‬:‭4‬-‭6‬ ‭ESV‬‬

We know that when you were welcomed into Heaven those early morning hours of June 4th, the celestial choir, the ethereal orchestra, and the angelic worship team all called dibs on you. We know you're laughing that belly laugh, finally getting to play music non-stop, and never having to tune a guitar or change its strings. Your earthly ensemble will miss you immensely, try to remember (most of) your advice, and - by the grace of God - do our best to play through.

Celebrating your arrival and joining in harmony with you are: Claydene, your loving wife of 46 years and your parents, James & Peggy. The company left to face the music includes your girls, Rebekah O'Sullivan, Erin Glynn (Chris), Melissa Charles (Anthony), and Anna Pereira (Juan); grandchildren Harlie & Grayson; sister Jan Kure (Doug); brothers-in-law Charles (Lanita) and Ray (Virginia) Anglin; nieces Lita (Pat) Anglin, Ashlie (Alex) Murchison; nephews Brian (Kara) Anglin, Daniel (Mandy) Kure and Drew Kure. Add in extended family, adopted family through daughters' marriages, friends that have become chosen family and there are too many of us to count. You loved and were loved!

An hour of viewing will be held before the service starts at 10 AM. The service will be live-streamed and available for viewing afterward. To view the livestream, CLICK HERE . Following the service and cemetery burial, friends and family are welcome to attend a reception/luncheon in the St. John gym.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the St. John Lutheran Church Benevolence Fund.