John will always hold a special place for me as a member of my mom's Cub Scout Den and my dad's Boy Scout troop. He was a friend from Garfield and John Deere who I was hoping to possibly see this fall at the reunion. After [finally] joining the site today, I was saddened to find out John had died 10 years ago! Miss you John.
Jim Bjerkan, I also was in the Cub Scouts with your mom. Great times with you and the guys. It was a wonderful neighborhood.
With regard to John, I never had a better friend. We went to Garfield, John Deere, Moline and U of I together, pledging the same fraternity and rooming together as often as not. We even worked for Continental Restaurant Systems (Boar's Head) for a while together but in different locations. We were each other's Best Man, at least in his first marriage. He had a couple more ending with Laura, a great gal.
I can hardly hear a song from the '60s, especially the Beatles, without thinking of John.
He was smart, funny, empathetic and a loyal friend and confidant. He wafts into my memories weekly. I would love to know him now. We lost regular contact except for birthdays for a while until about a year prior to his death from Melanoma. I visited him once in Cincinnati where he was living with Laura at the time and fighting the valiant fight against the cancer.
I miss him a lot. I still stay in touch with his sister, Wendy DeVos Carnahan.
We have lost way too many of our MHS colleagues. May they all rest in peace.
John and I grew up just a few houses away from each other in 25th Avenue Court in Moline, and we knew each other from kindergarten. I agree with Nick Eastland - John was always a sweet, friendly, kind person, and I was so sad when I heard, years ago, that John had died. It would have been such fun to see him at our reunions. I have very warm memories of John, and I'm pretty sure that I still remember the correct date of his birthday - April 5. Rest in peace, John, and know that your classmates remember you fondly!
James Bjerkan
John will always hold a special place for me as a member of my mom's Cub Scout Den and my dad's Boy Scout troop. He was a friend from Garfield and John Deere who I was hoping to possibly see this fall at the reunion. After [finally] joining the site today, I was saddened to find out John had died 10 years ago! Miss you John.
Nicholas Eastland
Jim Bjerkan, I also was in the Cub Scouts with your mom. Great times with you and the guys. It was a wonderful neighborhood.
With regard to John, I never had a better friend. We went to Garfield, John Deere, Moline and U of I together, pledging the same fraternity and rooming together as often as not. We even worked for Continental Restaurant Systems (Boar's Head) for a while together but in different locations. We were each other's Best Man, at least in his first marriage. He had a couple more ending with Laura, a great gal.
I can hardly hear a song from the '60s, especially the Beatles, without thinking of John.
He was smart, funny, empathetic and a loyal friend and confidant. He wafts into my memories weekly. I would love to know him now. We lost regular contact except for birthdays for a while until about a year prior to his death from Melanoma. I visited him once in Cincinnati where he was living with Laura at the time and fighting the valiant fight against the cancer.
I miss him a lot. I still stay in touch with his sister, Wendy DeVos Carnahan.
We have lost way too many of our MHS colleagues. May they all rest in peace.
Stephanie Sundine
Message from Stephanie Sundine:
John and I grew up just a few houses away from each other in 25th Avenue Court in Moline, and we knew each other from kindergarten. I agree with Nick Eastland - John was always a sweet, friendly, kind person, and I was so sad when I heard, years ago, that John had died. It would have been such fun to see him at our reunions. I have very warm memories of John, and I'm pretty sure that I still remember the correct date of his birthday - April 5. Rest in peace, John, and know that your classmates remember you fondly!