In Loving Memory.....

of

Joshua Welton Rodesiler

December 2oth, 1988 - June 7th, 2008

Last Saturday we lost a dear friend, Josh (aka "Rodie"). I don't remember going through a harder week than this when coming to the realization that such an amazing person is gone so fast and so suddenly. So Rodie, this post is dedicated to you in your memory.

We started to get to to know you your sophomore year of high school when you ran track. Brock was in his first year as an assistant coach. The next two years when he was head coach during your career, that was when we started to get to know you so well, and you definitely gave us a lasting impression of Josh Rodesiler from then on! As our relationship with you over the years grew, so many memories were made. As an athlete, it was so fun to watch your competitive drive when you ran. You were a sprinter, which describes exactly the way you lived life-at full speed:) But we knew you as more than just an athlete, and even as a student @ GHS, we opened our doors to our home and you continued to build the strong friendship that we all did with your continued visits to just come chat on our back deck. We will always cherish those talks we had with whatever was on your mind-you never held anything back!

Rodie, here are some things(funny and momentous) that come to mind when we think of you....

-The day you decided you were going to mow our lawn when it looked like an amazon one day! You insisted on even bringing down your own mower! And the funny part was you didn't bag what was mowed, then our yard just looked like a hay field! But we didn't tell you at the time;)

-Track meets, and you just being you. You thought you were ALL THAT and a bag of chips sometimes:) But we loved it! Your confidence in yourself never faltered, and that was a quality that everybody admired...most of the time!

-Walking around our house and stopping in the middle of whatever you were doing just to check yourself out in one of our mirrors. I don't think I've ever known anyone that looked in a mirror more than you did in a day! That modeling career you were dreaming about would have fit you perfectly:)

-Trying to set you up with Jeni...enough said:) Who would of known that a disaster first date with a road rager like yourself would have bloomed into such an amazing friendship between the 2 of you! As much as Brock worried, I always gave you the benefit of the doubt that you would take care of her, and you always did as a best friend. We were both looking forward to you both being at BSU next year and listening to all your fun times when you would come back to visit. Don't think you're off the hook though! We still expect you to take care of our girl! We'll never forget the time you guys T-Peed our house when you were out being crazy:) Or our fun outing together to Hana Yori's to celebrate your B-days in December. That place will never be the same. The many fun times wherever we were together will never be forgotten, nor will it ever be the same when it's just the 3 of us and we always felt like calling you up to see what you were doing. It was always just that easy...and we'll miss that so much.

-Very fond memories I have of you were the first days we were home from the hospital with Isaac. You and your boys were over right away:) And I was so excited for Isaac to meet his Uncle Rodie! You even were there a year later @ his 1st Birthday party with Jeni. I was SO happy you came to celebrate and just be there. I never got to thank you for the Nemo ball and frog pool:) You guys are the best!

With all of those things said, this past week was so hard. Last Saturday I was @ work til 2, came home and saw Jeni sitting on my couch. I was so excited and so surprised to see her that I didn't realize she had been crying. Then I thought something was wrong with her, only to hear from Brock what I thought I'd never hear. When he told me you had died early that morning, the feeling was nothing but denial at first. There was no way you could be gone so fast. It's different you know, when you lose somebody, like both my Grandpa's, to an illness. In those situations, you can sort of mentally prepare for those things. Not with you though. You loved taking the world by surprise, and this time you definitely did just that! I couldn't believe I'd never see you again or just talk to you again. And I had just talked to you earlier in the week to see how you were doing with all you were going through already. And just that previous Monday, you were sitting on our back deck filling us in on all that you were going through. I guess I'm relieved that those little things are the least of your worries now.

The days after we found out were a blur...however it hit pretty hard to see your best friends come over right away. Although,you have some pretty amazing friends. I'm sure you knew that:) They just continued to tell the best stories of you-and we were so happy they spent that time to tell us how they were feeling that day.
Here is a pic of your boys playing with Isaac(I'm glad he was being so entertaining for them!):
The day of your viewing we stayed throughout those times, mainly so Brock could see through any track athletes that came. Witnessing all the people that came to see you because you somehow impacted their lives was so amazing. You were such a people person, and everybody loved that about you. In some way, you left a mark on your friends that they have that to hang on to now. Once again, it was fun to hear all the stories they had about you:) Even at your own viewing, I still couldn't get over how good you looked. I kept joking though that you would never not look good on the day of your own funeral:) That just wouldn't be an option! It was nice to see that it wasn't some big formal viewing, with a long stiff line of people just waiting and waiting some more. Everyone just freely felt like they could go around and talk to whoever, and go up and see you whenever. And it fit you perfectly.

The funeral was a beautiful service. Brock was asked to speak by your mom and pastor. He was so nervous, but I knew when he'd get up there, he knew what he needed to say. It was such an honor for him to do that for you. And I have a feeling you would have wanted him up there;) During the dinner after your Mom came up and thanked us, and proceeded to tell us that she had your wallet. She laughed and said there was no money in it, however there was just one picture. And that picture was of Isaac:) Hearing that from her left me with a feeling that you were always there for us and never let us or anyone down. I'm so glad she told us that, and left me with the feeling that our little guy meant something in your life. We'll make sure he knows who his Uncle Rodie was:) *promise!*

I'll leave you with a "tribute picture" of Brock doing your signature pose: (He's got it down pretty good, doesn't he?!)

Thanks for being the amazing person you always were and hope you're having a blast partying with the Big Man:) We won't forget you, but we'll be seeing you, buddy! Can't wait!!
Love,
Brock, Linz & Isaac