Suzanne Thorne
I am John’s daughter, Suzanne, and I wanted to share what I read at his memorial service. “This is the day that the Lord has made. Let us rejoice and be glad in it.” These are the words my father would use in the morning when he woke up and came into the kitchen. Just to look at him you wouldn’t think my dad was anything out of the ordinary. In one way that was true but in another way he was extraordinary. Mostly he was a kind, fun loving man who enjoyed life and loved to tease people – especially my mom. One good example was when he fell down and hit his head on the cement and his entire face swelled up and turn black and blue. Mom took a picture of him and for quite a while he carried a picture around his shirt pocket. He would pull out the picture to show people and tell them that his wife took a frying pan to him. Of course, Anyone who knew both my parents would know that he was joking, but mom said sometime she would get some funny looks from people who did not know her. Probably the highlight of my father’s life was when he and Mom joined laborers for Christ. That was a church organization composed of mostly retired senior citizen who traveled throughout the United States who volunteered their time and services to help build and remodel Lutheran churches and Christian schools. During this time he entered a renewed relationship with his Savior, Jesus Christ. He knew of Jesus but then he entered a deeper relationship with his Savior and learned how to follow him daily. The most important thing to him thereafter was to share the love of Jesus with all those he came in contact with. He had no fear of death because he knew he would be with his Savior and all those who have gone before him. His last day on earth my mom was visiting with him and he kept trying to tell her something but she could not understand what he was Probably the highlight of my father‘s life was when he and mom joined laborers for Christ. That was a church organization composed of mostly retired senior citizen to travel throughout the United States who volunteered their time and services to help build and remodel churches and Christian schools. During this time he entered the renewed relationship with his Savior, Jesus Christ. He knew of Jesus but then he entered a deeper relationship with his savior and learned how to follow him daily. The most important thing to him there after was to share the love of Jesus with all those he came in contact with. He had no fear of death because he knew he would be with his Savior and all those who have gone before him. His last day on earth my mom was visiting with him and he kept trying to tell her something but she could not understand what he was saying. The only thing he said which she could understand was let’s go. Mom left before it started to get dark and when she got home she received a phone call saying that dad had passed. I truly believe that he was talking to the angels about how they had been preparing for his return and he was ready and that was why he said let’s go. Although he was an extraordinary man, he never wanted people to get up and say a bunch of nice things about him at his funeral like some many do these days. However, I know it would please him if people would take to heart the message from the Savior to give their life to God and follow the Savior as he did. In the end that is all that really matters.