Michael Weisback leaves behind his wife, Shannon, and the couple's daughter, Madeline Nicole, in addition to his parents, two brothers, and many dear friends.
If you wondered what happened like i did. The story is below. I am in total shock.
By Kyle Meenan First Coast News
NEPTUNE BEACH, FL -- Beneath billowing white clouds and the cries of seagulls, dozens gathered by the sand dunes here to say goodbye to a loving husband, father, and dear friend.
As a U.S. Navy bugler played taps, fellow sailors carefully and dutifully folded the American flag over a honey-brown coffin, presenting the folded flag to a young mother and infant daughter.
34-year-old Michael Weisback succumbed over the weekend to a sudden but deadly blood infection five days after being hospitalized for a head injury sustained during a softball game.
It happened Tuesday night at the field behind the Hogan Baptist Church by Parental Home Road. As an outfielder, Weisback was racing after a fly ball, when he collided with a teammate from the infield.
Both men crashed to the ground. Michael was the first one to get up.
"He wanted to help the guy up to see if he was okay, and he apparently collapsed," said longtime friend, Joe Wombough.
Weisback was rushed to the hospital unconscious and soon slipped into a coma. His brain began to swell.
Family members were called in from South Ocala, where his parents now live, and from Philadelphia, where the three Weisback brothers enjoyed hockey and football growing up.
His brother, Jeff, told First Coast News the swelling and bleeding in his brain left family members believing that Jeff had suffered a tear in his brain tissue in the collision.
Michael was in intensive care for five days in a coma. And then, without warning, an incurable blood infection began that would soon claim his life.
"He went septic Saturday night," said Jeff Weisback.
In the morning, he was gone.
Michael Weisback leaves behind his wife, Shannon, and the couple's seven-month-old daughter, Madeline Nicole, in addition to his parents, two brothers, and many dear friends.
"Mike lived for Shannon, and he lived for Madeline Nicole," said Jeff Weisback, adding that the baby is blessed to be so young as to be unaware of the death of her father.
"She's wonderful, and in one sense you look at it and think, 'How can this happen?' when you leave so much behind. In another sense, at least she didn't have to go through the pain of this loss," said Weisback.
The Weisback brothers were all described as huge fans of the Philadelphia Eagles, and it was Jeff who surprised big brother earlier this year with tickets to Super Bowl XXXIX.
"He loved the Philadelphia Eagles. Loved the Eagles!" said Wombough.
"Sundays won't be the same without him."
From his Pennsylvania childhood, Mike Weisback grew up and eventually entered the U.S. Navy, serving his country for four years, including time in the Persian Gulf during the first Gulf War.
His life would change forever during a friend's wedding in Virginia several years later. That's when he met Shannon, the woman who would become his wife.
The two were married in 2002, with Madeline Nicole arriving in the fall of 2004.
Michael was working for a local mortgage company, enjoying life with his family and his friends living in Jacksonville's Southside.
Then suddenly, a freak injury.
A life cut short.
Jeff Weisback said it may be a cliche', but it's true:
"It's just great to have family and friends around you. That's what you need at a time like this."
Joe Wombough, like so many who came to the oceanfront funeral Monday morning, tried to put it in perspective.
"You know? You play softball and worry about maybe breaking bones or something, and then something like this happens and it really makes you think how precious our time is on this earth."
C. Roger Jeffries III
If you wondered what happened like i did. The story is below. I am in total shock.By Kyle Meenan First Coast News
NEPTUNE BEACH, FL -- Beneath billowing white clouds and the cries of seagulls, dozens gathered by the sand dunes here to say goodbye to a loving husband, father, and dear friend.
As a U.S. Navy bugler played taps, fellow sailors carefully and dutifully folded the American flag over a honey-brown coffin, presenting the folded flag to a young mother and infant daughter.
34-year-old Michael Weisback succumbed over the weekend to a sudden but deadly blood infection five days after being hospitalized for a head injury sustained during a softball game.
It happened Tuesday night at the field behind the Hogan Baptist Church by Parental Home Road. As an outfielder, Weisback was racing after a fly ball, when he collided with a teammate from the infield.
Both men crashed to the ground. Michael was the first one to get up.
"He wanted to help the guy up to see if he was okay, and he apparently collapsed," said longtime friend, Joe Wombough.
Weisback was rushed to the hospital unconscious and soon slipped into a coma. His brain began to swell.
Family members were called in from South Ocala, where his parents now live, and from Philadelphia, where the three Weisback brothers enjoyed hockey and football growing up.
His brother, Jeff, told First Coast News the swelling and bleeding in his brain left family members believing that Jeff had suffered a tear in his brain tissue in the collision.
Michael was in intensive care for five days in a coma. And then, without warning, an incurable blood infection began that would soon claim his life.
"He went septic Saturday night," said Jeff Weisback.
In the morning, he was gone.
Michael Weisback leaves behind his wife, Shannon, and the couple's seven-month-old daughter, Madeline Nicole, in addition to his parents, two brothers, and many dear friends.
"Mike lived for Shannon, and he lived for Madeline Nicole," said Jeff Weisback, adding that the baby is blessed to be so young as to be unaware of the death of her father.
"She's wonderful, and in one sense you look at it and think, 'How can this happen?' when you leave so much behind. In another sense, at least she didn't have to go through the pain of this loss," said Weisback.
The Weisback brothers were all described as huge fans of the Philadelphia Eagles, and it was Jeff who surprised big brother earlier this year with tickets to Super Bowl XXXIX.
"He loved the Philadelphia Eagles. Loved the Eagles!" said Wombough.
"Sundays won't be the same without him."
From his Pennsylvania childhood, Mike Weisback grew up and eventually entered the U.S. Navy, serving his country for four years, including time in the Persian Gulf during the first Gulf War.
His life would change forever during a friend's wedding in Virginia several years later. That's when he met Shannon, the woman who would become his wife.
The two were married in 2002, with Madeline Nicole arriving in the fall of 2004.
Michael was working for a local mortgage company, enjoying life with his family and his friends living in Jacksonville's Southside.
Then suddenly, a freak injury.
A life cut short.
Jeff Weisback said it may be a cliche', but it's true:
"It's just great to have family and friends around you. That's what you need at a time like this."
Joe Wombough, like so many who came to the oceanfront funeral Monday morning, tried to put it in perspective.
"You know? You play softball and worry about maybe breaking bones or something, and then something like this happens and it really makes you think how precious our time is on this earth."
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