John was not well known to many classmates, he only let a few people really get to know him. I was lucky enough to be one of them. He covered up his vast intelligence just trying to fit in. He left this world much too early. Untapped talent that is for sure.......
I remember Mr. Burich's math class; and he would ask John where his homework was and John would reply that the dog ate it. Always fighting authority.......That's my boy!
I always loved talking to John -- he was always so philosophical and would throw out such interesting comments, and it would really make me think, you know?
I was at St. B's when John joined our class in 6th grade. One funny memory I have was in 7th grade one day I was talking to him and noticed that all over one of his folders he had RATT written. I was like "who's RATT?" OMG, he though I was sooooooo stupid for not knowing that band. Good times...good times!
To this day I miss John very, very much and think of him often. He may be gone, but he is definitely NOT forgotten.
Yes Jeff, your right, he didn't let many people get to know him. You, me, Zack, Mike Stewart, Knotthead, Jack...we were about his only friends. I still think about him now and then. There was a very good person with a big heart and brain undercover...such a tragic waste. I'm so glad to see though that the "In Memory" section only holds a select few. We're all lucky that the list isn't any bigger! Take care everyone!
The list just got bigger. There isn't a lot of time that passes between the instances when I think about John again. You have all said things that hit the nail on the head about his intellect. One could lock themselves in a room to talk with him and not notice time passing until it had been hours or sometimes days. When he let someone into his life, he really meant it, and he didn't care where you came from or how much money you had, what you could brag about, nothing had to be proven to him. All of us lost someone beautiful that day. I recall the next morning when I went to the HS to tell some of his closer friends what had happened - a know a few of you also remember taking off from school or wherever we found you to go on a short road trip, talk and try to have some fun in remembrance. Some years I travel to Milwaukee and visit the grave, but as we know, cemeteries are built for the living and not the dead - it feels good to go there on occasion. (And Jeff, I do believe that Freckles - the dog - may certainly have eaten some of that homework! It may have had something to do with peanut butter. Kidding.)
Jeff Brantmeier
John was not well known to many classmates, he only let a few people really get to know him. I was lucky enough to be one of them. He covered up his vast intelligence just trying to fit in. He left this world much too early. Untapped talent that is for sure.......I remember Mr. Burich's math class; and he would ask John where his homework was and John would reply that the dog ate it. Always fighting authority.......That's my boy!
Katie Wiskerchen (Johnson)
I always loved talking to John -- he was always so philosophical and would throw out such interesting comments, and it would really make me think, you know?I was at St. B's when John joined our class in 6th grade. One funny memory I have was in 7th grade one day I was talking to him and noticed that all over one of his folders he had RATT written. I was like "who's RATT?" OMG, he though I was sooooooo stupid for not knowing that band. Good times...good times!
To this day I miss John very, very much and think of him often. He may be gone, but he is definitely NOT forgotten.
Missy Cran (Hard)
Yes Jeff, your right, he didn't let many people get to know him. You, me, Zack, Mike Stewart, Knotthead, Jack...we were about his only friends. I still think about him now and then. There was a very good person with a big heart and brain undercover...such a tragic waste. I'm so glad to see though that the "In Memory" section only holds a select few. We're all lucky that the list isn't any bigger! Take care everyone!Maurine Lewis
The list just got bigger.There isn't a lot of time that passes between the instances when I think about John again. You have all said things that hit the nail on the head about his intellect. One could lock themselves in a room to talk with him and not notice time passing until it had been hours or sometimes days. When he let someone into his life, he really meant it, and he didn't care where you came from or how much money you had, what you could brag about, nothing had to be proven to him.
All of us lost someone beautiful that day.
I recall the next morning when I went to the HS to tell some of his closer friends what had happened - a know a few of you also remember taking off from school or wherever we found you to go on a short road trip, talk and try to have some fun in remembrance.
Some years I travel to Milwaukee and visit the grave, but as we know, cemeteries are built for the living and not the dead - it feels good to go there on occasion.
(And Jeff, I do believe that Freckles - the dog - may certainly have eaten some of that homework! It may have had something to do with peanut butter. Kidding.)
Maurine Lewis
I would love to see a picture of John in here!