A little over 2 weeks ago, on Tuesday September 16th, our family lost one of the best neighbors we have ever had. Jack Cornman, who with his wife Helen and brother-in-law Bob shared our driveway, passed away of a heart attack while receiving a dialysis treatment at Sutter Hospital in Auburn. Despite being in a hospital and wearing an AED harness at the time, which attempted to revive him about 6 times, Jack passed. He will be sorely missed by ALL who knew him, and most certainly by our family. He was more of a family member to us than just a neighbor. He and Helen have been more of surrogate grandparents to our kids, who adore them. In the past couple of weeks I have thought a lot about Jack and who he was and how he has definitely left a hole in the lives of those of us blessed with knowing him. Jack was a stocky guy who always had a smile on his face and a kind of twinkle in his eye. He told us that in years past he had served as Santa Claus for kids in and around Georgetown and done Christmas Eve visits. This was something easily believed by me, as with a white beard - (as he said he grew out for the part), he definitely fit the description. Jack was always a generous friend with his time and resources and often offered assistance to our family with anything we might need, from a little tractor work, to loans of miscellaneous tools, or his riding mower to aid us in maintaining our defensible space, and even Christmas and birthday presents for our kids form him, Helen & Bob. I remember one winter morning on a Saturday, when a sudden cold snap hit and I had not stocked any wood on our porch, hearing a tractor running and someone on the porch. I opened the door to find Jack and Bob unloading oak firewood onto our rack on our front porch. Jack always had a pleasant and cheerful demeanor and shortly after we lost him I told my wife that he just seemed like a huggable kind of guy, but that I cant remember ever having hugged him. She replied that she felt the same and could not ever remember having hugged him either. As I pondered why that was, I came upon the answer: Jack lived his whole life as a warm and caring hug to those around him. Jack was a living example of the good Samaritan Jesus spoke about in his parable. Not only did he live this out, he seemed to do so with great relish. Jack lived out Gods command to love your neighbor as yourself - and he did so joyfully. Jack, I think also loved to work out in the open air - and especially with his tractor. He kind of reminded me of a big kid sometimes, just because if the delight he obviously took in such things. Jack Cornman, we are extremely grateful that a loving and wonderful God blessed us these past 6 years and allowed us to share a part of your life as an amazing neighbor and a beloved and now sorely missed, member of our family.
Posted on: Sun, 05 Oct 2014 03:31:29 +0000
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