This post is long, but important: Today I attended the memorial service for my dear friend Ned Stellmann. Honestly, I cant tell you how many people were there, but there was at least 200, probably more. For those of you who knew Ned, you know that he was a genuine, sweet, caring and funny man. His children all spoke, as did a close friend of his and his minister. Everyone said essentially the same thing - how much Ned influenced their life positively and how much of an optimistic spirit he had, even in the end. When he called and told me he had brain cancer, I cried and he consoled me. He said that he was embracing the illness and his destiny and just enjoying life to the fullest. He talked about how blessed he has been in his life and how hes been able to enjoy everything hes ever wanted and more. He said he was surrounded by the best of friends and family and couldnt ask for more. The minister said it best - when you asked Ned how he was feeling a year ago, 6 months ago, a month ago and even a week ago, the answer was always the same, Im feeling blessed. That is the honest truth! He said the same thing to me every time I asked him. I always looked at Ned as my bright, silly, goofy friend who SOMEHOW managed to run a highly successful business and who obviously knew his stuff when it came to almost anything. I had the greatest respect for him as a man and as a friend, but today showed me that he was much bigger and better than I ever imagined. Wayne commented that looking around the room at the number of lives Ned touched, how the heck did he have the time he gave to us? We spent a lot of time with him, off and on over the years. How did he do it? It doesnt really matter how at this point. What matters is, he did it and were all better off for it. I loved him and will truly miss him. Of course, he did forget a promise he made to me last January, but I wont hold it against him, perhaps hes still working on it! RIP Ned Stellmann.
Posted on: Thu, 13 Nov 2014 19:43:46 +0000