John Thomas was an amazing man. So full of everything you could ask for in a person: loving, kind, brotherly, a joy and blessing to be around.

The pain I feel now that he is gone is almost unbearable. He was the kind of guy I wanted to be more like; and there are very few I say that about. He was a simple man, what you saw is what you got. He didn't care what others thought and he didn't conform to what others thought he should be. He was an exceptional human being who loved his wife more than anyone else I've ever seen. There was nothing he wouldn't do for her, nothing. Only in his death did he fail her.

I now realize if that is something even he could succumb to, how could the rest of us not? He was a warrior, a knight in shining armor, a real man. When I think of him, I think dedication. Relentless dedication.

Life is not fair. I thought I had come to realize this before, but I was wrong. Nothing i have experienced in my entire existence can come close to this. Nothing at all.

When I remember John, I can't imagine him without a smile on his face, love in his heart for those in his life, and a willingness to do whatever it took to make his true love, Helen, the happiest person on earth.

John was the kind of guy you could never really get mad at. And if you did, it was for one of two reasons: protecting his wife or telling you the truth you didn't want to hear. Or both.

It saddens me to know that over the next 50 years there will be people who will have missed out on experiencing John. They will never know firsthand of his gentleness, joy, and strength. I pity those people.

I hope to be at least half the man, husband, and human he was.

There are not enough tissues to dry my eyes, not enough hugs to comfort me, not enough people to fill the void left by him.

John Thomas, I will miss like you will never know. If I can make one promise to you, it is this: I swear to take care of Helen for the rest of my life. I promise I will treat her like you did, with the greatest of repsect and love. I promise to make her as happy I humanly can. I promise to be there for her when no one else is. I promise to keep her safe from any harm that may come her way. I promise. I promise. I promise. She is now to me like only the one other person I would give my life for.

John Thomas, you were like a brother to me. I know I never told you how much I respected, loved, and enjoyed being around you. For that, I am sorry. I am sorry I didn't know you as well as I wanted to. I wanted to become someone you call me at anytime, stop by for any reason, just hang around for absolutely no reason at all. I am so sorry, so, so sorry.

I will never forget your patience. I will never forget your love for your wife. I promise I will never forget you.

I will never forget you.

Ben