Today I was informed of the passing of a former classmate, teammate and friend from the Class of 1970. It saddened my heart when I read the email from another classmate of 1970. It was hard for me to grasp the loss. Separation does make it easier to avoid thoughts but when confronted with the news in an email it hits pretty much right on the mark.
It was last month that I visited with Rex Rockhill and his wife Pam right here in Texas. They were kind enough to stop and have a cup a coffee at a resturaunt here in Harker Heights. Two hours have not passed quicker nor was there any problem keeping up the conversation. I had a wonderful time. I can only hope that Rex and Pam did as well. Tripping down the memory lane with former classmates can be fun. It is in stark contrast to the feeling imparted when considering the death of a classmate in an email.
I cannot remember the first meeting of my friend but I am sure it was in the fall of 1964. We attended school in Lester, Iowa that year. Gosh it was an eye opening experience for this tow headed Norwegian. We four communities congregating in Lester. Lotsof new faces from Alvord and Lester and the new kids from Larchwood and Inwood gathered and became used to each other. Sam Moser was the big kid of the class. Tall and dark headed he stood out amoungst the many blonde’s of the class. Gene Bonyage was another member of that class. Both would go down in the West Lyon annuls as great athletes but in my estimation these two did what I was unable to do. Stay married to there high school sweethearts. They have remained married to the same person through these last 40 years. Kudos to both couples. I managed to stay married for a while but it took three times. You know what they say.? Third times the charm.
Anyway getting emails is a wonderful way to communicate. IT is fast and simple. When I opened the email on my computer I knew that it was from Sharon Moser. I had a smile on my face. She works in the elementary library where my nephew’s children go to school. It is always nice to hear of good comments about the young boys. But this email took the smile off my face quick. Sharon informed me of our friend , Gene Bonyage, had passed a day or so ago at his home with family and friends at his side. He had fought the battle against colon cancer and it had finally taken its toll on his body. I am a cancer survivor myself and I have such tremendous empathy for the family of the departed.
Gene was a gregarious sort during high school. Everyone liked Gene. He was class President many times, Emcee of several shows during high school , and part of the homecoming royalty our senior year. He went on to graduate from college raise a family with his wife, He went on to receive a Masters and a PhD. as the years progressed. He ended up being a department head at a regional hospital. I am sure that he was stellar in his work. It seems so shallow for me to say that I will miss Gene. I had not seen him since graduation. That does not mean that I did not think about him. He was a leading member of the 1969 football team that went 9 wins and 0 losses . Sam Moser at his tackle position would open the hole and Gene would run through it. I can say that I was a member of the team that had Gene Bonyage and Sam Moser. Two of my heroes in life. They did what I could not do. They held a job and did not quit. Both of these men are honorable men.
I have been thinking often of how I would like to be remembered after I die. Well, if someone remembers me in the same light that I remember Gene Bonyage then I would rest comfortably. Here is to Gene Bonyage, a man that made my honorable men’s list, may he rest in peace and be with our Lord in heaven.
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