Blue the ox died Sunday afternoon, surrounded by his owners and community members who had spent several days caring for him.
Blue, who, like his brother Babe, was known for his giant frame and gentle nature, was 19 years old -- which Blue Ox Millworks co-owner Viviana Hollenbeck estimated to be 85 in "ox years."
"We all get attached to our animals, but over the last 19 years, Babe and Blue have been a source of strength for me," Blue Ox Millworks co-owner Eric Hollenbeck wrote in a note to the Times-Standard. "When times got tough, I would go out and brush and talk with the boys and feed off of their power; it gave me the strength to keep going."
Blue was rescued twice last week after falling into a cold, water-filled ditch two nights in a row. On Saturday, community members tried to hoist Blue onto his feet, but he was too weak to stand.
Viviana Hollenbeck said a group of community members and neighbors stood watch over Blue through the weekend, urged him to eat, brought him fresh water and prayed for him as he died quietly Sunday afternoon. She thanked her neighbors and the community for an outpouring of support she called "inspiring and humbling."
"It was amazing to me," Humboldt Towing owner LeRoy Hoffman said. "We're really happy everybody got behind them and supported Eric and Viviana."
Eric Hollenbeck thanked George Schmidbauer and Bob Barnum, who helped Blue Ox Millworks get Babe and Blue as calves.
Grant Scott-Goforth/The Times-Standard
Tuesday, April 24, 2012
nancy murray, thank you for your sponsorship!
Blue, who, like his brother Babe, was known for his giant frame and gentle nature, was 19 years old -- which Blue Ox Millworks co-owner Viviana Hollenbeck estimated to be 85 in "ox years."
"We all get attached to our animals, but over the last 19 years, Babe and Blue have been a source of strength for me," Blue Ox Millworks co-owner Eric Hollenbeck wrote in a note to the Times-Standard. "When times got tough, I would go out and brush and talk with the boys and feed off of their power; it gave me the strength to keep going."
Blue was rescued twice last week after falling into a cold, water-filled ditch two nights in a row. On Saturday, community members tried to hoist Blue onto his feet, but he was too weak to stand.
Viviana Hollenbeck said a group of community members and neighbors stood watch over Blue through the weekend, urged him to eat, brought him fresh water and prayed for him as he died quietly Sunday afternoon. She thanked her neighbors and the community for an outpouring of support she called "inspiring and humbling."
"It was amazing to me," Humboldt Towing owner LeRoy Hoffman said. "We're really happy everybody got behind them and supported Eric and Viviana."
Eric Hollenbeck thanked George Schmidbauer and Bob Barnum, who helped Blue Ox Millworks get Babe and Blue as calves.
Grant Scott-Goforth/The Times-Standard
Tuesday, April 24, 2012
nancy murray, thank you for your sponsorship!
Blue the ox died Sunday afternoon, surrounded by his owners and community members who had spent several days caring for him.
Blue, who, like his brother Babe, was known for his giant frame and gentle nature, was 19 years old -- which Blue Ox Millworks co-owner Viviana Hollenbeck estimated to be 85 in "ox years."
"We all get attached to our animals, but over the last 19 years, Babe and Blue have been a source of strength for me," Blue Ox Millworks co-owner Eric Hollenbeck wrote in a note to the Times-Standard. "When times got tough, I would go out and brush and talk with the boys and feed off of their power; it gave me the strength to keep going."
Blue was rescued twice last week after falling into a cold, water-filled ditch two nights in a row. On Saturday, community members tried to hoist Blue onto his feet, but he was too weak to stand.
Viviana Hollenbeck said a group of community members and neighbors stood watch over Blue through the weekend, urged him to eat, brought him fresh water and prayed for him as he died quietly Sunday afternoon. She thanked her neighbors and the community for an outpouring of support she called "inspiring and humbling."
"It was amazing to me," Humboldt Towing owner LeRoy Hoffman said. "We're really happy everybody got behind them and supported Eric and Viviana."
Eric Hollenbeck thanked George Schmidbauer and Bob Barnum, who helped Blue Ox Millworks get Babe and Blue as calves.
Grant Scott-Goforth/The Times-Standard
Tuesday, April 24, 2012
nancy murray, thank you for your sponsorship!
Blue, who, like his brother Babe, was known for his giant frame and gentle nature, was 19 years old -- which Blue Ox Millworks co-owner Viviana Hollenbeck estimated to be 85 in "ox years."
"We all get attached to our animals, but over the last 19 years, Babe and Blue have been a source of strength for me," Blue Ox Millworks co-owner Eric Hollenbeck wrote in a note to the Times-Standard. "When times got tough, I would go out and brush and talk with the boys and feed off of their power; it gave me the strength to keep going."
Blue was rescued twice last week after falling into a cold, water-filled ditch two nights in a row. On Saturday, community members tried to hoist Blue onto his feet, but he was too weak to stand.
Viviana Hollenbeck said a group of community members and neighbors stood watch over Blue through the weekend, urged him to eat, brought him fresh water and prayed for him as he died quietly Sunday afternoon. She thanked her neighbors and the community for an outpouring of support she called "inspiring and humbling."
"It was amazing to me," Humboldt Towing owner LeRoy Hoffman said. "We're really happy everybody got behind them and supported Eric and Viviana."
Eric Hollenbeck thanked George Schmidbauer and Bob Barnum, who helped Blue Ox Millworks get Babe and Blue as calves.
Grant Scott-Goforth/The Times-Standard
Tuesday, April 24, 2012
nancy murray, thank you for your sponsorship!
Gravesite Details
Blue weighed 2,800 pounds and was a Belgian Ox - our community's gentle giant
Family Members
Parents
Siblings
