A Celebration Of The Life Of Jack Stevens
We gather here today to celebrate the life of Jack Stevens to some of us he is called Husband, Father, Grand Father, Brother or Cousin, but to anyone here today that really knew Jack he was called friend. I called Jack brother, but he was also my best friend.
As you know Jack spent most of his life behind the steering wheel of an 18 wheeler. Dad wanted us to become electricians, but that was not what was in Jack's heart. He loved big rigs. As a child he used to draw pictures of them. So it was no surprise to us, that at the age of 18 he started driving one.
He said that he was a commercial tourist, and I loved to talk to him about his tales of the road. He would tell the tales so vividly, that you thought you were riding in the cab with him, and on several occasions I had that very pleasure. Once my family and I were returning to our home in Texas. I told my kids to keep an eye out for a big red CFI truck with Jack and Patches in it. We got just south of Ft. Wayne, Indiana we spotted them. We got their attention, and they pulled over into the next rest area. The kids and I got up into the truck with Jack and my wife and Patches got into the car. Sometimes Patches would drive the truck and Jack and I would drive in the car. We rode all the way to Joplin, Mo, without the kids ever asking "Are we there yet." I have had the pleasure of seeing Jack and Patches in El Paso, Laredo and Harlingen Texas.
We all know that Jack loved to laugh. I think anyone here today if asked could come up with more than one funny story. Sometimes the jokes were at our expense, but they could be and usually were at Jack's expense. It didn't matter to him, he would just let go with that distinctive laugh of his. He would laugh so hard that tears would come to his eyes.
He never tired of hearing the same stories over and over again. When any of us would get together with him, he would always start the conversation with; "tell me about the time," or "do you remember when?"
Jack always had a saying for anything. I always wondered where he got them all. The one that I remember the most is, "Every dog has his day, but a good one will have two." We always sent birthday cards to each other and then we would talk to each other on our birthday. He would always tell me that as soon as he opened his card, he would shake it to see if any money fell out. In December of 1993, on his 50th birthday, I sent a card to him. The front of the card had a dog on it. I wrote in it; "You know that every dog has his day and a good one will have two. I hope your birthday was your second good day. I thought since you turned 50 this year I would go all out and buy your dinner. I think this dollar will cover the cost, enjoy."
When it was my birthday and I received the usual card, I opened it and read the front of the card, and I thought, this card sure looks familiar. Sure enough, Jack sent back the same card. He said "Wally, things are rough here in Joplin, but I didn't want you to think I forgot you. I found this card, I believe it fits you well. Oh By the way, I want you to have this dollar, Love Jack." We have been sending the same card back and forth for almost 12 years.
Last week, I got that card out and read back through the years to see what we had written to each other. There were three things that stood out to me as I read.
One thing was our lament about not getting to spend enough time together. The other two were about his great loves; His family and Jesus.
Patches reminded me last week about how he came to know Jesus. Many years ago, I received salvation and I wanted to share that joy with Jack. I remember a time, that he was racing a stock car in Indiana. I went down to the pits, and was telling him about Jesus. He said "shut up, I don't want to hear it." Not long after that Jack wanted to borrow my chain saw. I said he could use it if he would go to church with me. He said "OK." He and Patches went with me for two weeks. He told Patches that he wanted to be saved, but we didn't have an altar call. The second Sunday I invited Jack and Patches, and the preacher and his family to my house for dinner. After dinner I had the pleasure of seeing Jack accept Jesus as his Lord and Savior in my living room.
When he would call me, he would say; "I haven't heard from you for so long, that I though maybe you were raptured" or he would ask "Are you in the world or are you of the world?" I would respond I am in the world, how about you? He would say; "I'm just passing through".
We would talk for a while then say I love you. Before we hung up the phone, He would always ask me to pray for him and Patches, Pray for my kids and our lost family members. Then he would close with his favorite words from the last chapter of the Book of Revelation. "Even so, come, Lord Jesus".
After all of these years, I believe that Jack had his second good day last Thursday. On that day, I said Jack hold my hand, I am going to walk you down to the river and Jesus is going to take you across. He squeezed my hand hard, and within minuets, he relaxed and was in the presence of Jesus.
I know that Jesus will someday take me across the river to the Promised Land, to visit and laugh with Jack. If any of you ever hope to see him again, and are not saved, you must come to know Jesus as Jack did.
"Even So, come, Lord Jesus"
Jack W. Stevens, 61, of Monroe, Ohio, died on August 4, 2005, at his residence. He was born in Kendallville, Indiana on December 16, 1943 to parents Francis J. and Betty Lavon (Franklin) Stevens.
Jack had been a truck driver since 1962, working for Contract Freighters, and most recently, Roadway.
Mr. Stevens is survived by his wife, Juanita (Glass) Stevens; four children, Brad Stevens, Jason Stevens, Tia Buckland, & Kim Edsall; three stepchildren, Monica Clark, Kimberly Hicks, and Danny Jo McReynolds; brothers & sisters, Betty Lou Hendrix, Walter Stevens, Carolyn Williams, and Kent Stevens; and 18 grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by his parents.
Funeral Service will be held Tuesday, August 9, 2005 at 6:00 PM (Ohio time) at Wilson-Schramm-Spaulding Funeral Home, 3805 Roosevelt Blvd. (State Rt. 122), Middletown, OH 45044, with Pastor Melvin Moore officiating. Private interment will be at North Monroe Cemetery.
Memorial donations may be made to American Cancer Society, 105 McKnight Drive, Middletown, OH 45044.
We gather here today to celebrate the life of Jack Stevens to some of us he is called Husband, Father, Grand Father, Brother or Cousin, but to anyone here today that really knew Jack he was called friend. I called Jack brother, but he was also my best friend.
As you know Jack spent most of his life behind the steering wheel of an 18 wheeler. Dad wanted us to become electricians, but that was not what was in Jack's heart. He loved big rigs. As a child he used to draw pictures of them. So it was no surprise to us, that at the age of 18 he started driving one.
He said that he was a commercial tourist, and I loved to talk to him about his tales of the road. He would tell the tales so vividly, that you thought you were riding in the cab with him, and on several occasions I had that very pleasure. Once my family and I were returning to our home in Texas. I told my kids to keep an eye out for a big red CFI truck with Jack and Patches in it. We got just south of Ft. Wayne, Indiana we spotted them. We got their attention, and they pulled over into the next rest area. The kids and I got up into the truck with Jack and my wife and Patches got into the car. Sometimes Patches would drive the truck and Jack and I would drive in the car. We rode all the way to Joplin, Mo, without the kids ever asking "Are we there yet." I have had the pleasure of seeing Jack and Patches in El Paso, Laredo and Harlingen Texas.
We all know that Jack loved to laugh. I think anyone here today if asked could come up with more than one funny story. Sometimes the jokes were at our expense, but they could be and usually were at Jack's expense. It didn't matter to him, he would just let go with that distinctive laugh of his. He would laugh so hard that tears would come to his eyes.
He never tired of hearing the same stories over and over again. When any of us would get together with him, he would always start the conversation with; "tell me about the time," or "do you remember when?"
Jack always had a saying for anything. I always wondered where he got them all. The one that I remember the most is, "Every dog has his day, but a good one will have two." We always sent birthday cards to each other and then we would talk to each other on our birthday. He would always tell me that as soon as he opened his card, he would shake it to see if any money fell out. In December of 1993, on his 50th birthday, I sent a card to him. The front of the card had a dog on it. I wrote in it; "You know that every dog has his day and a good one will have two. I hope your birthday was your second good day. I thought since you turned 50 this year I would go all out and buy your dinner. I think this dollar will cover the cost, enjoy."
When it was my birthday and I received the usual card, I opened it and read the front of the card, and I thought, this card sure looks familiar. Sure enough, Jack sent back the same card. He said "Wally, things are rough here in Joplin, but I didn't want you to think I forgot you. I found this card, I believe it fits you well. Oh By the way, I want you to have this dollar, Love Jack." We have been sending the same card back and forth for almost 12 years.
Last week, I got that card out and read back through the years to see what we had written to each other. There were three things that stood out to me as I read.
One thing was our lament about not getting to spend enough time together. The other two were about his great loves; His family and Jesus.
Patches reminded me last week about how he came to know Jesus. Many years ago, I received salvation and I wanted to share that joy with Jack. I remember a time, that he was racing a stock car in Indiana. I went down to the pits, and was telling him about Jesus. He said "shut up, I don't want to hear it." Not long after that Jack wanted to borrow my chain saw. I said he could use it if he would go to church with me. He said "OK." He and Patches went with me for two weeks. He told Patches that he wanted to be saved, but we didn't have an altar call. The second Sunday I invited Jack and Patches, and the preacher and his family to my house for dinner. After dinner I had the pleasure of seeing Jack accept Jesus as his Lord and Savior in my living room.
When he would call me, he would say; "I haven't heard from you for so long, that I though maybe you were raptured" or he would ask "Are you in the world or are you of the world?" I would respond I am in the world, how about you? He would say; "I'm just passing through".
We would talk for a while then say I love you. Before we hung up the phone, He would always ask me to pray for him and Patches, Pray for my kids and our lost family members. Then he would close with his favorite words from the last chapter of the Book of Revelation. "Even so, come, Lord Jesus".
After all of these years, I believe that Jack had his second good day last Thursday. On that day, I said Jack hold my hand, I am going to walk you down to the river and Jesus is going to take you across. He squeezed my hand hard, and within minuets, he relaxed and was in the presence of Jesus.
I know that Jesus will someday take me across the river to the Promised Land, to visit and laugh with Jack. If any of you ever hope to see him again, and are not saved, you must come to know Jesus as Jack did.
"Even So, come, Lord Jesus"
Jack W. Stevens, 61, of Monroe, Ohio, died on August 4, 2005, at his residence. He was born in Kendallville, Indiana on December 16, 1943 to parents Francis J. and Betty Lavon (Franklin) Stevens.
Jack had been a truck driver since 1962, working for Contract Freighters, and most recently, Roadway.
Mr. Stevens is survived by his wife, Juanita (Glass) Stevens; four children, Brad Stevens, Jason Stevens, Tia Buckland, & Kim Edsall; three stepchildren, Monica Clark, Kimberly Hicks, and Danny Jo McReynolds; brothers & sisters, Betty Lou Hendrix, Walter Stevens, Carolyn Williams, and Kent Stevens; and 18 grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by his parents.
Funeral Service will be held Tuesday, August 9, 2005 at 6:00 PM (Ohio time) at Wilson-Schramm-Spaulding Funeral Home, 3805 Roosevelt Blvd. (State Rt. 122), Middletown, OH 45044, with Pastor Melvin Moore officiating. Private interment will be at North Monroe Cemetery.
Memorial donations may be made to American Cancer Society, 105 McKnight Drive, Middletown, OH 45044.
A Celebration Of The Life Of Jack Stevens
We gather here today to celebrate the life of Jack Stevens to some of us he is called Husband, Father, Grand Father, Brother or Cousin, but to anyone here today that really knew Jack he was called friend. I called Jack brother, but he was also my best friend.
As you know Jack spent most of his life behind the steering wheel of an 18 wheeler. Dad wanted us to become electricians, but that was not what was in Jack's heart. He loved big rigs. As a child he used to draw pictures of them. So it was no surprise to us, that at the age of 18 he started driving one.
He said that he was a commercial tourist, and I loved to talk to him about his tales of the road. He would tell the tales so vividly, that you thought you were riding in the cab with him, and on several occasions I had that very pleasure. Once my family and I were returning to our home in Texas. I told my kids to keep an eye out for a big red CFI truck with Jack and Patches in it. We got just south of Ft. Wayne, Indiana we spotted them. We got their attention, and they pulled over into the next rest area. The kids and I got up into the truck with Jack and my wife and Patches got into the car. Sometimes Patches would drive the truck and Jack and I would drive in the car. We rode all the way to Joplin, Mo, without the kids ever asking "Are we there yet." I have had the pleasure of seeing Jack and Patches in El Paso, Laredo and Harlingen Texas.
We all know that Jack loved to laugh. I think anyone here today if asked could come up with more than one funny story. Sometimes the jokes were at our expense, but they could be and usually were at Jack's expense. It didn't matter to him, he would just let go with that distinctive laugh of his. He would laugh so hard that tears would come to his eyes.
He never tired of hearing the same stories over and over again. When any of us would get together with him, he would always start the conversation with; "tell me about the time," or "do you remember when?"
Jack always had a saying for anything. I always wondered where he got them all. The one that I remember the most is, "Every dog has his day, but a good one will have two." We always sent birthday cards to each other and then we would talk to each other on our birthday. He would always tell me that as soon as he opened his card, he would shake it to see if any money fell out. In December of 1993, on his 50th birthday, I sent a card to him. The front of the card had a dog on it. I wrote in it; "You know that every dog has his day and a good one will have two. I hope your birthday was your second good day. I thought since you turned 50 this year I would go all out and buy your dinner. I think this dollar will cover the cost, enjoy."
When it was my birthday and I received the usual card, I opened it and read the front of the card, and I thought, this card sure looks familiar. Sure enough, Jack sent back the same card. He said "Wally, things are rough here in Joplin, but I didn't want you to think I forgot you. I found this card, I believe it fits you well. Oh By the way, I want you to have this dollar, Love Jack." We have been sending the same card back and forth for almost 12 years.
Last week, I got that card out and read back through the years to see what we had written to each other. There were three things that stood out to me as I read.
One thing was our lament about not getting to spend enough time together. The other two were about his great loves; His family and Jesus.
Patches reminded me last week about how he came to know Jesus. Many years ago, I received salvation and I wanted to share that joy with Jack. I remember a time, that he was racing a stock car in Indiana. I went down to the pits, and was telling him about Jesus. He said "shut up, I don't want to hear it." Not long after that Jack wanted to borrow my chain saw. I said he could use it if he would go to church with me. He said "OK." He and Patches went with me for two weeks. He told Patches that he wanted to be saved, but we didn't have an altar call. The second Sunday I invited Jack and Patches, and the preacher and his family to my house for dinner. After dinner I had the pleasure of seeing Jack accept Jesus as his Lord and Savior in my living room.
When he would call me, he would say; "I haven't heard from you for so long, that I though maybe you were raptured" or he would ask "Are you in the world or are you of the world?" I would respond I am in the world, how about you? He would say; "I'm just passing through".
We would talk for a while then say I love you. Before we hung up the phone, He would always ask me to pray for him and Patches, Pray for my kids and our lost family members. Then he would close with his favorite words from the last chapter of the Book of Revelation. "Even so, come, Lord Jesus".
After all of these years, I believe that Jack had his second good day last Thursday. On that day, I said Jack hold my hand, I am going to walk you down to the river and Jesus is going to take you across. He squeezed my hand hard, and within minuets, he relaxed and was in the presence of Jesus.
I know that Jesus will someday take me across the river to the Promised Land, to visit and laugh with Jack. If any of you ever hope to see him again, and are not saved, you must come to know Jesus as Jack did.
"Even So, come, Lord Jesus"
Jack W. Stevens, 61, of Monroe, Ohio, died on August 4, 2005, at his residence. He was born in Kendallville, Indiana on December 16, 1943 to parents Francis J. and Betty Lavon (Franklin) Stevens.
Jack had been a truck driver since 1962, working for Contract Freighters, and most recently, Roadway.
Mr. Stevens is survived by his wife, Juanita (Glass) Stevens; four children, Brad Stevens, Jason Stevens, Tia Buckland, & Kim Edsall; three stepchildren, Monica Clark, Kimberly Hicks, and Danny Jo McReynolds; brothers & sisters, Betty Lou Hendrix, Walter Stevens, Carolyn Williams, and Kent Stevens; and 18 grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by his parents.
Funeral Service will be held Tuesday, August 9, 2005 at 6:00 PM (Ohio time) at Wilson-Schramm-Spaulding Funeral Home, 3805 Roosevelt Blvd. (State Rt. 122), Middletown, OH 45044, with Pastor Melvin Moore officiating. Private interment will be at North Monroe Cemetery.
Memorial donations may be made to American Cancer Society, 105 McKnight Drive, Middletown, OH 45044.
We gather here today to celebrate the life of Jack Stevens to some of us he is called Husband, Father, Grand Father, Brother or Cousin, but to anyone here today that really knew Jack he was called friend. I called Jack brother, but he was also my best friend.
As you know Jack spent most of his life behind the steering wheel of an 18 wheeler. Dad wanted us to become electricians, but that was not what was in Jack's heart. He loved big rigs. As a child he used to draw pictures of them. So it was no surprise to us, that at the age of 18 he started driving one.
He said that he was a commercial tourist, and I loved to talk to him about his tales of the road. He would tell the tales so vividly, that you thought you were riding in the cab with him, and on several occasions I had that very pleasure. Once my family and I were returning to our home in Texas. I told my kids to keep an eye out for a big red CFI truck with Jack and Patches in it. We got just south of Ft. Wayne, Indiana we spotted them. We got their attention, and they pulled over into the next rest area. The kids and I got up into the truck with Jack and my wife and Patches got into the car. Sometimes Patches would drive the truck and Jack and I would drive in the car. We rode all the way to Joplin, Mo, without the kids ever asking "Are we there yet." I have had the pleasure of seeing Jack and Patches in El Paso, Laredo and Harlingen Texas.
We all know that Jack loved to laugh. I think anyone here today if asked could come up with more than one funny story. Sometimes the jokes were at our expense, but they could be and usually were at Jack's expense. It didn't matter to him, he would just let go with that distinctive laugh of his. He would laugh so hard that tears would come to his eyes.
He never tired of hearing the same stories over and over again. When any of us would get together with him, he would always start the conversation with; "tell me about the time," or "do you remember when?"
Jack always had a saying for anything. I always wondered where he got them all. The one that I remember the most is, "Every dog has his day, but a good one will have two." We always sent birthday cards to each other and then we would talk to each other on our birthday. He would always tell me that as soon as he opened his card, he would shake it to see if any money fell out. In December of 1993, on his 50th birthday, I sent a card to him. The front of the card had a dog on it. I wrote in it; "You know that every dog has his day and a good one will have two. I hope your birthday was your second good day. I thought since you turned 50 this year I would go all out and buy your dinner. I think this dollar will cover the cost, enjoy."
When it was my birthday and I received the usual card, I opened it and read the front of the card, and I thought, this card sure looks familiar. Sure enough, Jack sent back the same card. He said "Wally, things are rough here in Joplin, but I didn't want you to think I forgot you. I found this card, I believe it fits you well. Oh By the way, I want you to have this dollar, Love Jack." We have been sending the same card back and forth for almost 12 years.
Last week, I got that card out and read back through the years to see what we had written to each other. There were three things that stood out to me as I read.
One thing was our lament about not getting to spend enough time together. The other two were about his great loves; His family and Jesus.
Patches reminded me last week about how he came to know Jesus. Many years ago, I received salvation and I wanted to share that joy with Jack. I remember a time, that he was racing a stock car in Indiana. I went down to the pits, and was telling him about Jesus. He said "shut up, I don't want to hear it." Not long after that Jack wanted to borrow my chain saw. I said he could use it if he would go to church with me. He said "OK." He and Patches went with me for two weeks. He told Patches that he wanted to be saved, but we didn't have an altar call. The second Sunday I invited Jack and Patches, and the preacher and his family to my house for dinner. After dinner I had the pleasure of seeing Jack accept Jesus as his Lord and Savior in my living room.
When he would call me, he would say; "I haven't heard from you for so long, that I though maybe you were raptured" or he would ask "Are you in the world or are you of the world?" I would respond I am in the world, how about you? He would say; "I'm just passing through".
We would talk for a while then say I love you. Before we hung up the phone, He would always ask me to pray for him and Patches, Pray for my kids and our lost family members. Then he would close with his favorite words from the last chapter of the Book of Revelation. "Even so, come, Lord Jesus".
After all of these years, I believe that Jack had his second good day last Thursday. On that day, I said Jack hold my hand, I am going to walk you down to the river and Jesus is going to take you across. He squeezed my hand hard, and within minuets, he relaxed and was in the presence of Jesus.
I know that Jesus will someday take me across the river to the Promised Land, to visit and laugh with Jack. If any of you ever hope to see him again, and are not saved, you must come to know Jesus as Jack did.
"Even So, come, Lord Jesus"
Jack W. Stevens, 61, of Monroe, Ohio, died on August 4, 2005, at his residence. He was born in Kendallville, Indiana on December 16, 1943 to parents Francis J. and Betty Lavon (Franklin) Stevens.
Jack had been a truck driver since 1962, working for Contract Freighters, and most recently, Roadway.
Mr. Stevens is survived by his wife, Juanita (Glass) Stevens; four children, Brad Stevens, Jason Stevens, Tia Buckland, & Kim Edsall; three stepchildren, Monica Clark, Kimberly Hicks, and Danny Jo McReynolds; brothers & sisters, Betty Lou Hendrix, Walter Stevens, Carolyn Williams, and Kent Stevens; and 18 grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by his parents.
Funeral Service will be held Tuesday, August 9, 2005 at 6:00 PM (Ohio time) at Wilson-Schramm-Spaulding Funeral Home, 3805 Roosevelt Blvd. (State Rt. 122), Middletown, OH 45044, with Pastor Melvin Moore officiating. Private interment will be at North Monroe Cemetery.
Memorial donations may be made to American Cancer Society, 105 McKnight Drive, Middletown, OH 45044.
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