‘John was my life’

First of all, thanks to all you wonderful people who sent flowers, donations, food and cards. All of you are the reason that we never ever even considered leaving this town. Nor did four of our children. One daughter and her husband live in Kansas City, following their jobs. But they come “home” a lot.

There are no words to tell you, Phil, what a shock it was, to pick up the Daily Forum, and see our picture on the front page. Then to read it, and hear what Beth Walker, and Rex Wallace, had to say about John, produced a river of happy tears. Your editorial the next day, about our marriage, started the tears all over. These were things neither of us could have imagined.

I always knew how kind and sweet John was, and yes, ornery. He was the one who made our marriage so wonderful; he deserved the credit.

But, I never knew that everyone else looked at him that way.

I met John when I was almost 17. We fell in love on our first date. John had already signed with the National Guard and was to go overseas soon, for four years. We had only been dating for about two months when I got the terrible news from his friend that he was in the hospital, and had to have his hand cut off. He had been in a hurry to get the corn out, and got his hand caught in the picker. It was so crushed the doctor had to amputate. Of course, it was his right hand.

We went through about a year and a half of torture before he finally adjusted to using a hook. It was very challenging, but he never gave up.

Then, on my 19th birthday, Jan. 4, John finally asked me to marry him. If you had your windows open, you would have heard my loud “yes!”

So we have never been apart, only when they discovered my cancer 18 years ago. I was in the hospital 10 days. He was at my side most of the time. That was the beginning of my ongoing battle. He took care of me — I was 24-hour-a-day care — then three more surgeries, then chemo ever since. He taught me how to fight, to live. He took excellent care of me. So now he will have to help me from heaven. One Saturday morning, I had to do a pet scan to see if this chemo is working. So he hugged me, and held my hand, even though, he could not talk, but knew everything going on. He was there for me. Then that Monday morning, God took him. But he was there.

About four years ago, John began his terrible battle with strokes and had to have a trach in his throat. Then eight months ago, they discovered a large tumor. He had to have 22 radiation, and six chemo treatments. He could no longer speak, nor hear, nor swallow. He had a feeding tube and all sorts of machines hooked to him. But he never gave up. Then, the Sunday before Easter, we are sure he had a third stroke. He could hardly walk, and kept falling.

We had to call hospice Easter Sunday, and they quickly made arrangements to move him to Nodaway Nursing Home. We have never been two people; we have been one body. Now half of me has been ripped away. I know he is in heaven with God. So now I must suffer alone, but God gave us five wonderful children and their mates to take care of me. We have 12 grandchildren to love. I know our marriage was made in heaven, so I will have to live with this.

Please send anything funny, or ornery; you can remember about John because daughter, Deb Snyder, is putting together a funny book. Send it to Deb or me.

We will have a visitation from 9 to 11 a.m., followed by an 11 o’clock mass, at St. Gregory’s Church, on July 3. All are welcome!

You are all loved,

Lucille Zimmerman and family