Harold (Hal) Lagerstrom
1928-2004
Hal Lagerstrom was a sports fan from the time he was little and his father took him to the Cubs baseball games. Born in Elgin, Illinois, the Cubs were the nearest team and early on he became an addicted, and frustrated, Cubs fan. While a Bears fan also, that team at least gave him some years of satisfaction.
Hal played baseball and was on a semi-pro baseball team that won the Illinois State tournament two years in a row. When he went to college, he majored in journalism, realizing that at 5’8”, he was not big enough or good enough to participate professionally in sports, but he could write about them. And write about them, he did. For a man of few words unless the subject was sports, Hal was a wonderful sports writer. He could sit in journalistic row, rant and rave over plays, umpires’ decisions, and of course losing, but once his fingers got on the typewriter keys, out came a reasoned, interesting account of what happened and his analysis was always right on the money. How he could write up high school games every day of the week, and make them each sound different, was a marvel to me, but that’s what he did.
Not that he ever thought he was that good. He confided to me, his wife, one day after years of working at the Telegraph-Herald in Dubuque, Iowa, as Sports Editor, that he was always afraid they’d catch on to his scam and make him pay them for working there – instead of paying him.
We met at a state bowling tournament, held in Elgin, while I lived in Chicago. We married in 1956, had two children, Steven in 1959 and Ann in 1961. We now have two grandchildren from our son, Andrew and Liza, who lived in Texas. Our daughter remained in Dubuque while we moved to Wilmington, NC, in 1993 to get away from Iowa winters. We loved it down here and while we miss being close to family, have never regretted the move.
Our friends in Dubuque were mostly connected to sports since that was Hal’s job. After writing his story, he would meet with the sports bunch at a local watering hole, and on and on would go discussions of the game, players and coaches. Hal’s opinion was always highly valued since he was the most knowledgeable and besides everyone wanted to know what was going to appear in the newspaper the next day. When he retired and we moved South a year later, friends remarked that Hal would be lost, not having his admiring audience to dazzle in a new place. But he was not. The stress of putting out a newspaper on time (why didn’t the coach call with the score on the out-of-town game?) had gotten to him. Hal had developed heart trouble and could no longer deal with late night deadlines. He was glad to retire at age 62. He had a heart bypass in Wilmington, 4 years later a heart attack, but the last illness, bladder cancer, is what got him in the end. He fought it for 17 months, the exact length of time the doctor predicted when he was diagnosed, and then brave to the end, Hal died. He was nervous about flying, frightened of water, but death he stared squarely in the face and said that he thought 75 years was a pretty good run and he was grateful for the good things he had in life. He was my husband of 48 years, and one I will never forget.
Donald Wayne Lancaster (Don-Don)
To know him was to love him. To watch him you would’ve thought that he must have never had a bad day in his entire life. He was always smiling. His happiness could be felt by anyone who came near him.
He had an extraordinary, unconditional love for people. He was the type of person who never met a stranger. He was a friend to everybody. He was loyal, honest and trustworthy. He would help anyone in any way that he could, even if it meant giving you his last dollar or the shirt off of his back.
He chose to be an organ donor so that even in his death he could help someone helping to give someone a chance to live and enjoy a happy and normal life. That is just the kind of person that he was.
He was a very loving person. He loved animals, he loved children, but never had any of his own. He loved his family and his friends. He loved life and he loved living it. It never took much to make him happy. He was a very humble and content person. Our family could’ve never imagined life without Donald in it, not until June 2nd, 2004, when our nightmares became our reality.
The accident that claimed his young life was sudden and tragic. We still find it hard to believe that he is really gone – that we will never get to hug him or hear his voice again or to see him smile like he always did. We will never get the chance to tell him just how much we loved him or even to tell him goodbye. But in his heart he knew how much he was loved and that he would be greatly missed. And even though we are no longer blessed with his presence, his legacy will live on in the many wonderful memories of him that we carry in our hearts. My final thought is: that he may be gone, but he is not forgotten and if there were more people in this world like Donald Lancaster, this world would be a much better place for all who live in it.
William Jordan Lassiter, Jr.
William Jordan Lassiter, Jr. was born on October 19, 1939 in Lewiston, North Carolina. He married Mary Elizabeth on April 10, 1965, and they settled in Murfreesboro, North Carolina. This union produced two children, Liz and David. He was a loving and devoted father with a good sense of humor that never failed to bring a smile to your face. He spent much of his life working as a welder and industrial mechanic. He enjoyed spending time with his two grandchildren, Hanna Dunlow and David Lassiter, Jr.
His favorite hobbies were fishing and watching auto racing, whether on television or trackside. Despite a stroke and several heart attacks, he never quit working. It wasn’t until he had to have a pacemaker implanted that he finally had to retire at the age of sixty-two.
Brenna Lee Lawrence
Brenna, our daughter, was taken from us unexpectedly. When we look back on those 24 years we realize what a gift she was.
Brenna was bright. She was a 1997 Page High School (Greensboro, NC) graduate, and 2002 graduate of Catawba College (Salisbury, NC), earning a Bachelor of Science degree in biology with minors in Religion and Philosophy. She graduated as a member of two honor societies: Beta Beta Beta (“Tri Beta”), a national honor and professional society for biology students, of which she was the 2000-2001 president of the Southeastern region; and Phi Epsilon, an honorary scholastic society. She was listed in “Who’s Who Among Students in American Universities and Colleges” in 2000. Brenna served as a valuable member of the College Honor Court and was the History Department’s best all-time work study student. In 2001 she won an award for her senior research project, which she presented at the 62nd annual meeting of the Association of Southeastern Biologists.
Brenna was beautiful inside and out. She was a caring sister. She believed in faith, love and strength. Her faith never faltered, her love was given generously, and the strength she showed is an inspiration to us all. She brought people together. She taught fairness.
We would like to thank the North Carolina Eye Bank for giving us the opportunity to share Brenna with the world and to give the gift of sight.
Brenna
A brilliant light gone too soon
Her extraordinary talents
Must have assumed
For though her star was brief, it was bright
She set a new standard
Let’s inspire to her light
For the greatest gift, pure and true
Was when her light shined on you.
Heather Patterson, 2004
Robert Timothy LawsonTim worked in furniture for about 30 years. He loved to go to the mountains and also take long Sunday drives. He loved watching movies. He loved westerns (John Wayne). We met when we were in the 7th grade. He had a mother, father, stepmother, 1 brother and 1 sister. He would like knowing he helped somebody. We had no children of our own, but had numerous nephews and nieces that he loved dearly. Tim and I just had our 29th anniversary a week before he passed away. We’ve known each other since we were in the 7th grade. So I didn’t just lose a husband, I lost my best friend. I miss you Tim.
Melissa
Cheryl Ann Leonard
Cheryl Ann Leonard was born on May 14, 1982 into this world. She passed away on April 25, 2004 at the age of 21. At the age of 8, Cheryl became very sick with end stage renal failure. She endured pain for 13 years, but she never let it get her down.
Writing about a person you love that has passed away should be easy, but it is not. There are many things to say, but hard to put into words. Cheryl loved life and lived it every day to the fullest. She never took anything for granted. The pain she suffered through the years could not be described in so many words. But never in my life have I seen someone so determined to put her chronic sickness on the side and just enjoy life! It never got her down. She had a sense of excitement about her that brought a smile to everyone she met. She always had a sense of humor and a witty comeback that made her so popular with people of all ages. She was survived by her mother, father, sister, two nephews and many close friends and family who loved her dearly. She was close to her family and they were her world! She wanted everyone to be happy and if they were not, she was the one to put a smile on their face.
Cheryl’s favorite place was the beach. The calming noise of the waves breaking and the beautiful sunset put her in another world like nothing was wrong with her. Just a few words to describe her would be loving, compassionate, funny, and laid back. She was truly a blessing to this world, and I’m sure she taught a lot of people life lessons they will never forget. I just hope someone can enjoy seeing life through her eyes, because I know what they will see will be fulfilling.
Written by Ashley Barker, her best friend
Christopher Michael Lewicki
Christopher Michael Lewicki was better known to his wife of 33 years as “Chrisy”, his two daughters as “Deda” and “Daddy” and to his only grandson as “Din Din.” Daddy was born in Poland, grew up in Israel and then spent his adulthood in the United States. Daddy has always carried many memories with him and shared them with us along the way. Now we have those of him and the ones we shared as a family. Nothing was more important to Daddy than his family. There was never a trip that we all did not go on together or a decision made without everyone’s opinion. He was always there in time of need wherever or whenever as it seemed he knew he was supposed to be there. Daddy worked very hard throughout his lifetime; he was not a quitter; quite the opposite in fact. A fighter until the end.
Although Daddy is no longer physically here, he is mentally. The memories that we all have will stay within us forever and cannot be taken away. He will never be forgotten. If Daddy does have to be remembered for just one thing, let it be that he was the best family man and for all the love he shared with us.
John Limmer
John was 57 years old when he went to be with the Lord. He had diabetes for several years and had a massive stroke on January 2, 2003. It looked as if I was going to lose him at that time, but he survived the stroke. While in the hospital, he developed other complications. He remained in the hospital all of 2003 and struggled to overcome these complications until October 27, 2003. During the summer of 2003, the Lord gave me the words for him to accept the Lord as his Savior.
John was born and raised in Maywood, NJ and graduated from New York Military Academy. He was really proud of his alma mater and served as his class agent.
John was a salesman for Invention Submission Corporation for a number of years. You cannot be a good salesman without being able to sell yourself. John could sure do that. I watched him day after day wrap those nurses, doctors and hospital staff around his finger. Like most people, John had his moments of being difficult, but when he got that grin on his face and that twinkle in his eyes, he had his way. John would try to be tough but he was all heart. It would hurt him so much if he thought that he had hurt your feelings. John was a big man, both in size and in heart. He truly was a big teddy bear.
John was a great oil painter. He painted mostly landscapes, but he could do portraits as well. He did very little painting after I met him in 1999. I asked him once why he wasn’t painting anymore and he told me that he didn’t need anything to fill his time…he had me. He told me that he waited a long time to find me and he didn’t want to miss a minute. John and I were only married for three years, but it was the greatest three years of my life. I am so much richer for having him as my husband.
Glenn Lloyd, Sr.Loved music and God
And family gathering
He has fought a good fight
He has finished the race
He has kept the faith.
Love ya, Glenn
Your wife,
Walinda Lloyd
Jimmy Lockerman
Jimmy was 66 years old when he died of a heart attack getting ready for work on the morning of October 22nd, 2004. He was my husband of 17 years and 20 days. I never for one moment doubted his love for me. In fact, he told me he has loved me since I was 5 years old.
Jimmy was a very honorable man with very deep personal convictions. He was very devoted to his mother (who is 89 now). He was a wonderful, generous and loving Daddy and Granddaddy. He loved fishing and gardening, Duke and the Yankees. He loved traveling and gospel music. He loved Oreo cookies – but hated flying.
He loved his dogs, especially Chunkie and little Buffy. He was very active at church and sang in the choir. Jimmy was a veteran of the U.S. Army National Guard and very proud of this country and President Bush.
Jimmy retired from AT&T after over 30 years of service. (With his retirement money, he bought his mother a new Toyota.) Even with a lot of health problems he returned to the work force and was working for the state of North Carolina and Drivers’ License. He only had 2 bad habits – smoking and cursing.
All I can say is that I loved him with all my heart and I know he loved me. I miss him so – I am so lost without him. It’s awfully hard to sort through all the emptiness and pain but there is some comfort knowing that God only picks the best, and that he died without suffering, nor loss of dignity, and that he has no pain nor worry and most of all he does not have to feel the heartache I’m feeling. Yes, Jimmy left us after giving blood, sweat, tears and laughter for 66 years and even in death, as a donor – he still gives.
Arlene LooseArlene enjoyed spending time with her children and grandchildren. She was a woman who always made time for her friends and family. She loved to travel to many different places and she always loved listening to bluegrass music. Arlene was always there for her friends and family. She was always there for them through the good and bad times. You could always count on her to be there. She will be strongly missed.
