Tag Archives: steve

2 Years

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Steve MeyerSteve,

Hey man, I can’t believe it’s already been two years since you left! I went to visit your spot at the cemetery the other day. It was nice to see that marker which I had not seen yet. Very nice! I should thank your family for that. As you know, I brushed it off, read it, looked around at the trees, the grass and the view and listened to the breeze. It’s a nice spot, don’t you think?

Did you hear what I said to you? I hope so, because its true. You were a good friend to me. I know you lost your way there at the end. I know everything is clear for you now. I still love you and wish you were here.

As you know, the Illinois Republican Party has gone to hell. Boy do we need a house cleaning! I know you know that!

Oh yeah… have you written any good tunes lately? I’ll see you when my time is up. Let’s jam!

Your pal,

Randy

We Laid Steve to Rest

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Today, at 10 AM, we met as a small band of family and friends, to lay the ashes of Steve Meyer to rest. It was a beautiful, cool, end-of-summer day. His remains are buried between two Maple trees in a quiet corner of Concordia Cemetery in River Forest, Illinois. I think Steve would like this spot.

Dr. Ray Pritchard shared some thoughts and memories of Steve. He ended by reading this incredible passage from 1 Thessalonians 4: 13-18.

“Brothers, we do not want you to be ignorant about those who fall asleep, or to grieve like the rest of men, who have no hope. We believe that Jesus died and rose again and so we believe that God will bring with Jesus those who have fallen asleep in him. According to the Lord’s own word, we tell you that we who are still alive, who are left till the coming of the Lord, will certainly not precede those who have fallen asleep. For the Lord himself will come down from heaven, with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet call of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. After that, we who are still alive and are left will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will be with the Lord forever. Therefore encourage each other with these words.”

Robin read a letter to Steve. It was an awesome, from the heart, love letter. There was not a dry eye after that was read. Deb sang “Jesus I am Resting, Resting,” and I accompanied her on guitar. Ray ended with a prayer.

As the crowd broke up, I took a moment to kneel and touch the box containing Steve’s ashes. I prayed and thanked the Lord for making Steve and for his friendship to me. I placed Steve completely in the Lord’s care and said “good-bye,” until we see each other again in Heaven.

I love you, Steve. You will always be with me in my heart and memory. You were a good man and a good friend. I hope that I can be as good of a friend to someone else, as you have been to me.

Wait for me. I will meet you in heaven and I’ll bring my guitar. Can’t wait to see and hear what you’ve been composing!

No more tears.

Sunday Worship Prep

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Today, I am working on our worship service for the Upper Room service tomorrow at Calvary Memorial Church. It is a Communion Sunday, and the first one since Pastor Ray Pritchard has left. It will be weird leading in the midst of all of the pain and hurt I am feeling over the loss of friends, and the turmoils at church. It will also be emotionally difficult because of the loss I feel and my grief over Steve.

DepressionAt right is a painting I did during my “dark” years… entitled: “Depression” — it expresses how I was feeling at a dark time in my life, and reminds me of how I am feeling these days.

Tomorrow, I plan to use a song in worship by Fernando Ortega called “Lord of Eternity.” We also used it during a slide show at Steve’s memorial service on September 19th, 2005.

The lyrics to the chorus are:

Lord of Eternity
Father of Mercy
Look on my fainting soul
Keeper of all the stars
Friend of the poorest heart
Touch me and make me whole

I have made this my own prayer.

The Death of Steve

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Steve Meyer Playing GuitarMy friend Steve Meyer, died on September 14, 2005.

His wife Robin, came home from work and found him in their basement. He had taken his own life.

I was called shortly thereafter, and immediately went to their home. It was an emotionally brutal evening and night. The police were there doing an “investigation.” Later the Medical Examiner’s office came and took Steve’s body to the county morgue in order to perform an autopsy the next day.

All dear Robin could do was keep asking the “Why?” questions, over and over. It was the saddest, heart wrenching scene I have witnessed in recent years.

I met Steve in 1997. He was running for Republican Committeeman for Oak Park Township, in Illinois, where we both live. I helped him with the graphic design of his campaign literature, as well as building him a campaign website. This was very “ahead of the times” back then.

Steve was a very warm and friendly guy. He would give you the shirt off of his back if you needed it. He was a conservative Republican in the style of Ronald Reagan, his political hero. We worked together for many years in local, county and state politics.

Steve and I also shared an interest in music – playing guitar to be specific. Steve loved the Beatles and the blues. I preferred country, folk and rock – but we made it work spending hours “jamming” together.