JOE -- REST IN PEACE

[TruckFump]

Joe died last night. Peacefully. I found him on the floor. I am pretty sure he knew his time was coming. He was 88 years old. Quite a guy. He and his late wife were my neighbors. She died about 5 years ago. Joe's daughter lived and still lives in the snow in Colorado. Joe lived for the last 60 in sunny South Bay, Los Angeles County. All his connections were here and important -- especially long time friends and treating healthcare providers. Moving to Colorado was not an option...and he did not have the income to stay in his home on his own..

I had lived across from Joe and his late wife Pat and just before Pat died and my long-time gentleman friend passed on. Both died from horrendous battles with cancer. I had room in my home and my heart ached for Joe and he came to live with me. What a funny, smart, caring person he was. Smart, really smart. Had a bachelors in Electrical Engineering straight out of HS, then got a masters in math and one in computer science. Started on on a doctorate in math and found half-way through it was a choice of either feeding his then three small children or finishing the doctorate. The children were fed.

Joe for years had been a die-hard Republican. Active in Republican politics. He was in his 80s when he came to live with the biggest liberal in the neighborhood -- me. The last mid-terms? He voted a straight Democratic ticket. It was not me so much that changed him, but his love for Bernie Sanders. Something about Bernie made Joe realize that maybe the Republicans were not such a good thing.

Then Trump happened -- !!! And this was the final straw that brought Joe to re-register as a Democrat. Joe was a gentleman, well-spoken, gracious, honest and giving. Trump made him turn the corner and realize that the Republicans were not the kind of people he wished to support.

LOVE TO YOU, JOE, MY DEAR, DEAR FRIEND, AND MISS YOU WITH ALL MY HEART,

Your Roomie and the cat and dog whose hearts you also owned,.

[Me.]

1. ...

[2naSalit]

2. Sorry for your loss

but also glad that you and he were in a good place until he passed. Peace to you all...

[badhair77]

3. What a lovely tribute.

I’m sure Joe appreciated your help these last few years but it sounds like you benefitted from his friendship also. Your kindness to Joe will continue to be returned to you, I really believe that. I wish you peace as you adjust to life without your “roomie.”

[k8conant]

4. May Joe's memory be eternal!

[CaliforniaPeggy]

5. What a beautiful tribute to your friend Joe!

May he rest in peace. And may you know the peace that comes with doing your best for your friend.

Not everyone, not even very many people would have done what you did. It's an enormous gesture when you take someone into your home. You helped him so much. Take comfort for that generosity, for your love.

[GoneOffShore]

6. A little something in my eye. So sorry for the loss of your friend.

[Laffy Kat]

7. What a sweet post.

He was lucky to have such a good friend.

[sinkingfeeling]

8. I'm very sorry for the loss of your good friend, Joe. May he rest in peace.

[Lunabell]

9. RIP Joe.

Thankfully he had you loving him til his death. I am so sorry for your loss.

[barbtries]

10. sorry for your loss.

sounds as if he went peacefully which is a blessing. thank you for being so good to him.

[klook]

11. Lucky guy to have you as his friend.

May your kindness be returned to you tenfold.

[firstwife]

12. Too sweet, heartbreaking and perfect, all at once.

🙏🏻😘

[democrank]

13. So glad you had each other.

Rest in peace, Joe.

[Hulk]

14. A very kind tribute...

Behind all the awful politics and growing pains in our world today, it is encouraging to read your story and realize that good people surround us.

May he RIP and you and your family find comfort and peace in knowing you were a strong influence in a man’s last years. Bless you both.

[MissMillie]

15. my deepest sympathy for your loss

Thank you for sharing your story. You two were very lucky to have each other

[ZeroSomeBrains]

16. I'm sorry for your loss

Many people are coming to terms with what the republicans have become. I'm glad he was able to change before his death.

[fierywoman]

17. I'm so sorry for your loss.

[irisblue]

18. Joe 🕯️

I am sorry for your loss.

[LoisB]

19. A lovely tribute to Joe (may he Rest In Peace). I am sorry for your loss and glad Joe had a

friend like you.

[malaise]

20. Lovely tribute

[TNNurse]

21. Joe was so very fortunate to have you in his life.

[cp]

22. Here's to Joe!

And to you, for your kindness and friendship.
Your tribute is loving and beautiful. Thank you for sharing with us.

[Power 2 the People]

23. Very touching and offers a ray of hope for all.

Rest in peace Joe.

[mountain grammy]

24. What a heartwarming story.

I’m so sorry for your loss and glad Joe knew you.

[SWBTATTReg]

25. Thanks humbly for sharing your story w/ us at DU, RIP Joe...nt

[japple]

26. Rest in peace, Joe. Bless you, TF, for opening you heart and home to Joe.

and God Bless Us One And All~~~

[Honeycombe8]

27. What a lovely story. Both you and Joe sound like you're good people.

I'm so glad you were able to take him into your home, so he could stay in the area. I agree....moving at that age, leaving your friends, your doctors, everything you know, behind, is very traumatic. Not to mention expensive. You have to get rid of your life, or pay thousands to move the things with you.

Lovely story.

[GreenPartyVoter]

28. I am so sorry for your loss!

[samnsara]

29. You were such a good friend. Thank you for sharing Joe with us.

(((hugs)))

[SallyHemmings]

30. What a wonderful celebration of a loving friendship

[lunatica]

31. You're a wonderful friend to Joe!

That is a beautiful eulogy!

[TruckFump]

32. Thank you, Everyone

I left for a bit to collect myself and I came back and found this warm and loving response to my post about my friend, Joe. Thank you, thank you, thank you. I don't feel alone right now because of all of you stopping by this thread.

BTW: I was the lucky one -- Joe was a wonderful man and to have him as a friend was my privilege.

[gademocrat7]

33. Condolences on the loss of your dear friend.

Take care.

[FakeNoose]

34. Another voice has joined the angels' choir

You've enjoyed Joe's company while he was here, but now he's in a better place. It's hard to say good-bye to your wonderful friend, and he would say "Thanks for your caring friendship" if he could.

This is a sincere tribute to your friend. Thanks for sharing his story.

[blueinredohio]

35. I'm sorry to hear your story but

I thank you for helping someone who needed it. Every time I help someone and they say thank you I tell them that's what us liberals do. We help people when they need it. Thank you again.

[luvtheGWN]

45. What a fine, fine eulogy!

You have indeed "paid it forward" in the most meaningful, kindest way possible.

[Donkees]

36. Peace and Farewell to Joe

[TruckFump]

37. So beautiful. Thank you. EOM

[MrScorpio]

38. Rest in power, Joe.

[MFM008]

39. Goodbye Joe

He was lucky to have you.
Vice versa.
😇

[mgardener]

40. I am sorry for Joe's death

I will remember him and you in my prayers.

I am also sorry for your loss, you wonderful, strong and caring person.

[mnhtnbb]

41. What a lovely tribute to Joe

and I am so very sorry for the loss of your good friend.

[Karadeniz]

42. Crying here

Thanks for caring for Joe on both levels. Thank God for memories.

[denvine]

43. I'm sorry for the loss of your friend!

Rest in peace Joe!

[calimary]

44. Thank you for this story, TruckFump.

It's really touching. Gives one a little hope that heads and hearts can be turned. That was sweet of you you to be there to help him through his last years, and then share his story with us.

[colorado_ufo]

46. Thank you for sharing

If not for you, we would never have known about your wonderful friend, Joe. He had a remarkable heart and an open mind.Two precious qualities!

[Liberty Belle]

47. I'm glad you were able to take your neighbor in and care for him,

And that he passed in peace with no suffering; sounds like a heart attack took him swiftly.

His story is also inspiring that hearts and minds CAN be changed, even in someone elderly who has been probably a life-long conservative.

The Republican party has left so many people behind. An old gentleman like this probably was a Republican in the days of Eisenhower, when the party was still led by honorable people. Nixon was a crook but then Gerald Ford, other than pardoning Nixon, didn't seem like such a bad guy.

Reagan was likeable personally but was the beginning of the disastrous Republican policies that hurt so many people.

By the time the Bushes came along, the party had become very corrupted, and then with Trump it became overtly racist, hateful toward anyone who isn't rich, white and male, blatantly corrupt and conspiring with a foreign power and led by a raving lunatic.

I believe we may be on the verge of seeing the wholesale collapse of the Republican party, which stands for basically nothing good anymore. Unless someone s a die-hard single issue voter such as a gun rights or anti-abortion fanatic, there is simply nothing left to support. Trump is now even mucking up the economy with disastrous trade deals -- the one thing even those who didn't vote for him might have hoped he'd manage to get right, but proved too incompetent even at that.

Let's hope there are many more Joes out there.

Sorry for the loss of your friend, but glad he had you in his old age to care for him.

[blue-wave]

48. Wow! Wonderful eulogy for Joe

Thanks for sharing and making me look for the guilty onions in the room.

[PatrickforO]

49. Rest in peace, Joe, and bless you for taking him in.

Too many people in this country die alone and unloved.

[Raster]

50. Rest in peace, Joe.

[UpInArms]

51. Thank you for sharing

May your world be blessed

[MontanaMama]

52. Safe home Joe....to whatever comes next.

Thanks for sharing your beautiful story. I am very sorry for your loss.

[Different Drummer]

53. Very sorry for your loss, TruckFump!

[CousinIT]

54. I'm SO sorry for the loss of your dear friend.

He sounds wonderful.