James "Jimbo" Laufenberg

Remembering you and "Jimbo" in our minds and in our hearts.

A cousins' reunion a number of years back. We shared many memories of the summers we would visit, and loved Jim's antics he would play on his city cousins. Love you always Jim.

Jim, I know that you are in heaven now and watching over us. Can you see how much we all love and miss you? We are all brokenhearted for losing you. I will miss talking to you. We always had such interesting conversations and by the time were done of course we had solved all of the worlds problems. (wink,wink.) We could talk about everything and anything from the books we were reading to current events, politics, aliens, unsolved mysteries and more. In one of our last conversations you told me you wanted to write a book about the problems in the world. I told you that was a great idea and I would love to read it. You always had so many interesting thoughts to share. I want you to know how much I appreciated the years and years of wood deliveries that kept me warm through all of the cold winters. I look at my wood pile now and it makes my heart ache to know that it was the last load of wood to be delivered by your hands. I will miss spending that time with you. We had a lot of good visits when you came to deliver each load of wood. I would always try to bake you some cookies or treats when you came because it would bring a smile to your face. I am going to miss doing that for you. I think I looked forward to baking them as much as you looked forward to eating them. You were my best cookie taste tester. It was nice to have someone who really appreciated them. There will be a sadness in my heart the next time I make cookies - it just won't be the same without you here to have a taste. The very last conversation we has was so heartbreaking. You told me that you felt like God had given up on you. God did not give up on you Jim - you were just so special that he wanted you with him. You told me that you felt like your life was a failure. Nothing about your life was a failure. If it weren't for you I would not have had heat thru the winters. If it weren't for you people would not have had fences to protect their property & livestock. Every time you told a joke you gave someone the gift of laughter. Every kindness you showed was a blessing given. A man's success is not measured by wealth or material objects. A man's success is measured by their integrity and by the size of their hearts. You were a great success Jim - that is why God wanted you with him and why we all miss you now. I just wanted to tell you how very loved you are dear friend and to let you know you will be missed every single day. I will remember you as a good man and a great success. Goodbye my dear sweet friend - until we meet again - and when we do don't worry - I will bring you some cookies. xxxoo

What Jim lacked in timeliness, he more than made up for in hard work and bullish!tting. The last epiphany Jim shared with me is that he wanted to be a rock star. I suspect, as a direct consequence of Jim’s arrival, that Heaven’s choir will not start anytime before noon anytime soon. Jim has kept thousand of cattle and horses safe from harm (and their owners free of fines, penalties and lawsuits as a result of his meticulous fence work. Dennis and Annie

Rest in peace James, thank you for teaching me to drive, chill, and having fabulous times with a few grasshoppers, much love, t.