Chad was just a year older than me and for a good portion of our childhood we only lived a few miles apart and went to the same school. He and my older brother Matt were like brothers and have remained close all these years. I have spent the day today remembering all the fun times we had together, like climbing trees down by the forbidden river in back of grandma's house, camping with the church group in my grandparents airstream and getting in trouble for giggling and not settling down long after we were sent to bed; finding a walking stick and being filled with wonder at such a unique creature, and so many more good times. When we grew up he went in the army to serve his country and I went off to college. He came to visit me a couple of times over those years when he was home on leave and that meant a lot to me. After Al and I moved back to Michigan, Chad would ride his motorcycle up to Traverse City every couple years, usually unannounced, just to say hi, and would joyfully accept our invitations to stay a night or two for no other reason than just to hang out and catch up on life. Chad did 2 or 3 (maybe more) tours in Saudi Arabi (and I think Iraq) during war time. He saw the worst that humans can be yet never lost his love for people or family or the ability to laugh easily or make jokes, although I know he struggled with PTSD for years afterwards. In my 40th year and his 41st year, he came to visit us and we went to Sleeping Bear Sand Dunes, where we had run down the dunes together as kids. We both stood at the top of that 500ft dune and with not much more than raised eyebrows as our signal, we both went flying down the hill. About 2 hours later, out of breath and thinking we might expire right then and there, we finally made it to the top, and knew we would never do anything so foolish again! He was a good cousin and a friend. He leaves behind a beautiful wife and two boys, one who is following in his footsteps and serving his country in the army. Please say a prayer for them, and his younger brother, who has lost both his dad and mom and now his only sibling in just a few short years. RIP Chad. We love you.
