Aug. 13, 1971 – July 27, 2009

Gene Wellenreiter came into my life about six years ago and taught me more about life and living through his death and dying than he will ever know. Gene was diagnosed with cancer on his 37th birthday and never made it to his 38th. He fought a courageous battle with his family and friends by his side through it all. I saw a family pull together, bring him back to the home where he was raised, take care of him, love him and allow him to die where and how he wanted.

He was a man who was full of life and love that was contagious to those around him. He seemed to love everyone and let them know it. My partner and Gene were best friends and spoke just about every day for 25 years, and even though Gene is gone, I see how he continues to touch lives. I watch my partner continue to speak with Gene by writing a letter every now and then as if they were just catching up. I look at the many pictures of Gene and his many friends and he continues to make me smile and thank the Creator that he was able to touch my life.

At Gene’s funeral the minister mentioned just one more thing that stuck with me, the story of “The Dash” – a poem by Linda Ellis. The last stanza reads as such:

So when your eulogy is read With your life’s actions to rehash Would you be proud of the things they say About how you spent your dash?

Gene taught us to live our lives and to never take a second of it for granted, to love, to laugh, to smile. His body may not be with us but his spirit is deep inside. I only hope that everyone can know one person like my friend Gene and how he spent his “dash” touching everyone around him.

Randal Bird Springfield