Catching me offguard... / Sammy (friend)
Tanner It's been a while since I've visited this website but you haven't left my thoughts and prayers. I think of you every time I drive down one stretch of Hwy 12 (every day) every time I see camo every time I watch the news every time my phone rings every time I wake up and my heart is beating I think of you all of the time. Recently I've been so busy with school and work that I think I've settled your ongoing presence in the back of my mind. I was becoming less saddened each time I thought of you and more accepting. But tonight coming to this website and hearing that song is not tugging but yanking on my heartstrings and it really hit me hard. I miss you so much and I hope you know nothing will ever fill the void you've left. I have a new spot for you in my heart as your life goes on off of this Earth but nobody will ever be able to fill the spot you held down here with us. Hope Heaven's being wonderful to you you deserve it more than anything. Miss you and love you so much Tanner! xoxo Sammy Close
Chad Mel Dad and I went to see Jeremy & Lacy this weekend. From there we went to St. Louis to a Brewer game. It was a really nice weekend. I know you couldn't there physically but you were in our hearts. It was kinda neat knowing that you had been to St. Louis before.
Saturday night we went to the Taste of St. Louis and watched a band preform. While we were there Dad saw a young man that resembled you alot. It was kind of hard seeing him. It made me miss you even more (if that is possible). He was built like you dressed like you wore his hat like you his hair from the back was alittle longer but otherwise it was like looking at you. I did not see him straight on but profile and from the back it was you. I wanted to give him a big hug. "I wanted to give YOU a big hug.
That night we all shared a room. I finally had my dream that I got a hug and an 'I love you' from you and a kiss on the cheek too. I think Dad Chad and Jeremy have all had a dream where they got a hug and a 'don't worry about me I'm fine'. I have wanted that dream for along time. It was bittersweet I didn't want you to leave!! You had a huge smile on you face the whole time so I know you are happy! It was special that I had the dream while we were all together. I thank God for the dream and for sharing you.
Tanner you would have been amazed at all the people that came to remember you Saturday. 'Lil Bill organized a golf outing with the help of Ryan & Tommy that alone was a big sucess. The weather cooperated for the whole day.
Greg Dave Morgan and Leah put together the rest of the benefit and did a great job. We are glad you have such wonderful friends you will never be forgotten. Things like this let us know that you live on in the hearts of alot of people.
Thank-you to everyone that golfed donated and attended any part of the day. It means more to us than any of you could ever know. I know we will never forget but it is so nice to know that others haven't forgotten either. I know that schedules are always hectic and there are a zillion other thing going on.
For all of you that had to travel or take time off of work to be there Thank-you!!! I love you all and appreciate you from the bottom of my heart. I wouldn't have made it this far without you.
We all miss you Tanner and I know if you could we would be getting bear hugs Tanner style. I think more than just me misses them! We love you Tanner. Forever in our hearts!
I cleaned your bedroom out two weekends ago(keeping most of it) it was an emotional journey and kinda like saying goodbye all over again. You may not be here physcially but you are always on our minds and in our hearts. Everywhere we turn there are reminders of you. Sometimes when we talk about you I can actually smile & laugh again it doesn't mean I don't still miss you like crazy and wish you were here!! It amazes me how others have not forgotten you either. I'm thankful!!!
Your memorial benefit will be on the 26 of this month at the North Freedom Park. I think you would like the things your friends are doing with the money. From scholarships to helping out the boys & girls club.
I wish you could have been here to see Jeremy & Lacy get married. I cashed in your change from your bedroom and got them a camera from you. Lacy said she took a ton of honeymoon pictures with it.
Presley is really starting to talk alot. You would have a blast with her.
Dad & Chad have been working at the Arguement alot getting it ready for hunting season. I'm sure they miss you being there with them.
Wedding and Birthday / Jeremy And Lacy Zimmerman (Brother/Sister-in-La-w)Read >>
Wedding and Birthday / Jeremy And Lacy Zimmerman (Brother/Sister-in-La-w)
Hey Tanner,
We are back from our honeymoon and wanted to wish you a Happy Birthday! We certainly missed you on our wedding day, but we are certain that you know how much you were thought of. That never stops. We will be sure to have a Pabst for you tonight....maybe a couple! Happy Birthday.
It's your 26th birthday. I wonder if they celebrate your earthly birthday in heaven? We took flowers and balloons to the cemetery and the crash site this morning. We put the 'You are special today' plate at the cemetery too. You and your brothers are special everyday, I should of had three of those plates and you could have eaten off them everyday.
Everyday is hard knowing that you are not here, but some days are worse than others. Like feeling you should be here to celebrate your birthday. Many days are bitter sweet, like seeing Jeremy and Lacy get married without you here. Their wedding was beautiful, you would have had a blast. They didn't leave you out, you were an honorary groomsman and you were always on our minds. Two sisters-in-law, imagine that. I'm sure they miss your wet, sloppy, dip kisses.
Dave and Steph are getting married next weekend, Adam & Cathy will be getting married In August 2010, and J.T. and Kyla are engaged. It makes me wonder, would you be engaged?, married?, babies?, would your house be finished? or still breaking me in slowly? Like the song says," Who'd you be today???".
You are always on our minds and in our hearts. You will not be forgotten. We love you Tanner!!
Tanner, The candlelite memorial at the cemetery on the 17th was very nice. We were amazed at how many people came. It just reassures us how special you were to so many people. Thank-you to all who took time out of your busy lives to join us.
Not a minute of the day goes by that you are not in our thoughts ,and always in our hearts. Sometimes I feel guilty if I'm having a good time and not feeling completely sad. I think, 'how can I keep going when one of my boys is not still here to share our lives?'. I know that you are in heaven and are completely happy being there. It is a hard concept to comprehend. But I am thankful to have that knowledge. I also know you would be saying " Don't worry 'bout me mama, I'm fine".
Less than 2 months until Jeremy and Lacy get married. Mel & I had a shower for Lacy last weekend. What a house full of women.
You are so missed Tanner. We love you. Sometimes I ask God to give you a hug and tell you we love you. I hope your getting them.
The song that makes me think of you Tanner. / Sammy (friend (his younger crush ;)) )Read >>
The song that makes me think of you Tanner. / Sammy (friend (his younger crush ;)) )
Tonight driving home from the cemetary was a little strange tonight. I didn't seem to notice the cars drive by as much and everything just seemed very streamlined. It was like I was driving through a tunnel in slow motion. All I could think about was the time we were at Stormy's and you made me touch that deer's tongue. I was disgusted but, at the same time, I was infatuated with you so if you would have told me to jump in the pond with all of the gross fish I would have done it in a heartbeat. So I'm still driving down the highway and I turned to some random track on a CD I haven't listened to in a long time, and the song came on that always makes me think of you. It makes me think about how much I miss you and how nothing is fair, but it's the way it is and has to be. I know it's kind of corny and very middle schoolish, but no matter what, it will always make me think of you, your wonderful hugs, your great big smiles, and your clever pick up lines. :) I miss you Tanner, I always will. xoxo
I swear that I can go on forever again Please let me know that my one bad day will end I will go down as your lover, your friend Give me your lips and with one kiss we begin
Are you afraid of being alone Cause I am, I'm lost without you Are you afraid of leaving tonight Cause I am, I'm lost without you
I'll leave my room open till sunrise for you I'll keep my eyes patienty focused on you Where are you now, I can hear footsteps, I'm dreaming And if you will, keep me from waking to believe this
Are you afraid of being alone Cause I am, I'm lost without you Are you afraid of leaving tonight Cause I am, I'm lost without you
Miss you Tanner, you are forever in my thoughts, my dreams, and my heart. xoxo -sammy
It's been 2 years.... / Kari Marquardt (friend)Read >>
It's been 2 years.... / Kari Marquardt (friend)
Tanner~
I can't be at the cemetery tonight for lighting your candles, so I'll let one for you on here. It's been two years ago today when you were taken from us, but we are still thinking of you. Today and always. Miss you buddy.
Tanner, we stayed for the first night in the new house on Saturday. It was a different feeling. I'm sure with time it will feel like home. I wish you could see it. We hung your picture above the stairway, it looks really nice there. Dad thinks your smile looks bigger and your happy we have the new house.
Remember how we always left the light on above the kitchen sink for you and your brothers when you would come in late? We still left that light on everyday & night.We turned the light on above the new kitchen sink, it will stay on always. Sunday morning the light was still on at the old house. When I got up Monday morning the light had burned out at the old house. Maybe it is a little sign from God letting us know it's okay to leave the old house and move our memories up the hill. It will be a while before all of those memories are completely moved in.
A month from today will be two years. Does it seem like along time from a heavenly perspective? Sometimes it seems like it has been FOREVER since we last saw you, but yet time keeps going so fast. Not a minute of the day goes by that you are not somewhere in our thoughts, and always in our hearts.
We love you and miss you Tanner. I thank God for having been able to have you as part of our family and for the gift that we will see you again someday. We will leave the light on. Love, Mom
3 1/2 year old PBR / Stacy Medina
So I was home last weekend for about 26 hours for Samanthas 15th birthday (yea, she's that old) and I went to down into my room (which my mom repainted tan... when anyone would want a tan room over an orange room is beyond me) and I noticed that my PBR was missing so I had to put it back on the shelf where it belongs and it reminded me of the night you put it there.... Mom and dad were having their open house and you and I were driving around on the gator and talking and you kept trying to get me to drink it but being the brat I was I wouldn't drink beer at that time and especially not PBR. Well anyway Jenna and I were going out for Halloween that night so before we left you came down in my room and set it there "just incase" I wanted it later... which never happened. It's still sitting there because even though I drink beer now I will not drink that stuff. It'll probably be there forever... love and miss you Shmanner. Close
Well Tanner, the new house is almost ready to move into. It is such a bittersweet emotion. Who ever would have thought I'd have a new house? There are so many memories in that old house. 31 years is a long time. The only house you boys ever lived in growing up.
Jeremy and Lacy will be home tonight. They haven't seen the house for a while. Chad and Mel love it. The only thing missing is you! That's the hard part. Presley will be a year old tomorrow. She is a true joy. She makes us smile. You would love her, she knows your picture and touches your face.
Jeremy & Lacy's wedding plans are all coming together. 4 months from today they will be Mr. & Mrs. There are so many things I wish you could be a part of. I know you will be there in all of our hearts.
We all miss you and love you more than you know. I miss your hugs Tanner. Love, Mom
Hey Tanner-man! It's our first Christmas in your house. We got an extra tall Christmas tree just for you. It's Christmas Eve and we're all feeling very lonely and sad without you. It's our first Christmas with Presley and I know it's supposed to be fun, but there still seems to be something missing. I know it's you. I would do anything to have you back, so our family can be back to normal and the holidays could be fun again. We all miss you sooo much...especially your parents!! I know you're looking down on us from heaven. Keep us all safe. We love you!!
Close to my heart. / Michelle Henke (Cousin)Read >>
Close to my heart. / Michelle Henke (Cousin)
Tanner-
We all miss you so much. It still does not seem real that you are gone. There are so many things that make me think about you. I hope you know how many lives you touched. Little Kenzie Johnson wanted to marry you so bad. Both young and old you touched every person that you met.
I still think that maybe someday I will drive by CJ's and you will have the Specher Plumbing truck parked outside and I walk in and there you are. Every time I see a Sprecher truck I look at who is driving and hope to see you with your arm out the window smoking a cigarette and talking on the cell phone. Or when I drive by your house I look to see if there is smoke coming out of the garage thinking maybe you are having a few friends over. It is hard to tell myself that these are memories of you that I need to keep close to my heart. But the hardest part is accepting that they are only memories and that none of that will ever happen again. You never realize how those little memories mean so much.
There are so many memories about you that make me laugh and cry at the same time. Like the time at Grandma's house at Christmas when I was pregnant with Faith and you told me that I was getting fat. And the time that you came over to the house when I was pregnant and was not feeling well. I probably looked terrible cause the look on your face was priceless. You said to me, "You are not going to have the baby right now, are you?!" I just laughed. I could go on and on with stories. Like all of us.
Well, you would be so proud of me. I took the Hunter Safety Course and got 100% on my test by the way. I am hoping to get a big buck this year, but it will not be the same to not be able to share that with you. I know you would give me a big hug. Man I miss that just like everyone else does.
I had the pleasure of meeting Ron's mom the other day. What a wonderful lady. It was the day after his birthday and she was having a hard time. Just like us some days are harder than others.
Please continue to look over us and know that even though you are gone you are always in our thoughts and close to our hearts. Your memories will never be forgotten.
Hey Tanner-man!! Your parents are feeling pretty gloomy today. I wish you were here to give them a big smile and hug. Chad went hunting for the first time this season today. I think your Dad is sad cause he knows you would have been out there too.
So much has happened since you've been gone. Presley is growing up sooo fast! She's absolutely adorable! I know you would have spoiled her rotten. Your parents already are (no surprise there)!! Your house is almost finished. We're moving in on Friday. We had to modify it a bit...Sorry...we had to add on for another bedroom and your kitchen was just too small for me. Otherwise we kept a lot of other things you were going to do. We put french doors into the master bedroom and block glass in the bathroom shower. It all looks awesome. We can't wait to be in there. This christmas we'll get a huge christmas tree in the living room just for you!
We all miss you so much and wish we didn't have to live our lives without you in them!! Someday we'll see you again. Keep looking over all of us. Love you Tanner! ~MEL & Presley
On my way to work this morning I was listening to my iPod when Summer of '69 came on...the unplugged version...the one you always used to play at CeJoy's when I worked. It made me remember how you always used to stay and help me clean the bar. You knew how much it creeped me out, to be in there by myself, so I always used to beg you to stay and keep me company...which you always did. There was even one time when you and Jimmy were in there, and at bar time you guys were walking to the truck when Jimmy saw someone run in between the bar and the old bank building...he told you to get back inside and stay with me to make sure nothing happened. Again, you did. You always watched out for me while you were here, and for that I'll forever be greatful. I hope that you still watch over me...now from above.
P.S. This past weekend at your memorial Lani kept telling me that she still is going to be a "firefighter just like Tanner" when she grows up. You must hold a pretty special place in that little girl's heart. We will all try and make sure she knows just how special you were to all of us. We miss you!
A year has pased since you left us. Our hearts still ache with sadness and silent tears still flow. Your room is still a mess and a stack of your clean clothes is still on the dryer. Everywhere we turn there are daily reminders of you. We are thankful for every reminder and memory we have of you. I wish we had more than just memories. I wish we had you! I come here at least once a day, sometimes twice, I always seems to be looking for a connection to you. You live on in the hearts and thoughts of all of us.
Chad and Melanie are buying your house and plan to leave much of it the way you would have done it. Jeremy bought your truck and has your favorite gun. We remember all the little things and we all miss you more than words could ever express. There are so many things that I would like to ask you or tell you. Did you feel any pain?Did you know know it was going to be bad? What were your last thoughts? Do you know how much we all love you? Do you know how much we all miss you? Is heaven as beautiful as we have been taught? I hope it is even more glorius than we can imagine. We hold on to the fact that we will see you again someday.
Baby Presley has been a bright spot for us, you would love her. At this point she looks like Chad, has Melanie's eyes, and has a beautiful smile.
We love you and miss you. Sing with the angels Tanner<3
Thanks for visiting / Sammy Lick (friend)
Hey Tanner, I had a dream about you two nights ago. It was so real. I know you were there with me. It was so hard waking up and realizing that none of it really happened. Shannon told me you were visiting me, so thank you. I miss you bud. You're welcome to come into my dreams anytime, please. See you later Tanner. Still miss you. Close
Thought of you a lot today / Sammy Lick (friend)Read >>
Thought of you a lot today / Sammy Lick (friend)
I met Edna today, Ron's mom. She's a sweetheart. We were both at the blood drive tonight in Sauk. It really made me think of you a lot. Hope you're doing well up there. We definitely still miss you just as much as ever. See you later, miss you still... Close
I Am Thankful / Mom
I am thankful God chose us to be your parents. I am thankful for the 23 years our family was blessed with you. I'm thankful that you, Chad and Jeremy were more than brothers, you were friends. I remember how happy it made you when they would invite to go Winona or Stevens Point, or ask you to play a softball tournament with them, or shoot bow or go boating. When you were little you wanted to do everything they did. I am thankful that I know you believed in Jesus as your Savior. I am thankful we had that conversation confirming that just 2 weeks before you were gone. I am thankful for our morning routine, your I love you, have a good day. I am thankful you were not afraid to show your feelings. I am thankful you had so many friends. I am thankful you were so loved. It is so hard to count our blessings when our whole world has been torn apart and nothing seems the same. I know I was always saying 'Everything happens for a reason, we may not like it or understand it, but God has a plan.' I don't like it and I don't understand it ,but God does have a plan. I Am Thankful I was blessed with You, I love you Tanner. Close
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