Wednesday, September 30, 2020
Our friendship spanned more than 60 years on this journey thru life. Starting in the elementary school years we faced each other playing marbles in the school yard of Edina Morningside at recess where cats eyes and steelies were won and lost in playground games. At Burnsville High School and later at the U of M we were often together at our homes where our mothers both fed us and gave us their motherly advice. We double dated when we could both find a date, we set each other up on dates that seldom worked out, and we even dated the same girls. In college we coordinated our class schedules to allow for card games together at the student union. We shared many of our firsts in life and I came to admire and respect the man for his energy for life, his devotion to family, his compassion for others, his loyalty as a friend, his dedication to his profession, and his fun loving spirit.
His passion for flying convinced me to accompany him on some of his earliest flights as a pilot in some of the coldest weather when he had to get out on the runway and kick the tires of the little airplane to unlock the frozen brakes. In later years we hauled gas for the float plane and put in docks and lifts together. At some point he convinced me to take up flying model airplanes which involved building the models and then trying to fly them without crashing. Often we came home with crash debris that was patched together for our next attempts. We learned and worked together on many projects where usually at some point the laughter would consume us both.
We celebrated life together as only lifelong friends can do because distance and time never diminished our friendship. I take comfort in knowing that you are now at peace in Heaven. My friend you will always be a presence in my life and our friendship will continue now and in Heaven. Tom Eichen
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