JRandomFreeper (Johnny) died at 4:33 pm, January 22, 2016.

Self | January 22, 2016 | Marcella

[Marcella]

JRandomFreeper (Johnny) died at 4:33 pm, January 22, 2016. He was 54 years old, his last birthday, October 13. 2015. He leaves two sisters, one brother, two daughters and five grandchildren.

Johnny had hundreds (thousands?) of Freeper friends. His posts were sought after and were pithy to the max. He was the ultimate prepper, survivor, agriculture plant grower, electronic expert, and trained chef. If you were in trouble, he was the one you would want with you. He could make something useful out of almost nothing, or out of plain air - air is something - nitrogen, oxygen, argon, carbon dioxide and water vapor - Johnny could do wonders with those.

He was a Ham Operator by the time he was ten years old. Electronics also were child's play for him. He could read Greek and taught his grandchildren Greek. There is a Baby Grand Piano in his house and he could play it well. His art paintings are spread throughout his house. He was a real genius - a down to earth genius.

He loved this country and gave part of his life for it:

He was in the US Air Force, was a trained chef and fed our Air Force abroad and upon getting out, had a job with a company who had a government military contract dealing with electronic security for the military. Then, on 9-11-2001, the towers fell. The next day he reenlisted in the Air Force.

The Air Force sent him to Alaska and he was the cook/chef for the Air Force there. Most people do not know Alaska is a training area for special forces. They deploy from there where there is an emergency in some part of the world - such as Benghazi (except they were not called on that one).

Then, something happened to the communication equipment from that Alaska base and they were cut off, no communication was happening. Sooo, the cook/chef Johnny, being an electronic expert, asked for permission to work on it and he fixed their communication equipment. He got a special commendation from the Air Force for being able to restore their communication. I have seen his military medals and that commendation bar along with the written commendation.

Here is a post, with additions, I made a few weeks ago on the Gardening and Cooking thread, documenting his fight against cancer and our effort to help him:

"So you know what would happen when we went to see him when this cancer hit last January, 2015, and he was told he would be dead by March:

That January, he had brain surgery twice, was taking radiation every day and that was knocking his resistance down, so we bought new electric heaters for various areas in his house so he could stay warm anywhere in the house and most every trip, besides food (and taking him to grocery store when he was able to walk), we took another bottle of Johnny Walker No 9 as he said he used it to kill pain rather than take more Morphine - yeah, sure, that is why he drank it. :o) He has not lost his humor and he loved to have conversation with Bob as they are both brilliant so they could talk "shop" whatever that was. Johnny was always building something in the house and would ask for Bob's help making whatever – one was a helicopter that took up a good part of the kitchen.

After radiation, chemotherapy began. He would get sick, then he would get better. He had spread sheets documenting every food he ate and how many calories each gave him. Every evening I would get a spread sheet from him documenting his progress. Instead of losing weight due to chemo, he gained weight. He would not give up. One time his Morphine did not come in the mail, so we jumped in the car and took him Hydrocodone pain pills to get pain reliever in him until the Morphine got there.

He also loved ganging up with Bob to verbally attack me because I was just a woman who could not know anything. However, one time they were making something and they could not read the small print on the plans and needed to know what that said. It was the woman, me, who could read the small print so I bashed them over the head with the fact they needed me or they were stuck working on that project. :o)

He also was doing art - numerous paintings that were just Johnny's mind, weird as it was/is. The most original one was the lady's head with a big screw going from one side of her head and coming out the other side. That was actually appropriate since the surgeons had put staples and a screw in his head. There is a full length lady nude from the back and it is absolutely beautiful.

He had a joyous time every time we went and so did we. We took him to the VA clinic twice when his brother could not do it. He walked with a tall natural wood round stick to help him keep his balance. Even those trips were fun, no complaining from Johnny.

On his birthday last fall, we took a carrot cake with his name on it, and a huge bottle of Johnnie Walker No. 9. That bottle was so heavy, I had to use both hands to carry it. He had a great time that day eating cake and explaining his latest project.

I have now told you how it was with Johnny through this long period of fighting cancer."

Addition: MomwithHope suggested Freepers sent him cards/small packages for Christmas and those were sent to my house and I delivered many cards and packages to him and his heart was touched Freepers remembered him.

We were there last week and he knew he was dying and we prayed together.

Johnny has left us and he is with God. Heaven will work better with Johnny there. Marcella

[COBOL2Java]

Oh damn! I'm so sorry to hear this!

RIP, FRiend...

[LostInBayport]

I so loved his posts.

RIP

[Mark17]

So sorry to hear this, being a 20 year Air Force vet myself. God rest his soul.

[tflabo]

Wow— I didn’t know /johnny was that ill and near death? He gave me lots of good advice on gardening and jokingly got on your case Marcella for your squirrel-phobia, ehehehe. A hearty thank you to you and Bob for caring for him and all you did. He will be missed and you are his 4 ever true friend— verified.

[DKM]

RIP

[jennychase]

RIP, very sad news.

[Kathy in Alaska]

TAPS

RIP

JRandomFreeper, Johnny, USAF

Air Force Hymn

Lord, guard and guide the men who fly
Through the great spaces of the sky;
Be with them traversing the air
In darkening storms or sunshine fair

Thou who dost keep with tender might
The balanced birds in all their flight
Thou of the tempered winds be near
That, having thee, they know no fear

Control their minds with instinct fit
What time, adventuring, they quit
The firm security of land;
Grant steadfast eye and skilful hand

Aloft in solitudes of space,
Uphold them with Thy saving grace.
O God, protect the men who fly
Thru lonely ways beneath the sky.

[stylecouncilor]

I’m so sorry to hear this.

[catnipman]

OMG, talk about the good dying young :(

[Natty Bumppo@frontier.net]

“A human being should be able to change a diaper, plan an invasion, butcher a hog, conn a ship, design a building, write a sonnet, balance accounts, build a wall, set a bone, comfort the dying, take orders, give orders, cooperate, act alone, solve equations, analyze a new problem, pitch manure, program a computer, cook a tasty meal, fight efficiently, die gallantly. Specialization is for insects.”

- Robert Heinlein, Time Enough for Love

Although he never met him, Robert Heinlein was describing Johnny.

A Patriot, an extremely Competent Man, a good, loyal, and true friend.

It might be a little hectic up there until Johnny improves a few things, but Heaven has a new saint.

[MWestMom]

We have lost a true Renaissance man and American. Heaven is a little more interesting today.

[SoConPubbie]

He was a good man!

God rest his soul!

[SW6906]

RIP. He will be missed.

[Riley]

I’m so sorry.

We traded a friendly repartee, playing off of one another’s quips from time to time- and he was one whose posts I looked for.

The world is a poorer place tonight.

[Scoutmaster]

RIP Johnny. You were and are a loved FReeper.

[Tax-chick]

I’m so sorry. Every time I read a post, I was happy to know he was still with us.

My sympathies to his family.

[DeoVindiceSicSemperTyrannis]

The FR flag is flying at half mast for JRandomFreeper

[hoosierham]

He is going to be missed...typing with teary eyes.
I liked his postings.

Johnny now joins the ranks of Silent Keys as have many fine hams Ive been privileged to know.

We original long-time Freepers are dwindling in number;hopefully we have inspired those younger.

[Fightin Whitey]

He’s been fighting cancer for months. Tooth and nail.

[mumblypeg]

Oh no. He was one FReeper this noob had hoped to meet one day. A real Renaissance man. One of the main characters who made me want to join this motley crew. This is a huge loss.
Thank you, Marcella, for all you’ve done.