Today I will attend the funeral of a friend. I just wanted to pay tribute to his life of service. John Kowalik was a member of TBH although I cannot remember his screen name. What is important is that he spent almost 35 years in public service. He was a paramedic for the City of Wharton for that entire time. He has been the EMS Director for the past 15 years or so. He and I worked together for many years, I as a police officer and he as a paramedic. He was our ERT Teams first Combat Medic, so he and I went through a lot of doors together. This was a job he volunteered for, not one that was assigned. He went through those doors unarmed, except for his trauma bag, and quick wit.
He was a loud mouth, who loved to joke and laugh. He had absolutely no filter and would say things out loud that no one in their right mind would say. He would also do anything for anyone in need. I never knew John to say no.
John was an imperfect person, as we all are. But John was different. He was a person who was truly willing to give someone a second chance. He hired people over my advice. He always said that the City took a chance on him, and he was going to do the same. As a result he has had some people come through his organization who have done a complete 180 in their lives and have turned in to outstanding employees and great human beings.
John just had a huge heart. He wasn't scared to call you out when you messed up, but he would be there for you when you did. I can't even tell you the number of hours I spent in his shop building deer stands and feeders, and listening to him laugh and joke, at my crappy welds. But then he would show me how to do it right. The number of camp fires we sat around. The number of meals we shared.
John deserves to be honored. He deserves to be remembered. I am a better person for having known him. I cannot believe you are gone my friend. Life will never be the same without you.
He was a loud mouth, who loved to joke and laugh. He had absolutely no filter and would say things out loud that no one in their right mind would say. He would also do anything for anyone in need. I never knew John to say no.
John was an imperfect person, as we all are. But John was different. He was a person who was truly willing to give someone a second chance. He hired people over my advice. He always said that the City took a chance on him, and he was going to do the same. As a result he has had some people come through his organization who have done a complete 180 in their lives and have turned in to outstanding employees and great human beings.
John just had a huge heart. He wasn't scared to call you out when you messed up, but he would be there for you when you did. I can't even tell you the number of hours I spent in his shop building deer stands and feeders, and listening to him laugh and joke, at my crappy welds. But then he would show me how to do it right. The number of camp fires we sat around. The number of meals we shared.
John deserves to be honored. He deserves to be remembered. I am a better person for having known him. I cannot believe you are gone my friend. Life will never be the same without you.
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