For Lou Fockele it was a Celebration of Life

Lou Fockele died the other day and we lost a good one. Certainly he made a mark in our community as publisher of a daily newspaper that very thoroughly reported the news in the news columns, and took a stand on the editorial pages, and kept the two separate. Certainly he and Jean made a difference in the many civic activities they promoted. He had served his country in the Navy, and he had served us all in his daily life. But those of us who went to his funeral are pretty well agreed that single event may have been the high point of his career on earth.

We have all heard, all of us who are Christians anyway, that a funeral should be a celebration, and it should be. But somehow funerals rarely, if ever, feel like a celebration. I think it is fair to say that as we went to Lou Fockele's funeral, there was an air of sadness. We had lost a friend. As could be expected, the church was packed. But almost as soon as the service started, one knew this had been carefully planned by Fockele himself, and it was going to be different. It was called "A Service of Celebration for the life of Louis Ray Fockele" and it led off with very appropriate music and Biblical passages. One of the hymns was very familiar to those of us who served in the Navy. It was a meaningful service, but it led unerringly toward celebration. And at the close, it was announced that we should all adjourn to the Parish Hall where, as Lou had instructed, the best caterer had brought in plenty of the best food available, and that the Champagne was being poured, and it was now time to "Let The Good Times Roll."

And that's what happened. It was a homecoming for most of the people who had ever worked for the Times. It was laughter and Lou-stories for all of us. One more time, we sang Auld Lang Syne. And here we are, days later, still laughing and talking about Lou Fockele's funeral. I'm satisfied Lou is pleased. It was a celebration of life.

This is Gordon Sawyer, and may the wind always be at your back.

http://accesswdun.com/article/2002/7/191896