J Kleeman Photography: My words for John's Service

John R. Temple

Friend, Neighbor, Co-worker, Husband, Uncle, son-in law, brother in law, all around good guy, funny. Loyal, serious – but not too serious, hustler – but in a good way. He had a way when dealing with people which was great to watch and often be a part of. If he was here now he would have his hands at his sides, palms forward and with a smile on his face and say “What?!”

Being in sales and then customer service for the company he heard and said a lot of “Whats!” He would tell me to let life flow around me as it past. He was a trained observer of life and his unique perspective allowed him to be jovial and happy quite often. It also made his style of storytelling, Hilarious. Over the years he had me in stitches at the fence between our yards – very often. He did this at the office too.

On the fence, allowing me to test a new lens.

The fence was our meeting place during the warm months – we would pass office packages back and forth, hob knob with the neighbors and discuss – well you name it. His weekly visits at the office were often entertaining. But when we were busy – he only stopped at my desk briefly – “See you at the fence”, was his good bye!

He and Dan would leave voice recognition messages for each other. It’s the animated Bear in a deep voice acting out your message with his body movement and mouth animation. Again, the dry hilarity of the message with this animation always cracked me up. But that was John.

I have food and local happenings pictures in text from John, he relished the Dinner Club activities. He would gather with a group from the office and go explore restaurants. He was a foodie – he enjoyed Judy’s cooking and often would grill the evening fair under the watchful eye of our dog Emily. He was her favorite – or was it what would fall to her under his watch?

He enjoyed technology. After his heart attack oh 15 years ago – he got a play station. That was added to his computer desk and then connected directly to the computer. He was expert at one of the ATV games, his flight simulator and there was a beach bunker game we tried repeatedly to out due each other at. I know the nieces and nephews had to be treated to the games, my son John was called upon to unlock a level or learn a nuance.

If you sit down in the front room later in the day, he’d pick up the Television remote and adjust the TV or the video and then the lighting… as he watched your face…

He returned to the R/C sport and started fly planes, then helicopters. Now he was a flier for sure and he was what they call a “3D flier.” No hovering for hours to practice. He was an accomplished "All aspect" operator. That came at a cost he was willing to pay – those that have his email already know what I am going to say. Raptorcrasher60. He moved on to these quad copters which come in many sizes – I would return home from work and get a message – practicing in a minute. Then go out to the fence and see him maneuvering this new style of helicopter.

"Hover" shoot, this is the small Quad. Look at those LED Lights!

Last week he lets me fly. John hands me the transmitter and has me fly the small one. At first I do fine. His decision is based on – as he tells me, His house and My car being the two things I can hit easily. So I do well, until I lose control. My only hope is to climb and I do rapidly – higher than I should be. Oh 30 plus feet… he steps to my left shoulder and counsels me to calm down… hover… ease it back down, maneuver here… no don’t land.. head back to the fence with it we have a few more minutes on the batteries. The Supervisor did not want me off the “hook” (horse) until I was calmed down.

The big Quad ran away one day. I had gone to get a Gatorade, I came back out and John and Art were standing there looking at the western sky. What!? The light was dimming and we walked around the corner hoping to see it in a yard or tree no luck.. As we come back to the main street I, spotting a glimmer of green LED about ¼ of a mile away or more, tell John I see it. What Luck! It landed in some ladies back yard – Lit up like a Christmas tree! I saw the glow as she stood by the street hoping “Someone” (we) would come by. And we did! Judy tells the story from her perspective… she steps outside and we are all gone but the transmitter is still there. She watches from a distance as our search crew walks back and I jump in my car and stop only to pick John up and we are off. Great story, good stuff.

It was going to take a little effort to get to the back door.

Many years ago John and I went out – when everyone was told to stay home. It was a blinding snowstorm! We made it to Vernon Hills and checked a few closed stores – it was after all an adventure. They were all closed and the roads were terrible. On our way home part of our route was closed due to police barricades. We were nuts, but here’s where the fun comes in. As we finally make it back to the driveway – a good hour and a half later – we arrive to the garage door moving down as we move up the driveway. On our exit John had hit the button twice. Not only did we have to snow blow the driveway but the garage too!

Look close you can see John waving in the right window!

Judy and I have some great snow stories, with John as the ultimate supervisor. The last real blizzard they were really snowed in. John called to say they had coffee and something to eat… would I like to come over. The winds had howled all night the drifts at the door were 5 feet… “How soon could I be there?” I looked out my kitchen window and said…”45 minutes – I hope the garage door is open” It took me nearly that to get the back door open… once we got the snow blowers running and went from rescue to clean up mode – he called directions to us in the wind and blowing snow! We would give him a thumbs up and a wave – I could not hear what he was saying – but I think we got it right. That’s the picture of him in the window with the snow you may have seen in the slide show. Oh the coffee and the cake were good, just as advertised.

Judy tells me every nite dinner included a small vase and a few roses… on his side of the table. The blooms replaced as they wilted every few days. Really a very small vase. You might not know it, but John was tending to the roses along the west side of the house. Those were his roses. Starting small – almost too small to winter over – they did and have flourished.

John watching over us...

Listening to all the stories last night One comment struck a chord, and it fits. At 67 years old – working from home - flying R/C helicopters – hanging in the pool – having you over - meeting for dinner or taking you to dinner, evenings with Judy…He really was just a "Big Kid."