Monday, October 26, 2020
Eulogy to James Liedberg
Hey Bro,
What do you say to or about a friend of over 50 years? Jim had a remarkable life that few, but his closest family and friends know about. I’m not going to explain that because those reading this who do understand do not need to reminded and those that do not have no need to know.
The Liedberg’s and Bossman’s became family friends in 1969 in Rockford Il. We met at the Charles Street Presbyterian church. Our kids were nearly the same age and played together well. We frequently left the kids at Sunday school and we “poor as church mice” parents went to the Hollywood restaurant to have coffee after church. We both built new houses and became neighbors until the Bossman’s made the move to Indiana. During those 4 years we started a couple card clubs and played thousands of games. Jim was the luckiest card player I ever knew. He was bold and fearless with the deck of 52. We traveled together and It became a lifelong family friendship.
The Bossman’s kept moving East from Illinois to Indiana and then Virginia, but the friendship remained, and we did see each other from time to time and when it happened it was like we were never apart.
Our travel stories are legion. Just a couple to give you some flavor. When you have time ask Carol about the trip to St Maarten in the Caribbean. We unknowingly walked fully dressed into a totally nude beach, were nearly stranded on top of the mountain when a backhoe tipped over on the one lane road and much to Carol’s distress we had chicken for lunch that was grilled on the beach by a less than savory local. We all lived and had a lifetime of memories.
Our boat trips on the Chesapeake were equally memorable with my wife Lori nearly losing a finger and with Jim driving the boat, mistakenly went 5 miles away from the Annapolis hospital instead of toward Annapolis. Thanks to nurse Carol the finger was saved, and Jim talked the Marina into allowing us to stay even thought they had no available boat slips and were full to capacity. Maybe the best trip we had was the one we didn’t take because the hurricane was coming, and we just watched the waves from the shore.
In 2004 Liedberg’s and Bossman’s became neighbors again in Sun City Center Florida. We became snowbirds from Virginia and spent the winters playing cards, thousands of hands of card. First it was Whist, and the ladies couldn’t win, so we switched to 500 and that’s were Jim’s aggressive bidding really made us men the winner. We had a little score card on the rack in Carols kitchen and it became embarrassing how often Jim & I were winning so one winter when we came back the score card was gone. About that time hand and foot became the game of choice and the ladies were much more successful.
Before I got to SCC Jim had started a Tuesday lunch group of a few friends. When I arrived, I was asked to join, and we had lunch every Tuesday for probably 12 years. Sometimes the group grew to 8 or 10 but mostly we could all fit in one car. A lifetime of friendships were developed because of Jim’s Tuesday lunch guys
Jim endured more physical pain than anyone can imagine. But most of it he suffered in silence. My family who knew Jim always remember his big heart, his big smile, and his joy when you were happy. My son in law Steve remembers Jim from his wedding because he always said “I think Jim was as happy at my wedding as I was”
Our kids all grew up and had grandkids. Jim and I would sit by his pool drinking coffee and brag about the kids and grands. He knew what mine were doing and what school they went to and I knew about his. We talked about business and opportunities. I’d tell him about what I was doing, and he was as enthusiastic about an opportunity as I was.
Last week was the last time we saw each other, due to COVID it was probably the longest we hadn’t seen each other in 20 years. While we talked on the phone when we could, it is never the same.
Last week we laughed, and we cried together as we frequently did. We both knew it was nearing the end, but Jim was as enthusiast for life and family as ever. We hugged and gave each other the 3 squeeze handshake that we both knew meant “I love you”.
Well Jimmy, Thanks for these few minutes of memories that will last my lifetime. Jim’s health and circumstances had his life on the edge numerous times. I’ve mentally prepared so many eulogies for Jim I lost count. It’s part of that remarkable life he had. But this time he went to be with his Lord.
Yes Bro I gotya,
David Bossman
Sarasota FL
