Too Soon

Timothy Lee Exner
(November 20, 1959 - May 2, 2012)

I try to keep my posts happy and uplifting, but last night I found myself laying in bed unable to sleep.  There's this saddness that seems to be weighing down on me, so I thought if I wrote about it I would feel better.
On Sunday, April 29th my Uncle Timmy was in an accident on his place.  While shredding, like he's done thousands of time before, a small piece of wire flew up and hit him in the head.  After days of endless praying by literally thousands of people, my Uncle Timmy went to Heaven, on May 2nd (which also happens to be my birthday).  Of course, the last thing I was thinking about on May 2nd was my birthday.  I consider myself a faithful person and a Christian, maybe not the "model Christian", but I try. I really prayed and I really believed that God was going to heal Timmy, no matter what the doctors said.  After all, I believe in miracles, and I had faith that God was going to give us one.  My Uncle Timmy was a good Christian man, he was a good husband and father, he did kind things for other people, he worked in his church, he provided for his family, if their was a benefit/fundraiser/banquet he was there cooking if needed, he was a great story teller, you could never call him lazy, he was always smiling (that Exner smirk), he loved animals, and he had more friends than just about anyone I know.  My Aunt Lisa probably had a big part in providing some of those friendships.  She is the nicest, sweetest person I know, she literally would do anything for anybody.  I think my Aunt Lisa helped make Timmy a better man, he was an Exner and a man afterall so he wasn't perfect, none of us are. I remember when the boys were little Timmy wouldn't let Lisa drive in the rain, he was protective and a worrier like that.  I think Timmy showed his love through his actions, not necessarily his words, another Exner trait.  He was a true cowboy, so maybe not an obvious basketball fan, but he was when it came to his boys.  Not too many other black cowboy hats sitting in the gym, but he was there to cheer his boys on.  Timmy was at the livestock shows, the banquets, the football games, the graduations, the weddings, the funerals, and any other event where his family and friends needed him.  If he wasn't there, it was because he was working cows or helping a friend with a problem.  The last time we were at the house, he was headed to a friends house to help him with a calf, he was that guy.  I remember when my brother and I would go to my grandparents house after school and Timmy would drop by before/after work to see my grandparents.  My MaMaw would light up when he came through the door.  Like a good German mother she had to make sure his belly was full and tell him not to work too hard. I know Timmy had a hundred other things to do, but I know my Mamaw enjoyed seeing him.  Later, when I was working out at the plant everyone who heard my last name wanted to know how I was related to Tim Exner, and they always had nice things to say about him. I think age made him softer and sweeter, because he was great with our Addison.  Of course, it didn't hurt that she loves all the same things he loved.  Going to The Exner Farm, is one of Addison's favorite things.  I think it surprised him that she loved the country life so much, as she has always lived in the city.  My Aunt Lisa has a basket full of animals that Addison likes to play with, many of them were Timmy's when he was a boy.  I remember watching him talk about those animals and light up when Addi was playing with them.  I guess that's one of the things that makes me the saddest.  Timmy would have been an great grandpa.  I hate that he won't know his grandkids and won't be able to share that with Lisa.   Addison is full of questions and talks about Timmy all the time and understands he got hurt bad and is in Heaven.   She always wants to look at pictures of Timmy and talk to him, because she knows he can hear her in Heaven.  The worst is when she cries or when she asks me why everybody has to die. I hate that a three year old has to have these thoughts. 52 years just isn't enough time to do everything, but it seems Timmy lived a full life. I don't know the exact numbers, but over 2,000 people visited the funeral home and over 800 people attended the funeral in the tiny Lutheran church, were my Uncle served as an elder.  I am over half of 52 and I am quite certain that 2,000 people wouldn't mourn my loss.  I think that says alot about the kind of person that Timmy was.  I know my MaMaw greeted Timmy at Heaven's gates with a hug and good meal (German noodles included).