This is topic Jane's brother passes in forum Letterhead/Pinstriper Talk at The Letterville BullBoard.


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Posted by Bill Diaz (Member # 2549) on :
 
Gene (Shorty) Kalkwarf, Jane's older brother & my brother-in-law passed away a few days ago after a sudden and unexpected illness. He passed in a hospital near his winter home in Florida. His remains will be shipped back to Illinois for the burial. What started as an abscessed tooth turned into an infection his body couldn't overcome. He was a vibrant 69 and we are all stunned. He leaves behind a wonderful wife, 3 children and 5 grandchildren.

Shorty was a classic. He had a fun loving and teasing sense of humor that made him likable to all who knew him. He was a very popular stock car racer and his name is known throughout our area. He was also a part time sign painter and he introduced me to 1 Shot and quills when I was just starting out. He loved his family to pieces. He loved to play golf. He made an annual pigrimage to Daytona to watch the races each spring and he was a huge race fan and also a Cub and Bear fan. He was most proud of a grandson who was in the Air Force, because Shorty was a big patriot.

Shorty was also like a part time employee as he helped paint signs for us and also brought a lot of his work to us. He was always in our shop with a project. We designed a lot of signs for him and made graphics for him to apply. He loved cars and has a basement full of Dale Earnhardt memoralbila. He was quite a mechanic and was ambidextrous and could paint signs with both hands. He hummed while he painted -- he liked it so much. He had a unique style of hand lettering and was "old school" about it. I imagine there will be a scramble to perserve some of his work. I know we'll be after some.

Shorty and his 2 sisters, Jane and Joanne grew up on a farm and he spent most of his life working in ag-related businesses in addition to painting signs. His true love was painting signs though and he was always a big fan of our business and helped promote us in his area.

I've got to tell you this one's going to take a while to get over. We will eventually, I know, but right now it's tough especially with the holidays and all. Jane wears her heart on her sleeve and we'll have to smother her extra hard with love to help her cope. Our prayers go out, big time, to Shorty's immediate family who did get to fly down to Florida to be with him in his final days.

I know when the good Lord needs a sign painter, Shorty will respond with all the enthusiasm he always had.
 
Posted by Catharine C. Kennedy (Member # 4459) on :
 
Sounds to have been a slick sort of guy! Prayers and condolences from here to you all-
love-
Cat
 
Posted by Alicia B. Jennings (Member # 1272) on :
 
That's sad to hear. My condolences go out to you.
 
Posted by Bob Rochon (Member # 30) on :
 
Sorry to hear of your loss Bill, I will keep your family in my thoughts and prayers.

Thanks for sharing, that was a wonderful description.
 
Posted by Judy Pate (Member # 237) on :
 
Bill, my condolences go out to you and Jane. Both of you & Shorty's family will be in my thoughts and prayers.
Judy
 
Posted by Rick Beisiegel (Member # 3723) on :
 
Sorry to read of your loss this morning, I actually thought of you guys this past weekend, I was traveling to my sisters place in Naperville.

Someday, when time permits, I'd like to stop by. I really enjoyed meeting you at Jills meet last year.

Take care! [Smile]

[Cool]
 
Posted by Barb. Shortreed (Member # 1730) on :
 
Bill sorry to hear off your loss
Please accept our condolence and give Jane
a hug for us and let her know you all will be in
our thoughts and prayers.
 
Posted by Bob Kaschak (Member # 3146) on :
 
Jane and Bill,

So sorry to hear about your loss.

It's nice to know you have all of those great memories of him.

Some prayers are on the way.

Peace,
Bob
 
Posted by Jane Diaz (Member # 595) on :
 
Some of you who have been to our mini meets might remember my brother. Shorty was 13 years older than me and I really don't remember us living at home together much, other than a few Christmas memories so that makes it even harder. We lived close enough that our families were together alot though and I loved my brother. He just seemed too young to go out so quickly.
He was a big help when Bill was first getting started in the sign business and over the years, really got to enjoy hanging out at our shop and visiting with Bill about sign stuff. Here is a picture of him talking to "Conman" (Steve Connor) while Steve was painting at one of our meets in 2005.
We will miss him stopping by to tease us and just hang out for a bit!

 -

Thank you all for your prayers and just keep us in your thoughts!
 
Posted by jimmy chatham (Member # 525) on :
 
ya'll are in my prayers.
 
Posted by Dana Stanley (Member # 6786) on :
 
Sorry to hear about your loss of Shorty! Both of you and your family are in my prayers.
 
Posted by William Holohan (Member # 2514) on :
 
Bill and Jane,
Very sorry to hear of your loss. Condolences and prayers from an old geezer.
 
Posted by Jillbeans (Member # 1912) on :
 
Please accept my condolences as well.
Shorty sounds like a cool guy, and his passing is tragic.
I have three brothers and couldn't imagine life without them.
Love....Jill
 
Posted by Si Allen (Member # 420) on :
 
Sorry to read of your loss, please accept my condolences.
 
Posted by Donna in BC (Member # 130) on :
 
I'm so very sorry for your loss. Your families are in my thoughts and prayers.
 
Posted by Deb Fowler (Member # 1039) on :
 
Jane and Bill,
To lose someone so special is sad, especially when they are your own family. May you have hope and peace in your hearts and live with the wonderful memories; and I'll be thinking of you as you'll be in my prayers.
 
Posted by Nancie W. Phillips (Member # 3484) on :
 
Oh Jane & Bill... I'm so sorry to hear of your loss! I'll be praying for you and Shorty's family too.
 
Posted by Janette Balogh (Member # 192) on :
 
My heart goes out to you and your family.

~nettie
 
Posted by Jay Allen (Member # 195) on :
 
Ouch. Tough time for that to happen. We're so sorry for you both. He sounded like one of those people we need more of in this world.

May your healing come quickly. Our thoughts and prayers are with you both.

Jay and Jody Allen
 
Posted by Tom & Kathy Durham (Member # 776) on :
 
Jane and Bill, We are so sorry and shocked to hear about Shorty. It is so sad, yet so cool that you guys have such great memories of him ! If he is related to you guys , he must be GREAT!
You are in our thoughts and prayers....
Tom, Kat
 
Posted by Bob Peach (Member # 2620) on :
 
Jane, Bill & family...please accept our condolences.
Our thoughts and prayers are with you.
 
Posted by Bobbie Rochow (Member # 3341) on :
 
I am so sorry to hear this Jane. I am sure you will miss him so much!

I pray the Lord helps to comfort your heart from the hurt you feel.
 
Posted by Dan Antonelli (Member # 86) on :
 
Sorry for your loss -- [Frown]
 
Posted by Kissymatina (Member # 2028) on :
 
Sorry to hear of your loss.
 
Posted by kent moss (Member # 4295) on :
 
Sorry for the loss in your family.
 
Posted by mike meyer (Member # 542) on :
 
Sorry to hear this Jane and family
by the way THANK YOU for the X'mas tree ornament!!!!!

Very nice, I am lucky to know such caring people as the Diaz' family, stay strong Jane...

Mike
 
Posted by Dave Utter (Member # 634) on :
 
Kay and I are deeply saddened by your loss. I remember Shorty from your meets. He always seemed like a heck of a guy. You are in our thoughts and prayers. It is always a bad time of year for anything traumatic to happen. We are truly sorry.
 
Posted by FranCisco Vargas (Member # 145) on :
 
Jane, so sorry to hear about your brother.
 
Posted by Pierre St.Marie (Member # 1462) on :
 
Sincerest condolences from the St.Marie Family, Bill.

Pierre
 
Posted by Dan Sawatzky (Member # 88) on :
 
Thanks for telling us of Shorty. He sounds like a great guy! I'm sure he will be missed greatly.

-grampa dan
 
Posted by Donald Thompson (Member # 3726) on :
 
So sorry to hear of your loss.
 
Posted by Kelly Thorson (Member # 2958) on :
 
My condolences. It sounds like you have lots of great memories to draw on to help you through this. [Group Hug]
 
Posted by Susan Banasky (Member # 1164) on :
 
Jane and family, sorry for your loss.
 
Posted by Duncan Wilkie (Member # 132) on :
 
My heart and my prayers go out to you all.
 


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