Today is February 1st, 2008. 
One year ago today we buried you.  
These last few days have been so hard.  I keep thinking back to what I was doing a year ago, at this very moment and I can remember every detail.
     Sunday, January 28th, The day you died.
 I was still on vacation. My long day trying to get home.  Your brothers meeting me at the airport.  I will never forget their faces when they saw me.  They had been greeting people at the house all day and I should have been there.   I was so proud of the way they were being so strong, and I know that none of us had any idea of what we were doing and of what we were going to do.  This was all new to us.  Making funeral arrangements for a 23 year old is unimaginable to most people.  I thought I had to be strong for Sarah and your brothers.  I was your mom and that is my job.  I was screaming inside but I had to do this awful thing and get prepared to bury my son. We wrote your obituary that night.  Stayed up very late talking.  Probably afraid to go to sleep.  
     The next day, Monday
We met at the funeral home and made your arrangements.  We had to pick out your casket and call your friends to ask them to be pall bearers.  We had to go to the cemetary and pick out your final resting place.  Your new home.   There were so many tears.  We had to order flowers.  I can't believe we were able to do these things. 
Tuesday, 
This was the day of the visitation for James.  We went and stood in the long line of visitors.  What a tribute to him.  I met his Mother for the first time.  Also his father.  I am so sorry for them. They suffered the same loss that we did.  He was also their youngest son.  We are forever bonded by this tragedy. Losing our sons in the middle of the night on January 28, 2007.
      Wednesday, 
We saw you for the first time since the accident.  It hurts as much today as it did that day.  I ache for you Travis, as do your brothers. and Sarah.  That was the last time we saw you but I will be forever grateful that we did.  Your visitation was that night.  We stood in line for four hours greeting people.  You made such an impact on so many people.  What a legacy you have left behind.  There were over 600 people at your visitation.  It was so cold and they had people winding in and out of every room in the funeral home. 
      And then the next morning, Thursday, we laid you to rest.  Since that day I visit you almost every day.  I make sure your stone is not dirty and that all of the flowers are where they should be.  You used to visit me everyday, now it is my turn to come and see you.  I know that you are not there, but it is my gift to you.  It is amazing that I remember so many details about that time when I can't remember what I had for lunch yesterday.  These last few days have been really difficult for me.  I thought that your birthday would be hard, and it was, but not like this.  I didn't remember what I did on your last birthday.    
     People keep saying that this was the last of the firsts.  That makes no sense to me.  It only begins the seconds.  This is not something that I will get over.  I am not the same person I was before you died.  My days are all about you.  I take you with me everywhere I go.  I never did that before you died.  I wear your picture around my neck and your baby ring.  I was going to give that to you for your first child.  Now I wear it.   I will never get over losing you.  I will enjoy my life,  my other boys and they're families.  Holidays with them and vacations.  But part of my life is missing and always will be.  That part is you.  
    One year.  It went fast.   I still can't believe that you are not going to walk in my door any minute.  I can still hear your cell phone message.  "This is Travis,  leave a message"
     You will never be forgotten Travis, mostly because you are going to be so hard for anyone to forget.  You have left so many memories for all of us to cherish.  Some of your friends have gotten tattoos with yours and James initials.  You would really enjoy that one.  I hope you knew how very much you were loved.  Now I hope you know how very much you are missed.  This life is just not the same without you.  
     I talk to you all day long and I blow you a kiss every night before I sleep.  This is going to be one long life for me until I see you again.  I hope for you  in heaven it is only a second until you see us, but for me it could be a long time.  I love you Travis, with all my broken heart.   Mom

        

                                

Travis went to Roosevelt Elementary school for Kindergarten through third grades.

We moved to the Heritage Addition in Moline and he went to Butterworth Elementary fourth through sixth grades.  He loved living in heritage.  In fact, at the age of 14 he jumped a bike rack at the school with his bike and caught his front tire on it.  He broke his jaw and knocked out two teeth.  He picked up his teeth, put them in his hat and rode his bike home.  His jaw was wired shut for six weeks.  He formed so many lasting friendships while living there.  Those boys are still his friends today.

He then went to Wilson Middle School for seventh and eighth grades.

He then went to Moline High School for ninth through twelth grades, graduating in 2002.  It was there that he met Sarah Chesling, who was his girlfriend all through school and was now his fiance.  He bought a house in the Heritage Addition and he and Sarah lived there together.

He started working with a work permit at the age of 15 at HyVee grocery store.  He worked there all through his high school years until graduation.

He began an apprenticeship doing drywall finishing and painting.  He apprenticed for three years with Local #502 Tapers and Painters Union.

He was named outstanding Apprentice of the Year in 2004.

He worked for Allied Construction during his apprenticeship and until the time of his death.  He loved his work and was very good at it.  I was told he was one of the best in the business.  He took so much pride in what he did and really did think he was the best.

He was a very loyal friend, and he had many.  If any of you have anything you would like to post about Travis, please do so.  I don't ever want him to be forgotten.  He was such a big part of our life and there is such a void with him not here.  This is a way for us to keep him alive. 

The Funeral Service  

February 1st, 2007 at 10:00 A.M.  
Christ the King Catholic Church
 Moline, Illinois  

Celebrant:   Rev. Don Levitt

Soloist:   Brittany Milefchik

Pallbearers
                                                                       
 Matt Wiseman
Justin Kluck
Shane Ross    
     A.J. Orendorff     
Sean Shannon
Kevin Kluck

Place of Interment
St. Mary's Cemetery, East Moline, Illinois



To the living, I am gone
To the sorrowful, I will never return
To the angry, I was cheated.

But to the happy, I am at peace.
And to the faithful, I have never left.
I cannot speak, but I can listen.
I cannot be seen, but I can be heard.

Remember me in your heart,
In your thoughts and the memories
Of times we loved,
The memories of the times we shared.

For if you always think of me,
I will have never gone.

What would I give if I could say
I'll go and see my son today
To see him now and see him smile
To sit and talk with him awhile
For those of you who have a son,
Love him while you may
For I wish with all my heart
That mine were here today





They say there is a reason,
They say that time will heal,
But neither time nor reason,
Will change the way we feel.
For no one knows the heartache, 
That lies behind our smiles,
No one knows how many times,
We have broken down and cried.
We want to tell you something,
So there won't be any doubt
You're so wonderful to think of,
But so hard to be without.


FOREVER IN OUR HEARTS TRAV

                    

        We little knew that morning
        that God was going to call your name
        In life we loved you dearly
        In death we do the same
        It broke our hearts to lose you,
        You did not go alone
        For part of us went with you,
        the day God called you home.
        You left us peaceful memories,
        your love is still our guide
       And though we cannot see you
       You are always at our side
       Our family chain is broken,
       and nothing seems the same
      But as God calls us one by one
      The chain will link again........