We've lost five members of our class* - the first one 25 years ago and the last one 4 months ago.
The first four were through various, horrible accidents. The last one was breast cancer. And although I knew everyone,
I took the latest loss the hardest.
Tammy Muesbeck Batten was one of the sweetest, most energetic, beautiful people I've ever met.
I met her when we moved to Green Bay the summer before we started 6th grade and she was truly a lifelong friend. She
and Karen Jensen paid us a memorable visit to Las Vegas in 1994 - Tammy seemed to forget I wasn't the one on vacation!
And she and Dave squeezed in time to see us when they were back in 2000, two short months before her diagnosis. I grieve for
her every day.
Tammy had a wonderful husband, Dave, a beautiful 17 year old daughter, Krista and not an enemy in
the world. At her funeral there was a 2 1/2 hour wait to get into the funeral home and closed circuit TV in the fellowship
hall of the church because she touched so many lives.
Her pastor told us he got to run the church "when Tammy let me." She was a take charge kind
of gal and I'll always miss her.
This is a poem Dave wrote after her death and was published in the Wisconsin Rapids newspaper.
Death Reminders
Death reminds us how precious life is.
Death reminds us to say I love you everyday.
Death reminds us to "seize the day".
Death reminds us how special our friends are.
Death reminds us to appreciate nature.
Death reminds us the importance of family.
Death reminds us not to sweat the little things.
Death reminds us that we are but grains of sand.
Most importantly, death reminds us of God’s promise.
Hold your loved ones close. Don't forget
monthly exams, ladies. And in Tammy's honor, live life to the fullest. Sweet dreams, Tammy.
*Due to many questions, our fellow classmates who
have passed away are Julie Wauters, Guy Courchane, Linda Crouch and Tom Thyssen.
