In case you missed the funeral or wanted another chance to hear from Tucker, I’m attaching a snippet from Tucker’s last wishes and another from the goodbye letter he wrote to his mom.
Before that: our family wants to thank you all from the bottom of our hearts for taking care of Tucker these past two years. Thank you for fixing leaky plumbing, fixing furnaces, fixing roofs, for snowplowing, for funding his dream Florida trip, for donating and raising money for him to live comfortably, for praying, and for bringing frappes and pizza to him during his long hospital stay. We are forever grateful for the way you loved our boy.
Final Wishes in Tucker’s Words
I would like a last call over the radio and would like Kelsey Ayash (Peterson) from Barron County to specifically do it over our fire channel. I’m sure she will say no because I know how much she freaks out doing stuff like that; however, I know she can handle it. Please don’t let the old ladies have a funeral luncheon at the church. Instead, go out to eat somewhere that I would have liked. Make it a celebration/after party of my life— not something morbid with ham sandwiches. Tell the Barron boys to make it like the 100 Ball and shoot at the moon for me. I would also like the Washburn County Dispatch Center named after me. Lastly, I would like the fire department to put up a plaque with my picture on it in the men’s bathroom.
Some of Tucker’s Words to his Mom
Know that I lived my life how I wanted to live it and was always happy. Yeah, bad things happened, but I never tried to let it weigh me down because it is what it is. We can’t change what happens in life, but rather we use the experiences to keep moving forward. Don’t be sad about my death, but rather be happy and keep living and moving forward in life. Stop and enjoy the small things, vacation more, take the long way home, and eat out every chance you get. It’s what I did, and it’s what I want you guys to do as well. Take a family trip down to Cocoa Beach and sit out on the beach. Make sure you bring a cooler of your favorite drink—but if you get drunk, wear sunscreen because the next day will hurt! I implore you guys all to take one trip down there together and remember me that way— sitting in a chair drinking Mike’s Hard Lemonades on the beach. Everything happens for a reason, Ma. I hope my untimely death is for a reason or changes something for someone for the better. We don’t know God’s plan, but there is a plan.
Don’t be sad— I’ll see you on the other side. I hope heaven has a beach and a sun that doesn’t burn.
Love always,
Tucker
