John Pelka March 2, 1945- Aug. 24, 2007

Friendships that go back 35 years and more are rare. I am so blessed to have one of those with my wonderful friends, John and Karen Pelka. I can almost remember that first meeting. We had just moved into Buffalo Grove, Greg was maybe 2 1/2 and Chris not quite one. With the boys in a wagon, I started down our street and met Karen, a cute, outgoing young wife. We struck up a friendship. Karen and John got to know us and soon my sister, Lin and her husband Phil. Lin and Karen's first babies were born within two weeks of each other...

The zillions of stories, the parties, the potato gun, the camping adventures, small groups, John's Harley, the laughs, the memories spanning two marriages for me...all zeroed in, to right now. John entered heaven Friday night, a few minutes before midnight. Most of it is still too tender to even think about writing here. It is John and Karen's story. A great love story; a story that was filled with family, fun, many friends, emotion and a love for Christ, apparent to the end. Cancer, the culprit, seemingly ending this story too soon, but what Karen and I know is there was great rejoicing in heaven as John entered...Lin, Laurie, waving him in. That is a where faith brings peace, beyond understanding.