JASON LUNDGREN 1964-2026
I had just got home in between my jobs. I will never forget sitting on my porch as my phone vibrated and the message I received said, "Jason Lundgren has passed away this morning." Those are words you never want to read, especially about someone you have known the majority of your life! Jason was 61 years of age and he will be missed. I have never ever had to deal with seeing a dear friend pass away. It is very weird. I know Jason is no longer suffering and is worshipping his savior in heaven. I wanted this blog to celebrate Jason's life but also to talk about how we deal with a close friend passing away.
I can't pinpoint when I exactly met Jason. It was either at Couriers Camp, Sunday School or Youth Group around 1979 in New York. I was always at church as a teen. At church, a group of us all became good friends including Buddy, Walter, Rich, Jeff, my brother Mike, Jason and myself. None of us drank or partied. To this day I still don't know what to do if I walked into a bar. I was never a part of that scene. It was always our desire to be close to the Lord, to grow in Him and to be faithful at church. We all loved Christian Rock music but most of all we always laughed and had a great time. I have fond memories of hanging out after church at the Villager Diner but also laughing and hanging out in the church parking lot right by Jason's truck after a Wednesday night service. As I got involved in ministry to kids at Smithtown Gospel Tabernacle, Jason joined our Puppet Ministry and also helped me out at our Sunday night Super Church program and our Wednesday night summer King's Kids Club.
To describe Jason in a few words it would have to be "A funny guy who made you laugh but was also a true friend to all." He used to come out with some very funny comments through the years. I still laugh when I think about them. I think he broke a Guiness Book of World Records for being an usher in the most weddings. He was in my wedding party along with my brother Mike's wedding and so many others. I have fond memories of us all going to the movies, going bowling but also playing Trivial Pursuit at either his house or my house. I also have memories going on trips with him, Walter, Mike and Buddy first visiting Buddy in Nashville, TN and also all going to Disney World in Orlando, FL, my first time there! We all also went on our TNT (Twenties and Thirties) retreats at Tuscarora Inn in Pennsylvania as well as going to Action Park and Great Adventure. Jason also had several nicknames including J.C., Guido and Ricky!
As time marched on, we all got older, got married and had many responsibilities. After my wedding I was focused on my marriage, my ministry and having a child 11 months after my wedding date. I did not see Jason a whole lot except after church every once in a while. Life changes and those days of all of us going out after church, going to the movies and going on trips were no longer a thing. Since you have responsibilities, you have to focus on your family, your career and you need to pace yourself. I wish we had Facebook back in 1992 when I got married but the internet was not invented yet. If it was, I would have access to my high school and college friends. Unfortunately, you lose touch with people. I think looking back, I do feel bad that I did lose touch with Jason. It was not on purpose it's just life.
Jason never got to experience marriage, but he was able to save up money and purchase a co-op. He loved his Cadillac and he worked several jobs including one as a Security Guard, When I was driving a limo getting ready to pick up a client, I pulled up to his Security Guard booth at Computer Associates and surprised him. As always, he had a big smile on his face happy to see me. He had a heart of gold and was compassionate towards everyone. I will never forget when his friend Ron's father died, he asked me to officiate at the funeral and burial. He was extremely kind to Ron's family offering to drive his mom and sisters to the burial. I will never forget Ron's mom saying, "There is no one else in the world like Jason." What a great example of demonstrating God's love to a hurting family!
Dealing with Jason's death has been hard. I could not be there at his funeral being that I live 16 plus hours away. That is tough. My heart breaks for his brothers Dean, Robbie and sister Laura. They have all experienced death losing both their parents in the last 7 years or so. I don't know how people deal with death without knowing Jesus as their savior. I often think of myself and when it is time for me to go home to heaven. I know, just like Jason has now, there is a promise for all of us and for me that my reward is in heaven. It is not something I earned or deserve. It is a promise from God when I accepted Jesus into my heart. It makes me happy to know that Jason is no longer suffering. Jason had a dreaded sickness called Huntington's disease that affected his neurological system. He called barely walk and because he could not drive, he would walk to church. When church members offered to drive him, he would decline and it was hard to watch him struggle. He was determined to get to church on his own. The last time I saw Jason before I moved was at a Mexican restaurant in Smithtown. While we were enjoying our meal, I saw a man struggling to walk into the restaurant. I wasn't sure if it was Jason. It's a small restaurant on Maple Ave directly across the street from Jason's home. Before we left, I went over to him to say "Hello" and told him I was moving to Columbia, SC in about a month. He was happy to see me and always had a huge smile on his face. My heart broke to see him struggle even to eat his food. He got up to hug me and I told him, "You don't have to get up" but he insisted. I didn't realize then it would be my last time being face to face with him.
I want to conclude by simply saying we should always be in touch with friends and family and tell them we love them. If you are married, tell your spouse you love them every time you leave the house or before you go to sleep. It might be your last time ever! Life is too short. I want to tell all my friends, family and loved ones "I LOVE YOU" and I certainly miss you all who are in New York as well as my PA family. I love my kids and miss them. Like any of you, I have tried my best to keep in touch with old friends on Facebook and, as you all know, I love to send jokes and play around. There are several things in life that are guaranteed and one of them is death. We don't know when the Good Lord wants to call us home. I know I still have more work to do here on earth but until then, as they say in the movie "Toy Story," "You've got a friend in me." Rest in Peace, Jason! One day we will all be in heaven together laughing and enjoying the presence of God! It won't be at the Villager Diner or by your truck, but it will be at a very amazing place, Heaven!
HAVE A GREAT WEEK EVERYONE!!
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