That was John

Late last night a dear friend passed away.  He would be embarrassed to think that someone would write about him, for John never thought highly of himself.  John was just simply a man who saw a job, did his job, and did it well with a smile. Oh, and he was probably sweating when he did it. That was John.

When I arrived at Unity as a new teacher, he was one of the first people to greet me.  It was a hot August day; John was sweating.  He was probably wearing shorts and a plaid shirt, checking to see that the school was clean and ready to go.  He loved this school.  He gave a big chunk of his life to it. He watched over this school and knew every corner and inch of it.  There probably isn’t a brick in this building that John did not leave his print on it.  But he was like that with people too. That was John.

One place John left his print was with the kids he met.  As a bus driver, he looked out for those kids that needed an extra hello or hug.  He loved kids.  It takes a rare adult to be able to work with high school kids, especially in cleaning, but John did that well.  Friends and family of mine can weave tales of the mischief they would get into with John as a janitor.  It was actually fun to clean with John Gesink. That was John.

John also left his print on the adults he worked with at Unity.  John was kind and helpful.  And if you’ve ever worked with a bunch of sometimes(ok often) whiney, demanding teachers, you have to know what a gift that was.  He was also more than willing to be involved in any sort of prank.  Anyone who worked at Unity will have a tale to tell about John and some mischief.  From being part of the plot to interrupt a class, to punching holes in milk cartons of unsuspecting teachers, to getting people to retell tales of horror, just so he could hear certain words come from a certain teacher’s mouth, John was more than ready to laugh and join in the fun.  And oh did we laugh. That was John.

Outside of school and in his retirement, John was still leaving his mark.  If I ever needed any help, be that branches hauled away, a dryer fixed, or plumbing issues, John would come on over and help and visit.  That was John.  

And then John got cancer.  He fought bravely with the disease, but always seemed to have a sense of peace about it.  He continued to leave his mark as he died with such grace. He made visiting him as he died, easy.  His assurance of God in his life was evident, not only in his death, but throughout his life.  For that is why John did what John did.  He loved the Lord.  He loved the Lord’s people.  That was John.

John will be missed, but not forgotten.  For as he left his prints on every inch of this school, he left those same marks on all those who knew John.  We are far richer people because we had the privilege of being taught by John Gesink.  Instead of being sad today, I have caught myself giggling and retelling tales of John with other faculty.  John gave me that gift too.  Not to be sad in his death, but to rejoice with him because he has seen the Lord.  That was John.