Joe Foster Luther

Joe Luther was a very kind person who was loved by all.

i took these peices from his website, as an example of what people thought of him

my dad was a kind man who loved his familly, especially his children more then anything else. this was from my dad website and written by my grandma marylin. "The most life changing event of Joe's life occurred 3 years later when their daughter was born. He called me from the hospital, totally euphoric, and said, "Mom! I finally know why I am here on earth! I'm here to take care of this little baby!" He had found his calling. This began the happiest and most fullfilling period of his life, in spite of the illness that would follow"

- emily

Well this is Eli and I just can't believe it has already been five years since my father died.It is amazing how long it already has been.But sadly we all know there is know changing the past.I can still remember that night at the hospital in Houston,Texas.

My dad was a great father to me,my brother Jacob,my sister Emily and I am pretty sure he was a good husband to my mother Jenniffer.

My father had many people who cared about him very,very much.

Including many of our friends in Houstin and Pasadena,Texas.

For our father's fifth anniversery since he died we are probably gonna go to the movie theatre and have a barbeque at our house and we plan on having shishkabobs,which are long toothpicks with numerous kind of meat and other food on it.

My father liked them very much as from what I can remember.

The main reason we are having a barbeque or going to the movies is because,we always had barbeques in Houston,Texas and everybody loved them especially my father.

And the reason for the movies is simple,he liked the movies in the theatre or at home.

I'm sure many people are still affected by my fathers death.

We are all still very affected by my fathers death.

I am sure many people know that all of their lives would be very differrent if my father had not passed away when he did.

I still miss my father and think abou him every day.

I miss him very much and always will.

-eli

t's been a while since I last visited Joe's site and I have enjoyed reading the comments from his friends and family.

Joe and I had been friends for such a long time and I really miss him. Joe always wanted me to have kids, he always said that I would be a great mom. Well, I finally did have a little boy this past August. He's beautiful and I know that Joe would have loved him very much.

The reason that I'm writing today is that Joe is always on my mind, but he's never come to see me yet. I can always feel him just around the corner, but... On the morning of St. Patrick's day, March 17th, I had the strangest dream. In my dream, my son was fussing so I got up to check on him. When I came into his room I could see Joe standing over his crib talking to him. My son was just looking up at him and Joe was smiling down on him. Joe then looked up at me (he was a younger Joe, with floppy hat and all) and smiled that big ole grin that he always had for me. Just then, my son woke me up for real. It just seemed like the strangest dream to me till I rounded the corner into his room. You know, Joe was still standing over his crib when I came into the room. I could feel him. It was like he came to bless us and let us know that my son would always have one of the kindest of guardian angels.

I miss you Joe and I'm glad that you're watching over my son.

May the sun be shining on you, the wind blowing through your hair, and beautiful music be coursing through your veins.

Love always,

Jenny Junemann

Just a little note to let you know how much I miss you. And since your little family has been living with me and Grampa for the last year and a half, I have heard from them on too many occasions how much they miss you, and how much they love you. I have also heard this from your wife Jenny. Its hard for me to try and comfort them, I try the best I can to tell them that your OK and your up in heaven watching down on them. I seen the kids cry because they miss you so much, again, they know you are up there watching over them and that makes things a lot better.

So Joe, know that I love you and I miss you, I wish you were still here with us, weather here is getting real cool, winter is comming! Your family hates it here.

I Love You Joe,Hugs and Kisses to you!!

Nancy

Everyday, I think of you still, whether it is "What would Joe think of this?" or "What would Joe do in this situation?" or thinking about how our conversations would go when we were talking about the news, or the kids or the weather or aliens!! I miss you deeply and realize now that a relationship like ours isn't easily replaced. I miss your companionship, your wisdom, your advice, your friendship, I didn't know how hard it would be without you, or that it would get harder, not easier to go on without you.

Every time I see another baby born, I think of how happy that would make you. I am sure you know that Elaine is having a baby this week, Dogman and Carrie have their little Akira, Allison and Allan have little Lillith, Rick and Ericka and little Amani, Donna P. had a baby on all saints day and named him Joe,(I really love that)...Katie and John are having a baby in September. I am so very happy for them, and I know you are too.

Jake says that he beat the level on Diablo, (level 15 and 16)

Eli says he loves you very much and that you were so comfy, especially your fuzzy, wuzzy, buzzy, bunny beard...

Well I do too, and so much more...I saw a Hank Williams Show last week, it was a play, reenacting his last show, right before he died, he was only 29.,....there were a lot of paralells, and I thought of you the whole time, I know you were there with me, how could you miss it?! It was a great time, and I could hear you singing along, see you dancing in our kitchen, talking with your hands. "Theres a tear in my beer" :)

I love you, miss you and wish I could talk to you . kisses....

-jen

my dad was nice loving caring and i loved watching him on Diabllo, which was his favorite computer game. He was the best at it, and taught me how to play.He really helped me out on Diabllo He was the best cook ever and my Mama, Jake, Emily and I miss him very much.

I love him very much.....

PS- Dear Daddy,

How are the clouds? Are they comfy? I had a little hair cut, and I am doing good in school. I am in Cub Scouts and I play basketball at the YMCA. Do you have a computer up there? and how good are you doing on Diabllo? We like the snow where we live, it is very fun , although cold.,....,,

bye bye, I love you my big Tappy-time

love, your son, Elijah!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I thought as time passed I would feel less sad and lonely from this huge hole in my heart. Over a year has passed and my heart is still breaking. /I try to live by your example I just can't figure out how you managed to multiply your love and time instead of deviding it. I love the way you would always step away from every situation and analyze it all so rationally. (a far cry from the way I deal with most situations) Not only your situations but many a time helping me find my way out of my life's wackiness, the way you really cared about me and my family. I will treasure our friendship forever. When I think of a funny joke I wish I could tell you I laugh because I know you would laugh. When I hear crooked politicians say absurd things I get outraged and am inspired to take a stand

When I watch my sweet angels sleeping I want to wake them up and have one more moment. I hear you say "Let sleeping babes lay"

When I watch the storm come in I smile and can feel you smile.

When I think of how much I miss you I cry....I don't think I've never been so sad in all my life./ I love and miss you Joe

-star

Hey Joe - I am truly sorry we never got the chance to meet you. We met your wonderful wife and delightful children shortly after your passing. Jennifer is one of kindest souls I've encountered and is an extremely capable Mom. My daughter, Destiny and Emily had become good friends and I wish they had more time together. Eli and Jake are quite the pair and so full of joyful energy. We miss them a great deal here in Houston.

love,

David, August & Destiny.

Those we love never, ever leave us, for they are in our hearts and in our minds forever.

We love you Jen, Emily, Jake and Elijah and we are thinking and praying for you as well as for all of Joe's family. We know he is with you every day, watching over you and loving you, sharing each day with you. Joe lives on through each of you.

God bless you all.

-alan renata morgan ellie

well JOE ITS BEEN A YEAR .THAT SHOULD HAVE GIVEN YOU ENOUGH TIME TO GET US ALL TICKETS (OR AT LEAST A WAY TO SNEAK IN )TO THE CELESTIAL CONCERTS!SO WHEN WE MEET AGAIN ,I EXPECT GOOD SEATS!WE MISS YOU EVERYDAY ,BUT YOUR STILL W/US,DID THE HEIGHTS FEST YESTERDAY AND SAW LOTS OF TYE_DYES W/ YOUR TRADEMARK STYLE.THE COLORS HAVE NOT FADED AS HAS NOT OUR MEMORY OF YOU.KEEP DANCING BRO AND WE WILL MEET AGAIN.....DON

sometimes people touch our lives in ways that are so subtle........Joe was a great father and husband who I never had the pleasure of meeting. His way of living with the kids and Jen, taking care of them, teaching them and all of us.....is remarkable. His legacy - his children - will always be with me in thought - thank you all for allowing me to remember him with you. Love, B

-barb (jens cousin)

Well Joe, somehow I know your with that train this early morning from Erie to Chicago with your Jen, Emily, Jake and Eli. Going to see your Mom for a few days so she can enjoy the kids. I'm sure everyone will have a great time. Know I love you Joe, and I miss you. Just looked at all the photos of you when you were small and can't believe how the boys are almost the exact replica of you all over again. And I know they act the same as you did!! NO doubt in my mind!!! So active, so sweet!! Miss Emily, miss reader, so precious. Thanks again Joe for the beautiful family you put on this earth. Like the conductor on Amtrak said tonight "this little family come here", and led them to the steps to Chicago. I KNEW you were there with them, I just knew you were!! I LOVE YOU

-nancy

I MISS YOU TONS AND TONS AND TONS AND TONS AND TONS. It has been 10 months

since I have seen you and I miss you more than I can say. Love you daddy, Emily

Hey Now, Happy Birthday Joe. Been thinking about you alot lately and have a great garden started for you here...It's had plenty of water now so will ya make it stop raining (what's with the rain??!!!) Waiting excitedly for your beautiful family to come up north so send some sunshine, kiddo!!!! I love all you guys and I can't wait to make some groovy stepping stones for your Dad's garden with you. Think Happy Thoughts!!!!

-becky

Ah, modern grieveing, with its websites. What would Miss Manners say? What does the grieving sister say on a website to the world?

I suppose I will tell you that growing up as the sister of Joe Luther was very, very hard. Finally, we were both parents and we had more in common than we ever had before.

Now he's gone and I'm very sad.

He was my only full sibling; now there's no one to argue with about how this happened. As kids, he mostly got me into trouble. I still hate Monopoly because he always wanted to play, always cheated, and never taught me all the rules. He'd make up rules too.

To share a memory? A happy one... As kids, we went skiing with my Dad. We went skiing one weekend in Switzerland, and after skiing my Dad took us to a coffee shop for hot chocolate and apple streudel. We had just read the book, The Apple Streudel Soldier, which takes place in Switzerland, I think, so it was big deal.

A globtrotting childhood...when I was eight we were in Italy and we played air bowling. You know, pre-video games, like air hockey, only bowling.

He could be the best brother, and he could be a rotten brother.

We travelled in diferent circles, to say the least and both of us often heard,

"You're Joe Luther's sister?!" or

"You're Elaine Luther's brother?!"

Don't guess I'll be getting much of that anymore.

Joe's life has always affected, and changed my life. And now his death has done the same.

Happy birthday Joe, I love you.

-elaine

My dad was very nice. He was the best dad ever. He was very sleepy. And he is very silly and very crazy. I loved him better than I loved to eat. I loved him better than I loved to sleep. I loved him better than running. He was very loveable. He was very good at running. And he was very slow sometimes. He liked snakes. He loved Diablo, that was his favorite computer game. He liked the beach. He liked to camp at Lake Houston. He liked the King Biscuit! He liked Ages of Empires. He liked the Eleventh street cafe. He liked Pecos Grill.

-elijah

I miss Joe. He was special to me from the first time I met him on a very hot day in the summer of 1970. My parents and I had come to see the first grandchild. I had not seen a baby much before, because I was the youngest. (10 at the time.) He was tiny and beautiful. The small wood frame house they lived in was baked in the Dallas sun and Joey was hot, so we got him an air conditioning unit and turned it on. He noticed the change and went to sleep smiling it seemed to me. Then the fuse blew out and the minute the air stopped above his crib he cried. I thought to myself "He's amazing!" Not only is he the smallest human being I had ever seen, but the most amazing.

Kind of a silly story, but that's how it started, a lifetime of friendship, delight and amazement. I never lost that feeling.

I sure miss him.

-aunt toni

I remember calling Joe, Jo Jo the Indian Circus Boy. I remember when we had that water fight and he took out the big pot full of water and my mom didn't let him throw it on us but he did anyways.. and that mardi gras when it was freezing cold out and we painted our wagon green and put cardboard on it and we walked around the 2 blocks screaming "Happy Mardi Gras". That was a great day. Emily, Jake, and Eli are great kids and I hope you come back here cos I miss them alot and love them!

-casey

I remeber Joe from when i was a little kid and he was always cool. I remember the mardi gras parade when we went riding around in the wagons around the block and I remeber when we had the big water baloon fight and he ran out of balloons so he got a big pot and poured all the water on me. I think that Emily and jake and eli are really cool cousins and I love them a lot. I love you too Aunt Jen.

-billy

Hey Now~ I had alot of good times with Jenny & Joe. Most of 'em I remember! He WAS a good person and a wonderful Dad and I know that he loved my sister alot. They together turned me on to many things and I will cherish the memories!!!There was the Mardi-Gras parade, The tie-dyeing in my cellar, the dead shows, I'll never forget how we went to Cleve. and that was the only show that was cancelled due to the heavy snow!! He and his friends worked so hard on our roof one summer...never have a bunch of hippies do a roof job!!!!I'll never forget the many conversations that I had with Joe when I'd call late at night & Jen was at work. We mostly talked about the kids because his world revolved around them. I remember picking his scrawny little ass up (before he got sick) and putting him into a cardboard box!!! I think that was the Mardi-Gras float painting party & we had a half keg over here...He must have said something to end up in that box, but it became our joke..."Get in the box Joe!!" He loved to harass Jen's "Crazy Redheaded Sister", probably because he couldn't get HER goat! He talked crap about us Yankees all the time, but he sure did love my Buffalo Chicken Wings!!!I wish I could fix him some today...When they were here in April, he practically kicked me out of my own kitchen so he could take over the pot of red beans & rice and I must admit that it was the best we've ever had!! There are so many other things and all of it was a wonderful party!! Jenny was there for all of it and we share those memories forever! I know that he knew that I was in Texas after he left this world because it rained the whole damn time I was there!!! Funny joke Joe!!!! I know that you are still around watching over things & being a goofball, but I sure do miss you kiddo... To Jenny & kids, To Joes parents and everyone who loved him, just know that he touched alot of lives in a good way and that we can all try and do the same... His kids are a wonderful reflection of the person he was so he will not be forgotten.

-becky

I still can't believe its true. joe and jen came into my life in the spring of 93 in the parking lot of a dead show in chaple hill n.c. They changed my life.I owe them so much. I will miss him.

-ron

we miss you, joe. it is amazing how much more you learn about a person after they are gone. makes you appreciate life more.jacob, emily, and eli look just like joe when he was their size. the new pics are great.

-carrie

oe gave me the tour of Houston a few years back and we had one great good time. He was a intelligent conversationalist and a good listener. We only shared a few days as friends when I visited from Austin TX. He was a devoted Father and that is what I admired about him the most. Joe made me feel welcome and we shared a few laughs. I look forward to seeing him in heaven.

-paul kearney

It has been years since I have seen Joe, but I allways thought I would be able to see him again when I got around to it. He was a wild kid when I knew him, madly in love with Jenn, and with a heart as big as Texas. The last time I spent any time with Joe was when his first baby was born. He was so proud. He was truly ment to be a father. It doesn't seem right that he has passed. Joe will allways be a part of my heart. God bless.

-ron davis

came late into Joe's life so I never knew him before he was already a troubled teenager. Still, I came to love Joe as my own and cared deeply for him even though there were trying times. Joe always had a lot of love to give to everyone around him and deeply affected people whereever he went

When Joe became a father he really came into his own. I've never met a more natural parent.

This web site is a small tribute that can only begin to reflect a fraction of the love we had for Joe. He left us all too soon and will be missed.

-john mccord