[or-roots] Lee Gentemann

[Leslie Chapman]

I too am saddened by his passing. I feel like I lost a very good friend even
though we physically never met.

I want to share my last couple exchanges with him as in my own ham handed
way I tried to let him know we were all pulling for him even though he did
not want to go public with his illness;



-----Original Message-----
From: Lee Gentemann [mailto:rootsfinder at pioneer.net]
Sent: Saturday, April 08, 2006 10:16 AM
To: Leslie Chapman
Subject: Re: [or-roots] I just can't let go


Les,

I decided to get off-list with this.

I'm in the same boat as you - these people are too far removed from my HAMAR
family line and I just can't stop myself from getting more involved by
adding details that I could probably find easily.

I'm going to pursue the correct date on that marriage, but I've just got to
get away from it beyond that.  I was recently diagnosed with terminal cancer
and shouldn't be wasting what time I have left.

Glad to know there are others with this obsession that can't let it go.

my reply;

Lee;

That is devastating news! I had lunch last week sitting next to a lady who
kept a kind of odd cap on all through her meal. As I was getting ready to
leave I overheard her remarking to her table mates that she had to keep in
mind that even though she had a fixed schedule with a clear end for her life
she had to keep in mind that other people had agendas too that couldn't just
be dropped for her.

I had to ask if the big C was what she was talking about and it was I
sympathized and parted with some lame "enjoy it as best you can" or some
such that after I got outside I realized was not only trite but totally
inappropriate.

I dropped out of college to spend three weeks with my oldest brother when he
found out he had relapsed. It was not a pleasant time and the fact his then
wife was some kind of manic or some such was not a BIG help. But the good
thing was I had a small chance to get somewhat reacquainted with a sibling I
had hardly knows as a child (ll years older than me) and had become somewhat
estranged from in adulthood.

Anyway on that note I will try to help you out by not sending you any more
questions, or new finds except on you Hamar line. I haven't even started on
that group yet.

Do feel free to direct anyone who asks you about these other lines to me, I
have through census and google come up with some odds and ends of info I
don't think you have.

Forgive me if I seem to be rambling, I have lost a lot of people that meant
a great deal to me to Cancer and though I haven't lost anyone now for a few
years, according the greif people I am still about ten years of getting over
it in the hole.

I hope the reports of you imminent demise are without basis, and my prayers
are with you, though I have to admit that may not be worth much as God and I
don't have a real close relationship. I often wonder why the heck he lets me
get away with continued existence, but I must be doing something right or
else have an important purpose for him down the line somewhere. I don't for
a minute believe I am still alive by pure chance, if I was I would be able
to support myself by gambling.

My best wishes to you Lee, may the doctors be wrong and your future pain
free.

Les C

*	*	*	then the last time I checked in with him things weren't going well,


Okey dokey;

I was afraid that was why we haven't been hearing from you, no reply needed,
just wanted ya to know we be thinking of you.

Les C

-----Original Message-----
From: Lee Gentemann [mailto:rootsfinder at pioneer.net]
Sent: Wednesday, July 05, 2006 2:40 PM
To: Leslie Chapman
Subject: Re: How Ya doing


Hi Les,

Sorry for the delay.

My last chemo session took its toll on me - no energy.

I need to drop off the radar screen so unless you need something that
borders on simple with no effort involved, let me know.  Otherwise I won't
be writing.

Lee


----- Original Message -----
From: "Leslie Chapman" <reedsportchapmans at verizon.net>
To: <rootsfinder at pioneer.net>
Sent: Saturday, July 01, 2006 9:32 AM
Subject: How Ya doing


> Hey Lee;
>
> Haven't heard much from you latley and thought I would drop you a howdy.
>
> Hope things are going as well as can be expected for you, our thoughts are
> with you.
>
> Leslie Chapman
>
>

*	*	*

As some of you may  be aware I have had too much experience with Cancer
among friends and family, I take it very personally when someone I care
about loses the battle, I hurt very deeply for his friends and family.

Les Chapman