Saddened beyond belief to hear this, but still inspired by the unbelieveable courage of that young man and the strength of that family. God Bless them.
Ok, I have set up a fund to collect for flowers for Tyler's service from the Pennock Forum members. I have zero'd out my PayPal account by transferring the the balance in there to my Checking account. This way there is no confusion as to what the money in the account is for.
I just spoke to Stuart (DIY_Stu) and am giving him full access to my PayPal username and password. This is simply to ensure 100% legitimacy and that ALL money donated will be used to send flowers. Any money left over after that, will be donated to the Tyler Shipman fund, to go to his family to defray medical costs.
Those with suggestions on what type of flowers, style, size or anything else, please PM me. The flowers will be on behalf of the forum members, so everyone should have a say in this.
Please make donations via paypal to:
johnwpb@gmail.com
IMPORTANT:
When you make the donation, please select the "personal" tab, and then the "gift" radio button. This will ensure that 100% of your donation goes towards this, and there are no PayPal fee's deducted. In the notes tab, please put any notes or well wishes that you want, and I will get those printed out to be delivered with the flowers.
[This message has been edited by JohnWPB (edited 02-15-2010).]
What I suggest is that we choose a single nice arrangement, nothing super huge or fancy, just something to show our love and support, and then take all of the rest and donate it to the benefit fund to help defray the medical and service costs.
My thought on flowers is this: Flowers fade. They do not provide much benefit for those who are left behind except to provide beauty for a short time. A standing spray, such as this would be ample, and the color choice is of course on par to help show our support.
My families thoughts and prayers are with his family and friends. May god rest his soul, he was very loved. His story has touched so many. And he will live on forever, here in our special place of the internet. Once again another great person that will be waiting for us when we pass over.
Though my heart has sank, I am relieved that Tyler's pain has gone, and he has now gone home. I now worry for the family, but knowing how strong and close they are brings me comfort, as well as knowing that we will ALWAYS be there for them when neeeded.
A few pictures to celebrate Tyler's dream and what brought us all together. Thank you Tyler and Shipman family, you have done more for us than you will ever know.
We mourn not for Tyler, but for his family and the loss they feel. We celebrate Tyler's life, and the changes he made in the hearts of many around the world in his short time with us.
Tyler was a member of our family for such a short time, but in that time, he became the family member who helped cement us together. The one person who helped provide a common ground for the rest of us to meet on regardless of our differences.
It still amazes me the way people here have come together, for the original build, for the shirts that were sold to benefit the family, and even now, when consolation is needed for those who will have to wait to see their loved one again. Thank you all for the financial assistance for the flowers and the bills.
Sad day, my thoughts are with his family and friends and to all of you good men and women who lent this young man a hand with his fiero a true act of kindness form all of you.
I just stopped by to pass on my sympathies and condolences to Tyler Shipman's friends, family, and fellow enthusiasts. I had been following the story of his Fiero for the last few months, and was deeply saddened to learn of his passing. May he rest in peace.
Services for Tyler Shipman will be held on Friday, February 19th at 2PM at the Frazee High School in the auditorium.
Visitation is from 4-8 PM on Thursday February 18th at the St Paul's Lutheran Church on Hwy 87 outside of Frazee. Address coming soon.
Furey Funeral Home is handling arrangements, and can be contacted at: 33832 State Highway 87 Frazee, MN 56544 Phone Number: (218) 334-2461
They are working with Lori's Floral in Detroit Lakes to handle the floral arrangements. 218-847-9060 I will be contacting them to determine whether they can provide the floral display that is listed in the Floral threads. If so, I would like to keep things local to the area.
Services are open to all who would like to attend, as is visitation.
A Fiero parade escort would be AWESOME! Unfortunately, mine is undergoing a transplant right now.
Jonathan
And you live in TN... Some of us can't get the cars out if we wanted to at this point in the winter, I gave up try to dig out my third stall... There will be support, but not so many cars.
Valentine's Day will definately carry a little more for me from this point on.
[This message has been edited by carbon (edited 02-15-2010).]
[url=http://www.startribune.com/local/84421017.html?elr=KArksLckD8EQDUoaEyqyP4O W3ckUiD3aPc:_Yyc:aUycaEacyU]Star Tribune[/url], Front Page website (and most likely paper in the AM)
A small town, a brave soul, a loss too big to be measured
Tyler Shipman, the 18-year-old from tiny Frazee, Minn., who made friends around the world after sending out a plea for help in rebuilding his cherished 1986 Fiero GT, has died.
His CaringBridge website (www.caringbridge.org/visit/tylershipman), filled for months with loving tributes and comforting words for Tyler and his family, offered a simple and immeasurably sad message Sunday:
"Tyler lost his very brave and valiant fight with cancer and went home to be with his heavenly Father at approximately 7:45 tonight." Tyler, who was receiving full-time hospice care, died at home surrounded by family.
The young man had no idea how his story would resonate internationally when he posted a simple message on the popular Pennock's Fiero Forum website Oct. 29, under the heading "Got cancer now and looking for help."
Tyler, "a total Fiero-head" and senior at Frazee High School, began experiencing severe back pain last summer. In early October, he got the diagnosis: synovial sarcoma, a rare and aggressive form of cancer that primarily affects young adults. After receiving two rounds of chemotherapy in Fargo, N.D., he returned home to be with his parents, Jay and Daneele, and his three siblings.
It was then that Tyler panicked about burdening them with his car-restoration project.
"I'm just trying to find some way to get it restored before I pass," he wrote. "I love this car."
Responses flew in from around the country and the world, including from Sgt. Andrew Weigle, a Pennsylvania soldier serving in Iraq with an assault helicopter battalion. All offered money, parts and prayers.
"We are a car community," said Chris Kliewer, a Fiero fan who became a key organizer of a whirlwind weekend project Nov. 21-22 to rebuild Tyler's Fiero and repaint it bright yellow, Tyler's color choice. "But many of us grew to know him. For being 18 years old and going through what he was going through, he was very well-grounded. He was not an I-want kind of person. He was soft-spoken and always helped his friends. There was no better person for what we were doing."
The car community is raising money to buy a floral arrangement in bright yellow to offset the "dull, drab and gray days" of late, Kliewer said. Those who would like to donate may do so via www.paypal.com using the address johnwpb@gmail.com.
All additional proceeds from this account, as well as from the account on the CaringBridge site, will be used to help the family defray medical costs.
Kare11 ran a short update on their site.
FRAZEE, Minn. -- A young cancer patient who wished to live long enough to see the restoration his beloved Pontiac Fiero has died.
18-year-old Tyler Shipman passed away Sunday evening, four months after his diagnosis with synovial sarcoma, an aggressive cancer that failed to respond to treatment.
A posting on his CaringBridge site Sunday night read, "Tyler lost his very brave and valiant fight with cancer and went home to be with his heavenly Father at approximately 7:45 tonight."
In October, Tyler's request for help on an internet Fiero forum prompted donations from around the world and the arrival of two dozen Fiero owners in Frazee for a marathon restoration of Tyler's 1986 Fiero GT.
The efforts of the volunteers were chronicled in a "Land of 10,000 Stories" segment on KARE 11.
Barbie Porter from the Frazee Forum newspaper sent me an email today. She attempted to register, and was not able to as she has a Yahoo account.
She asked me to post this. I post it without any edits.
To the Shipmans:
When you’re on your knees grieving, it takes a lot of hope to breathe. I’ve been breaking up on and off all day since I heard the news. Up until last night, I believed if a miracle would happen, it would happen to Tyler. Facing reality leaves me breathless. I can’t imagine your grief, but I’m crying with you.
　
To my heroes:
Tyler showed me the power of believing in thy neighbor. It’s not easy to ask for help, particularly when that individual is self-reliant and determined. But by showing vulnerability, Tyler allowed heroes of hope to rise.
Words have not been invented that would properly express the admiration I have for the members of the Pennock Fiero Forum. What you did was single-handedly the most amazing thing I’ve ever witnessed.
I didn’t believe goodness like that existed.
Since I witnessed that miracle weekend, my life and perspective has changed. I’m always searching for ways to help out, things I can do to make a difference in somebody’s day, no matter how big or small - just giving what I can - because if you can do it, there’s no reason I can’t.
In every generation there are heroes by which it is defined. You are who I will define my generation by because you’re just like everyone else, and you did what you could because it was the right thing to do. You guys may never get the world-wide thunderous handclap you deserve, but my heart and home is open to every one of you whenever you’re in town.
And Chris, you can fight it all you want, but you’re an angel. If you guys aren’t going to heaven, we’re all damned.
I have been Fiero-less for over a year now. I have been following this thread since the first part of December. RIP Tyler. You guys who helped his dream come true made me proud for once being a part of the Fiero community.
at the time a lot of this was going on, i strayed away from the forum for a bit. i really wish i was around back for the build as it was not too far away and i would have loved to help. my prayers and thoughts go out to everybody affected by his loss. at the same time i feel so damned proud to be part of a community of people like this. just thinking about the generosity of all of you leaves me searching for words. God bless you all.
I'm at work right now and I just saw all of the posts. It is hard to keep a straight face without a sniff or a tear. We will all miss him. Even those of us who never meet him. My thoughts are with his loved ones who survive him. It is very sad and I won't try to pretend that I know how they feel. I am very thankful to have been touched by Tyler’s spirit and inspiration.
Originally posted by Danyel: my heart is out there for the Shipmans. I guess his time as a child has come to fly and be free.
quote
Originally posted by Synthesis: Barbie Porter from the Frazee Forum newspaper: Since I witnessed that miracle weekend, my life and perspective has changed. I’m always searching for ways to help out, things I can do to make a difference in somebody’s day, no matter how big or small - just giving what I can - because if you can do it, there’s no reason I can’t.
quote
Originally posted by Synthesis: We mourn not for Tyler, but for his family and the loss they feel. We celebrate Tyler's life, and the changes he made in the hearts of many around the world in his short time with us.
Tyler was a member of our family for such a short time, but in that time, he became the family member who helped cement us together. The one person who helped provide a common ground for the rest of us to meet on regardless of our differences.
It is hard to keep a straight face without a sniff or a tear. We will all miss him. Even those of us who never meet him. My thoughts are with his loved ones who survive him. It is very sad and I won't try to pretend that I know how they feel. I am very thankful to have been touched by Tyler’s spirit and inspiration.
Here is the Video that is going to be shown at the visitation today.
Brad
I watched as much as I could watch at one time. Very touching video.
------------------ Hey guys i'm a total fiero head there my life I have 86 fiero gt that I ve been slowly fixing up well now here I sit at the hospitol with cancer and they can't treat it and not knowing how long I'll be here they say could be till spring or longer or shorter they don't know and I'm just trying to find someway to get it restored before I past I love this car I don't know if people help with these things or not but I figured I ask thanks guys I live in mn my names Tyler shipman and any thought counts you guys are the best ~ Tyler Shipman
My wife and I plan on attending. Due to staffing issues at work, I do have to go into work for at least few hours tomorrow morning, but hope to be on the road no later than 9:30 or 10:00 AM. Carol is taking a half-day vacation since she already had her monthly Friday afternoon off scheduled. It looks like the weather is going to be good, so the roads will be dry. We should be able to make it in about three hours like last Fall for the build weekend. Not sure if we will head back home afterwards or go onto Fargo to the sister-in-laws for the night. My son has a school function Friday night so we are trying to make arrangements for that.
All though I am sadden about the reason for returning to Frazee so soon, I am comforted by the fact that Tyler is in a better place and without pain. I do look forward to seeing old/new friends and sharing in our mutual loss of Tyler. Rest in Peace Tyler.
Still debating taking a Fiero. I have not had the dailey driver white Formula out of the garage since beginning of December due to non-dry pavement. I would love to drive the Stinger (another yellow Fiero) in honor of Tyler, but it is winterized and there is a little more work involved in getting it back on the road.
I don't know if Pete is still planning on going. He said Monday at the MFF Club Meeting that he wanted to go. Pete is not on Pennocks.
My wife and I plan on attending. Due to staffing issues at work, I do have to go into work for at least few hours tomorrow morning, but hope to be on the road no later than 9:30 or 10:00 AM. Carol is taking a half-day vacation since she already had her monthly Friday afternoon off scheduled. It looks like the weather is going to be good, so the roads will be dry. We should be able to make it in about three hours like last Fall for the build weekend. Not sure if we will head back home afterwards or go onto Fargo to the sister-in-laws for the night. My son has a school function Friday night so we are trying to make arrangements for that.
All though I am sadden about the reason for returning to Frazee so soon, I am comforted by the fact that Tyler is in a better place and without pain. I do look forward to seeing old/new friends and sharing in our mutual loss of Tyler. Rest in Peace Tyler.
Still debating taking a Fiero. I have not had the dailey driver white Formula out of the garage since beginning of December due to non-dry pavement. I would love to drive the Stinger (another yellow Fiero) in honor of Tyler, but it is winterized and there is a little more work involved in getting it back on the road.
I don't know if Pete is still planning on going. He said Monday at the MFF Club Meeting that he wanted to go. Pete is not on Pennocks.
W3ckUiD3aPc:_Yyc:aUycaEacyU]Star Tribune[/url], Front Page website (and most likely paper in the AM)
