Jeffery James Hettwer

I was so sad to hear the news about Jeff.  I didn't know him well, but we had lockers next to each other in junior high at Epiphany School.  I was actually in his brother Jeremy's class.  I just remember Jeff being so sweet, sincere, and fun to be around.  He always had a smile on his face and we often shared a laugh between classes.  I was pretty shy and he was always easy to chat with.  I truly do not remember anyone else I had lockers next to throughout my school years, but his sweet nature always stuck with me.  Clearly, it sounds like he kept his welcoming nature and grew into an amazing person who everyone who knew him adored.  I know that I do not know you, Kelly, but my heart goes out to you and all of Jeff's family and friends....Jeremy, my thoughts are with you.

Jeff,

 

I have always thought that you had such a nice smile and that you were so warm.  My favorite memory of you is from when you were fairly young.  We went to a carnival at Auntie Adele's church and you worked so hard to win me a red stuffed heart.  I held on to that heart for years because it reminded me how much you cared for a cousin that you only saw once a year.  I know that I am not much older than you, but I remember thinking when I saw you after you had moved back to Minnesota that you had grown into a nice man.  You will definitely be missed!

 

Love, your cousin Cassie,

 

Jeff,

One of the first conversations I had with you was on a chair lift  heading to the top of a Lutsen ski slope.  We could have had a lot of things to talk about, but you chose to talk about Kelly.  Your exact words were "I truly am a lucky guy to have a girl like Kelly as my wife".  You kind of caught me off guard a bit talking about love with a guy on a ski lift, but it made me realize what a grateful person you are and how much you love her.  Every time I saw the two of you together I thought about that day. 

Im going to miss being invited over by you to clear out "Dan Channel"  and going out with the self proclaimed "ultimate wingman"....  Your warm sincere smile will be missed.   

 Be well my friend..

 

Dan

Some of my favorite memories of Jeff are of him and the neighborhood kids.  It always amazed me that such a young, fun couple who were free to be out doing whatever they pleased would choose to spend so many weekends hanging out with someone else’s neighbors and all of our loud, annoying kids.   Lucky for us they did though, because the kids all loved being with Jeff and Kelly as much as we did. 

One day after the Crowe children had attended one of Jeff’s art shows, they came home and showed the rest of the kids some of Jeff’s artwork.  This inspired the kids to create their own art show later that night. Jeff and Kelly were first in line to pay admission and even judged the art show.

Earlier this year on a very cold drizzly spring day one of my friends was visiting and looked out in my backyard to see a frozen looking Jeff and about 10 little boys playing baseball with no other adults around.  My friend asked which house he lived in and which kid was his.  I said he doesn’t live around here and none of those kids are his, yet he has been out there for a few hours.  I said that is just how cool Jeff is.

It also didn’t surprise me to run into Jeff and Kelly at the school carnival this year either.

And just 2 weeks ago my daughter came home from Zach’s birthday party with stories of Jeff in the pool being challenged by the kids to do tricks and him gladly entertaining them. 

Words can’t express how much he will be missed or how much his friendship was treasured. Even in this time of great sorrow it is impossible to think of Jeff and not smile.  There are so many great Jeffro memories.  We will love you long time!

Jeffer, Our hearts are heavy & our burdens many....but, it's the very special memories of you: on our Hawaii & Mexico trips together, the very, very special times @the cabin, putting in the dock, the Mexican Train Domino WARs, the water fights on the lake, the torpedo rides with the kids, those fun times watching Jake, Marty & little Sassy go @ each other until they could hardly stand-up, those "brief" DEEP political discussions with your MOM & Jeremy, lots of journeys to the art fairs & your Studio to see "what was new" & the cherished get togethers with the Family ( Your Mother lived for those days) !!! It's all those moments & especially "The DREAMS", that will sustain/heal us & never let us forget you. Your name/soul is "ETCHED " on our hearts.......... I am the luckiest man on this earth to have had your Mom come in to my life so we could have the precious moments to share together with both you & Kel...."Love is not a matter of counting the Years; it's making the years count," which we did.

This is a special memory from your pal, Tim Russert; "Look, If GOD had come to us 30 years ago and said "I'll make you a bargain... I'll give you a beautiful, wonderful, talented, loving, soft souled kid for 30 years and then I'll take him away; We would have made that deal in a second".

Of course he was right, that was the deal.........We just didn't know it.

We all love & will miss you more than you'll ever understand. "One of the attributes of LOVE, Like ART, is to bring harmony and order, out of chaos".

You were one of the real Sons, I never had.....

Love, WAL