From: Helen Spong
Sent: Tuesday, January 21, 2003 7:52 PM
To: Rick Wilson
Subject: Memorial to Bob

MEMORIAL TO MY BELOVED HUSBAND, BOB SPONG

OUR GOD, NOT ONLY GAVE HIS ULTIMATE GIFT TO US, HIS PRECIOUS SON, JESUS CHRIST, BUT BESTOWED UPON BOB A SECOND GIFT DURING HIS LAST DAYS ON THIS EARTH.

GUNNING SEASON CAME IN AS USUAL THE FIRST SATURDAY FOLLOWING THANKSGIVING YEAR 2001. BOB WAS IN HIS FIFTH MONTH OF RECUPERATING FROM OPEN HEART AND LUNG SURGERIES. NEVER THE LESS, THIS PARTICULAR MORNING, HE DONNED HIS HUNTING GEAR, ALONG WITH HIS TRUSTY GUN, TOOK OFF TO HIS 'SHACK' NEAR OUR BARN.

HIS THOUGHTS WERE NOT TO SHOOT A DEER, BUT TO JUST SIT THERE, MUSING OVER WHAT WAS AHEAD FOR HIM, KNOWING THIS WOULD BE HIS FINAL DEER SEASON.

HOWEVER, GOD HAD SPECIAL PLANS FOR BOB THIS DAY. HE SENT AN 8-POINTER TO HIM. AND MY EXCELLENT MARKSMAN HUSBAND RECEIVED HIS TROPHY, WITH GOD'S BLESSING, AND DONATED HIS LAST BUCK TO FARMERS AND HUNTERS FEEDING THE HUNGRY.

GOD THEN ASSURED BOB THAT HE WAS PREPARING A PLACE FOR HIM IN HIS KINGDOM. BOB JOINED OUR LORD FOUR MONTHS LATER AND WAS LAID TO REST ON HIS 77th BIRTHDAY, APRIL 15, 2002.