Lawrence Gempka Obituary

I find the more years go by, the harder it gets.

Happy birthday Daddy

And here we are again... 8 years later and not one day has passed where I have not thought of you and missed you. But I know you are watching and that brings me comfort. I love you always and forever.

Have had many dreams lately where you appear... I'm sure is just means I'm thinking of you... but I would like to think it means you are thinking of me too.... I miss you so much every day, all the time. You are never absent from my heart and I love you more than words can ever express. I know we will see each other again one day. Of this I am sure. I love you.

Love you always.

Another year. Its hard to believe. Loving and missing you always,

EB

Dad

Never stop thinking of you. Just need some direction right now. Love you and miss you always.

Your EB

yet another year has gone by, but the time does not dull the pain. i love you and i miss you. i know you are always with me.

Hello Larry, miss you and everyone else who have passed into the beauty of heaven.

we all miss you Larry...

missing you as always
love you more than words can say

You are always in our thoughts and prayers, you and your best friend Rick....

daddy i think about you all the time.. i wish you were still here (at least physically) but i know you understand what i am saying. you are the one great love of my life. i miss you so much and i wish i could talk to you. but i am so grateful for the time we had and i am so proud that you are my father. you will always be in my thoughts and i can't wait to see you again

Remembering all the heroes who lost their lives this day in 2001, I remember you - my hero

Happy belated birthday daddy. Miss you. Love you.

Happy Birthday Larry,

Always in our thoughts

I thought of you on my birthday a lot, and on Thursday a lot. Just not fair...

I love you.

2 years since you've been gone. I think about you all the time. I love you and miss you terribly.

Happy belated Valentine's Day. You'll be glad to know that exactly 10 months from now I will be a married woman! You told Doug to take care of me and he has. And please look after my friend Christine who I used to work with... she left us yesterday and she was a great woman. She fought hard just like you.
I love you lots and miss you lots.

Just saw the latest Rocky...you would have loved it!! Thought of you the entire time. I love you.

Went to Twin Hickory with Matt on Christmas Eve, and I swear you were there! It was awesome and I know why you loved it so. How peacefilled and beautiful! I miss you forever....I love you!!!!!!!!

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

Today is Thanksgiving

Missed you

PJ

Just thinking of you and everyone else up there....

love and miss you dearly

Happy Birthday - this is the first 2nd anniversary of anything since you left. I love you, Susan

Laura...

Happy Birthday Larry



Pam

It's hard to realize that it is one year since you've been gone. I don't miss you any less, just more. I love you the same, too.

Susan

Thinking of you today Larry,



Miss you



Pam

~Laura~

Thinking of you on Father's Day Larry.

Love,



Pam

Sending you all our Father's Day love. I miss you so.

I can't believe it's been almost a year. I think of you all the time, every day. I know you are watching over me and that makes me smile. The other day I was thinking about the time that we went golfing up in Hornell. I was terrible, but you put up with me! If only we could turn back time, I would turn the clock back so that I could spend every moment possible with you.



I love and miss you always.



shorty

I love you.

Happy Valentine's Day.....you know the rest.......Love, S.

Hey there! I haven't written in a while, but I think often of you. Susan gave me a precious gift this year on Christmas Eve, it was a picture of you and the girls on Christmas Eve a few years ago sitting on the step in my dining room in a pretty frame. We sat it on the end table and it was like you were there watching over us.



Love, Laura

First Christmas without you - I love you so.

Merry Christmas Daddy.

Miss you and love you.



EB

Merry Christmas Larry

Hi daddy-



Every night I look at the picture of me and you that Bernie gave to me. I know I can't see you, but I'd like to think you can hear me. I know I can still hear your voice in my head; even though I haven't heard your real voice in years.



I love you and miss you. Please watch over me (and Doug) and our friend Pauli who is in the hospital with a broken back. We could use all the help we can get!



Yours forever-

EB

5 long months......and one day. Happy Thanksgiving. Your mom is driving a little truck to Wisconson to bring a couch to Marlise! Watch over her and us traveling to NY....will be strange there without you. Keep an eye on Elizabeth, too. I hope she has a beautiful Thanksgiving.....she had a wonderful Dad to be thankful for. I know you're not reading this, but it helps right now! Love you.

Lisa, Congrats on the new job. Larry would really be happy for you. He always said you were such a nice- down to earth, real, and cute "young lady" - (his words) with a great smile. And you are. We both love you!

Hey Larry! I just wanted to let you know that I got a new job!! Miss you!



Lisa

Hi Daddy-



Just wanted to say hi and let you know Doug is taking good care of me as he promised you. I love you and miss you.



You're in my heart always,

EB

xoxoxoxoxoxoxo

"Speak to us of Joy and Sorrow

And he answered,

Your joy is your sorrow, unmasked

And the selfsame well from which your laughter rises

was of tentimes filled with your tears

And how else can it be?

The deeper that sorrow carves into your being, the

more joy you can contain.

Is not the cup that holds your wine, the very cup

that was burned in the potter's oven?

And is not the lute that soothes your spirit, the very wood

that was hollowed with knives?

When you are joyous, look deep into your heart and you shall find

that it is only that which has given you sorrow that is giving you joy.

When you are sorrowful, look again into your heart

and you shall see that in truth, you are weeping for that

which has been your delight.

Some of you say, "Joy is greater than sorrow" and others say

"Nay, sorrow is the greater."

But I say unto you, they are inseperable."

Kalil Gibran

You dreamed of a place on the ocean, we got a place on the lake instead...... you should be here.

We have a big screen TV at work. No one was near it -- it's away from everything in a corner and roped off. It was off all day. Sometime during the afternoon, it was on and there was a golf tournament. Everyone denied turning on the TV. Hmm.......I sure like to believe in signs.

My first birthday without you. Help me blow out my candles later, okay?



I love you and miss you more than I can ever express in words.



Your little girl

EB

Three months seems such a short time, but it has been so long...I have no words, you know what's in my heart.

It has been three month's yesterday. I think that is when my Grandpa Math died, on Sept. 21st. I'm sure you have met up with the rest of our family that has passed. Say hi for me! Please watch over Susan, she misses you no end.



Love, Laura

Safely Home



I am home in Heaven, dear ones:

Oh, so happy and so bright!

There is perfect joy and beauty

In this everlasting light.



All the pain and grief is over,

Every restless tossing passed;

I am now at peace forever,

safely home in Heaven at last.



Did you wonder I so calmly

Trod the valley of the shade?

Oh! but Jesus' love illumined

Every dark and fearful glade.



And He came Himself to meet me

In that way so hard to tread;

And with Jesus' arm to lean on,

Could I have one doubt or dread?



Then you must not grieve so sorely,

For I love you dearly still:

Try to look beyond earth's shadows,

Pray to trust our Father's Will.



There is work still waiting for you,

So you must not idly stand;

Do it now, while life remaineth-

You shall rest in Jesus' land.



When that work is all completed,

He will gently call you Home;

Oh, the rapture of that meeting,

Oh, the joy to see you come!

EB -- You may have missed a great amount of time with your dad, and he missed that with you too, but his love for you is deep and strong and his arms are always around you. Even now. And he ALWAYS knew how deep your love was for him...and it sustained him... Just keep on sharing his love with others - make it keep on giving and growing. Every good trait you received from him you can share with the people around you. He was filled with love and appreciation for everything he had, not so much what he didn't have and he knew he had the most wonderful daughter that was ever born. You made him very proud and very happy. Try to take comfort and joy in that....

My heart has never hurt so much. I feel like I am all alone and no one understands. I barely got to see you my whole life and now you are gone. I know I'll see you again "someday", but that's not nearly soon enough. Hopefully you'll look out for me, I certainly need it. I hope you're happy, playing golf or watching the Food Network. ha ha

I love you and miss you terribly. Your little girl-

Elizabeth

It's been two very long months, I still can't believe this has happened. You fought so hard for so long, it is comforting to know that your pain is gone and you can relax now, and rest peacefully, but it doesn't take away the fact that everyone wishes you were here on earth with us.

2 months - today is Sunday.

I found this site where you can light a candle. I lit one for Larry... maybe others want to also.



http://www.gratefulness.or

g/candles



Pam

Dad



It's me, Shorty. Just remember, no one ever loved you the way I do. Can't wait to see you again.

xoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxo



EB

To the Gempka Family,



Susan I received your letter today, thank you so much for your kind words, I'm glad the poem was a comfort to you.



Larry will be greatly missed. He had such a gentle spirit and way about him that it made him stand out in the crowd.



I wish you and your family peace. Know that he loves you all very much.

I came across this poem and thought how true it is......







Those we love

remain with us,

for love itself lives on,

And cherished memories never fade

because a loved one's gone...



Those we love

can never be

more than a thought apart,

For as long as there is memory,

they'll live on in the heart.

One month yesterday. I can barely believe it - I can feel the love you left here. From everyone. You've loved many people and they have loved you right back. I miss you too much.

It's been one month since God took you home~



As time goes by without you

and hours turn into days,

They hold a million memories

and a thousand silent tears,

May the winds of love blow softly,

and whisper so you will hear,

How much we love and miss you,

and wish you still were here.

You're with me every minute....I love you. Mom, Garry and I went to the cemetery and then your favorite Chinese place for dinner. I thought of all times we went there to eat. Still strange to not be with you physically, you are always in my heart.

My dearestLarry

Though your physical presence is no longer here with us, your spirit always remains. You, my first born brought me so much joy. How proud I was to be your mother. Though you are gone from me,I have an abundance of memories which warm my heart. Until we meet again,



Love always,

Mom

I love you uncle lary and uncle rick.I wish I met you.I love you both a lot.love you!

happy birthday uncle lary.I miss you a lot!!!!!

Happy Birthday Larry,



Love from Gene and Marianne

Hi Larry! We hope that you are having a great big birthday party up there in heaven!!! We miss you!!



Happy Birthday!!



Love,

Lisa & Ryan

Hi Larry,



Happy Birthday today...



We miss you...



Love you always....



Pam

Larry,



Thank You for giving my sister so much quality time and love.



I will always remember July 15th in your memory.



Happy Birthday.



Love Gene.

Happy birthday 55 uncla larry loveabby

Friday, July 15th, 2005

Happy Birthday Larry! Hope your having a wonderful celebration up there! We all miss you, especially Susan. At least we got to celebrate my birthday this year together. We will never forget that day, will we? I wish you had been feeling better, of course, but I am glad I got to spend that time with you and Susan. Miss you~



Love forever, Laura

Thanks for sending this beautiful, hot, sunny weather our way! It could only be a sign of your presence. We know how you love it!

Love, Laura

Dear Ricky and Matt,



We are very sorry for your loss. First your Dad, our beloved Rick, and now your stepdad, our beloved Larry. No one can begin to imagine the saddness you must be feeling, but always know you and your mom are surrounded by all of us family members and we love you with all of our hearts.



Love, all of us

Hi Larry



Thinking of you as always and missing you.

I love you too!

Auntie Susan

We love you Auntie Susan!



Rebecca, Melanie, Abigail, and Anna Rose

I found One Sweet Day music! I won't forget........Susan

God looked around His garden,

And he found and empty place

He then looked down upon this Earth

And saw your tired face.



He put his arms around you

And lifted you to rest

God's garden must be beautiful

He only takes the best.



He knew you were suffering

He knew you were in pain

He knew that you would never

Get well on Earth again.



He saw that the road was getting rough

The hills were hard to climb,

So he closed your weary eyelids

And whispered, "Peace by Thine."



It broke our hearts to lose you

But you didn't go alone

For part of us went with you

The day God called you Home.

Abby,

Uncle Larry did love all the pictures you and your sisters sent. Thank you, Love, Auntie Susan

Angie,Garry, and Elizabeth,



I cannot even express how sorry we are for your loss. Larry will be sorely missed by our family. We were so very happy when he and Susan married. He was a very dear friend and husband to our Susan and we will never forget him. He will live in our hearts forever. We hope you find some comfort in how much your Larry is loved.



Love from the entire Smyth family

Dear Laura,

Thank you for what you said. It was such a bittersweet time. I don't know what I would have done without you and Gene. I love you and will never ever forget what you did for us. I learned much about giving and making the time to give. It's even worse now not to be able to talk to Larry, isn't it? He was a good man, and I know he loved you too. He was happy when you were around!! Those were beautiful poems. Love, Susan

Dear Susan,

Thank you for letting me be there for you and Larry. Even though the whole thing is difficult and devastating, I want you to know that I would never trade that precious time I spent with the two of you and Gene too, and that is why I thank you. I learned a lot of life lessons in that time. I love you so much and will always be around for you. Love, your "baby" sister, Laura

Dear Larry,

I am playing a cd of yours and just wanted to say I hope you are having fun in heaven. Say hi to Rick and let him know we love and miss him too! Love to you both, Laura

Dear Larry,



The meaning of true friendship

Is simple to explain,

It's when a friend is with you,

In laughter, love, and pain.



Always there to lend a hand

no matter what you do,

But most of all always there

To love and comfort you.



We shared in many laughters,

We cried so many tears,

It felt like I had known you

Throughout your living years.



It's reasons only God can give

Can put my mind at rest,

For then I'll maybe realilze

It's true he takes his best!



You'll always be a part of me

Within my heart you'll stay,

I'll always think of you

Each night and everyday.

uncle larry,



I hope you loved my pictures!



love, abby

Dear Larry,



We thought of you with love today, but that is nothing new,

We thought about you yesterday and days before that too.

We think of you in silence, we often speak your name,

Now all we have is memories and your pictures in a frame.

Your memory is a keepsake with which we'll never part,

God has you in his keeping, we have you in our hearts.



I miss you Larry! Love, Laura

Larry,

Thank you for the graceful way you dealt with all the medical aspects of your illness, for your great strength of character, for being so patient with me and for loving me so much.

You will be in our hearts forever and ever Larry. We love you!

I'll love you forever!!!