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In Memory of
Mark Joslyn, 52, Champaign, Illinois
1956 - 2009
We all knew him, Mark was a friendly, free-spirited
collector of all things Triumph.
He was a chef, a music lover, and much more. Most
of all, he was our FRIEND!
Mark passed away Saturday, May 9, 2009 at home.
A memorial video made by Robin Smith Click on photo to start video - 64Mb |
A Wake/Memorial gathering was held for Mark at the
Esquire
Lounge in Champaign, IL on Thursday, May 14th, 2009.
Family and friends filled the lounge sharing photos,
stories, and memories.
Some photos of the gathering.
The Joslyn family
One last beer with my friends
One last shot with my friends
Final farewells
Mark was a co-founder of the CBCF (Champagne British
Car Festival),
the designer of the CBCF event logo, and the co-founder
of the CITOA (Central Illinois Triumph Owners Association).
Mark was an organizer of the CBCF for many years,
and Mark's spirit and creativity were what made the event such a success.
There was also a service near his family home in Clarinda, Iowa.
If you have any memories or photos you would like to
share,
please feel free to send them here.
This page will stay up indefinitely to remember Mark.
Memories
| Mark and I dated for almost 8 years and have been friends
ever since. We had some good times and some not so good times in the time
we knew each other, but that was ok. As I told Mark recently, I learned
a lot from him even when I didn’t know it or want to admit it – I did learn
a lot and he told me that he learned from me as well. We have grown closer
in the last year or so and especially in the last 6 months. We had some
really long talks and I hope I helped him in his last few weeks when he
was really in pain. I was thinking recently that I and several other people
used to tease him about being a know it all – well, now he does know everything
that the rest of us will hopefully not know for a while. I’m sure he’s
enjoying the thought right now. I can hear him laughing about it. It’s
very hard right now not being able to pick up the phone and call him. I
talked to him every day – several times a day and sometimes in the middle
of the night when he just needed to talk. We still had our disagreements
towards the end, but we were able to talk through them. Thanks so much
for doing this. He would have loved it. I can see him smiling that big
smile of his and laughing. For all that he was a pain sometimes, but he
could be a fun person and a great friend, and he never knew a stranger
– ever!!
I will miss him always. He was a big part of my life and always will be. Brenda (Kennedy) Hites |
| Hi; my name is Ken Davis and I used to live next door to Mark on Winding
Lane. He was a generous and fun friend to be around, and we spent many
an evening checking out bands, watching his big-screen TV and generally
hanging out. There aren't enough people with his friendly spirit anymore,
and he will be missed.
Triumphantly yours, Ken |
| Mark was a great friend to me, and he will be missed and thought of
often. We first met on the show field of the CBCF, the Champagne Brit Car
Show that he co-founded and organized for many years. His spirit and special
character is hard found these days but too often trampled. Mark and I shared
many talks and several good laughs together. We went on car searches together
and brought back rusted treasures that no one else would appreciate. We
turned to each other for advice on our Triumphs, and consoled each other
when cars broke down. His cheerfulness and big smiles were infectious,
and to be around him was to enjoy life and friendship. My wife Ginny said
that Mark was one of the best "huggers" she has ever met. It must be an
Iowa thing!
Mark, watch over us old Triumph owners and guide us safely till we meet again. May God grant you smooth roads and blue skies on your trip to Heaven! Love you like a brother, Howard Baugues West Terre Haute, Indiana |
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I saw this longhair pull up and park directly in front of my store. He was driving a Triumph Sport 6. Now, at the time, I had no clue as to what the hell a Sport 6 was. Great Googly Moogly- was I about to find out! (NOTE: In the coming many years, Mark would ALWAYS find a parking space directly in front of wherever we went. ALWAYS. It ALWAYS amazed me.) So-this longhair gets out of this dumb little British car. I never have liked British cars. I will explain why later. It’s all Mark’s fault. Stepping out of his car wearing a black leather vest and some sort of knit sweater (perhaps a turtleneck?) with a dangling pendant around his neck, he stopped to talk to some passersby. He was obviously discussing his rare but awfully dumb looking automobile. I thought to myself: “Is this some rock-star from a band I have been listening to for years? He must be coming into my store to find a hard-to-find item. Should I jack the prices up really quickly?” “What a dumb car. Is this cat gonna buy something, or what?” Turns out “or what” was the agenda for the day. I wished I was a rock-star. Mark invited me to his house that night, thought my store was cool. “I drink Crown Royal.” That’s what rock-stars do-make people bring them free stuff. Being polite, intrigued and downright curious as to why this kinda guy is living in Champaign, ILLINOIS, I arrived at the specified time with a bottle of CHIVAS REGAL! (scotch, not a blended whiskey). OOPS. “Ahh, don’t worry”, he says to me. “this is what my Dad drinks.”, he says. OK. All is cool. I also brought him a Rocky J. Squirrel bendy toy from Bullwinkle fame. He put it in a potted plant and left it there. When I left CU in 2001, it was still there. Plant was dead, but Rocky wasn’t. (By the way, I did drink some of that Chivas with his Dad before he polished it off years later. Thanks, Lou!) That was the day I met my brother-from-another-mother. My life would never be the same. AND HOW! I will dispose of the sadness we all are feeling somewhat quickly. Besides my tears smearing the ink on this cheap paper, Mark and I always agreed on celebrating the coming and passing of our demise. For God’s sake, the photographs and memories tell the tale. And what a tale they tell. Mark had a gifted soul. WHOA! Lemme back up-Mark’s soul IS gifted, it is not dead, souls never die. He was the most compassionate, generous, loving and hopeful person I have ever met. Kind and giving are just a start when describing him. Without Mark in my life, temperance would not exist. Without Mark my own goofiness would probably still be sealed. My sense of humor was, and still is, fueled by Mark. I love you Mark. Always have, always will. Mark talked often, and fondly, of his brothers Randy and Jayd. I had the pleasure of meeting them each once. Great guys. I only have this to say to them-you had a fantastical and loyal brother. Over nineteen years I met some great, weird, intelligent, beautiful people through Mark. They came from all walks of life, from all age brackets. Thank you, Mark. I still keep in touch with some of them. I’ve also met some of the strangest freaks through Mark. Although very interesting, I’ve chosen not to associate with them. Curiously, I think of them from time to time. Thanks Mark. (I think) Before I get to the fun stuff I have a story about a man and his dog. I became attached to Lazer immediately and he to me. Lazer inspired my wife, Robyn, and me to have pictures of our friend’s dogs on our refrigerator instead of just our friends. Dogs aren’t so needy like our friends. You get the point. One drunken night, I was attempting to drop Mark off and call it quits. OH, NO. Mark wasn’t having any of that. I had my arm twisted to come in for a night-cap. As Mark was mixing drinks I lied down on the floor and Lazer took to me as if I was a comfy pillow. Fine with me. Wheels start spinning, unknown to Mark. I somehow, after SEVERAL night-caps, convinced Mark that Lazer needed to come home with me for a sleep over with my two dogs. Use your imagination as to what happened at 4 a.m. with 3 big dogs meeting at the front door and Robyn standing there with a look of, well, I don’t remember. I think I saw the light right then and there. (or the lack of light, I dunno). Mark called sometime the next day asking if I had seen Lazer before I left. “Should I play this out for my own amusement?” I asked myself. “Should I do the right thing and tell Mark what he doesn’t remember?” Between the angel and the devil I played both sides. Robyn and Mark weren’t too pleased with me for a while, to say the least. No animals were injured during the making of this fiasco. Soon after, Lazer passed away. I helped Mark get Lazer into his truck to get him to the vet to get cremated. I cried my eyes out. Mark, say HI to Lazer for me and let him know I’ll be there sometime for another Pajama Party! Mark surely loved his dogs. All of ‘em. Being with Mark, everyday was a good day. Eating Mexican food, Korean, Thai (his favorite) didn’t matter. If he or I was depressed, the day would always end with smiles, hugs and a handshake. BRITISH AUTOMOBILES—UGGH…..
Mark Nimrichter I wish to thank God for giving us Louis and Elaine Joslyn. Without them
I would never have been blessed with such a gift. Not many people can claim
this. I am truly blessed.
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