Very sad to hear. R.I.P.

Thank you and God Bless.

 

R.I.P Hurc

My biggest regret is to have never shaken his hand

Thom

 

Clffhanger- Thanks for carrying my post over from CO4x4. I've been on this keyboard since coming home from Hurc's mom's yesterday. Everyone's support for him is greatly appreciated and the thread's will be forwarded to his mom.

I "adopted" John after we'd met at the 2000 AJC rally in Frisco. I remember this skinny young teenager hanging around asking question after question after question, then asking if he could drop by sometime when he came to Denver. When he did, he asked more questions and I took him around to various shops and parts yards to find things he needed. We once pulled a hydroboost off a shuttle bus in a half rain/half snow storm at Pull-N-Save. We'd been there a lot.

John's been the son I wish I had ever since, and without a second thought, family to me. John added so much to my life and we've had some great times. The very last time I wheeled my Jeepster was with John, on Holy Cross. He'd just bought "Hurc 2" with the 400hp V8 that his mom asked me to go check out for him before OKing it. It got my blessing, but overheated on HC and he parked it and rode with me. Even my Jeepster was running hot that day and I came back to Denver, pulled the front clip off, sold the 231 v6 and started building a 350. Well it's still not all together, but Hurc had emailed me last week and said I had better get it done by Summer's end, because he would be back through Colorado after this tour in Iraq. I actually uncovered the Jeepster after reading that email and was about to start working on it.

I watched John grow up from that skinny teenager that I worried about a little, into a great, intelligent and mature young man. I couldn't be more proud of him than if he was really my son.

On behalf of his family, thank you for all of your kind words, tears of support and for remembering him always.

As I posted on CO4x4, I will ask where his mom wants cards, etc sent to and update this post shortly.

God Bless all of his Jeeping friends.

Joe Horvath

 

Thanks Joe for the little peak into his life.

Take care and give his family my best wishes.

I hope we can meet some time and share some happy memories

Edit:

And, let's not forget why he was risking his life for us:
http://www.dem.com/ajcec/brian/

Thom

 

Very sad to hear this news. R I P Hurc and your sacrifice will be remembered.

 

Prayers go out for his family and friends from mine. Very sad.

 

R.I.P. Hurc. God Bless you, all that have gone before, and all who will follow...

Was just thinking about John last night, JP used his rollover picture as the centerspread opening shot for their "Rollover" article this month...hope he got to see it.

 

I'm very sorry to hear of his passing. Thanks for making it known... it really personalizes the numbers I hear on the news.

That two-image before and after he posted was one of the funniest things I have ever seen. Very unfortunate.

 

I met John about 6 years ago at the Jeepster Rally in Dillon. I remember that he was the one who did a lot of work organizing and putting together that event. There were about 30-40 Jeepsters there at the event. I was not able to take mine there due to it only being a rolling chassis at the time. I parked right next to John and spent some time talking with him during that event. I have kept track of him through this website and the Colorado4x4.org website over the past several years. Although quite young when I first met him, he struck me as a great person. He was easy going and very sociable. His first Jeepster was not very built at that time and only had 33" tires on it and he did not know as much about the Jeepsters as some of the other guys did, yet he was willing to share his knowledge with others without coming across as being an elitist. I am in shock and saddened to hear about his death, the second to the American Jeepster Club since prior to the start of the war. I saw a red Jeepster in Moab last month and did a double take as I thought it was Hurcules, but of course, it was not.

My condolences to his family, friends and those whose lives he did not touch. I feel blessed to have had my life touched by his presence and know that he is in a far much better place.

Kevin

 

Joe & clffhnger
Thanks for taking the time to share with us.

Hurc, you'll be missed. God bless you and your family.

 

Gone but not forgotten.....

R.I.P Hurc

 

My prayers and thoughts to his family.
Hurc and I had a few spats on this BBS but I am glad that we eventually found common ground and made some peace.
Thanks to all of the military who fight for our peace and freedom.

 

I'm so sorry to hear this. RIP

 

Wow. To be such a small, tight knit community, we have seen a lot of heroes in our midst.
Prayers go out to his family for raising a son willing to pay the unlimate price for us to have the freedom we somtimes forget to appreciate.

 

We've had the opportunity to watch him grow up -
From wooden bumpers and snowbanks, his first non woodworking tools, his first grinder, his first welder, his first carburetor rebuild, his first engine swap, antics with off road racing etc, clear up to a magazine worthy rollover.

He was always willing to try new things, to forge ahead, even when he had no idea what he was getting into. That's how you learn, that's how you become a leader.

He'll be sorely missed!



If there's off roading where he is now, you can count on him being in the midst of it.

 

"Hurc" was one of the first to get involved in my project, thru this forum. He had some wild ideas, but wasn't afraid to try 'em!
Damn, it's like a family member has passed...
He's in my prayers.

 

I have had a tough time acknowledging the passing of this fine brave young hero. My oldest is a veteran of EVERY sand box engagement so far and it tighens my gut every time I hear of a passing. My son will be on leave this summer with my two grandsons and I will cherish every moment of the freedom he and his brothers in arms have given us all. RIP Hurc

 

Rich said [ QUOTE ]
He was always willing to try new things, to forge ahead, even when he had no idea what he was getting into. That's how you learn, that's how you become a leader

[/ QUOTE ]

Aint that the truth! He would question anyones ideas about repairs and other issues, but it was not becuase he didn't think you were right, he just wanted it explained fully. It's how smart people get really smart.
He hadn't graced this board in a while, probably too busy, it's a shame!
I remember the wooden 2x8 bumper, I think I have a picture of it somewhere.

 

The thing I remember most about Hurk is his circuler saw cutting wheel.

I never met him personally, but thought he had class. R.I.P.

 

Bummer... R.I.P. Hurc

 

"It's a Jeepster Thing . . . You wouldn't understand"
I sit here with a tear in my eye as we spent many a night replying to each other's crazy postings on the old chat board. He liked to poke fun at the fact I had a project and not a car cause I only worked on it and didn't drive it. Never got to meet hurc, but I do have some of the stickers that he printed up about 6 years ago (they are still in the original envelope with his handwriing on it). If any of you that were real close would like one to put on your windshield in memory, pm me and I'll take care of it. RIP my friend.
This was the hardest post ever.
Scott Warren

 

It'd been a few days since I last checked in here. I'm in shock. When I saw the subject line it was like someone punched me between the eyes.

I had a similar experience with John as some of you. I got an email from him years ago asking me more questions about Project No Bucks than anyone ever had, or ever has since. A lot of his musings provided fertilizer for fermenting my own projects. He was a quick learner and had a very active mind. I still have his hand drawn roll cage plan around here somewhere.

Very sad to hear this news today, and I kind of wish I hadn't logged in to check the posts. But then, I guess that if I hadn't, I would have missed an opportunity to remember a very creative and obviously brave, young man. His family is in my prayers.

Joe, please pass on our condolences to his family as well as our thanks for his service.

EDIT: Links to two local newspaper articles about John:
http://www.vaildaily.com/article/20060608/NEWS/60608010
http://www.vaildaily.com/article/20060608/NEWS/60608011

 

My condolences to his family; I'll ask our pastor to say a special prayer for him during next Sunday's service. My own son, a Marine, just returned from Fallujah this weekend. My son is 23y.o., about the same age as John. There are many of our sons and daughters risking their lives for Our Country every day. Every one we lose hurts.

John (Hurc) posted over on the Jeep Mid Sized Board sometimes and I recall his good natured manner thru those postings. Rest in Peace Good Soldier and Jeeper!

 

RRich, you and Hurc would really go at it in the early days. I think we all used to chuckle. He sure did mellow after a few years. I guess Team Rush took over! /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif

These were his Christmas presents in 2002.
"An air body saw, a sawzall, another angle grinder (can never have too many) chop saw, auto dark welding mask. That is about it for the tools of Jeepster distruction."

A reply about a fix of his.
"Uh... well.... I did it with a grinder....."

It seemed as though he was always doing something with a grinder or a circular saw used as a grinder. I would have liked to have witnessed it.

Here's an early picture of his Jeep.

Goodbye John

 

Freedom is never free, and young Hurc has paid the ultimate price so that we may be free to pursue our hobbies and interests. May his memory stay fresh in our minds and hearts. May he Rest In Peace.
I live here near Ft Hood Tx, and have lost a few members of our 4X4 club. Its hard for an old retired soldier to loose these fine young men & women. But I still belive in the mission, I support the mission, the troops, the President. I do not like the press, and those who dont know the history and events that led to this "War on Terror". They will come home-when its time, not before.

Sorry, I'll get off my soapbox, its a Jeepster Commando forum not a political forum.