While on their way home from a river cleanup on the Pine River, on August 23, 2023
Lois Goldstein and John Heiam were killed instantly in a car crash.

This tragady has had a huge effect on all of us, especially the members of the TAPC, for
which Lois and John led many outings for many years and were long serving members
of the Board of Directors. There is almost no way all of us combined can take over what
they have done for this club but many club members are banding together to attempt
to fill their shoes.

Lois was like the MAMA BEAR for many of us, teaching us how to paddle and making sure
we were safe on the river.

John was like PAPA BEAR, making sure we have the right stuff to fit our size and our skills.

John and Lois were very supportive of the BRCS for many years and actually, Lois is the
main reason it exists.

She dared Norm to start a cleanup group that did river cleanups but not during her outings
where Norm took too much time and fell behind. Norm thought that was a great idea and
started doing cleanups right away. They inspired others to do things that probably would
not have done, like convince Marvin Puska and Tracie Lord to be the President of the club.

When Lois and John wanted you to do something, you usually ended up doing it.

Lois started to do river cleanups on the Lower Platte River and when the BRCS couldn't get
any cooperation from the USFS on the Pine River, Lois took it over and had them eating out
of her hand in no time. Norm called her the Queen of the Pine.

Lois and John were born leaders and an inspiration to all of us.

No matter how hard we worked at being leaders they showed us how we could never
measure up to their level of real leadership and stewardship abilities.

The Board decided the award that the club gives to teens who help at the BRCS, will
now be dedicated to the memory or John and Lois and it will now be called The Lois
Goldstein and John Heiam Memorial TAPC Youth Stewardship Award. Thus perpetuating
Lois' and John's legacy of river stewardship.

Also, the Board wanted to place a memorial plaque on the Pine River in memory for John
and Lois but the US Forest Service does not allow memorials to be placed on federal lands.

Mark Miltner and Norm were able to get the cooperation of the USFS and the Wexford
County Road Commission who will allow us to place the plaque on a bridge abutment
facing the Dobson Landing on the Pine River. It will be one inch outside US Federal lands.

John and Lois were not church goers. Their church was the woods, rivers and pathways
of their world and they went to their church a lot.

Even though they were not religious in the ways we may think of, in both the Jewish and
Christian religions, it is customary to read the 23rd Psalm at the end of any funeral service.

Norm made a few changes to that Psalm and we think Lois and John would be ok with
this version.

The Paddler's Psalm
For Lois and John

The Lord is my River Guide.

I shall not want.

He makes me to lie down and rest in cool, green places;

He leads me beside the still waters;

He restores my soul with flowing rivers;

He leads me on paths of service and stewardship by the river's edge for His name's sake.

Yea, though I paddle through the valley of great turbulence, even unto the shadow of death,

I will fear no evil;

For You are with me;

Your guidance and Your faith in me, they comfort me.

You prepare a safe landing place before me in the presence of my fears;

You anoint my head with Holy Waters;

My cup runneth over.

Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life;

And I shall be carried on the Lord's River of Life forever.

Amen

We will miss John and Lois.

They will not be forgotten.