John Boy’s Journey Home
On Monday, November 9, 2020, John “John Boy” Le Jeune passed away in his sleep.
His family and community of friends lost a generous, compassionate and humorous person. We still feel his presence daily, and that is why we are asking for your help.
John was a bartender in St. Paul, MN for decades, bringing smiles to those he served and worked with day in and day out. He loved his service industry “tribe” that he built lifetime relationships with. During the first Covid response shutdown in the spring, the federal and state financial assistance although much appreciated was often not enough to make ends meet for John and his “tribe”. When June came and restaurants and bars were slowly opening, the tribe was excited to get back to work and start earning their keep again.
Fast forward a few months, and it had become evidently clear that a second shutdown was imminent. With the holidays just around the corner, the stress for John and his friends are reaching extreme levels.
Two days before John passed, we spoke about his concerns, not only for himself, but even more so for his closest friends. We heard him say, “If this shutdown happens, these guys won’t be able to put gifts under their trees for their families this year, and they’re already struggling.” That sentiment has haunted us since the second shutdown was announced on Wednesday, November 18. His close friends are grieving themselves while also being concerned about being out of a job by the end of the week. This tribe has been present with us; helping us physically and emotionally as we navigate through this heavy time.
As a family, along with many friends, we have been trying to figure out the most impactful way to honor and memorialize John, and suddenly our mission became clear: We want to help John’s friends the way he would have wanted to help them if he were here.
With that being said, we would like to collect funds in John’s name to give these friends “a big tip” from him. Our hopes are to help provide funds for gifts and a family feast for them and their families over the holidays. We are looking to bring some smiles during an exceedingly difficult time, something John Boy was a master at. We know in our hearts that if John were able to choose a way to memorialize himself, this is what he would want. He loved his friends so much and considered them family. We are hoping we can continue to do more for the service industry in the future; that would make him so proud!
As John walked through and lived his life here on Earth, he did his best to live the “golden rule”; his good deeds and big heart were proof of that. He is on a different journey now, although living through us in our hearts.
To hold onto the surprise aspect, we are not releasing the beneficiaries of this campaign, but if you would like to know who is receiving these funds please reach out to us directly.
Please send you donations in by December 10th so we can give this great gift of joy in time for the holiday's.
Thank you all so much for your support in John Boy's honor.
On Monday, November 9, 2020, John “John Boy” Le Jeune passed away in his sleep.
His family and community of friends lost a generous, compassionate and humorous person. We still feel his presence daily, and that is why we are asking for your help.
John was a bartender in St. Paul, MN for decades, bringing smiles to those he served and worked with day in and day out. He loved his service industry “tribe” that he built lifetime relationships with. During the first Covid response shutdown in the spring, the federal and state financial assistance although much appreciated was often not enough to make ends meet for John and his “tribe”. When June came and restaurants and bars were slowly opening, the tribe was excited to get back to work and start earning their keep again.
Fast forward a few months, and it had become evidently clear that a second shutdown was imminent. With the holidays just around the corner, the stress for John and his friends are reaching extreme levels.
Two days before John passed, we spoke about his concerns, not only for himself, but even more so for his closest friends. We heard him say, “If this shutdown happens, these guys won’t be able to put gifts under their trees for their families this year, and they’re already struggling.” That sentiment has haunted us since the second shutdown was announced on Wednesday, November 18. His close friends are grieving themselves while also being concerned about being out of a job by the end of the week. This tribe has been present with us; helping us physically and emotionally as we navigate through this heavy time.
As a family, along with many friends, we have been trying to figure out the most impactful way to honor and memorialize John, and suddenly our mission became clear: We want to help John’s friends the way he would have wanted to help them if he were here.
With that being said, we would like to collect funds in John’s name to give these friends “a big tip” from him. Our hopes are to help provide funds for gifts and a family feast for them and their families over the holidays. We are looking to bring some smiles during an exceedingly difficult time, something John Boy was a master at. We know in our hearts that if John were able to choose a way to memorialize himself, this is what he would want. He loved his friends so much and considered them family. We are hoping we can continue to do more for the service industry in the future; that would make him so proud!
As John walked through and lived his life here on Earth, he did his best to live the “golden rule”; his good deeds and big heart were proof of that. He is on a different journey now, although living through us in our hearts.
To hold onto the surprise aspect, we are not releasing the beneficiaries of this campaign, but if you would like to know who is receiving these funds please reach out to us directly.
Please send you donations in by December 10th so we can give this great gift of joy in time for the holiday's.
Thank you all so much for your support in John Boy's honor.