Josh Kasprzak lost his life on November 1, in a senselessly violent and sad tragedy that we're all still struggling to understand. His partner Lou was present and held him. It was the last thing anyone thought would happen. Josh loved beyond measure. He is remembered by friends and family as one of the kindest, silliest, and most caring person you could imagine. He was passionate about the outdoors, passionate about community, and lived an incredibly full life in a very short time. He traveled, making life long friends wherever he went. He taught - formally and informally. He loved To share information and skills with others, and did so in a Thoughtful and thorough way. Formerly an outdoor school counselor, a scuba instructor, a preschool teacher, and most recently a sensible guy that wanted to help you with your home project, ham radio, or repairing audio equipment... Josh learned any new skill that he could and shared that information so freely. He volunteered much of his time helping friends and neighbors with anything he possibly could. If it meant he stayed up until the wee hours reading manuals and researching, he was thrilled to do so. In the last few years, that passion for learning was focused around carwin, his partner's daughter, who he held such love for. He taught her how to play records on the turntable. How to read a tape measure. How to identify mushrooms, How to operate the tractor, how to sweat pipe... Most recently he purchased her a multimeter so she could begin learning electrical. Whatever he was up to, she was included and encouraged. He didn't have kids of his own, but when faced with a kid that needed him, he Treated her like is very own. He did the hard work of learning how to parent, And took huge pride in his relationship with her. It was hard, as any parent knows, but he loved so deeply that even that was a simple task for him. He was a loving son, a good friend and a supportive partner. He encouraged his partner Lou to really follow through with her artistic career, And in the wee hours, when she struggled finishing sculptures or cried over mosaic she didn't get quite right, he brought the glue, the tools, and the love right to her and held the extra pieces. He saw the vision she had and was tirelessly by her side and made sure it happened. It was an incredibly beautiful time for both of them and even the cashier at the thrift store they'd visit on 'Friday date day' would remark that they were just really good for each other and pretty darn lucky. He took her to every dot on a map she'd ever wanted to see deep in the woods, With every survival tool An emergency supply possible packed diligently in the truck. They opened a store around their shared love of the outdoors and reuse of items destined for the landfill. Paper maps, radios, art, and herbs they harvested together, the back 40 collective was an homage to the life they were building. Without him, it doesn't make any sense. Nothing does.

Now, it's a different world for Lou and her 7-year-old daughter Carwin, who saw Josh as a parent and friend. They are struggling to be in the home they were renovating together, and must face the enormous task of doing all that he did. Picking up where he left off and finishing what he'd dreamed of here. Initially, that will involve picking up the half-finished projects, straightening up, laying the back 40 collective to rest as well, and getting some seriously heavy grief counseling. This was a highly traumatic incident that has scarred both of them.

Proceeds of this fundraiser will go toward counseling Carlin, and toward planning a memorial in the spring which will be a gigantic public lands clean-up.