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We did it Jay!

March 9, 2022
After many years, many Humble years. I have finally achieved a goal Jay knew I could hit. Maintenance Person Of Year Award. Last night we had our company award dinner. I thanked everyone for believing in me, but it was truly Jay who seen it first. He had mentioned that he wanted that more for me, than I did for myself. I will be forever grateful for the time we shared. The desk we shared , daily for lunch. The cars we picked up that fateful night are now on display for all to see, and hopefully ask about. You will forever be a part of me. A brother. A friend.  A Guardian of Good. He remains a positive light in my life , when it gets dark. Eternity grateful.  Love Always,  Joseph. 

A Special Guy

May 25, 2016

 I met Jay years ago through a local Hot Wheels Club. He was a delightful guy with a ton of personality. He would come to visit me at my Anoka house and we would trade Hot Wheels. He told me he was from Crandon Wisconsin, a place I've never heard of. He also told me that Crandon was the toilet seat capital of the world. Apparently, there was a factory there were they built toilet seats. One time he came over to my house after a Halloween function at his work. He had a Hot Wheels shirt on with Hot Wheels cars sewn all over it and a piece of the orange RaceTrac going around his body so he could set cars on the track and dance like with a hula hoop and the cars would race around his body! it was hilarious  yet  incredibly creative. And that's my eternal picture of Jay and his little Hot Wheels Halloween costume. It was precious. I feel fortunate that I had the privilege to know Jay and he will remain a prince of a man in my mind.  My thoughts to his family


Thank You

November 2, 2013

We want to thank everyone from the bottom of our hearts for their wonderful stories and pictures of Jay.  It has been a year ago today, but it seems like yesterday.  What wonderful family and friends he has!  Truly, he will never be forgotten.


With Love and Appreciation,

Herb & Tina      

My Brother's Brother

October 31, 2013

My brother, Ray Bailey, just found out about Jay's death.  I thought he knew and hadn't brought it up.  He asked me to post something on his behalf.  The text he sent was: can you post something for me? how much he meant to me and he was the only brother i'll ever have i'll miss him dearly can't see to type.  I remember Ray and Jay being buddies and I know how much he will be missed by all.

 

Christmas Memories of my dear friend Jay

December 13, 2012

I had a very hard time decorating for Christmas this year.  But once I was done I felt so much better!  I moved where I currently live 5 years ago.  Jay never forgot about me. My 2nd Christmas here he made me a beautiful mantle for my "fireplace" I bought..(I was so thrilled because I hit a sale.bought the insert but I could not afford the rest..) I had no idea of what Jay was planning and no idea he had "measured things and planning this "   Jay called me on a Sunday right before Christmas and I had plans to do "other stuff" he told me I couldn't and to please stay home.  I was not thrilled at all...(he kept insisting so I did listen) and he brought this amazing mantle...plus brass hooks and stockings for my "creatures". I was shocked and to say "I loved it and still love it " is totally true.  It means EVERYTHING TO ME..The last time I saw him after dealing with my horrible vacuum he gave me a hug and "loved up" my two dogs..I am so greatful for that moment.    I would do anything to see my friend again but God had other plans and I must trust him. 

 

Another thing Jay bought me was an "Angel" for outside..I am on a" fixed " income and have to be careful...I saw this "Angel" and Jay kept watching me look at it (We were at a Goodwill thrift store) well I kept staring at it..but decided I could not afford it...I got home and what was in my bag?  You guess!  I love  Jay lthere will be no one that can compare. I am adding the pictures. 

I miss you friend...I will never meet anyone again like you...

November 17, 2012

Dear Friends,

     I and Nikky intended to attend the funeral but we failed to find a sitter for our 1 month old little boy.  But our hearts, thoughts & prayers were with you on this solemn day.
     We had been working with the Minneapolis Homicide Detectives for nearly a week identifying things we knew were Jay's possessions.  We were elated to have received a call from the detective notifying us of the apprehension of the suspect.  On the days that followed I received another call from the detective and after identifying Bell, (Jay's cat), I gladly picked her up and took her in.  My intentions were to bring her to the funeral but because of our inability to attend we received a call from Steve Allen and he came to pick Bell up.  When I met Steve I sensed that, by his kind and loving demeanor, Jay is very much alive!  Jay possessed that same demeanor and it lives on within all whose lives he's touched...even ours.
     And knowing the kindness and forgiving heart that Jay emitted, and in accordance with the Lord, we all must find it in our hearts to forgive the 18 year old suspect, namely, Jamil Joshua Eason.  Life is not about fairness nor is it about seeking answers as to why evil lurks around us.  Here's a little exerpt on this subject:      

“[Our Lord Jesus Christ] Who gave himself for our sins, that he might deliver us from this present evil world, according to the will of God and our Father:” (Galatians 1:4 KJV).

A few months ago, I saw a television program titled “Hell: The Devil’s Domain.” Currently the devil is not in hell. Satan is alive and well, and carrying out his work on earth! As of right now, earth—not hell—is the devil’s domain. God has allowed Satan to have free roam on earth to do almost anything he wants. The activity of Satan is called “the policy of evil.”

The Book of Job is one of the most obvious portions of Scripture to confirm that Earth is the devil’s domain. In Job 1:6,7 (and Job 2:1,2), an angelic host comes before the Lord, and Satan is among them. When God questions Satan as to where he was, Satan responds: “going to and fro in the earth.” Satan never mentioned hell because Satan was roaming free here on earth! By walking around on earth, Satan is indicating that he, not God, is exercising power on earth. This is why John 12:31 and John 14:30 call Satan “the prince of this world.” And this is why Ephesians 6:12 speaks of “the rulers of the darkness of this world.”

Even the Creator God was subject to the devil’s temptations when He became flesh and came to earth! Jesus Christ was fully God and fully man, but Satan even tempted Jesus. Obviously, Jesus was never on the verge of sinning and giving in to the devil, but Satan tried his hardest to negotiate with God the Son. According to Matthew 4:8,9 (and Luke 4:5-7), Satan promised to give the Lord Jesus all the kingdoms of the world if Jesus would simply bow and worship Satan! Matthew 4:8,9 KJV say:

“8 Again, the devil taketh him up into an exceeding high mountain, and sheweth him all the kingdoms of the world, and the glory of them; 9 And saith unto him, All these things will I give thee, if thou wilt fall down and worship me.”

And Luke 4:5-7 KJV says:

“5 And the devil, taking him up into an high mountain, shewed unto him all the kingdoms of the world in a moment of time. 6 And the devil said unto him, All this power will I give thee, and the glory of them: for that is delivered unto me; and to whomsoever I will I give it. 7 If thou therefore wilt worship me, all shall be thine.”

Why was Satan willing to give Jesus the world’s kingdoms? Satan had possession of them all! Little did Satan know that during the Millennial Reign of Christ, the Lord would possess all those kingdoms anyway (Revelation 11:15)!

The Bible says in 1 John 5:19 KJV: “And we know that we are of God, and the whole world lieth in wickedness.” Why? The devil is the “god of this world” who uses works-religion to hide the Gospel of the Grace of God from lost people, so they go to hell (2 Corinthians 4:3,4). Satan is hindering as much of the Lord’s work as he can (1 Thessalonians 2:18). After the creation of Adam and Eve, God gave them dominion over the earth (Genesis 1:26-28). Satan gained control of the world once man fell into sin (Romans 5:12; 2 Corinthians 4:3,4), and has been ruling the world—with God’s permission, of course—for nearly 6,000 years!

The Apostle Paul wrote in Ephesians 5:15,16 that Christians should “walk circumspectly [diligently, carefully], not as fools, but as wise, redeeming the time, because the days are evil.” Our world is full of iniquity, which is basically what the Apostle Paul told the Thessalonica believers in 2 Thessalonians 2:7: “the mystery of iniquity doth already work.”

If the devil were not powerful in this world today, why does God’s Word warning us of the spiritual warfare between good and evil in Ephesians 6:11-20? In order to have a peaceful 1000 years during the earthly reign of Jesus Christ, Satan will have to be bound for 1000 years in the bottomless pit (Revelation 20:1-3). After being loosed for a short time, the devil will be consigned to the eternal lake of fire to suffer for all the misery, confusion, and rebellion he has caused on earth (Revelation 20:7-10).
     Let's find it in our hearts to carry on Jay's forgiving heart and forgive this evil deed perpetrated by this individual. That, my friends, is the beginning of healing.
     God Bless You All!
    

Eulogy for Jay

November 13, 2012

Eulogy for Jay 

 

12 November 2012

 

 

 

 

Good afternoon and welcome.

 

I am Steve Allen and am proud to be Jay's cousin

 

It is so good to see all of you here.   We are grateful that you have come to be with us today and especially for those who have traveled so far.   Your gifts and kindnesses already offered, large and small, as well as those yet to come in the days, weeks, months and even years ahead are both welcome and needed.  For this has been a double tragedy for Herb, Tina, Lisa and Nia, losing first Pete to a heart attack and now Jay.

 

In fact, that is where I last saw Jay, at Pete's funeral.  We hugged and talked for a long time and I remember thinking that, despite everything Jay had gone through in the past year, he had renewed confidence and hope.  He was ready to begin the next chapter of his life.  And I thought to myself that even though we lived so close we did not see each other nearly often enough and I resolved to change that. 

 

The phone call I received just three days later from Herb was heart-wrenching with that horrible, helpless, sound in his voice of a parent who fears for the life of his child.  That sound is the nightmare for all parents. 

 

And to lose Jay like this...so suddenly, so soon after Pete when we haven't even begun to recover, so violently and so senselessly is beyond my ability to take in right now so I stand before you still stunned, still filled with grief for Jay, for his family and for myself.  The family has asked me to give this eulogy but I must tell you that even now my mind spins, reeling, trying desperately to hold on to something that will make sense of all of this so that it does not envelope and overwhelm me.

 

As I walked the wooded pathways this week along the St. Croix river valley close to my home, the crisp air kissing my cheeks and sending my hands to seek the warmth of my my jacket pockets, my eyes wandering upward finding bare branches, black lace, silhouetted against the indigo blue evening sky, a hint of fading pure amber sunset warming and caressing the horizon, the sweet musty smell of fall in my nostrils. Electric lights along the far bank shimmering across to me along the quiet dark water.

 

My mind quiets for a moment and it occurs to me that there is much I do know.  And more; that those things I do know are in all reality so much more important to me than those things I don't yet and may never understand.

 

What do I know?

I know that Jay was born in the month of July which, perhaps, helps explain his love of the 4th of July. Well... that and all the cool stuff you get to do with fireworks around that time of year. And 1967. That was a great year for Detroit. They built some truly classic cars that year which may help explain Jay's love (not to say obsession...) with Hot Wheels. Well... that and the fact that his dad could turn a really mean wrench back in the day and loves things with big engines that go fast.

 

And I know that Jay could not have been born to parents who were more delighted at his arrival nor devoted to him.  And to a sister who wanted and needed a brother to love and play with and to tease without mercy as big sister's sometimes do.   

 

And I imagine Jay, his father's son, following him to work to see him at the Cities Service station fixing automobiles and then speeding his pedal car round and round Grampa Rosio's oval race track (I mean drive-way). 

 

And I know at age 4, Jay developed cancer which required removal of his eye and ongoing cancer treatments.  The family drove the 600 mile round trip to Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota times without counting over years so that their son could have the best chance of survival and the best care possible.  The treatments made him very sick and he wore a bandage over his eye for years growing up while his bone structure matured to the point where a permanent prosthetic could be created.  

 

And through all of this, his family's love for one another grew even more and Jay's boundless spirit was strengthened, not diminished.

 

Jay's interest in things mechanical shifted to bikes and he started his own shop, fixing and building custom bikes for people in Crandon.  He graduated high school and chose a path in fine arts, this time his mother's son, exploring sculpture, photography, and graphic design.

 

After completing his degree his practical side won out and he found what began as temporary work first maintaining and then supervising rental property maintenance.  To do a thing was to do it right for Jay so while there, he created award-winning levels of service.  He won employee of the year and earned both the respect of his employers and co-workers along with establishing deep, meaningful, relationships that have endured ever since. 

 

And so, in this moment with all of us here mourning together with our shared broken hearts,  I am not concerned about whether this tragedy makes sense right now.  In fact, I know it does not.  I know what happened was senseless and wrong.  

 

Things I find in Jay's life, though, make perfect sense. It makes sense to work hard and play hard and keep a sense of humor because that just helps.  It makes sense to treat people with respect and to work with integrity.  It makes sense to treat our work friends like family, because they are.  It makes sense to not take ourselves so seriously. Climbing into an Easter bunny suit at age 40 plus in 90 degree heat is just the right thing to do some days if it happens to bring joy to some small children's hearts. For as we know,  joy is a very precious thing.  Its fine to get a little obsessed about the things we like and the journey to find them, especially when accompanied by those we love, is more than half the reward.  And, stuff is just stuff. People are what's important.  And so it also makes sense to me that we love each other deeply and fully and like there is no tomorrow.

 

And I do know that Jay is known by his friends and family for those things we value most.  I know he was kind, courageous, gentle, honest and generous.  I know he was loyal and worthy of our trust.  He was hard-working and skilled and happy to share his gifts with others.  I know he was full of life and mischief and that he made us laugh and enjoy the life right in front of us.  I know he was a good son, brother, cousin, uncle and friend.   I know that Herb, Tina, Lisa and Nia loved him beyond measure.  And I know that all children would be so lucky to have family and friends and who loved them so and, perhaps...just, perhaps, the world would be a bit safer if they could and if they did.

 

I would like to finish with a short  poem for Jay and then the family hopes that others will please also share their thoughts and memories.

 

Poem for Jay

 

Fast car

vroom vroom in daddy's garage

now pedal fast!

racing racing round  Grampa's drive

 

Fast car

long rides

so sick, so brave

too young to die

 

Fast cars

so many many

colors

shapes

Hot Wheels

Hot Wheels

 

Fast car

home from school

safe and sound

smells of home

 

Fast car

wedding bells

honeymoon

riding high

 

Fast car

speed bumps

and spills

back on track

 

Fast car

fast car

races into our hearts

crashes

into our souls

into Mildred's loving arms

take me

take me

take me

home

 

 

 

 

The dyson vacuum cleaner

November 8, 2012

You will see a picture in the gallery of Jay with a vacuum cleaner.  It is mine and it broke a while ago and I could not fix it. I called Jay for help and of course he came to the rescue.  But the vacuum repair turned into a nightmare! 

To bring it in to be repaired was going to cost a ton of $$$ so Jay spent 3 different trips out here plus a lot of time searching where to get the parts..IT WAS AWFUL.

By the 3rd visit to try and fix this thing I was certain it was hopeless and ready to buy a new vacuum.  Jay started working on it etc...and then suddenly just threw on his coat looking crabby and said "I'm going home now". As I looked on the internet ready to order a replacement vacuum (I have 2 long haired dogs and what I was using wasn't doing the trick...) Jay  got a big grin on his face and said "Don't order that!  It's fixed!"

AND IT WAS!!!!  Jay also said I had one of those vacuums that "suck" (the commercials talk about "suction"..so it was a joke.)  Well my dyson vacuum "sucks" again!  Thankyou dear friend.... 

November 7, 2012

When I first met Jay as a renter prospect back in July of this year I took a liking to him immediately because we both had mechanical minds.  I remember one day this summer Jay was working on his brakes on his truck and he came to me with a problem with his rotors (he was replacing those too). He couldn't get one of his rotors off, he pounded and pounded on it with a hammer to no avail. Then I said to Jay, "hey, let's find a jack for a sudan where it's small enough to fit between the frame of the truck and the rotor and let's use that to emulate hydraulic pressure".  Sure enough, Jay had one of those jacks and we did just that and the rotor popped right off.  That is just one of many good times we shared together.  We even went shopping together, I bought flowers and planted them in the front of his house and I even mowed the lawn for him to relieve him from a long days work.  He even recommended me to his employer, Real Estate Equities but I turned down the job because I am more interested in working for myself and also helping the less fortunate.  Jay and I had discussions about his walk with the Lord and he'd brush me off but I persisted in inviting him to go to church with me.  I told him that nothing in this world means anything if you don't have the Lord.  He was well familiar with it but said that he'd given up.  I told him that the most important thing in life is, where are we going to spend our eternity?  I believe that Jay had the Lord in his heart and I believe that he is sitting with the Lord now.  Though his death was untimely and evil, I believe the Lord had greater plans for him in His Kingdom.  Yes, his genuine, kind and honest heart was visible to the human eyes, his purpose was served.  To find such a genuine loving person, how much more can we expect from God Himself?  Jay will be dearly missed.  It will be my pursuit to find the person(s) responsible for what had happened.

My life with Jay...not enough....

November 6, 2012

I remember so much..Jay taught me how to install a ceiling fan. He cleaned up shop like you wouldn't believe. I worked with him with
Dominium and Real Estate Equities. He became my friend. At the house, so many memories. The lamps he loved, the brass figures he collected,
the bikes he would always tinker with. And yes the Hot Wheels. I remember going to the treasure hunts to find the Lucky Hot Wheel! Dinner
and video games, and movies. He loved kids movies even though he didn't have kids.
But I do and they loved him too. And the bracelets that
we made and earings,beads, cowboy hats, shirts, outfits yes we still have them.
Waking up early and going to the thrift store at 7am waiting for it to open.
And Old Country Buffet, Kmart, and taking Lisa's car to save on gas, We lived a lifetime is such a short time.
Even through the problems I still loved you Jay! Thank you for all the memories, and for letting
my family into the Rosio family. You treated everyone so well. I have known Jay for many years. And he was good at everything he ever did.
And if he didnt he would figure it out. And blue rasberry moonshine!!! I am so sad. There is so much more...I will think of it.
Thank you for teaching me everything you knew. Hollendaise sauce and Blueberry Crepes!! And I cannot forget the throwback Pepsi,
Dancing Queen, and KQRS! Applebees and our game for lunch. Amber was blind in one eye too and was patched...that is how they met. One year and one day older man..but you were
always wiser we always said that because my birthday is July 21 1966..He taught Ashley how to play Portal and now...she has tshirts
and plays the game all the time
Thank you Herbert and Tina Rosio, you did a great job with Jay. I will miss him so much.Thank you for the bunny outfit...we still have it....and the hotw wheels..and ....you know....Love you Jay..you have no idea....been there done that...I hope your world rocks on.....sad face....This is wrong... Adding the truck...
and the grill...make sure the meat is well done...The girls sleeping upstairs after you finished it..and the fan in the living room...so much more...and after the tornado and everything you did to the house and the neighbors...Ashley and Amber's room upstairs...it was fun...I am so sorry I feel so bad..and cleaning your bathroom...one question...what happened to the cats...the girls want to know....so much...
 

Mr. Jaybird Rosio

November 6, 2012

I met Jay through work in 1997.  We worked together at Huntington Place Apartments. I got to know Jay from his passion for Hot Wheels.  He was a feirce collector, & would host conventions now & then.  Back then we worked together, but I didn't know him, like I do now.  Our paths crossed again December 3rd, 2010.   I have had the pleasure of working with him over the past 2 years at Northown Village apts.  We have eaten many meals together ( Jay is a picky eater).  Shared many stories, Like the time him & his Dad built a bike from scratch.  He told me about his dog Sam.  His dream to one day move to Missouri, & build his dream home.  We would have contest to see who could outdress who for company functions. I always felt I had team spirit, until I met Jay.  No one can match his spirit!  I finally had a Star Trek buddy to talk to.  He told me recently he found old vhs tapes of his family gatherings, & how he converted it do dvd just in time for his Neice's wedding.  He was proud of that accomplshment, he knew his family would enjoy!

At Northown, we consider ourselves family!  He was a kid at heart, & a joy to be around.  He loved to play practical jokes.  He was always available to help when needed.  I will miss you Jay, but will never forget you.  Knowing you has made me a better person, and I thank you.  I know he is in a better place, but I will miss you!

Rest in peace my friend.

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