ForeverMissed
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His Life

Jeff's Memorial Service

October 6, 2014

We’re here to celebrate the life of Jeff Behling, beloved…

Husband to Tanna

Father to Anya and Cole

Son to Pat and Larry

Brother to Tim

As well as a son-in-law, brother-in-law, cousin and dear friend to many as you can see by the pictures and looking around here at all of the faces today. 

Jeff grew up in a little suburb of Milwaukee, WI named St. Francis.  He was always proud of his roots even after he and Tanna moved to Arizona over 19 years ago.  Tanna and Jeff met in Milwaukee over 23 years ago at their well-known music festival, Summerfest, situated on Lake Michigan, and just celebrated their 20-year anniversary on May 28th of this year.

Jeff was an avid outdoorsman, aptly named “Ranger Jeff” by camping buddies, the Hawk family, for that reason, who loved to camp, hunt and fish, especially back in Wisconsin.  He was also a talented athlete throughout his junior and high school years.  There was no sport that Jeff, a.k.a. “Beh” or “Behls” on the field or court, couldn’t play, but his favorites were football, basketball, track and golf.  There was no doubt that Jeff was a Green Bay Packer and Wisconsin Badger fan through and through as he typically had some attire that donned their logo.  If he didn’t wear something with a sports team, then he typically wore anything with the Oakley, Under Armour or Nike logo, thus nicknamed the “Nike Poster Child” by long-time friends, the Bates family.  He was very brand loyal.

At times, Jeff would expand his loyalty to other sports and sports teams such as ASU (unless they were playing Wisconsin of course), Arizona Diamondbacks, NASCAR (especially Matt Kenseth since he’s from Wisconsin) and the Arizona Cardinals football team…Especially since, as a family, they enjoyed going to Flagstaff for their training camps where they met their good friends from Surprise, the Hooblers.  It was an annual tradition for many years until the Cardinals moved to the Glendale arena.

You usually saw Jeff in a baseball hat and he had quite the collection!  He also had an aversion to pants and typically wore shorts, even in the cold season in Wisconsin!  There were many occasions when they spent time in Flagstaff for the Thanksgiving holiday with their dear friends, the Wilsons, and Jeff would wear shorts while building a snowman!

After his children, Anya (an 8th grader at Desert Shadows Middle) and Cole (a 5th grader at Sonoran Sky Elementary) got older, he had also become a volleyball fan as well since he loved to watch Anya excel on the court…although the referees weren’t necessarily his friends!  Both of his kids took on their love of sports with Cole following in his footsteps on the football and track field. At times Jeff coached his teams or was the self-appointed “assistant” on the sideline, especially if the referees needed some help! J

Jeff was the true definition of a “collector” or a.k.a pack rat at times.  He was very sentimental about his collections of glass Christmas ornaments, Hallmark ornaments, as well as hanging on to old “classic” toys and cars.  He enjoyed sharing this hobby with son Cole and they frequented antique shops in search of valuable hot wheels and coins.

He loved spending time with family and friends and a backyard BBQ, him at the grill as “Grill Master J” with an ICE cold Bud Light or Coca-Cola in his hand.  Many favorite memories where shared over his favorite foods of Johnsonville Brats, hamburgers, or pulled pork with all of the fixins’.  It was over these gatherings that he lovingly also got the nicknames of “Jeffrey George” and “Pork Chop”.

Jeff, being a business owner of APEX Pool Service for over 9 years, could fix about anything.  He was always willing to lend a helping hand to those who weren’t as gifted in those areas to friends, family, neighbors, etc.  He was well-equipped to find a solution to most any challenge, otherwise, he could just “McGyver” it to hold it over until it was repaired properly.

Due to his softer side, Jeff also had a special way with little kids and animals, especially dogs.  He had many furry pals as he serviced his clients, but mostly he loved cuddling with their family pets, their late Himalayan cats, Tabby and Taylor, recently adopted Calico, Kiki, as well as their Ridgeback mix Rupert.

Jeff and Tanna became involved in the Scottsdale Bible Community over 18 years ago and he loved this church as they were both involved in many activities here; but most importantly, Jeff loved the creator of his soul and His savior.  Although it’s sad that he is not with us here, this is a time of celebration of his life and all that he meant to all of you.  Please join us in worship…

 

(Ending – after the song “One” by U2)

We are One…one community of brothers and sisters that God has made uniquely with different gifts.  The Behling family has gone through a lot this past week with the sudden loss of Jeff, and the road ahead will be a difficult one, however, as their community, we have been called to be the hands and feet of Christ, utilizing our special gifts, to help them through.  I know Tanna, Pat and the kids have been well cared for in the past week and are forever grateful for all the love and support that they’ve received and wanted to express that to you.

Now we’re going to do something unique, just as Jeff would have wanted.  He loved to light off fireworks, especially with their pyromaniac neighbors, the Fords, as well as build rockets with his son Cole and launch them at their neighborhood park.

To conclude our celebration, we will be filtering out to the south parking lot where we have a rocket staged.  We will all gather around the rocket where I will say a few words before it’s launched.  Please do not depart before this time.  After launching, you will be dismissed after I pray.  Immediately following the rocket launch, close family and friends that have spent personal time with the Behling family will proceed to the Town Center for continued fellowship and celebration. I will see you outside…

 

(At Rocket)

This rocket is a representation of Jeff.  His good friend, Jason Hawk and son Cole, built this together and included all of his “nicknames” on it.  Although we wish Jeff could be here in person, we know he is here in spirit as he is now in the heavenly realm with his Creator.  Prayerfully, this rocket is designed to reach a height that we will lose sight of it, and although we won’t see it, we know it’s still there somewhere.  This is our life…our God is here with us, as well as Jeff, and we don’t see them, but they are still here.  It’s important that we stay in relationship with them although they are not here, you can still talk to them during this difficult time and always…they are listening…

(Rocket Launch, prayer and dismissal)