I just returned from a memorial service of a good friend of mine, and long time Packer fan, Bill Moderie. None of you knew him, so let me tell you about him.
Bill was a custodian at one of the schools I was at here in Missoula. I didn't know he was a Packer fan until one day I wore a Packer sweatshirt, and from then on we did our best to wear Packer shirts when I was there just to piss off the 2 Viking fans teachers on staff.
Bill was a gentle giant. He was 6 feet 7 inches tall and his one speed was slow. But get him in a three point shooting contest with the kids and he was deadly. Or throwing a football. I measured one pass of his in our kids Punt, Pass, and Kick contest at 68 yards. He would do anything he could to help out the school and he had a crew of renegade 5th graders he called his "Mod Squad". They would be in before school, at recess, and sometmes even after school, to help him. Putting up bulletin boards in the halls, scrubbing black shoe marks off my gym floor, decorating the rooms for birthdays.
Bill retired several years ago due to his health and I saw him one time just after he had lost a leg due to his Diabetes. Before I could even say anything he said to me, "Bob, I lost 50 pounds in one day." I was looking puzzled and he continued, "they took off my leg." And he laughed his big old laugh.
He came from a family that had 14 children, and they are well know around Missoula and western Montana. Blue collar family of hard workers and honest people.
His wife died several years ago from cancer and he took on the role of Father, mother, and breadwinner. His youngest boy is a Packer fan...I had him in school the past two years. Today at the service I walked up to him and handed him a package wrapped in green and gold tissue paper.
He opened it and in it was my Brett Favre jersey. "Jacob," I said, "this fits you better than me. And I think your Dad would be proud if you wore it once in awhile."
Bill was 56. Heaven has another packer fan to cheer them on.
Anyone for a Weenie Roast?