Our Son,
Rick
We lost our oldest son, Rick, Saturday
in a tragic motorcycle accident.
Sadly, our entire family was gathering Saturday morning
to help our youngest son move into his new home. Rick was
doing what he does best...helping others. Whenever
someone needs help, he is always the first in line! He
was on his way to get the packed trailer and drive it to
Matthew's new house where we were all gathering to unload
it.
At 8:30 am, just as I was leaving our home in West
Jefferson to join the family, the OSU Emergency Dept.
called to tell me Rick had been in a motorcycle crash at
7 am. That was all she would say on the phone. As I raced
to the hospital, I knew in my heart that Rick had not
survived. I called his only child, Ray (21), on my way to
the hospital and he met me there.
Unfortunately, the doctor told us they had tried their
best, but could not save him. He had no signs of life at
the scene. He received many, many units of blood, but
they were unable to give him blood as fast as he was
bleeding internally. He had massive chest and pelvic
injuries. I learned from the investigating officer Sunday
morning that when the SUV failed to yield to oncoming 50
mph traffic and turned in front of him, he was ejected
from his motorcycle and his body crashed into the right
rear side of the SUV. The doctor assured us that he had
died instantly from the impact and did not suffer.
Monday morning, Fred and I and Rick's son, Ray, met with
the funeral home to finalize plans. We decided that Rick
will be cremated. This was the hardest day for me. I had
to (and wanted to) see Rick one last time to identify his
body before cremation. Ray and I went in to see him. I
don't think Ray really wanted to see him again, but I
don't think he wanted me to have to do it alone. All the
tubes were gone and he had been cleaned up and he really
looked like Rick. He had very few visible injuries. For
me, the finality of seeing his body for the very last
time really undid me.
Ray plans to build a casket for him (at Rick's request)
and we will create a time capsule of sorts, including
some of Rick's ashes and remembrances from those who
loved him. The casket will then be buried either at Rick
and Ray's home in West Jeff or at our new home in Newark.
We are trying to see through our fog of shock to make
plans for a gathering to celebrate his life. After
meeting with the funeral home, our family gathered here
at our home for lunch and sharing. Rick's cousin, Kathy,
came, unasked and took over preparing lunch for everyone.
Everyone shared photos and stories and simply clung to
each other. We decided what Rick would have wanted was a
big party! So we have planned to have a casual Memorial
Gathering on the afternoon of Rick's 44th birthday --
Sunday, November 11th. This gathering at Rick and Ray's
home will be open to everyone, as a funeral would have
been...and will likely include lots of food and a big bon
fire! For those of you who knew Rick, I am sure you will
agree that this kind of memorial is just his style!
With Ray being a full time OSU student, still living at
home, there are many financial concerns, at least until
Rick's estate is settled. It has be so hard to focus on
the "business" end of things at this time, but
we have no choice. And for Ray, at almost 22, it is a
huge responsibility. We are doing what we can to help him
with these big decisions. We decided at our family
gathering to set up a "Rick Kinne Memorial
Fund" for Ray's education, in lieu of flowers. We
hope to get that set up on Tuesday when the banks are
again open.
Thanks to all of you who have called and written and
reached out to try to comfort us.
We hope to get the obituary in the Columbus Dispatch in a
day or two. The following was in the Columbus Dispatch
Sunday morning:
West Jefferson man killed in
motorcycle-SUV crash
A motorcyclist was killed yesterday morning on the Far
West Side after a collision with a sport-utility vehicle,
Columbus police said.
Raymond F. Kinne II, 43, of West Jefferson, was westbound
on Roberts Road at Frazell Road about 7 a.m. when he
collided with an SUV making a left turn. It was driven by
Erin E. Caldwell, 20, of Galloway, police said.
Kinne was taken to Ohio State University Medical Center,
where he was pronounced dead. The accident remains under
investigation.
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