Jeff

My post today is in tribute to Grant's longtime friend, Jeff. We just came home from his memorial service...remembering and celebrating his life with his family and many friends.

Grant and Jeff were childhood buddies, "joined at the hip", as Jeff's mom would often say. They did all kinds of fun stuff together, got into all kinds of trouble and stood up for each other at their 1st weddings. As life happens, they eventually lost touch.

God had other plans...April 2010, Jeff and Grant connected again.

We learned Jeff was surviving stage 4 lung cancer, diagnosed in 2007 and at that time only given 4 to 6 months to live. In May 2010, I met Jeff at the fundraiser his family hosted for him as a way to raise financial support for him. Grant & I were blessed to spend our 30th wedding anniversary with Barb & Jeff up at their lake home near Mille Lacs. This summer, Jeff & Grant planted 400 tree seedlings on his mom's property with the hope to replant them in the woods to grow up and become trees for eagles to nest in.

He was a man who lived life to the fullest. He had this great smile and laugh with this wonderful sense of humor. AND he loved coffee! He was a role model to many boy scouts. If he had an idea, he would pursue it - he didn't know the word "I can't". He loved nature and loved the land his parents built their house on in Randolph - the Property. That's where his service was at today. As we were just getting past Randolph, it started snowing - how beautiful it was. We were out in the woods - winding road with trails into the woods and benches to sit on. We raised the United States Flag - as he loved the USA. We said the Boy Scout Oath and Motto. Memories, tributes, and pictures were shared as we all sat outside amidst the large flakes of snow falling down. Oh, how he loved to sit and watch the snow fall. His ashes were buried up on the small hill to the side of the house. It was a day celebrated as Jeff would have wanted it.

Lord, thank you for the friends you bring into our lives to enrich our life.

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Jeffrey Scott Maltby Visit Guest Book

Was born on November 29, 1954 Passed away November 27, 2011 Jeff died peacefully after a courageous battle with lung cancer. Jeff was preceded in death by his father; Wendell Maltby. Survived by his loving mother, Patricia Maltby; his children, Jon and Melissa Maltby; grandson, Tyler Maltby; his significant other, Barbara Matthews; mother of his children, Susan Krohn; his siblings, Kris (Mick) Brogan, Greg (Judy) Maltby, Kathy (Neil) Scharmer, Steve (Jan) Maltby. Barb's children, William (Sonja) Matthews, Kerry (Isaac), and grandchildren, Adelynn and Nora Marsolek; and many family and friends. Jeff was a lifetime scouter, avid volunteer and leader with Kaposia District of North Star BSA. Jeff loved being outdoors working to educate children about science in nature and he had a passion for flying airplanes. His memorial will be held at 949 Sciota Trail, Randolph, MN 55065 on Saturday December 3rd, 2011, 2PM-4PM with a service at 2:30 PM. http://www.legacy.com/