Gig Harbor Undressed

Remembering Joshua Oberhansli

I hesitated on whether or not to include this post.  I don’t want this in any way to come across as self promotion or promoting my office.  I decided that this is a community blog, and Joshua was a part of our community, and his story shows the greatness of our community.  So with permission from Dina Vodopich, I’ll simply cut and paste her version of Joshua Oberhansli’s story:

Hello All Fellow Agents, Friends & Family,

Wanted to pass along how wonderful our community is and how strong we all are together!  Yesterday I had the privilege of attending Joshua Francis Oberhansli’s funeral at Chapel Hill Church.  There wasn’t much for dry eyes during the slide show of his life and family. It was wonderful to be there in support of all the family and friends who attended.

The reason for my email is also to share the power of people sharing and caring when they get together.  On Tuesday January 15th I had to take a document up to Haven of Rest so that a large chunk of the funeral home costs were taken care of.  While I was there I met a few of the hospital ladies and their husbands who think that we, Keller Williams are such a great firm to do all that we have done together to help out the family.  Kim Osterman asked me specifically what the family would have to pay after the plot contribution.  I spoke with George Nelson from Haven of Rest and he said that the balance would be $800.31, I recalled the special Urn they wanted in their home for Joshua and George said that was paid in full by an  anonymous person.  The “anonymous” donations has been very strong from so many of you, and I just want to THANK YOU for all that you have done!  We were able to pay $500 that evening towards the funeral costs, which left a balance of $300.31.  Between the three couples there the balance was paid in full and they did it with such Joy.  It was truly a moving experience.  Then the question was asked of me “What do the Oberhansli’s owe for the service at Chapel Hill?”  I got into my secret squirrel mode and called around to get that answer, $2,800 or so.  I shared that answer with the ladies that evening.  Bringing you to the end of this story is that between 23 +/- Tacoma General, friends and family from that group collected in one day $2,800 to pay the fee in full!  After the service I was asked to speak with Kim and her group about a fund raiser they are holding at Joeseppi’s this coming Wednesday for the Oberhansli family to help with all the other mounding bills they have.  This is when they told me about the gift for the funeral service.  If you still would like to donate to the Oberhansli fund, I am making more than happy to do so for you at Columbia Bank.  I will be making a run today for our agents who have written checks to Columbia Bank with Oberhansli in the memo of the check.

I Thank You all for everything you have contributed to this family in a time of need.  We are an awesome company and I have heard this time and time again from the nurses, family members and friends who I have spoken with in these past few days.   

Joshua Francis Oberhansli Joshua Francis Oberhansli died peacefully at his home on Fox Island on January 9, 2008 surrounded by family and friends. Joshua celebrated his 2nd birthday just three days prior; he was born January 6, 2006 in Tacoma, WA. Joshua battled a rare childhood cancer for 17 months leading up to his passing. He was a vivacious boy who was always found smiling despite cancer treatments and side effects. Joshua defined love and togetherness; his spirit will forever bring people together in the face of love. His nurse at Children’s was quoted as saying, “let us base Josh(y)’s life not on how old he was, but by how much he was loved and how much he loved life. To me, that makes him a very old man.” Beloved son of Ron and Dawn Oberhansli, Jr and cherished little brother of Zachary and Lauren, Joshua adored playing with his family and having fun. He especially delighted in dancing, vacuuming, and playing on the beach. To forever cherish his memory, he also leaves grandparents Ron and Autumn Oberhansli, Jan Barker, Darrel and Arlynn Gunderson; great grandmothers Virginia Purkey, and Linda Armour. He is further survived by many loving aunts, uncles, cousins, and friends. 

 www.caringbridge.org/visit/joshuao .

Thank You,

Dina Vodopich