Guestbook

Our thoughts and prayers are with the entire Kankel family. We remember Mari coming to Kyle's birthday party's and other get togethers.She would always light up the room with that beautiful smile! May you all find comfort in knowing she is sleeping peacefully with her angels above.
-- Tony, Lynette & Kyle Harms

Dear Mindy and Jay, I'm writing to you from Naples,Florida. I just learned of the passing of your daughter Mari. You have my sincere sympathy! Duncan Cameron
-- Duncan J. Cameron

MY DEEPEST SYMPATHY FOR YOU AND YOUR FAMILY
-- Linda Prebyl

My sympathy to you and all your family. You are in my prayers.
-- Olive Luckritz

Our thought and prayers are with you all. We all know that God had his arms wide open for Mari and she is now dancing in God's kingdom.

Love, The Milbrandt Family
-- Jon, Brenda, Jacob & Tyler Milbrandt

Our thoughts of dear Mari will always be with us. She brought a love into this world none of us shared before. She was an angel here on earth always sharing her message. Love always
-- Rosemary Milbrandt

Jenna - I'm so sorry to hear about your sister, my thoughts and prayers are with you and your family at this time. I will never forget her bright and beautiful smile. My deepest sympathy for you and your family.
-- Denise Mercier

Jay, I was so sorry to hear of your daughter's passing. I'm certain that she had a great outlook on life just as her father does. Please accept my sincerest coldolences. I will remember her in my prayers.
-- Jeffrey Blazekovich

Sorry for your loss, all the guys at L/D 13.
-- Lock & Dam 13

Our deepest smypathies for you and your family.
-- Lock & Dam 13

Sorry i couldnt be with you at this time. Wanted to let you know i am very sorry for your loss of your precious daughter. Heaven has another Angel.
-- Karl and Jody Schmitz

So sorry for your loss. My thoughts and prayers are with you all.
-- Beverly Rice

Mindy...you have not lost her permanently. She is with you always now. Open your heart and soul to the love of family and friends and you'll hear and feel her. May God bless you and your family.
-- Texas Mommy

My dearest Mari Jean, you were love and grace personified, a tangible manifestation of what I think God's perfect love must be. Your generosity, good humor, zest for life and infinite capacity for love and forgiveness gave us all a glimpse of the divine. Is it any wonder that we miss you so? You are always in my thoughts and close to my heart. I love you, Mariposa. Mom
-- Mindy Kankel

Mariposita, it's now been a little over ninety days since you departed this life to begin another. Winter began for us on that day and seems as though it will never end. I think about you always. I wonder what you see. I look for you and listen carefully, but I think I'm not quiet enough. So many thoughts and feelings swirl constantly, mostly profound sadness. I try to have faith and focus more on what you have gained, rather than what we have lost. I's so difficult though. Harder than anything I could have ever imagined. We miss you peaches. All my love, Mom
-- Mindy Kankel

Mariposa, I remember when Alice in Wonderland came out on DVD. I bought it immediately hoping you would really like it. You totally did! Toward the end of the movie when Alice is still trying to figure out who she is and whether she can slay the jabberwocky, she see Absolon sppinning his chrysalis. She asks what he's doing and he tells her that he has come to the end of this life. She sobs a bit and aske if he's going to die. He looks at her meaningfully and says, "Transform." I remember most ho intently you watched that and your mysterious smile. I knew you understood. You understood more than me. It's been 120 days since you "transformed" sweet peaches. I hope it is a Wonder Land! I love you & miss you so. Mom
-- Mindy Kankel

Mari, dearest, Easter has now come and gone. Another holiday without you. Just one more reminder of what we have lost and the ongoing struggle to try and re-assemble the broken pieces into some semblance of what we used to be. There will forever be a giant piece missing in the new puzzle that is now our family. Why is it so hard to give you back to God? He alone could give you the peace and comfort that we no longer could. I tell myself everyday that you understood this and were ready to fly. We just weren't ready to let you go, I guess. Mari, sweet peaches, my love and hope reach out to you. Know that you are always in our thoughts, our hearts, our souls. Miss you so, honey-bunkers.
-- Mindy Kankel

Precious girl, yesterday we attended a Remembrance Service in Iowa City. Grampa & Gramma made the journey to be with us and Dr. Atkins also showed up to be with us. How we appreciated their show of support, compassion & love! I did pretty well until your picture came up on the slide presentation. Then I really lost it. There you were, eyes so bright, smile so wide, so alive! It hit me again, so brutally, how much we miss you. You showed us daily, the true power of love. You changed us all, made us better people, a stronger family. You will never be forgotten, my dear little girl. As long as I'm living, my Mari you'll be.
-- Mindy Kankel

Now three-quarters of a year has passed without you, sweet girl. I sometimes think that it will be much, much harder after that first year has passed. It still feels so unreal, like a dream. My mind tricks me into believing that you are just at University Hospitals and will be coming home. Once that first year has passed though, the hard reality will be that you are gone. And that I will not see you again for the rest of my time on this earth. It is almost too painful to deal with. You live in my heart and soul, so that will have to suffice and sustain me, but the truth is that I always knew that your passing would break my heart. I also feared it would shatter my spirit. I was right. I miss you, Princess Mari! Love, Mom
-- Mindy Kankel

Precious girl, now 10 months in peace and light. I still look for your sweet smile, listen for your joyful laugh, try to smell your hair, feel your soft cheek and your hand holding mine. The passing of each month has not dulled the pain of your passing. How you brightened and enlightened our days, you enriched our lives. You truly blessed us, darling Mariposa. May the good Lord bless and hold you close. My love reaches out to you from this world, across time and space. I miss you so very much. Love always, Mom
-- Mindy Kankel

Mari dearest, now more than eleven months have passed since the angels came to bring you back to God. I remember laying on the hospital bed next to you, holding you so close. Everyone kept urging me to eat something, drink something, to get up and move around, but I didn't dare. I wanted so much to be the one to surrender you into arms more loving than mine. I will be forever grateful that I was granted that wish. In that timeless moment, I felt something that I am still at a loss to describe. I believe that you passed through the valley and into the Light Eternal. Mari, my tears still flow for you. I stand outside our house, look up at the sky and call your name. Mari Jean, how I love you and I miss you so! XOXOXO Mom
-- Mindy Kankel

My precious Mariposa, how can it be that two years have passed since I last held your hand, smelled your hair, saw your sweet smile and kissed your soft cheek? Twenty-four months since that cold, windy day you left us to go forward and earn your wings. How quickly life rushes in to fill that vacuum, I can hardly stand it. I know I can't be angry that time, and life and people move on, but I can't deny the sadness that they do. Perhaps I expect too much. You were so special, so inspirational, so exceptional, and you gave my life such meaning and purpose. I feel the pain of your absence as keenly today as I did the day you gently breathed your last breath in this life. I miss you, Princess, our dear little girl. My love always, Mom
-- Mindy Kankel