One of a Kind
By: Cassie Golke (Little Sister)
Once upon a time... we were just a bunch of kids walking through the woods full of imagination with big dreams. But Kyle had this great Idea! Which is very much like him. He wanted to build a fort out of branches. So, I was the youngest carrying my rainbow troll bag full of toys following my two big brothers into the woods to help them. I did this for days until their creation was built. I sat and played with my toys while my brothers built the fort. I was very good at supervising. Once it was finished Kyle insisted on us packing a picnic basket. So we did, we had our peanut butter and jellies. Kyle and Skyler had built the roof with a ladder so you could sit on top of it. Well he learned the malfunction real quick, one I didn't like heights and two my little feet slipped between the branches. So I ate on the ground.
Throughout this foundation he has built he became a carpenter with his younger brother and I became the teacher.
One word for it, saved. Kyle has saved us all. No matter what predicament you were in, he had you! Anything to make life a bit easier. He has shown us that not just family has to be blood. It can be anyone who is simply there for you when you need them. He has created such a connection in this world I can't even begin to explain it. I mean look at us all now. We are together as one. He has always looked for balance, equally in friends and family. He was the person who would say hi to anyone and just be so accepting. He would always look past the past and see all the positive things in people. Even if it was hard to see it ourselves.
If I had to describe my brother's humor I would say he's like Adam Sandlers twin. Always had the perfect come back and knew how to make everyone laugh. He was light in every room. The person everyone wanted to talk to.
He was my biggest cheerleader. He came to all my dance recitals, plays, musicals, vocal concerts and graduations. He would always say, "if I can make it I will be there because it only happens once." He would always live everyday and experience to its fullest. He wanted to be a part of it all. And in many ways we all got to know Kyle but what we did know, he never left anyone behind.
He was one of the most knowledgeable people I know, it was like doing a Google search, he knew it all. From tricks, to products and simply just life advice.
One of my most recent favorite memories was this last summer. I was out in the woods with the dogs digging for nightcrawlers for an hour or so. The sun began to set so I headed back to the shack and I explained to Kyle that I barely found any worms for fishing in the morning. Before I knew it he told me to follow him. So I did, he strapped a headlight onto my head. Then looked at me with a big grin and said, “Are you ready?” I had no idea what I was getting into until he used all his smarts about the topic. “It’s time to go nightcrawler catching!” As we tried to catch all the worms for fishing we both were trying so hard to hold our giggles in because he claimed it would scare the worms. Once again we were on an adventure up north. He always has a way of reminding people of the importance of creating memories.
He has inspired us all in many ways. He was of one of a kind. Forever Kyle has impacted the world.