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June - " I'll Walk Alone "

"June - I'll Walk Alone"

I'll Walk Alone

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June and Stan first met on May 22nd, 1951 in Barron, Wisconsin while Stan was home on leave from the army during the Korean War years...In Stan's previous two (2) years, Stan had relationships with two local Barron, Wisconsin girls Stan had met while home on leave...Stan received "Dear John" letters from both girls who did not want to take a chance on this soldier with an unknown future... Then Stan met June in the spring of 1951 while home on leave...Their engagement quickly followed on November 13th, 1951.  Who said 13 was an unlucky number...on that day Stan went from a "Jack to a King"...June was the first one of Stan's girl friends who did not send him a "Dear John" letter...apparently June saw something in Stan that the others did not see...June and Stan were married August 16th 1952 following Stan's discharge from the Army earlier in the year. June and Stan remained married (56 Years) until Alzheimer's took June away from Stan in October 2008...since that sad day in 2008, Stan has chosen to walk alone until the glorious day when Stan will once again hear June call his name...

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Stan was never angry with the two girl friends who had sent him "Dear John" letters...it was Stan's feeling that if they had any reservations about their relationship, then they did not belong together...they continued to be life long friends thereafter...I am reminded of the Country Western song entitled: "We Said Goodbye Like We Said Hello In A Friendly Sort of Way."

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I have often described June and my life together as a "Divine appointment"...I think it was clearly more then a simple blessing...while I have also described it as "winning the lottery of life!"...it was God that handed us the winning tickets...

I was so richly blessed by having June and her unconditional love in my life for 56 years regardless of the final cruel impact of Alzheimer's!...I owe June and God an unending debt...I will love June until the sands of time stop their endless trickle…

June was noted for her smile...when June smiled even her eyes smiled and if one listened carefully, one might even hear the angels sing.

I lost June to Alzheimer’s on 23 October 2008 after a long 12 year struggle with the disease and a 56 year + marriage…

Since that sad day in 2008, I have elected to follow the theme of the World War II years when couples were often separated by the war for long periods of time…June and I both graduated from High School just as WWII ended…

 So June, for my remaining days: …”I’ll Walk Alone”

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 "June - I'll Walk Alone"

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(Stan's Revision of 1944 WWII song by S. Cahn)

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 June, I'll walk alone,

till you're walking beside me...

during that walk, I'll be lonely.

But I don't mind being lonely.

Although being with you I would rather...

there are the dreams I must gather.

Dreams from the days I held you close…

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June, I'll always think of you...

beyond the sunset, where ever you are...

Perhaps in the brightness of a twinkling star.

I'll think of you each night In every prayer...

June, send your love, no matter how far...

I'll Just close my eyes June and think of you there…

send your love and your kisses to guide me...

Till you're walking beside me, I'll walk alone…

...I'll walk alone…

Stan

 

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While this song is most often associated with those great WWII songstress's Martha Tilton and Dinah Shaw, country singer Marty Robbins also had a hit with this song...

 

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June 1944

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Stan’s Notes

It was in 1965 that Marty Robbins the mega country star, again introduced this popular song and in that year it went to the top of the charts…it became a number 1 hit song for Marty Robbins...June and I attended a Marty Robbins show in the Twin Cities area around that period of time…so the song has many memories going way back…In 2014 I used the song as a commitment to June that I would also “Walk Alone…and it became this page on June website…

As indicated above, this page and the Lyrics were based on the popular WWII song to the servicemen by a wife or girl friend back home…the purpose was to assure the man in the service that a loved one would always be waiting for their return…June and I were both in High School during the WWII days and both were very familiar with this popular song since the days of its inception…as WWII ended we graduated from high school…I later went into the service for 4 years just before and during the Korean War…I met June while home on leave in 1951…before meeting June I had previously in the earlier years of my time in the service, already received two (2) “Dear John” letters from girl friends  who had decided not to walk alone.

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Before June's Alzheimer's diagnosis, our world and her character and personality were represented by a vast sea of bright and beautiful lights. After June’s Alzheimer's diagnosis, these bright lights all begin to slowly dim. As June slowly slipped deeper into the shadows of Alzheimer's, the lights gradually flickered out one by one. Eventually the time came during the last two years of her life, when the brightness that marked our world and June’s life was replaced by one of darkness. June's passing was as if a most beautiful symphony that had played during our life together, now became silent!

I lost June slowly, tear drop by tear drop during her long and exhausting journey into the shadows of Alzheimer’s...a journey of almost 12 years...as June slowly disappeared into a world that I could no longer reach…

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The Bible describes King Davids grieving for a dying son...after the son's death, the Bible tells us and promises us that while those members of our family who have passed on before us, cannot return to us, however , some day we will go to them and be reunited with them...2 Samuel 12:23 (KJV)

"But now he is dead...Can I bring him back again? I shall go to him, (one day - NLT) -  but he shall not return to me."

So until that very special day, I'll Walk Alone." 

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The Day that June and I picked our Final Resting Place

It was on our 43rd anniversary in 16 August 1994, at age 66, that June and I purchased our double gravesite in beautiful Lakewood Cemetery in south Minneapolis…an historical cemetery of rolling wooded hills and with it’s own small  lake…a small herd of deer as well as other wild game live there year around...this was four years before June had her earliest symptoms of Alzheimer’s…because this cemetery dates back to the late 1800’s, it probably has more Civil War veterans buried there then in any of our national cemeteries…

Although June and I both qualified to be buried at the National Cemetery in nearby Fort Snelling because of my Korean war army service, June was not comfortable with such an arrangement…while the national cemetery burial was without charge in cost or future maintenance, it was not June’s choice for our final place of rest…it was treeless and represented a large flat field of identical white crosses…not a place of beauty other then in the significance of the location and the people buried there.So June and I dedicated a week to traveling around the local cemeteries looking for a place we would like our earthly remains to be placed together and forever or until God’s resurrection day arrived…

I recall like it was yesterday…a conversation that June and  I had as we were standing on the hillside of another beautiful cemetery…Sunset Memorial Cemetery in the St. Anthony suburb of  North East Minneapolis….

June told me that if I should go first it was not her intention to again marry.

I did not respond with “me neither” or similar indication of my intentions…it was not that I had any different intentions but simply that I was certain that I would be the first to go…in fact, I was surprised that at age 66 I was still around…my natural father had died at age 55 and I assumed my fate would also be an early death...in fact I was surprised that I was still around…I  told June in our early marriage days that I did not expect to live to be an old man…during our marriage years I would  often remind her of this…apparently my mother’s genes (she lived into her 90’s before Alzheimer’s also too her down) or modern medicine changed all of that…at age 87, I continue to be surprised that I am still around…

However, I think June now knows that I will never remarry…once you have had the best, one cares little about the rest…I have made it clear in my writings about June and our life that I would never again marry…because God promises us that we will have eternal life, I consider our marriage vows to still be in full force and effect…it is now 7 years since June went to Heaven in 2008.

 

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 June and Stan 

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Reader’s Comments

June Mac  - Darlington, United Kingdom – (9 March 2014): “Aww how beautiful.”

Beth Ann Doucette  - Lino   Lakes, Minnesota – (9 March 2014):  “Love that song:- And your version is just as beautiful:”

Gill Denman  - Essex, United Kingdom - (14 March 2014): "Stan.  When I read this a thought went through my mind.  Do you know the anthem of Liverpool Football Club?  It is a sixties song by Gerry and the Pacemakers called 'You'll Never Walk Alone', I think with June as an angel and all your friends around the world, you will never walk alone.  Find the song on utube."

Sylvia Sharon Ferguson Helton  - Leader, Saskatchewan, Canada - (14 March 2014):"When reading the story of you and June's life...almost feel like I know you...what a adventurous life...REALLY is one huge adventure...Keep on finding  what GOD has for you...till the last breath here...will be good to meet with you in Heaven...Your Sister...Sylvia..."

Bridie Breen  - Manchester, United Kingdom - (14 March 2014):"Stan a wonderful memorial to your beloved June. Your love and devotion oozes from every page."

William Charles Wilson  - London, United Kingdom - (15 March 2014): "Ada & Bill. Hi Stan, Together Always JUNE and YOU Both have  EVER LASTING LOVE. Cheerio Bill."

John Stevens  - Twin Falls, Idaho - (27 May 2014): "Love it Stan.  Thanks."

Lorraine Genao  - Miami, Florida - (27 May 2014): "Beautiful."

Stephanie Ryder- Philadelphia, Pennsylvania - (25 June 2014):"May Almighty God bless and keep you! We as Christians never walk alone, for He walks with us each step of our journey here on earth...(21 July 2014): " I think this is beautiful, Stan. May heaven smile upon you and may Jesus Christ, Lord and Savior continue to keep you."

Elaine Lawson  - Wilmington, North Carolina - (21 July 2014): "Wow She was a very pretty lady! She seemed to be AWSOME! You were very PROUD of her I"M sure of that! Very nice Stan."

Catherine Jones-Hatcher  - Richmond, Virginia - (22 July 2014):" ... Very sweet tribute."

Sherrie Penner Terning  - Cokato, Minnesota - (16 August 2014):"I hope today is extra sweet for you, Stan. I will be thinking of you and June today, also. Sending good thoughts!"

Bernadette Brady  - Dublin, Ireland - (16 August 2014): "Thinking of you today Stan. And beautiful June."

Judith Brownstein  - Buffalo, New York - (16 August 2014): "...your love is monumental. I'm taking a page from your book."

Nancy Carillo  - New Bedfored, Massachusetts - (16 August 2014): "Beautiful Stan it would be so wonderful if everyones marriage was as great as yours and June."

G'Anna Martin-Dent  - Amarillo, Texas - (16 August 2014): "As you know, my mom and dad would've celebrated 63 years of marriage on August 14th. This song has always reminded me of the love my dad had for mom. That deep, unwavering love that lasts a lifetime. Everyone wants it and only few experience it. Today as you celebrate your love for June I am once again reminded of this song. Sure, the names and places in the song are different but the love is the same. I hope you enjoy it!..."She is His Only Need"."

Marsha McKneely Ault -Nacogdoches, Texas - (16 August 2014): " Nowadays--marriages do not seem to last very long. . . people fail to keep their covenants they've made to one another. . . selfish pursuits of happiness take priority instead of loving someone more than you love yourself. Thank you...  for keeping your covenants with June across time and through the veil. What a wonderful and true companion...are!"

Melanie Petersen - Big Lake, Minnesota - (16 August 2014): "Happy Anniversary Stan and June! Hope you are embracing the memories that remind you of how much you loved June and also the memories reminding you how much June loved you."

Jane Vertenten  - Devon, United Kingdom - (16 August 2014): "Oh , that is absolutely beautiful... June is walking beside you every day. She in your heart and soul, so she will never be far away. Sending you a hug from Devon, England."

Linda Farr Borman  - Fridley, Minnesota - (16 August 2014): "Very moving words...Your love for June never ceases to amaze me."

Joyce Toone  - Bolton, United Kingdom - (16 August 2014):"Oh Stan what beautiful words, your love is so special and one day your true love June will be at your side."

Nancy Rudquist  - Arden Hills, Minnesota - (16 August 2014): "It is good to remember why we love and marriage anniversaries are the best way to share your memories. May God bless you as you walk alone but filled with the treasure of a lifetime of loving."

Jennifer Dabney- Pomona, California - (16 August 2014):"Thank you for sharing your love story with us. I hope it brings you comfort today."

Lisa Tao  - (16 August 2014):"Happy Anniversary! Thanks for sharing your stories about June and your wisdom about dealing with this disease."

Rose Elley  - San Diego, California - (16 August 2014):"Happy Anniversary Stan!!! No greater loves has ever existed"

Jane Moore - Camelford, United Kingdom - (4 June 2015): "Bless you Stan - a love that never dies."

Dianne Cogar  - Springfield, Ohio - (14 November 2015): "Poem, Your Not Alone Stan..."

You're Not Alone Stan...

Written exclusively for Stanton O. Berg
As if spoken by his beloved wife, June

by Dianne Cogar©
HeartLeaks© Poetry 2015

My dearest Stan, still stricken by sorrow
You're not alone, not today or tomorrow
For, I'll always be there, this I promised you
On the rite of our wedding when we both said "I do"

I see that it's hard to face each new day
Since we can't hold each other every step of the way
But with you I am there in spirit and "in love"
Watching over you always now from heaven above

You're not alone Stan, and you'll never be
As long as "I love you" and you still love me
Please take on each day with a heart full of zeal
And remember to smile much for me if you will

You still have our memories to warm up the night
And fresh sunny mornings to light up your life
You still have our children, though David's with me
And you still have my blessing to live life with glee

You're not alone Stan, though you'll always miss
The hugs held between us and each tender kiss
Just as do I, but let's keep this in mind
A " love story" like ours is one-of-a-kind

I see that it's difficult at times without me
But each step that you take helps me to fly free
Just knowing you live and still love with intent
Reminds me, as well, that our love's heaven-sent

You're not alone Stan, and you'll never-ever be
Don't think for a moment you exist without me
There's no way to change when and why I departed
Though I do understand why you're still brokenhearted

But let's take each day the good Lord designs
To find joy in our moments, leave sorrow behind
And then in the hours of twilight and trance
We'll come together and continue our dance

You're not alone Stan...
Love, June

Jackie Irving  - Liverpool, United Kingdom - (15 November 2015): "Sad but as always a beautiful story Stan...when I read your words I think about it for a good while afterwards ...I know your June isn't here with you in the physical sense but I feel she is guiding you along the way...I don't think the love you both shared can ever be broken...I really believe you are both still connected and as you say you will one day be reunited...God bless Stan." 

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June's Passing

June 1994

After an almost 12 year journey into the shadows of Alzheimer's, early one morning in late October 2008, an exhausted June felt God's gentle touch on her shoulder and heard the words: "Come Home June!" As June lay like a wounded soldier on a battlefield, it was God's Angels that ushered June into a Heavenly Kingdom to the sound of a chorus of Angels...and into June's new home, a "Mansion on the Hilltop", where there is no pain, nor illness nor tears...June's funeral notice as published in the Minneapolis Star in October 2008 can be seen on this website in the drop down menu under the "In Memoriam" label - just Click on:

"June K. (Rolstad) Berg - In Memoriam"