Sam up high.
John did this with his own daughters when they were little, and enjoyed showing off his ab strength for his grandkids. Here, Sam is lifted up while Alaina watches.
Aruba!
John and his daughters (plus grandson Sam) traveled to Aruba in July 2019; here he drives a UTV with daughter Monica.
Bucket List: Train ride!
John with grandson Truman and ex-wife Diane Fine-Anderson. Diane planned a train ride for Truman and John went along to check an item off his bucket list. 2019.
DIY Project Fun
Even though it felt like torture when they were kids, as they got older, John’s daughters thoroughly enjoyed doing DIY projects with their dad. Here, John and Lydia drill a hole for a new deadbolt on an entry door.
Bike ride!
A ride on the High Trestle Trail near Woodward, IA. Back row: daughters Monica, Kayla, and Lydia; John. Front: Kemper Bousum, Sam Fine, Alaina Bousum, Kellan Bousum. 2019.
Iowa State Fair 2021
The whole family at the Iowa State Fair. Back row: Diane Fine-Anderson, Sam Fine, Jessica Fine, Kayla Bousum, Lydia Fine, Monica Fine, Sean Couch. Front: Kellan Bousum, Kemper Bousum, Truman Timmel (in front of Kemper), John, Hillary Timmel, Alaina Bousum.
Pool time!
John loved swimming, even more so after his ALS began to affect his ability to walk. Here he floats in the pool at the Florida home daughter Monica shares with her fiancee, Sean Couch.
Wolf River
Left to right: Doran Ryan, Larry Houser, and John. Wolf River, Wisconsin. Relaxing by the river after a day of whitewater rafting.
DIY Project Happiness
John took a lot of pride in a job well-done. Here he shows off the shelving he installed in his garage in Johnston with daughter Kayla.
White water rafting
John and his BFF, Doran Ryan, enjoyed many whitewater rafting trips with their kiddos over the years. This one at the Wolf River in Wisconsin took place in 2011.
John & Gary Knapp
At John’s 70th birthday party, he was reunited with childhood friend Gary Knapp. The two hadn’t seen each other in many years and had a great time reminiscing. The entire evening John had a huge smile on his face. 🙂
Barn Party
John and his daughters and former in-laws, Don and Joan Davis. Even after John and Diane’s divorce, Diane’s parents invited him to holiday meals and get-togethers. They loved John and treated him so well!
Pool lesson!
John’s father, Floyd, played pool daily and taught both John and his brother Dale how to play. John loved teaching his daughters and grandkids how to play, too! Here he shows his young grandson Sam how to shoot pool at one of John’s favorite East Village hangouts, circa 2011.
The Whole Fam-Damily at Iowa State Fair
L to R: daughter Jessica, son-in-law Sean Couch, grandson Kemper (in back, held by), daughter Kayla, grandson kellan (in front of Kayla) daughter Lydia holding Truman, Monica, Hillary (in front of Monica), granddaughter Alaina, Nick Anderson husband of ex-wife Diane Fine-Anderson (white tank), John, and grandson Sam. Whew! I’m tired.
The Big Slide
The Big Slide at the Iowa State Fair is one of the Fine family traditions. Here, Sam looks terrified while Jes and John are having fun. This was around 2006
Post-knee surgery
John overestimates his post-surgery ability and insists he can hold granddaughter Alaina right after his knee replacement. He got sick soon after.
Tattoo!
John shows off his tattoo: JKLM in the middle for his four girls, then each grandkid was added off their parent’s letter. Kellan, Kemper, and Alaina off the “K”, Sam off the “J”, and Hillary off the “L”.
John and Sam’s christening
John, daughter Jessica, grandson Sam, uncle DeWitt Fine, and aunt Mary Ann Fine. John and Sam were baptized together.
Pumpkin Patch
The annual trip to the pumpkin patch, where John helped the grandkids shoot corn cobs. (Shown here with Alaina)
John’s Trike
John’s e-trike was a handy substitute for a wheelchair in the early days. Here he rides through the Manalapan library which is actually a water tank.
John and the Fine family
At the funeral for Mary Ann Fine. John (far right) with his family, L to R: Joe Fine, Rex Fine, Dale Fine, Jim Fine, Ray Fine.
John with Ryan Brown
Monica’s friend Ryan was a good friend to John. He had a way of bonding with people of all ages.
John and Steve
John and Steve Spurgeon were close friends from a young age. They worked together at J&S (John and Steve) Oil in the 1980s. Steve passed one week prior to John.
Boca Raton, FL
L to R: Nathan Ryan, Cheryl (Nathan’s girlfriend), Doran Ryan, John (at back), daughter Monica, Monica’s husband Sean
Carter walks John
John was recovering from foot surgery, but decided to take Monica’s dog for a walk. Carter ended up walking John!
John in Myrtle Beach
John never said no to a night at the bar. 🙂 Here, with daughter Monica and her friends.
John and Doran hunt alligators
Shark Valley National Park, with friend Doran Ryan. See the gator in the back left?
Beach wheelchair
Lake Worth Beach with son-in-law Sean. John was able to use a beach wheelchair so he could still go to the beach with his family.
Billiards, always
John learned to play pool at a young age, and after becoming wheelchair bound, he still found ways to play.
The Tramp Valley Crew
John stayed with daughter Kayla’s family in summer 2021, in Johnston. The entire neighborhood adored him; he spent a lot of time tooling around the neighborhood (“Tramp Valley”) in his power chair, chatting up the neighbors. They threw a party for him when he headed back to FL.