Death. A five letter, one syllable word. Such a small simple word, with the weight of the world behind it. Wednesday. A day of the week, that's all it is. But not to her. On a Wednesday her world changed. On a Wednesday her world will never be the same. Darkness fills each room, crying replaces laughter, numbness replaces feeling, and confusion and wonder replaces an at ease mind.

Her phone rang, a typical action that occurs, however, this time it isn't going to be a friend checking in, or her boyfriend asking for her whereabouts, but instead it will be her mother with news that will make time stop, news that will make her emotions transparent, news that will rock her ten feet back while standing still. She clicks the answer button on the screen, "Your father is dead."

When it was my turn to hear the tragic impossible words my heart shattered in to a mirror that was just dropped form a ten story building. Words, there are none. A man like that wasn't supposed to die. A man with the love, kindness, and selflessness this man possessed in just one finger that outweighed the amount some people had in their entire bodies wasn't supposed to be taken. He died. I guess were all justing asking why, though knowing we will never get an answer. The world was rocked that Wednesday. It will be a Wednesday none of us will ever forget.

I watched her stumble into the house. I watched all 115 pounds of her give way and fall to the floor arriving home after hearing the news. I heard her screams and whimpers of confusion and all any of us could do was hold her, no words could be said to a person you've known your whole life who's father just died. There are no words that could save her from that pain.

The world lost a true definition of a humble man. The world lost the biggest U of I fan that you can ever come into contact with, I can promise you that. A wife lost her husband, a husband that adored her in every way a woman could be adored. A husband that was so immensely proud of her and made sure everyone knew it. A daughter and two sons lost a dedicated and passionate father, who was at every sporting event, school function, and birthday. A dad who would tell anyone and everyone who would listen about each one of his kids for hours, because that's how proud he was of them.

Over 20 kids lost a second father figure. Over 200 people lost a best friend, his big family lost the glue that kept them all together, and Labatt Blue lost one hell of a dedicated costumer.

Dennis Johnson was more than a father, husband, brother, nephew, teammate, and friend; and I believe that speaks volumes to the man he was and what legacy he will live on for. He lived a surreal life, he accomplished more than a 90 year old man could accomplish and he almost halved that age, he was adored by hundreds, and will be remembered by thousands.

Before saying goodbye to my second father figure, I promised him I would never let his little girl feel alone. I promised that I'd watch out for and protect her with my life.

And Denn- I will never break that promise. I love you to the stars and home, you will never be forgotten. I mean, how could a man like you ever be? Just as the saying goes, "Heroes get remembered, but legends never die."

In loving memory of

Dennis William Johnson

September 22, 1961 - September 14, 2016