Message From Dianna
Where does one begin to count their blessings? I have been moved beyond words by all of your thoughts and prayers. I have no idea how the girls and I can ever repay your kindness. John and I love each of you so very much and will always hold close to our hearts the many memories that we shared with all of you.
People have tried to tell me that John died doing what he loved but those of you closest to us know that is not the case. John put many things before racing such as MUSTANG softball games, dinner out with friends, friends childrens weddings, a quiet dinner with his wife, Fouth of July pool parties, graduation parties, friends birthday parties, family birthday parties, trips to Herman, boating, boating and more boating. John loved the girls and myself more than he loved anything else. He has given the girls and I enough love over the past 27 years to last us a lifetime. We will continue to draw on his strength and with God’s continual support we will develop a new normal and rise above. I would take this ride all over again with John. Even if I knew how it would end. I chose well. Some people live a lifetime and never have what John and I had. God has blessed me in ways beyond my imagination.
A celebration of life/visitation service will take place Monday evening, November 10th at 6:30 p.m. at Stilwell United Methodist Church. The funeral service will take place Tuesday morning, November 11th at 10 a.m. at Holy Rosary Catholic Church in Wea. A luncheon will be provided following the funeral service back at Stilwell United Methodist Church.
We love all of you. Thank you for being there.
Hi! Diana & family. I admire your strength and thank you for keeping us informed . Again if there is something we can help you with, please don’t hesitate to let us know.
Our thougths and prayers are with you and your family.
Sincerely! Paul & KIm
The racing community is keeping you and your daughters in our prayers… Words cant describe how we ALL feel for you.
Diana,
I’m a friend of Katie and Marshall’s and they have kept me informed over the past couple of weeks. Please know that my thoughts and prayers have been with you this entire time and I’m so very sorry. I’ve always recognized what a beautiful and wonderful family you have. I know John will be missed so much.
You, your girls, your family and all those who’s lives were touched by John remain in my prayers.
Sincerely,
Caroline Veith
Diana and girls,
We, as all, are heartbroken with the news. We are here to offer our love and support. If there’s anything you need, please don’t hesitate to ask. We’ll see you soon.
sincerely,
marshall, katie and the girls
John and his family have been in my thoughts and prayers since I heard about his accident. I’ll continue to keep your family in my prayers to give you strength and peace during this most difficult time. John loved his family above all else and I’m sure that was apparent to everyone that knew him. He will be missed by all that knew him. May God give you comfort and may your loving memories of John always be with you and your family.
Sincerely,
Frank Ikerd
Dianna, Your words were beautiful. St. Martins Catholic Church in Jefferson City, Mo will be remembering Johnny at mass this Sunday, Nov. 9th. I have lit a candle at church to burn for him and you and the girls all week. We will be there for you on Monday. Love you, Annette, Doug and Boys
Dianna & Family
We are truly saddend to hear of the loss of our true friend Johnny POP Heffernon. His quick wit, and his quick smile will deeply be missed by all. You and yours are in our thoughts and prayers always. Love Brian, Teri & Wyatt Driskell
Dianna,
It is with tears that I type this e-mail offering you my deepest sympathies for this tremendous loss. Your words so beautifully express what so many of us have witnessed. The Heffernon’s have always been regarded as a loving, close knit, “cool” family. Our family will continue to keep you close in our thoughts and prayers. I am sending you and the girls an online hug- Jennifer and the Hoggatt family
Dianna,
Our hearts are breaking, but they are also filled to the brim with love and admiration for you. Not only did YOU choose well, but John did also. I am sure he is beaming down at you and is so very,very proud of you.
We love you, A Jane & U Floyd
I can think of nothing to comfort or ease your grief. I wish I were like Job:
I would encourage you with my mouth,
and the consolation from my lips would bring relief. Job 16:5
The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you.
Dianna,
I just wanted you to know that Bret absolutely loved working with John. He would say, “Today is going to be a great day because I get to work with John!” I never had the privilege of meeting him, but he called the house a couple times saying Bret wasn’t being diligent at work because I hadn’t put enough Ranch in his lunchbox! Of course, Bret was standing right next to him. He was a funny guy!
Joy Gabert
To all of the Heffernon family:
(((((((Holding you close in our thoughts.))))
with love and care;
Brad, Vinda, Ashley & Brady Wagner
Dianne & Girls-
The angels were sent down to get a kind soul. What a wonderful individual they have received. Please know your sorrow is felt by so many and we all keep you close in our thoughts & prayers. Steve, Carman, Mathias, Carney, & Stevie Meade
Dianna–
You and the girls are in our thoughts & prayers. We want you to know all of us are wrapping our arms around you & your entire family. We know John was loved by so many, and he is missed beyond measure. With love & comfort–
Barb, David, & Lauren Robinson
Dianna
It is with much sadness and admiration that I write to tell you have been and will remain in my thoughts and prayers. Your words about John are beautiful. It is those memories and the great love that you shared that will give you and the girls strength and comfort. Please know that there are so many people that are praying for your family. May God comfort you, give you strength and watch over you all.
Jennifer Barnhart
Dear Dianna and girls,
Your mother/grandmother, Judith Byers, and I have been in Bible Study Fellowship together for several years. I love her a lot and love you, too, because of that. Our hearts ache over your loss. God is our rock and our only hope. He promises never to leave us or forsake us. We are praying He makes Himself very real to you at this time with His comfort and peace.
In Christian love,
Bob and Joan
John was and always will be in my thoughts. I will miss not talking to him at work. He always encouraged me. After reading the thoughts and memories that people have of John not only in this blog but blogs and forums across the mid-west I can tell you this of my friend he not only “Talked the talk, but he also lived the walk!” and I am so blessed to have known John and know I will see him again some day. Until then his memory will live on.
What can one possibly say at this time, i am so sorry for the outcome of this. We all have kept John in our prayers since this happened and now we find ourselves asking why? We all know who holds that answer but we still ask, and that is ok. There are people around you who know exactly how you feel and what you are going through, please dont be afraid to ask for help, that is what we are here for.
All our love, The Franklins
I’m so sorry for your loss. Although I did not know John, he was a racer and racing is family. From reading the comments and info on this website, I can get a small glimpse of John. He seems like a terrific person.
You have my thoughts and prayers,
FireResueDave
Diana, and all the Heffernon family. We will continue to pray and support You.Words cannot describe how everyone will miss John,and We cannot comprehend Your loss. Jim and Judy
Dianna, Sarah M, and Kenzie, as well as the entire Heffernon family,
The Allie family is sorry for your loss. I will always remember John’s quick smile, the pride he had when you girls were born, the way he could tell a joke, his walk, the smile that lit up his face whenever he saw Dianna. We hope that memories like these, and knowing that so many people care about you and stand ready to help, will comfort you right now and always.
Cathy Allie
Dianna,
We are so saddened by your loss and will be praying for your continued strength through this terrible ordeal. As a former student of yours and now a colleague I unfortunately have only met John a few times, but I am certain that the two of you were indeed great for one another. It has been a true blessing to get to know you so well and we are there if you ever need anything.
Ryan and Kristi Murdock
Diana – our deepest sympathies in your loss. Please know that the community is here to surround you with love and support. Don’t hesitate to call if you need anything at all. The Reinke family
2 Corinthians 1:3-4: “Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves have received from God.”
Dear Dianna and girls,
I was so sad to hear about John on Friday. I know all of us here at Castle Metals loved it when John would come in to work on something. We will miss his humor and his smile. God watch over you and support you through the coming days. I loved your tribute about John. You both were very blessed.
Lenny & Heffernon family,
I’m so very sorry for your loss. I regret that I won’t be able to attend either of the services for John, but know that I have been thinking about you & your family since the accident. If I can do anything to help, please let me know.
Dear Heff and family,
I am so saddened by your loss. Your immense love for John is so evident in your beautiful words. I pray that you can continue to find strength during these trying times. You are all in my thoughts and prayers.
I will pray for you night and day, I have not been able to get you off my mind since finding this out today. I know that your only hope right now in getting through this is your faith in God and I am sure it will draw you closer to him, as you will have no other source of comfort. Nothing I or anyone else can ever say or do will ease this pain for you right now, but hopefully you will look to God who is our source of strength in times like this.
How shallow and redundant my words must sound to you, I’ve sure you’ve heard them over and over the last few days. I will also pray for your girls, that they will receive comfort from such a tragic loss as this will be for them. I only hope and pray that you will allow me to do SOMETHING for you at some point, but right now I’m not sure what that would be. Everything I could offer seems so lame and so my heart is telling me to leave you alone until you are ready.
I know how much you loved him, I know what a great guy he was, what a great father, I always admired the way you just thought he was “IT.” When I was single and we used to hang out at RSHS, I always hoped I would marry someone who I thought of the way you thought of John. When you were in my wedding, all dressed up, I will always remember how JOHN looked at you, too! I always remember that about you both, that you thought each other was IT! And last winter when we got together, I could tell it hadn’t changed in 20 years! You just always gave me the impression you were crazy about John Heffernon. And I am sure you are devastated right now and at a total loss. Let me know how I can be a friend to you, Dianna, I’m sure you will need friends in the days to come, but God will be like a friend who sticks closer to you than a friend ever could in a time like this.
Dianna,
John was always playing on our street when we were kids. In school we called him “Wally.” He was the clean-cut cool guy that had lots of friends, had plenty of fun and managed to stay out of trouble. He even had the Wally Cleaver haircut when all the other guys were shaggy. It was an honor to know him. I knew then he would some day be a good catch for a lucky gal! You and the girls have been in my prayers. “God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes.” Rev 21:4 The services were beautiful and so were your words on this site. It’s amazing to see how many lives we touch without realizing it.
I know he will be missed greatly. God Bless.
Dianna,
It is with the greatest sadness that I am commenting on your site. I had not been ablt to reach Mark to find out how John was doing. I knew you would be with him, so I apologize for not calling. I want to tell you that working with you for the year at Ray-South was one of the best times I ever had. One of the main reasons why I enjoyed it so much was because of your stories of you and Mr. Heffernon. Almost everyday, we, the Business Department, were blessed to hear stories about you, John, and the girls. Every once in awhile, we were even blessed to have John show up during one of our fun lunches. I will never forget the Christmas party you had at your house, and how much fun we all had and how much we laughed. The best part was the drive home. Andrew and I spoke about how much you two loved each other after so many years togehter. All you had to do was look at either one of you and see the love reflected in each other’s eyes. I know that God gives and takes away, and we may not always understand His reasoning, but I am convinced that we are all better people for having you, John, and the girls in our lives, if even for one year. My thoughts and prayers are with you, and I am a phone call away.
Terri