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John O. Aeby

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University of Oregon

John Aeby Obituary

John O. Aeby

March 20, 1950-

September 18, 2009

John O. Aeby was a man of God. He passed Thursday night peacefully in his sleep, after a beautiful day on his bike at Cycle Oregon. He is loved and missed by his wife, Clarice, three children and their spouses, four grandchildren, and his family and friends.

John was born March 20, 1950 to Ben and Sakie Aeby in Tokyo, Japan. He grew up in Clackamas, Oregon. His siblings are Steve and his wife Alina, Jim and his wife Pat, Judy and her husband Ron, and Richard and his wife Kim.

After serving six years in the Navy, John graduated from the University of Oregon with a Journalism degree. He married Clarice Tippetts, the love of his life, on June 25, 1972. Their children are Erica, Ryan and his wife Amy, and Renee and her husband Brandon. John and Clarice raised their family in Eugene, OR, where his mother-in-law, Martha Tippetts was also a vital part of their lives.

John lovingly dedicated 30 years of his life to the children of the world as he documented their uniting with families through Holt International Children?s ?Services.

We will be celebrating John?s gentle and artistic spirit, and his enjoyment of the outdoors and cycling on Thursday, September 24, at 2:00 p.m. at Eugene Faith Center, 1410 W 13th, Eugene. His family asks that in lieu of flowers, donations be made in his name to: Holt International ?Children?s Services, 1195 City View, Eugene, OR 97402.Please sign the guest book at www.registerguard.com/legacy

To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.

Published by Eugene Register-Guard on Sep. 22, 2009.

Memories and Condolences
for John Aeby

30 Entries

March 28, 2010

I was so saddened to read about Mr. Aeby's passing through the Holt magazine. I remember Mr. Aeby as a wonderful, friendly person at the Holt Gathering in Washington D.C. He did an amazing job at the Gathering with his photography. Mr. Aeby, we all miss you!

Ann, Trenton, NJ

Debbie Fucile

February 16, 2010

My heart is saddened to learn of John's passing through the Holt magazine. I worked with John in the mid-eighties when I was working for a media production company and he was my client. It was through this association with John and Holt that led us to adopt our son, Andy, from Korea. He will always be remembered for his kindness and commitment to enriching childrens' lives.

John and Serena, 1998

Kathy & Gordon Steffensmeier

November 19, 2009

We are so saddened with the news of John's passing. John delivered our daughter to us from Korea eleven years ago, and he has had a special place in our hearts ever since. He was the most loving and gentle person and will be missed by so many. Our most sincere condolences go to Clarice and the rest of John's family, as well as his family at Holt.

Rick Cullis

November 15, 2009

I had the opportunity to work with John on several occasions shooting film and video in Asia, especially in Korea with Bertha Holt. John was one of the nicest people I've ever known and worked with and he will be missed.

Rosalie Duryrr

October 19, 2009

I had the privilege of knowing John's wife Clarice as a special mentor while I was in college in Eugene. Their hospitality and deep care for one another made a tremendous impact on me and I will forever remember them as one of the most loving couples and shining examples of a Christ-centered marriage. My thoughts and prayers are with the Aeby family.

Colleen Morris

October 8, 2009

John Aeby lived a remarkable life and was such a testament to his faith and dedication to children of the world with his 30 years of service through Holt International Children's Services. My thoughts and prayers are
with Clarice and with John's children and grandchildren, as with everyone associated with Holt who will also remember and miss his gentle artistic spirit. I have vivid memories of the awesome PowerPoint programs that John created, especially an inspirational one that was put to the music of the movie from Fievel Mouse's - Somewhere Out There...and the HI Families magazine's high quality and colorful testimonies for families and children affected by Harry and Bertha Holt's life work. I'm blessed to have
known John when I served on the Holt Board of Directors and stayed close
to him via shared emails since I've been on the Holt Emeritus Board. May God Bless the
Aebys and entire Holt Family,
Colleen Morris, Redding, CA

Kari & Bill Champine

October 7, 2009

We were so sad to hear of John's passing. We were blessed to have travelled with John in March 2005 on our trip to China to bring our daughter home. He made such a beautiful video of our special day to hopefully inspire other families to take the leap of faith to adopt. He had such a kind and gentle way with all of us, we were so nervous, yet he his smile would put us all at ease. He touched so many lives, may his life be an inspiration to all of us. God Bless....
Kari & Bill Champine Green Bay, Wisconsin
Holt Family

October 2, 2009

Dear Clarice... Your and John's life together has been one that inspired me to live happier, love more, and enjoy being with friends and family. We will miss John greatly, and we are glad that Jesus has seen fit to still have you here on earth, to carry on what you and John started. You are up for the task. Love Joel and Carola Stockhoff

Candy Goodness

September 30, 2009

Clarice and family...I am so sad to learn of John's passing. I had the privilege of working with John at Holt for 20 years and will miss his smile, his natural writing ability, and his great love of God and family.

Strangely enough, around the 18th I thought of John, wondered if he was still at Holt, and what his future would hold if he were to have moved on. Now I know. God bless you and hold you close, Aeby family.

Cara Richards

September 26, 2009

What a privilege to have known and worked for John. Though it was only for a short time, he had a life-long impact on me. I will never forget his gentle nature, encouraging smile, and great patience. He had confidence in me when I doubted my own abilities. His encouragement made all the difference. He will be greatly missed.

Cary Yurk

September 24, 2009

John was a man of God. He was a great mentor and encourager in my life; both through the highs and lows of my ministry and service overseas. I will always remember the great times we shared in our Riverview Church house group before I left for HK and his occasional visits to my family there when he was in Asia doing work for Holt. He was the messenger who represented our supporting church and always made an effort to share all he could to keep us close to them. I will always appreciate that. I am sorry that in the last ten years, we had little contact but I will always remember him as a faithful brother and friend, a true godly guy who is with his best friend and Brother at home. Bless you John and will see you when it's my time to go home. I am still in HK and will keep your family in my prayers.

Nick Askew

September 24, 2009

When I first moved to Eugene from Southern California, John was my small-group bible study leader and he quickly became a mentor to me. We spent just a short few months in the same study, but he had an extremely large impact on me in that time. He was the type of father, husband and follower of Christ that I aspire to become. In his subtle and gentle way, John inspired me. We are so deeply shocked and saddened by his loss, but we take comfort in knowing that his work on earth was complete and he has gone home.

Patricia Leddy/Aeby

September 24, 2009

John's death that came in the twilight of his life enriches other lives as we pause and think about the fragility of life.
John's dedication to that fragility will live on in the lives of those children he rescued from abandonment. Today we bless his memory in the name of our father, the son and the holy ghost.

Patricia Leddy/Aeby

September 24, 2009

Nancy Hansen

September 23, 2009

With John's death, there is a sense of great loss. It is being felt by many throughout the community, including myself and my children. We have know him and his family for about 27 years.

One of the last times I say John, he was fitting training wheels on his grandson's little bike. It was sweet to see him passing on his love of exploring the outdoors on two wheels.

His signature was his smile. Taking time to think before he spoke, he would cock his head to one side, smile, having said a few words without even speaking.

This man of quiet strength is no longer with us. He has gone ahead. But he has left a legacy of love behind.

Jeff Saddington

September 23, 2009

I have been acquainted with John's beautiful work for many years. Our adopted children began to arrive home shortly after he began to work for Holt International. I am now a board member of Holt, and I have known John for the past 5 years. He was a gifted artist with a wonderful ability to capture in his craft the depth of emotion any parent feels when faced with the image of a homeless child. He was always able to turn that emotion into a message of hope for so many children. Because of John, Holt has served children better. I am honored to have known John Aeby, and I will miss him as a person and as a professional. His life has been such a blessing to so many little children. Carol and I extend our deepest sympathies to his family.

Brandon

September 23, 2009

I did not know John. I learned of his passing from his riding companion. . .Johns tent was three away from mine in the camp at Grants Pass. I have thought about him often and know that he had just enjoyed an incredible week of biking. My condolences to his family and friends.

Angela Barbre

September 23, 2009

I was saddened by John's passing. He was so kind hearted and dedicated to his family and Holt. He will be greatly missed.

September 23, 2009

We have been acquainted with John for several years, but it was the latest 3 years when we became friends. We dined together, worshipped together, learned together, served together, prayed together and laughed together. We will miss his gentle and quiet spirit, his sensitivity to others.
John, we'll see you on the other side.

with love,
Tim & Lauretta Davies

Skip and Kelly Volkmann

September 23, 2009

The Volkmann family in Corvallis is so sad to learn of John's passing. He became our friend when we adopted our daughter from Vietnam. I was always amazed that John could identify many of the children by face and name. At Holt's annual picnic, he took photos of hundreds of kids with Grandma Holt. He used some for the magazine and was thoughtful enough to email unused photos to the families. As Editor of Holt International's HI Families magazine, John helped me craft a story about a deaf orphan in Ecuador. That story touched a family in Maine and save a good little boy from a horrible life. I may have written the article, but John made it look great and catapulted it out to the Holt world. Like Grandma Holt before him, John touched lives in more ways than we will ever know.

Tim Barry

September 23, 2009

I knew John since the 5th grade when I moved to Portland from Spokane. We went together to grade school at Harmony elementary school, to junior high school at Dale J. Ickes Jr. High and to high school at Clackamas High School. We were friends and some of our best times together were cycling all around the Portland metro area. We lost touch after high school but I always cherished the memory of my good friend. My sincere condolences to Clarice and to John's family. He will be in my prayers.

Debi Bryant

September 23, 2009

Being a friend of Annie's; my daughter, Tammy, and I met John and Callie back in the late 1980's. My hugs go out to each family member. I remember John as a devoted husband and a loving father. My thoughts and prayers go out to you.

Robert & Brenda Holt

September 23, 2009

John was a wonderful, kind and gentle man who contributed so much to Holt over the years. His photography spoke for itself and touched the hearts of many. You will be missed. Our deepest sympathy to the Aeby Family.

Matt Cohen

September 23, 2009

I too was on the Cycle Oregon ride, and while I did not know John, my condolences go out to his family.

John Morris

September 23, 2009

I met John in 2002 after he finished a bike tour I was managing. He thought we could do a better job on our route maps and told me he'd send me a prototype. I few weeks later it showed up in email. It was beautiful. He continued to work as a volunteer continually adding to the project until this past even in August.

We shared little slices of each other's lives over the past few years. John has been both a surprise and an inspiration for me. I'm grateful for having that small portal into his life. He is already missed. My best wishes to his family.

Trudi Stettler

September 23, 2009

In ways big and small, John changed our world and left it a better place. He touched so many hearts that he will never be forgotten. May you find comfort in knowing how many people share your sadness. May God offfer comfort to you and each person in your family. You are held in loving thoughts, and sincere prayer, for the present, and for the future.

Grants Pass river Park Bridge

Gene Jones

September 23, 2009

All is Well

Death is nothing at all. I have only slipped away into the next room. I am I, and you are you. Whatever we were to each other, that we still are. Call me by my old familiar name, speak to me in the easy way which you always used. Put no difference in your tone, wear no forced air of solemnity or sorrow. Laugh as we always laughed at the little jokes we enjoyed together. Pray, smile, think of me, pray for me. Let my name be ever the household word that it always was, let it be spoken without effect without the trace of a shadow on it. Life means all that it ever meant. It is the same as it ever was; there is unbroken continuity. Why should I be out of mind because I am out of sight? I am waiting for you, for an interval, somewhere very near, just round the corner.

All is well.

Henry Scott Holland
1847-1918

Joe Monteleone

September 23, 2009

We are all so greatly saddened by John's passing. I'll always remember John's giving nature and love and support of bicycling. I feel lucky to have been able to talk to him last week on Cycle Oregon and he always had a smile on his face on that event. He was so suppportive of the Mid-Valley Bicycle Club. I and the other members of MVBC share your loss. He will be missed.

Susan Christie

September 22, 2009

From a Cycle Oregon volunteer: We are all very sad.

John's last Cycle Oregon campsite

Alex Lockfeld

September 22, 2009

This is a photo of the beautiful riverside park at Grants Pass where John made his last camp. Many of us participating in Cycle Oregon, like me, had not met John but consider all Cycle Oregon participants as a kind of extended family and share your loss.

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