This poem was written shortly after Dustin's death and is inscribed on his urn!
"Our Beautiful Blue Eyed Son"
On the 24th day of March in nineteen eighty one
your mother gave birth to you, our beautiful blue eyed son
At six fifty seven that morning you finally did arrive
Not a flaw, we watched in awe, as you came alive
We held you, loved you, they took prints of your feet
wrapped up cozy we took you home for your sisters to meet
The coming years saw some tears, but mostly tears of joy
as our hearts filled with love for our beautiful blue eyed boy
In our loving family we thought you would always stay
came a cold gray December day when G-d took you away
Hearts are filled with anguish, eyes are filled with tears
now that you are gone from us for our remaining years
Many days ago you left us, many days ago we cried
though our lives still go on the tears have not all dried
The first thing every morning, the last thing every night
thoughts of you still linger, although you're out of sight
Through heart break, heart ache, cut by death's knife
we will always remember you and celebrate your life
Our eternal wish for you is one of peace and joy,
with love from all your family to our beautiful blue eyed boy
Shalom Our Son
"Pooh"
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Kelli's Tribute
The following eulogy was written by our middle daughter Kelli, who read it during the Memorial Service for Dustin. After she wrote it she requested that other family members edit it and offer suggestions regarding changes she should make. There was only one unanimous suggestion "leave it as it is". This is Kelli's verbatim tribute to Dustin and the very special relationship they had.
"I would like to share with you a special gift my brother gave to me. It is the love I have for hockey. My brother started playing hockey around the age of 7. Since he was 9 years younger then me, that made me 16. The more Dustin played, the more interested I became, and the better he became the more I enjoyed watching him play. It wasn't long and Dustin became extremely gifted at his favorite sport. Not only was he leading his teams in goals and assists, he was also leading in penalty minutes. I liked to refer to him as an aggressive player! As Dustin's love for hockey grew, so did my love for the game itself.
A few years passed and I thought it might be fun to actually play the game rather then just watch. After all, how hard could it be? My baby brother had been playing since he was 7. After a brief conversation with Dustin, he eagerly laced up my skates, grabbed a couple of sticks and to the ice rink in the back yard we went. It was only after stepping onto the ice for the first time that I realized this was going to be much more difficult then I had anticipated. Immediately Dustin was laughing, encouraging me on and skating circles around me. For the first time in my life Dustin was my coach!
Although Dustin was a great coach and inspiration to me, I still couldn't skate. I'd fall down and he would help me up. This happened over and over again. I'm not sure if it was my lack of coordination, my unsteady feet, or the continuous laughing we both did that day, but I just couldn't skate.
This is one of the fond memories I have of my Brother and the special gift he gave to me. The love of Hockey, I will cherish it always!"
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March 24, 2009 - A Birthday Poem
Remembering 28 years ago in the early morn
It was a wee bit chilly on the day you were born
But that chill in the air just couldn't compare
to the warmth in our hearts and the love that was there
That love remains as it always will
With each passing day we think of you still
But today is special and we want you to know it
As we search our hearts for how best to show it
We would have sent a card, but alas we confess
We know you're in Heaven, but we don't have an address
We often feel your presence, we know you are there
through a glimpse of a shadow or a soft wisp of air
We are sure you will get this wherever you are
For wherever life takes us we know you're not far
You know our minds and what's in our heart
And what we wanted to say right from the start
We will love you forever and for this we pray
Have a Happy Birthday and a sunny nice day
Your loving family!
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The following was sent via email to Dustin's family and friends the morning of March 24th 2011
Below the poem are some of the emailed responses.
March 24th is a day to remember
let us not dwell on that day in December
To properly celebrate the birth of Pooh
I offer this list of things we could do:
We can stop through the day & think for a while
of all of the times he made us laugh or smile
We could take out some photos from a happier day
and think about some funny things he would say
If we light a candle, close our eyes and pray
that would be fitting and certainly OK
But it's no fair crying and feeling all sad
today let's remember the time that he had
Remember those Legos and the things he could make
while you're putting 30 candles on a birthday cake
Make his favorite sandwich of peanut butter & jelly
go to his webpage and read the tribute from Kelli
Click on reply and share with us all
a Dustin moment that you can recall
Tell about Dustin and that bird if you wish
or the time he caught the "very important" fish
Think of Jeopardy, puzzles and that spelling test
and all of the times he was at his best
When he was fixing a car or figuring things out
and things I forgot, I have no doubt
Let's give to Dustin a great birthday present
and think of him only in ways that are pleasant
> Wow!!! That was awesome!!! I can't write anything else, on account I can't see due to the amount of water in my eyes!! Happy Birthday baby brother. Nicole
>I was just talking about Dustin to a friend of mine yesterday. Talking about Dustin and Devon (bird) playing on the floor at my house for hours. :) :) It made me smile :) :) :) Happy Birthday, Dustin .... Maeve
>I remember when we held our daughter back a year in school and all the subdivision kids teased her unmercifully, including Dustin. But, after she got home, he was the ONLY one who came over and apologized to her and told her that he was her friend and would never do that to someone again. Then he stayed and played with her. I remember that like it was today and it was almost 25 years ago. He was a great sensitive boy and we will remember him fondly. Stacey
>What a great Poem! I could not have said it better myself!
You should Know that yesterday my kids and I decided to
Google Dustins name. (Dustin Zold Kilbourn) We did it in memory of him and we
wanted to see just what, if anything would come up. To our surprise many things
came up! It was very exciting for us. (He has not been forgotten) Check it out
for yourself. Happy Birthday Little Brother, I love you! Kelli
>Earl and Phyllis - I wish I had known him better, but I do know he was loved. Much Love Aunt Anne - and Uncle Jim
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A few days before Dustin's birthday in March of 2012 each of Dustin's sisters were sent a package containing one of his T shirts along with a version of this poem.
In remembrance of the day your brother was born
I decided to send you a shirt he had worn
Heather's is faded and thin with a yellowish hue
and a hole in the back you can see right through
Kelli's is also faded and really quite a mess,
what all those stains are is anyone's guess
Nicole, yours is stained too & worse for the wear
at the collar you'll see a good sized tear
What you all do with your shirt is up to you
but allow me to make a suggestion or two
You could wear it any day you're just lounging around
or out planting flowers and digging in the ground
It would be perfect for when you are cleaning the house
or perhaps as casual attire under a shirt or a blouse
I doubt you would wear it for a night on the town
but when you're ready for bed it's a shorty night gown
Perhaps you'll just tuck it away in a drawer,
do what you please with this shirt that Pooh wore
You will think of things I didn't mention above
but I have no doubt that you will treat it with love!
Dad
March 24, 2012
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Written December 1, 2013 in Memory of
Dustin Zold Kilbourn 3/24/1981 - 12/1/2005
It is hard to believe it's been 8 long years
since the day in December that started the tears
We think of you daily, and each night we pray
that Heavenly peace fills each and every day
I often wonder what these 8 years have brought
so allow me to share some things I have thought
By now Heaven's five people have been revealed to you
the mysteries of life no longer concealed from you
By now you've met the Grandfather you did not know
and he has shared some stories from so long ago
By now you have also spent time with your Granpa Zold
your three minds working would be a sight to behold
By now you've shared some stories, had a laugh or two
played many games of chess and likely won a few
By now you've read all I have wrote thru this time
and smiled at my attempts to make it all rhyme
By now you've been greeted by Maise and welcomed Kalie Mae
to the Heavenly kingdom were you joyously play
By now you've guided our lives through the pain we have seen
and have been saddened to know that you can't intervene
By now you have come to be proud of your daughter Shalynn
and are pleased for the love from this family she is in
So Son those are some thoughts on my mind this day
but by now I'm not sure what else I should say
Closing is hard because I'm never sure how
so until next time I'll just say Bye Now!