Logan and Chad

Hearing of Logan and Chad's deaths was particularly heartbreaking.  I was driving to my fiance's house on Sunday to head to church after and he called me and told me the news.  From the horrible story he told me, I didn't believe him at first.  But after some research, I learned the terrifying story was true.  Logan, Chad, and Derek had gone out duck hunting Saturday on the Great Salt Lake.  A storm came in and their boat capsized.  They did not have life jackets on and the water was freezing.  Derek decided to swim back a ways to get some help, and Logan and Chad decided to stay and wait for help.  When they came back to find them, it was too late.

I met Chad and Logan on the same day.  I was at my best friend's house and we planned on hanging out with them for the first time after Logan and I had spent a lot of time talking.  That first day hanging out with them was a complete riot.  Logan had gotten his wisdom teeth out that morning and was a little loopy from the pain medication.  We went to cold stone and Logan ordered banana.  Just banana.  Gross.  It became a long standing joke in our relationship.  Logan and I ended up dating for about a year before he left on his mission.  We were close.  He told me he loved me.  He also said I was the first girl he had ever told that to.  I don't know if that's true, but it made it more special to me.  I had so much fun with Logan.  He treated me so well.  He fell quickly and I think that scared me a little bit, I was very young and wasn't sure what I wanted.  Logan was so good about writing me during his mission.  He sent many letters, and even more pictures.  I on the other hand, was not as good about writing him.  I was only 16 when he left and just getting into high school.  When he came home, I was dating someone else and felt differently.  But that didn't change how highly I thought of him and how special I felt our friendship was.  We continued to talk for a little while until he became serious with his now wife.  We both moved on and really lost touch with each other once he had gotten married and I become serious with someone else.  From what I heard from Chad, Logan had an amazing life with his wife and his two children.  He was happy and had such a bright future ahead of him.  Hearing that he had passed, especially in such a terrible way, was so heartbreaking.  I know that if anything were to happen to my fiance, I would be a complete mess and don't know how I would get through it.  I feel so hurt for Tasha and her kids and can't imagine the pain she feels especially.  She is in my prayers every moment of my day.

Logan Deloy Hardman 

1987 ~ 2012

On November 17, 2012 our precious Logan returned home to his Heavenly Father while doing something he loved, duck hunting with Chad and his friends. Born on March 17, 1987 in West Valley City, UT, to Kevin Deloy and Stephanie Lynn Hilton Hardman. Logan served a two year faithful LDS mission in Knoxville, Tennessee. He had a personal love for his savior which helped him to love and serve those around him. He will continue serving the lord, knowing deep In his heart that his family would be okay and one day be reunited. His calm, easy going personality and contagious smile captured the heart of the love of his life, Natasha Nuttall Hardman. They married in the Salt Lake Temple on March 25, 2010 for time and all eternity. Fatherhood became his greatest joy, loving his Brynnlee & Brody. He loved outdoors, hunting, football and spending time with friends and family. Survived by his wife, Natasha; children Brynnlee 4, Brody 11 months; parents Kevin and Stephanie Hardman; in-laws Bryan and Hollie Nuttall; brothers Andy (Samie) Hardman, Matt (Michelle) Hardman , Tyrel (Natalie) Hardman; Nathan (Kristin) Nuttall, Nicholas (Trista) Nuttall, Korbin Nuttall, Kyler Nuttall. This will be a short time of loneliness but we know we'll share an eternity together.
We would like to thank everyone for the donations, prayers, love and support, but especially the search and rescue working so hard to bring our boys home.
Funeral services will be held 11 a.m. Saturday, November 24, 2012 at the Sunset Ridge 1st Ward, 8107 S. 6700 W., where a viewing will be held both Friday 6-8 p.m. and Saturday 10-10:45 a.m. prior to services. Interment: Valley View Memorial Park. Online condolences: www.peelfuneralhome.com
In lieu of flowers donations can be made to Zions Bank in Logan's name.

Now Chad.  Chad is such a sweetheart.  He and I weren't terribly close while Logan was home.  All I really remember from that time period is his super cute bleached blonde tips of his dark hair.  He always made you laugh and was such a positive person.  Once Logan left on his mission, Chad and I started talking a lot more.  We kept each other informed of our dating lives, work lives, school lives, everything.  I complained to him about everything that bothered me in life and he had advice for it all.  I remember going to lunch many times and being persuaded to set him up with many of my cute friends.  Because of Chad, I met by amazing fiance now.  Cody grew up with Chad since he was a little kid.  They went to school together and did a lot together.  Chad is such a precious person to me and there's a lot in my life that would not be the same had Chad not been in my life.  I saw his family on Sunday, the day I found out about his death.  His house was filled with people that love him that were mourning over his death.  It's obvious that many, many people loved Chad as much if not much more than I did.

Chad Masanori Tohinaka

1987 ~ 2012
Our loving son, brother, grandson, and dear friend, Chad , 25, passed away Saturday, November 17, 2012 in an accident on the Great Salt Lake along with his best friend and brother Logan. Chad was born on September 15, 1987 in Salt Lake City, Utah to Mike & Karen Tohinaka. He graduated from Olympus High and Westminster College and was currently working as a portfolio manager at National Capital Investment Company. Chad strived to be the best in all he did and he lived life to its fullest. He went skydiving with friends, loved extreme roller coasters with his sister and dad, the bigger the better. He loved hunting with Logan & friends for ducks and other game. He was an avid ghost hunter and spent many nights investigating haunted locations with his Paranormal Investigations Team of Utah buddies, although he never "caught" one.
Chad is survived by his parents, Mike & Karen, sister, Kelsi, grandmothers Sachiko Tohinaka and Mitsue Sugimoto and many aunts, uncles, and cousins. We want to thank all the family, friends and members of the community for their generosity and outpouring of love and support for our son Chad and "our other son", Logan.
Most of all, a special thank you to everyone involved in the search and rescue operation that night for finding our boys and bringing them home. It brings us peace to know that Chad and Logan were together in life and now in death. Brothers forever. Our lives and hearts are so much richer because of them both.
Funeral services will be held on December 2, 2012 at 4:00 p.m. at the Salt Lake Buddhist Temple, 211 W. 100 So., Salt Lake City, Utah. Friends may visit from 2:00 p.m. - 4:00 p.m. Funeral directors, Neil O'Donnell and Sons. In lieu of flowers, please make a donation in Chad's memory to the Logan Hardman fund at Zions Bank.

It's hard to believe that Logan and Chad are gone.  It doesn't feel real, and it consumes a lot of my thoughts.  Although I didn't spend time with either of them much in the last few years, there was a time in my life where I spent all of my time with these two men.  Any spare moment I had was spent being escorted around Magna in Logan's pear scented car being shown the "crazy man's cardboard house" that they loved to tease me about.  We never sat in the house watching movies, these guys were busy bodies!  Always out doing something.  They are both such incredible people.  Their funerals will be very difficult to take in.  Their families have a long road ahead of dealing with their losses.  But with Heavenly Father's help, I know they will be okay.  I know I will be okay.  And I know we will all see them both again some day.

Logan made me listen to this song every single time we got in the car.  I complained for a little while, but let's just say I adopted the song soon after.  Who couldn't love this song, right?

Fishin' in the Dark-Nitty Gritty Dirt Band

Rest in peace Logan Hardman and Chad Tohinaka.   

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Grandma Stam

This last weekend has been truly exhausting.  There is so much that has happened and I can't believe it all happened in the same weekend.  As much heartbreak as I feel I can no longer endure, I know and really feel for the other closer, more important people these events directly effected.  My heart is broken for their sake and my prayers are with everyone effected by these horrible turn of events.

I got home from my graveyard clinical shift and went straight to bed.  A few hours later, I got a phone call from my father.  He stated that he was sorry for waking me up, but he wanted me to hear it from him instead of Facebook or some other form, but my sweet grandmother had passed away that morning.  

My grandmother (my father's mom) was just in the hospital last month.  She had eaten something she didn't like and aspirated and ended up getting pneumonia from it.  She had to be in the hospital for a week or so.  She was staying in the same hospital that I was working at so it was really easy to go up and see her.  I feel very lucky that my grandma was in the hospital last month.  Although I know she did not enjoy being there, it really gave me a lot more time to spend with her, time I probably would not have gotten without her trip to the hospital.

My grandma's funeral was yesterday, and it was perfect.  Her favorite color was pink.  And everything was pink.  The flowers were pink and purple and looked absolutely perfect. They matched the amazing hot pink carpet she has in her home. The balloons were pink and purple and looked amazing as they floated into the sky at the grave site.  And my grandma's casket was a beautiful pearl pink.  And my grandma herself.  She looked so beautiful, and so peaceful, happy even.  It was heartbreaking to watch my grandpa have to say goodbye to her.  He loves her so much, they have the epitome of the perfect relationship and perfect love for each other.  They have been together forever.  And they will continue to be together after this life. 

I love my grandma so very much.  I pray and will ask your prayers for my grandfather so that he can cope with my grandma's passing and continue to be the strong and amazing person he is.

Muriel Dahle Murdoch Stam

1929 ~ 2012
Our beautiful wife, mother, grandmother and grandma-great, completed her earthly mission and passed peacefully on to join her parents, family and friends on November 14, 2012 at age 83. She left behind a legacy of love, honor, service, endurance and charity.
She was born in Hyrum, Utah February 18, 1929. She attended schools in California and Utah, graduating from East High School. She married her eternal sweetheart Richard V. Stam and had 64 wonderful years together. Their marriage was solemnized in the Salt Lake Temple. Together they raised 5 children and many foster children. They served together on the Salt Lake County Foster Parent Council for many years.
Muriel loved to sing and dance and performed in many plays. She also sang in a woman's group which performed around Salt Lake City. Her hobbies were knitting and crocheting and she made many afghans, poncho's, hats and scarfs for her family. She loved to travel and was fortunate to spend many retirement years traveling with her husband and friends enjoying the beautiful earth God created.
Her love for her family was only surpassed by her love of the Lord. She served in many capacities in the LDS Church including den mother, Sunday School Teacher, Young Women's leader and Relief Society President.
She cared for and served her parents and family with unconditional love. She endured several illnesses with Dignity and Faith. Her life was a shining example for her family to follow. We will miss her dearly and will rejoice when we are with her again.
She is survived by her dear husband, Richard, her children, Loralee (Jim) Hanson, Lon Stam, Jillyn Best, Darren (Roseann) Stam and Renee Stam, 27 Grandchildren and 28 Great- Grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her parents Lora and Cuthbert Murdoch and Delos Dahle, a daughter Jenee and a grandson Andrew.
Funeral services will be held Monday, November 19, 2012, 12:00 Noon, at the Cottonwood Heights 3rd Ward, 6890 South Whitmore Way, where friends and family may visit Sunday evening from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. or Monday from 10:30 to 11:30 a.m.
We wish to express our thanks to our sweet father for the loving care he gave our mother for many years. Also, to Linda Hancey, Lisa and her crew and all the wonderful people at Heartwood for their kind service and love. We love you mother, until we meet again.

Some of the beautiful balloons.

The prettiest casket for the most amazing lady.

 

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