Joseph Daniel Eisenzimmer This is Me

 Web References

1. 1. Tehachapi News

   www.tehachapinews.com/06082005 - [Cached]

   Published on: 6/8/2005   Last Visited: 6/9/2005

   As the funeral service for 15-year-old Joseph Daniel Eisenzimmer grew closer on the morning of June 2, cars lined both sides of the streets and filled the parking lot of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints.
   
   Students from Tehachapi High School, family and friends took the day to pay their respects and remember the young man who drowned in Lake Isabella on May 27.
   
   Letters of condolence poured into THS offices for the Eisenzimmer family during the week, some from students who'd never met him and others from teachers and dear friends.
   
   "I cannot begin to tell you how much Joseph has affected me in my life," said Greg Bloom in a letter to the Eisenzimmer family.
   ...
   "I could always count on Joe."
   
   He shared memories of their childhood together as far back as second grade and stories from the soccer field, where Joe excelled. The final line of the letter seemed an appropriate tribute to both the young man and his family.
   
   "Thank you for giving us Joe; the Joe that never could hate, never be angry; the Joe that I look up to. Thank you for giving everyone the gift of Joseph," Bloom wrote.
   
   His friendly smile was also a theme throughout.
   ...
   Joe had the ball. There was no getting it from him," the note stated. "I will miss Joe's big smile."
   
   THS Soccer Coach Roger Rijfkogel, who coached Joe on the junior varsity team and the Tehachapi Gryphons, said Joe was a good kid, honest, a hard worker and a good team player.
   ...
   Joe also earned a letter in soccer and won a best defensive player award and player of the month.
   
   A diver on the THS swim team as well, Joe was coached by Herman Rijfkogel at THS (brother to Roger).
   ...
   Both men smiled when speaking of Joe.
   ...
   "I had never seen anyone get disqualified on a 50-freestyle other than Joe."
   
   Herman laughed when he told of an incident during a 200 relay when Joe dove too deep then kicked off the bottom of the pool, propelling himself forward, grounds for disqualification.
   
   "But, he received a varsity letter and placed second in the Southern Sequoia League," he said.
   
   Joe was one of only two divers on the team at THS.
   ...
   THS student Megan Esten had never met Joe, but her thoughtful poem to his family touched on the senselessness and tragedy of losing someone so young.
   ...
   Friend and student Jenny Woodard put it this way in her letter to his family, "Joe left us all with the greatest and most cherished memories and in these memories he will live on," she said.
   ...
   Joe will not be forgotten."
   
   Joseph was a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, a member of the THS Diving Team, the THS Soccer Team, a faithful, unforgettable friend and a loved family member.