Kev passed away at his home early this morning.
He came home Thursday evening - and although he wasn’t responsive, I think he really enjoyed the 30+ mile ambulance ride from the hospital. Hospice was very understanding to our situation. They knew that neither Kev nor I wanted him in an in-patient hospice facility, but they had hard rules against IV drug use at home. Somehow they were able to work it all out. They provided 24-hr continuous nursing care, but on Friday night they could not get a nurse to cover the night shift. Apparently, none of those available felt qualified to administer the array of IV drugs he required, so I took the shift. It was nice that at the end it was just me and him together in his room as his breathing gradually slowed and he drifted peacefully into his next adventure.
We will be having a celebration of his life and I will post details for anyone wanting to attend. Since I know many will be travelling from out of state, you’ll have at least a couple weeks notice.
Thank you to everyone for the outpouring of love and support. It is such a great comfort to us and I know it meant so much to Kev to know his family was being cared for when he wasn’t able to do it himself.
I already miss him terribly.
Love Deneen
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19 comments:
RIP Kev. :(
Peace.
Cleave
We feel great sadness at his passing. He was an awesome friend.
Deneen and family,
I'm sorry to hear the news, but glad that you could be with him when the time came. Please accept my condolences, and let me know if there's anything that I can do for you. My thoughts and prayers are with all of you as, together, we begin another adventure ourselves.
Kev, rest in peace, we'll miss you.
Your saddened friend,
Sam
(San Franciso, CA)
Dear Deneen,
Thank you for bringing Kevin into our family. We were honored to come to know and love him immensely. Kevin left this world
a better place than it was before him. Our hearts are heavy.
love, michelle and AJ
Deneen - Please know that although we don't see the "Western" Pehr's nearly enough - you are always in our thoughts.
Our thoughts and prayers are with you and your children.
He will be missed.
Auntie Carol Pehr, Denise Pehr Whalen and her family - Jay, Becky and Matthew
Deneen,
There is no other way to remember Kevin but with fond memories and great affection.
He was a wonderful human being, a bright star in our scientific community, and a great friend. His daily pressence will be missed dearly.
May God give Kevin eternal peace and you and the children the strength to bear this tragic loss.
Your friends,
Kauser and Lubna
Deneen,
Kevin was such a wonderful and cheerful person to get along with. I still remember well how Kevin and I walked almost whole day in Takayama, Japan a few years ago. We all miss him very much.
HC Lo
Deneen,
I didn't know the struggles you were going through until just recently. A testament to your strength that you kept on keeping on with NASA even through so much strain caring for your beloved.
You have my and my wife's deepest thoughts and prayers. Our loved ones were with us before we knew them, with us on the journey for a time, and will be here always ever after.
May you know comfort and solace as you grieve.
May you know love and acceptance as others reach out to you.
May you let the energy of your deepe connections to Kev flow through you
And may you know peace.
Steve and Candy Baier
Deneen, Kelden, and Nick:
The strength all of you showed was incredible.
May we all be blessed with such a strong family and may we all show the courage you did if, God forbid, any of our families were to face this. God bless and watch over you.
And if you ever need anything, don't hesitate to ask.
As for your husband and dad, I have nothing but great memories that only the wild and crazy formative teenage and college years can create and I will carry those forever.
Kevin, Rest In Peace, buddy. Save me some 3.2!
Keith Tucker
Kevin is too good a person to suffer those medical treatments.
Kevin is too bright an engineer to leave us.
To me, Kevin represents the best American culture offers - straight, kind and courageous.
I just can't believe he is not with us anymore.
Shya-Ling Shein
Deneen, Nick & Kelden,
We are so sorry to hear the news of Kevin's passing. Please accept our deepest sympathies. Your family is in our thoughts and prayers during this time of loss. Do remember though, Kevin lives on in the memories of all of us and many here have shared those memories well. Kevin is one of those rare individuals you count yourself lucky to have known.
God Bless,
Brian Larkin & Family
I never got to know Kevin very well (I know the family through my wife), but each time I met him, I immediately felt the enormity of his spirit and the sense of goodness, happiness, and zest for life that he so obviously exuded. I wish I'd had the time and opportunities to have known him better, and to share in his enthusiasm. Rest in peace Kevin.
Deneen and Family,
Please accept our condolences.
Rest In Peace, Kevin.
Bill Ly, Nghi and family
bill_ly@hotmail.com
Deneen,
I am very saddened to hear about Kevin. I had the great pleasure of meeting him in Japan in 2004. While I didn't get the chance to know him very well, I admired greatly his skill as an engineer as well as his inner strength and spirt to keep pressing forward. The running commentaries on the cab rides to MHI were a hoot! I will always recall with great fondness my memories of Kevin. You and your family are in our thoughts and prayers.
Paul and Stacy Romine
Deneen,
I'm sorry and so sad that Kev is gone.
I saw Sam-the-rockclimber at dinner last night and he told me Kev was such a strong patient for so many years.
I'm glad he made it home with you.
- Dave
Kevin is gone but his spirit will be alive in you, your children and the many people fortunate to have known him. Please accept our condolences.
God Bless
Leland and LaShawn
Deneen and family,
It was a pleasure to work with and to know Kevin. He was truly a gifted person, in knowledge and personality. His love for life and adventure, along with his easy going spirit, is a lesson we could all learn from, for this world would be such a better place if there were more Kevins in it. He is gone in body but lives on in spirit!
God Bless your family.
Ben Meyer
Deneen, Kelden, Nick, & Family
Debra and my thoughts and prayers are with all of you. GBY. Let us know if you need anything anything at all (281-910-0260), we are right here.
Kevin peace to you my friend...:(
Masood & Debra
Deneen,
Although I only knew Kevin for a short time, I must say that I admired him from the time that I first met him. He was so knowledgeable technically, yet he was humble about it at the same time. I must say that it is a loss to all of us to have lost such an engineering genious with a kind spirit. My deepest condolences. Kevin my friend, you will be greatly missed.
Mohamed
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