The Stovebolt Site Forums The Back Office The Passing Lane - Stovebolt Memorials Ned "The Ned" Messerschmidt :: 10/2/53 - 11/7/14

Last words from Ned "The Ned" Messerschmidt ... "What to say"

I've been contemplating when I should post, what I should post and how much I should say. I'll try to make it brief.

As some of you know, I've been fighting a somewhat rare and aggressive type of MDS, a form of blood cancer. My symptoms at this time are consistent with end stages of this disease.

That is not really what I want to tell you. What I want to say is a big thanks to all of you who helped me to find the answers I needed, helped me to locate those rare unobtainium parts that can be difficult to find and for all the support and encouragement provided during the restoration of the Golden Phantom.

It really turned out much better than I ever anticipated that it would. It has been awarded numerous trophies and plaques at shows big and small. Though trophies was never a goal, it's nice to see that people appreciate the effort that went into the project. I've especially enjoyed the miles of driving pleasure that it has provided me since it's completion. I've especially enjoyed getting to take part in the home comings and my one and only trip to the Stovebolt reunion in KC; it was a real blast.

I wish I could leave behind something to encourage the new bolters who are starting their projects and struggle to find the time and motivation to finish.

My favorite motto in life has always been "winners never quit and quitters never win" I think that pretty much sums it up.

Again, thanks for everything.

The Ned

I am sorry to hear of your illness, I really enjoy
your truck and being around you at the Kansas, City meeting,
I recall you also living around Eustace, Tx near my country place.. take care my friend..

Fred Scott

Ned:
You put it all in perfect perspective, that is a your gift for all of us.
Thank you,
don

That's sad Ned. I too, remember meeting you in KC. Good times. You want to leave something behind to encourage others, now is the time to do that. Great thought. Keep your chin up, friend.

Leo

Ned, Cancer in any form sucks. I for one appreciate your willingness to stand in there for the big fight. You have told us what is in your heart and I thank you for it. You obviously have passed on your love for these trucks to all you've touched. God bless you.

May God bless you Ned, Your words are from the heart and have a lot of meaning. Thank You SIR!
Jerry

Oh Ned. For those who have not met you, I want them to know you are such a nice, down-home kind of guy. Generous, kind and considerate.

My good old Tech Writer. Besides doing all those wonders with The Phantom, you were able to understand what in the heck I was talking about as you "volunteered" for the job.

I remember the first Homecoming you came too. You were the first person I ever took "Gatoring" through the woods. (Brave fellow ... you probably should have done the driving.)

Rest in comfort if you can. You have left a lot of wonderful footprints in the sand.

You are still in our prayers.

Peggy

Sorry to hear the news Ned. It was a pleasure to meet you at my only trip to KC. You are a great Bolter with a beautiful ride. Good luck and God Speed in your battle.

God Bless,
George

Well wishes for you Ned. I enjoyed meeting you at Homecoming a few years back. Prayers for you my brother.

Ned, There are no words that can ease what you are going through. I hope that you find comfort in knowing that what you have accomplished in life has not gone unnoticed. You are in some ways an inpiration to some that would like to accomplish the same in life. By showing that a project can be seen through with success. I only hope that I can pass on a little piece of me to my Family and Friends as you have. Gods speed my friend, ODSS Brother Michael Roache.

Ned, as others have touched your life, you have also touched us. Thank you for taking the time to spend a night, and some of your precious time, here with Victoria and I. We always wished you could have stayed a little longer.
I know you will take on your situation the same as your panel. You will see it through and do the best you can. You are certainly on our prayer list my friend. We are richer for having known you so well.

It was you that gave me hopes of doing some traveling in my panel, like you did in yours after Kansas City a couple years ago. THANK YOU, Ned.

Wow Ned! I've not had the honor to meet you in person to my loss. Prayers are headed to you and your family. God bless.

Ned, I hope it appropriate and heartening that we find a special rock for the ODSS garden and maybe a bit extra on the Homecoming fire. Whether you knew it or not, your steady ways helped me to finish my truck. I enjoyed our time together during Homecoming. May your winds be fair and your seas following.
Hambone

Ned, I've never met you, but your words today moved me. You remind me of a man who was instrumental to me in regards to my life's direction. He has had to deal with just about every health problem that I can think of and has never quit. I was speaking to him several years ago when he was in real bad shape and he asked me, "Who's going to do all this kind of work after I'm gone?" I thought about it for a while and I told him, "to just think about all of the individuals that you have unselfishly shared everything that you know." "That's who."
No worries Ned, sounds to me like you have touched a lot of lives, and for that you should feel happy.

I don't know you either Ned, but I wish I did. You sound like a real neat guy.

Ned

I'm sorry to hear about your health. Keep fighting Brother!! I am glad we had a chance to cross paths at Homecoming. Your truck is amazing and an inspiration.

I'm a better person to have met you.

Ned, I very much enjoyed meeting you at Homecoming a couple years ago. I can clearly remember the night around the camp fire and the stories we shared. As others have said, your panel turned out amazing and quite honestly changed my opinion about them. Until seeing yours in person I never really considered owning one. If I was to come across a one toner like yours in good shape, I may just have to grab it!
When restoring my cabover, I too never even considered taking it to cars shows or winning atrophy. I did it just for the fun of it and for the hopes of putting it in my old neighborhood parade. I have been fortunate to win a couple trophies over the years but much more meaningful to me is the hope that the truck and my journey with it has inspired someone else. Without a doubt, your restoration of the Golden Phantom has done the same. Equally commendable is, that not only did you see your project through but you got it out on the road, logged many miles with it and enjoyed the fruits of all your blood, sweat and tears.
I am truly sorry that life has dealt you this hand but I pray that you will have solace in the many lives that you have touched, your family and friends and the good that you have had with all.
God Speed Ned.
Ride On Golden Phantom

Ned,

I to am sorry to hear the news and I wish you well in your journey. This fellowship we have developed on this site has made us all grow into something more special than any of us ever dreamed it would. It's turned into a living thing and we are all brothers and sisters in something very special. Trucks brought us together, but it's the special people like you that make us come back for more.

God Speed...

Mike B

Couldn't say anything that matches what the folks above have said.
I've never met you, but have always been a huge fan of your big panel truck. The work is a measure of the man, I'm sure.

Ned
I too am Sorry to hear the battle you and your family are facing and I wish you well in your journey.
At the Stove Bolt reunion 2-1/2 years ago, we sat outside the hotel talking about engineering, machine shops, designing and nuclear maintinance.
I know we talked for almost 2 hours and nobody else new much about what we were talking about.
You are one of the very rare people I have met, outside of some I work with, that can hold a conversation like that.
And do the type of job, you and I have both done.

By the way, Callaway will be getting a new reactor head this fall and I hope to be a big part of getting the old one out and the new one in. Wish they would have put it in the budget, for new stud tensioners though.

Not much RCP work then, just one seal change out and the moter PM's.
There is also the new dry cast storage system going in and I turned down being a coordinator for that job already.

Here, I'm talking shop again.
Asked about you last fall in KC and hope you can make it this fall to KC.

Best to you and your family,
Don & Vicki King

We also have never met.
I can't add anything to what's already been said.
Best of luck to you and God Bless!

"I wish I could leave behind something to encourage the new bolters who are starting their projects and struggle to find the time and motivation to finish."

You've done it, Ned.

I have never met you but have read your post from time to time. People can touch people and never meet them. As Hotshoe36 said, You've done it! God Bless You!

you have kept the dream alive god be with you

I don't know you either. I wish you the best with what you have to endure.

Davey Lovett

Ned, I'm very glad that you made it to the reunion in Kansas City and were able to bring your panel as well. It was a great time meeting with you and the other "Bolters".

As far as your panel goes, you set the bar with your stunning restoration and I really doubt that I'll ever see another one as nice again.

Our prayers are with you and your family.

John and Theresa Lucas

How is Ned doing?

davey

Ned, you are in my thoughts and prayers.

I wish I had had the opportunity to meet you and visit a bit.

We don't know each other my friend but from what I have just read we do. We have a common interest in these old trucks and things you have done will inspire those who follow us. Keep the faith and keep positive is all I can say. Two family members were diagnosed with terminal cancer - one being my son. Both fought the odds and won. You will win too.
God Bless.

Just wanted to add in here to be sure this thread doesn't get cut off when we do the Spoon de-greasing.

We certainly missed Ned at Homecoming. Hope to talk to him soon.

Peg

Please keep the thread open. Hope Ned is fairing well.

davey

I left a message on his voice mail the other day. I will keep trying.

Peg

Just to let you all know I just got a call from The Ned. He sounded real good on the phone. He's involved in a study with University of Maryland hospital in a drug test to help with leukemia. He said when he started this thread, he was feeling really bad. This drug they are testing, although the results are uncertain, whatever they are doing to help him feel better ... THAT part is working.

He also related a story that is so Ned. He had taken The Golden Phantom to some property that was being cleared, a good bit muddy ... and got the truck all dirty. I mean seriously muddy. One fellow needed to pull him out of the mud but he didn't want to bring his newer 4x4 down the road. But that didn't stop Ned. He said you wouldn't have recognized the truck.

I told him he needed some pictures of all that. I think we would have been able to hear Alvin scream from all the way down there in South Carolina!

He had hoped to come to Homecoming but the doctors wouldn't turn him loose. I told him I kept watching the road ... it would not have surprised me for him to just show up!

He doesn't have access to a computer while he's at the hospital; and his computer at home bailed on him. Once he gets out, I'm sure he'll find a way to get back in to talk to everyone. In the meantime, he wanted to thank everyone for their kind remarks and well-wishes.

Ned had been doing the Tech Tips for a good while, and before we got off the phone, he had to give me a few pointers! (Getting them done is a good pointer!)

Will report more as we hear more.

Peg

Thanks Peg. I hope his new therapy works out.

davey

Thanks Peg... I've managed to convince doctors to free me, for at least a few days, depending on how things go. The stay in the hospital was like an amalgamation of a clockwork orange, ground hog day and a half dozen of other weird movies. I honestly began to doubt my own sanity, but thank God I've made it home.

Regarding "also related a story that is so Ned" ... No I didn't get the Golden Phantom stuck, but my Dodge did manage to fall into bottomless pit which required a skid loader to free it and get it onto my property where it will finish it's life as a useful tool on my mountain land. I had taken the Phantom along as a place to stay and as transportation home. Locals had seen me cruising the hills and couldn't believe that such an old truck was reported in the area. The roads were exceptionally muddy with ruts so deep that I was fortunate not to get stuck. Anyway the locals had reported seeing me in the area, which they were certain had been a mistake. So to confirm or deny the sightings a group of loggers set out to find me. Rather than risk loosing the logging crews new 4x4, they piled in the skid loader and came looking. It was fortunate for me, because when they found me I was desperately trying to rescue my dodge 4x4. I'm certain it would of cost me hundreds of dollars to hire someone to do it, but they easily accomplished the task with the loader. I don't know much about logging equipment but this was a huge articulated tractor with a large blade and floatation tires that must of stood 5 ft tall and easily pushed the dodge onto my property, while refusing to take monies from me. They were shocked to find there really was a 63 yr old phantom there as well. The Golden Phantom had handled the exceptionally muddy and rutted road without a hint of trouble. By the time I was loaded up and on my home, the truck was so muddied that you couldn't tell what color it was. I wished I had a camera.

I resume my chemo this week and pray to avoid anymore hospital stays. The clinical trial doesn't offer a cure, but if successful, may extend the misery a few months.

One more time, thanks to all of my bolter friends. Especially Peg who is the life blood of the bolt.

Ned, so glad to hear from you. Glad you and the Phantom got back to "high ground" safe and sound. Man, if I'd known where you were I'd have returned the visit when I came up for the homecoming. Faith can move mountains Ned. We're in your corner.

nice to hear from you, wishing you the best my friend,

Fred

Oh sorry about goofing up the story. BUT ... you did a far better job of telling the truth anyway!

Glad to see your fingers are still doing the talking. Drop in as you can and tell us more of your mountainman adventures.

Peg

I hope your treatments work and keep you out of the hospital.

davey