sitemap                             Jester du Canis Dirus, Beauceron, and Roger Luebeck
 Jester at 10 1/2 years, summer 2004:      Click on photos to enlarge
Send Jester 
a message
   
                                    Photographs by Randy Flacksbarth
 

Jester's tired old legs and arthritis finally brought about his retirement from playing
with his "catch in the air" toy just two months before passing away at almost 15 1/2.
Boredom became his only real problem, though he continued to play in his dreams, 
as indicated by his twitching paws. 

Jester's appetite remained perfect until two days before his passing, and there was
no suspected health issue.  I watched him wolf down a large bowl of scrambled eggs 
and toast like a one year old pup on the morning of July 8.  He awoke quite listless 
on July 9.  He greatly enjoyed his final cart ride to the coffee shop that day and ate 
one final turkey sandwich there.  I gave him subcutaneous fluids that night.

Lab work on the morning of July 10 indicated probable acute kidney failure.
He maintained his happy expression until his final hours.  He gave me a long kiss 
five hours before he left me.  After some struggling that afternoon, he settled down
and rested quietly for fifteen minutes before passing away quite easily from natural
causes at home, in his bed, in my arms.

It seems remarkable that Jester should live his life with me.  It seemed more
clearly pre-destined than anything in my life.  It's a long remarkable story in itself.  
No matter how much I gave him, it seemed he always gave me even more.  I would 
love to have you get to know Jester through his videos, below, each of which has 
special rewards.  They can all be seen in just one hour.  I think our favorite will 
always be "Because", at 13 yr 9 mo.

Jester never missed a day of work in over fifteen years, making friends
with hundreds of people he met in the neighborhoods of my various job
sites.  Never fenced, never tethered, never supervised, he changed 
lives everywhere he went.  Happy mobs of children routinely flocked to him.


Some of the sympathy cards I've received:



The First Time I Met Jester  (from Will)

Walking by Meier's house (minding my own business), out of the corner of my
eye, I saw a "wolf like" 120 pound ball of black fur headed right at me!
I froze as I took in the eyes, the muscles, the ferocious looking and 
massive jaws.  Jester froze too.  Then, to my temporary relief, he turned
and dashed off.  But, then he was back!  But this time ... he had his
"throw toy" in his mouth!  He wanted me to PLAY!  Many times after that
first contact, Jester saw me and brought me his beloved toy!  Jester turned 
his life into one of joy and service ...



Roger,

Jester was truly a great dog and we feel priviledged to have had him hanging
out in our yard when he was young, playful and endlessly patient with our boys.

When you came to paint our house that summer, our older boy Andrew was quite
frightened of dogs, especially large ones.  But he saw how gentle Jester was 
when our younger boy, Eric, began to play fetch with him.  Pretty soon, Andrew's
fears were completely conquered, and he began to play with Jester as much as
his brother did.  Jester had a wonderful personality - a therapeutic presence
just by being himself.



Roger,

We are so sorry to hear about Jester passing on.  He was a wonderful soul,
and I'm so glad we were able to get to know him.  Jester certainly lived
a full life.  We'll always remember him - and our thoughts and prayers
are with you.


  How good a dog was Jester?  Click here.



          
MAC users ->     
PC users  ->     

                Turn up your speaker's volume, 
                    then click on a link below.


  I'll be happy to send you a free DVD, playable on your television and computer,
  containing all Jester's videos.  Please click here and I'll send it right off.
  I'm sorry I can't adequately describe the sight of Jester running
  figure eights through a large happy screaming mob of little children,
  all of whom were trying to catch him.  This scene was repeated often
  when Jester was age 7 through 10, as there happened to be a lot of
  small children living in our neighborhood those years.  Unfortunately
  I had no camcorder available those years.  Please picture it, then
  enjoy Jester's videos:
  Choose the highest video quality your broadband connection can handle: best, great or good
                                                                   (1400,  700 or  384 kbps)
                                                                   (Sometimes it takes two clicks)

  3 minute slide show   ** Meet Jester **           2005/2006         best   great    good    download
  (You should start here)  12 yrs plus

  12 minute music video    Life Story?              1994 to 2005      best   great    good    download
                           Puppy to 12 years

   (No that's not me in the video.  It's my brother Duane.)

  5 minute music video     Cabin Trip               October 15 2006   best   great    good    download
                           12 yrs 8 mos
                                                             (There's a pause between the two songs; 
                                                              make sure you see all of it)

  8 minute music video     Cabin Trips              May 05 2007       best   great    good    download
                           12 yrs 11 mos 
                           - 13 yrs 2 mos

  3 minute music video     Judy Judy Judy           August 26 2007    best   great    fair    download
                           13 yrs 6 mos


  5 minute music video     Because                 November 25 2007    best   great   fair    download
                           13 yrs 9 mos
                                                            (There's a pause between the two songs; 
                                                             make sure you see all of it)


  9 minute music video     I Remember You          February 25 2008    best   great   good    download 
                           14 yrs 0 mos


  6 minute music video     Kisses                  November 25 2008    best   great   good    download 
                           14 yrs 9 mos


  3 minute music video     And When                February 25 2009    best   great   good    download 
                           15 yrs 0 mos


  LATEST VIDEO:

  3 minute music video     Trail of Distant Years     June 25 2009     best   great   good    download 
                           15 yrs 4 mos


  3 minute slide show      Superior Hiking Trail    October 2005      best   great    good    download
                           11 yrs 7 mos
               
  (If at a coffee shop and media player is disabled, click here for the 
    smaller animated gif version of the 2005/2006 slide show.  You'll also 
    have to provide the music:  Hum or whistle "Red Roses for a Blue Lady")
  2 minute music video from 1996.
  Blujay chick kisses Jester 
  moments after leaving its nest.
best   great   good     download