WEDNESDAY,JUNE 14,2006
NEWS
OBITUARY
THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN 7
Student defined trust
BY JACK WEINSTEIN
jweinstein@kansan.com
KANSAN STAFF WRITER
It only took 45 minutes to trust Joe Petermann, over the phone and well enough for Julie Sommerhauser to agree to let Petermann live with her. The two had never met in person.
Petermann
Last December, Sommerhauser, Wichita senior, needed a roommate, Petermann had just returned
from Australia where he had been studying abroad and he needed a place to live. Sommerhauser's landlord recommended Petermann, a former tenant, to her. Petermann and Sommerhauser spoke on the phone and he moved in a week later.
"That's just the kind of person he was." Sommerhauser said, "There's an electricity he gives off. I liked him immediately."
Petermann, Arlington Heights, Ill., senior passed away May 28 at his parents' home in the Chicago suburb. He was going to take classes this summer.
Dave Maul, St. Louis senior and Petermann's best friend, said that Petermann was the type of guy that met different people all the time.
"He could walk into a party by himself and go up to a complete stranger and start a conversation," Maul said. "He could make friends with anyone."
Madi and the Coaches.
Sommerhauser said Petermann made friends without trying. She described a time at Abe and Jake's Landing when Petermann approached a group of KU basketball players to get them to buy him a drink.
"We thought they think he was a loser and tell him
to leave them alone," Sommerhasser said. "He just went over there with his wide smile and the next thing we knew, they were buying his drinks."
Sommerhauser said Petermann was always smiling.
Petermann was an avid sports fan, especially of KU sports and the Chicago White Sox. He also enjoyed playing poker with friends and at the casinos. He would go to the casinos in Kansas City, Mo., after class if he felt like it.
He once played poker with Sommerhauser using crayons as chips because she didn't want to lose any money.
"He wanted me to be a part of his life, and for me to do that, he didn't make me play for real money," Sommerhauser said. "Hed conform to me."
She went on to say that Petermann never forced anyone to do what they didn't want to do whether it was going out on a school night or playing cards for money. He adapted to his friends.
Maul described Petermann, a psychology major, as the party guy who always got good grades, maintaining a 4.0 GPA last semester.
Sommerhauser said Petermann really enjoyed his classes and that psychology came naturally to him. Petermann never went to the library, but sat with a book on the couch. Even with his success in college, he never spoke about the future with his friends.
"He didn't have any goals to be rich," Sommerhauser said. "He just lived life, He really did live life to the fullest and he only lived to be 21, He did everything he wanted to do."
Funeral services were held on June 1, in Arlington Heights, Ill. Maul said about 20 of Petermann's friends from KU and about 10 from Chicago attended the service. The extent of his death is still unknown.
- Edited by Janiece Gatson
Our son, Joseph Daniel Petermann was 21 years old. He was born September 4, 1984 and passed away at home on May 28, 2006. He grew up in Chicago and Arlington Heights, Ill., with his 2 loving brothers, Jeffrey (19) and Daniel (17). Joe's large extended family of grandparents, many aunts, uncles, cousins, and long time friend, Haley Kidney mourn his loss with us.
LETTER TO THE EDITOR
Joe enjoyed his brothers' company and was proud of them and their individual unique talents; Jeff's free spirit and creativity and Dan's academic and musical talents. They had grown into a chosen friendship with each other; as a parent it was beautiful to watch. Talking with each other and Joe's many friends we found out that we all had special private moments with Joe and many just in the week before he passed away. We consider these moments gifts from God.
Joe had a beautiful wide smile and a funny sense of humor; he could really make me laugh. He loved to travel and enjoyed the serenity of the ocean. He was bright and had just earned a 4.0 GPA for this past semester and a 3.63 overall; he took pride in achieving his good grades. Joe was sensitive to others and was considering graduate school in psychology.
He had many friends from grammar school, Rolling Meadows High School and KU. They all remember him as being fun, caring
many friends, his classes, and following the sports teams, especially the basketball team. He would gather with his friends and call home just to make sure we were watching the games. Joe was a proud and enthusiastic fan.
We love Joseph so very much and miss him deeply. Our family is not complete without him and he will remain in our hearts and prayers forever.
A memorial scholarship fund is being set up in Joseph's name. If you are interested in making a contribution, you can send a tax deductible gift to the Kansas University Endowment Association at:
Kansas University Endowment Association
Attn: Dan Almanza
Post Office Box 928
Lawrence, KS 66044-0928
I want to share with everyone that approximately 25 KU friends came in for Joe's wake and funeral. They brought pictures and made posters at our home. Each of them embraced Joe's brothers, his dad, and myself, and shared with all of us their fond memories of Joe. They too are grieving the loss of Joe, their friend and "brother".
Our family was overwhelmed by the love, sensitivity and dear expressions of kindness shown to us byJoey KU friends.
In the memo section write, "Joseph Petermann Memorial Scholarship Fund"
remember him as being one of the men and that he got along with everyone. Joe enjoyed "The Chicago White Sox, Texas hold-em", ultimate frisbee, the Arlington Race Track, Seinfeld, the History channel and recently jogging with Spike, the family dog.
joe loved KU from the time he visited the campus, his
He studied abroad with his good friend Dave and a couple other KU classmates in Australia from June 2005 to December 2005; he traveled around that country and Fiji and just enjoyed the trip immensely. He was in awe of the beautiful scenery, the people and the shooting stars. He made many friends on that trip from around the world, had kept in contact with them, and had hoped to meet up with them again.
They helped us to get to know the KU side of Joe better. Their willingness to help us whether it was cleaning up, making posters, sharing memories, crying with us or giving us all a lot of hugs and kisses, was so amazing I can't even put it into words.
I wish I could tell each of their parents what wonderful children they have. They can be extremely proud of their children for their warmth and loving sensitivity. I can certainly understand why Joe loved them
all so very much. KU can be proud to have these young people at their school.
I think Joe would want all his friends from home and KU to take pride in their schoolwork, take time to enjoy each other and their lives, and remember that those little acts of kindness and a simple smile can mean so much.
I along with my husband, John, and our children, Jeff and Dan, want to thank Joe's KU friends from the bottom of our hearts for all that they did and continue to do for us and for the time they spent with us last week. They are truly Beautiful Human Beings.
Cecile Petermann (Joseph's mother)