Last rites begin John Tomlin remembered as All-American boy
By Christopher Anderson
Camera Staff Writer
LITTLETON — Weekends for most teenagers are a time for partying, sports, dates and hanging out at shopping malls.
But for the students at Littleton's Columbine High, this weekend is about the somber process of burying dead classmates and saying goodbye one last time.
Memorial and funeral services began Friday for the 14 students and one teacher killed Tuesday in one of the worst school massacres in U.S. history.
Friday morning, nearly 1,000 people gathered for the memorial service of sophomore John Robert Tomlin, 16, known as a mirror image of the classic, red-blooded American boy — devoted to God, hard work, big Chevy pickup trucks and his girlfriend Michelle, whom he was supposed to take to prom May 1.
"If there was a picture in the dictionary of the All-American family, it would be of the Tomlins," said family friend Jim Gibbs, a maintenance worker for Jefferson County public schools.
Three hours after the deeply religious memorial service at Foothills Bible Church began, a pack of reporters and photographers from around the world circled and questioned the Tomlins, who haven't watched or read the news since Tuesday.
"There is evil in the world," Tomlin's mother, Doreen, said softly. "The suffering? We have a long road to travel."
But for all their hurt, the Tomlins said they believe the killing spree must have been God's way of bringing the world's attention to senseless killings, which is partly why they spoke to the press.
"The country is sick and tired of the violence and the crime," she said. "The problem in this society is that families have fallen apart."
The images of the gunmen reportedly as Satan worshippers and hate mongers who shot one student who said she believed in God were particularly disturbing to the congregation Friday.
When asked about their feelings for the families of the gunmen, Tomlin's father, John Sr., said his family is praying for them.
"We feel no hatred against them," John Tomlin said. "We will be praying for everybody."
On either side of their parents sat John Robert's surviving siblings, 14-year-old Patrick and 11-year-old Ashley who was shyly holding a teddy bear with a pink ribbon.
"He was a really good brother, and I really miss him," Ashley said.
There were happy memories of Tomlin, too.
Nearly everyone who knew him spoke of his infectious grin and the goofy voices and faces he used to make people laugh.
Insight into his humor and talent for drawing were displayed on a table in a hall. Among the items were a drawing of an ear of corn wearing a cowboy hat and sunglasses playing a banjo; his Green Bay Packers' cheesehead, and 4X4 Power Truck magazines.
"There was something we found in each other that we totally trusted each other," Michelle said. "I am so glad that he will not be forgotten."
John Tomlin's body will be taken back to Wisconsin, where he once told his mom he wished to be buried.
April 24, 1999
Copyright 1999 The Daily Camera. All rights reserved.
Any copying, redistribution, or retransmission of any
of the contents of this service without the express written
consent of The Daily Camera is expressly prohibited.
Users of this site are subject to our
User Agreement. You may also read our
Privacy Policy
