Lucas Willamse

[Russ Beardsley]

Hello everyone,

I spoke with Lucas Willamse today. He gave me permission to give the WOG members an update on his health condition. He is suffering from Pancreatic cancer.

He has become too weak to tolerate chemotherapy any longer. He has chosen to enter hospice for the additional services he and Linda can receive at their home which include enhanced pain management.

He told me he is weak but in no pain. He has lost a lot of weight over the past year. He is spending significant time in bed related to how physically cold he gets and is looking forward to the Southern California temperature increasing so he can enjoy days out in the sunshine.

He says he is feeling better since discontinuing chemotherapy. He is looking forward to upcoming family visits. I told him Jackie and I would be stopping by to deliver a gift that the Bluebirders at the Quartzsite rally made for him. He told me "I never knew how many great friends I have".

While writing this I just thought of something that might be special to Lucas. Maybe the Woggers out there could post a story of how Lucas touched their lives. I know he helped me out many times that he may not even remember but I do.

[Russ Beardsley]

It was my first Bird rally. I had been a member of WOG for about a year and a half learning all about the Bluebirds, one of which, I looked forward to getting someday.

Finally a rally close by, about 3-4 hour drive, from where I live. I borrowed my father-in-law's Chinook SOB and headed out for the rally. Talk about a warm greeting. I was welcomed in like I was an old friend.

When I arrived and was setting up I discovered the frig had quit working. It was the Fourth of July weekend and unlikely I would be able to find a mobile RV tech. That was the truth. Not one call was returned from the three I had called. The wife would arrive in a couple days to spoiled food. Not good.

Lucas and Mose Walhstrom, another Wogger, ended up coming by to say hello. During our conversation they asked how's it going? I shared that the frig is on the fritz and none of the RV tech's are returning my call. They asked if they could take a look at it. Heck ya. Have at it. Lucas got his volt meter and he and Mose had it diagnosed in 5 minutes and fixed in another 5 minutes with a jumper "They" made for me. They literally saved my bacon!

I knew then that this was the group I wanted to belong to. With this kindness and support I knew I could be a successful owner someday.

During my first year of ownership Lucas was integral in the success of many of my projects.

Thank you Lucas for always taking my calls!

[MRPutz]

I met Lucas & Linda at the 2009 Q rally. I'd been going to Q since 2005 for GMC bus conversion rallies and this was my 1st Wanderlodge rally. I was intrigued by his Renault & the tow method he devised. Once we started talking we soon realized we had a lot of common interests. Boating was one of them as my family has had boats as long as I can remember and my parents retired on a '47 Catalina in the Bahamas for a time. He showed me his mechanical accomplishment with the towing setup and I remembered being jealous as I wanted to do so many things but had several years to go for retirement.

One morning years later as we talked around the firepit one of his 3 dogs lifted a leg and pissed on my shoe. OMG I exclaimed, and he replied "surely that can't be the 1st time a dog has pissed on your shoe?" Well, YES it was! hee hee hee BTW, I now bring extra tennis shoes everywhere I go in the bus! Lucas just laughed and continued the conversation.

When my 78FC35 dropped a valve and I had her towed home. Lucas called and we talked about what happened. He mentioned he had a spare 3208T 250hp and if I needed it I could come get it. I asked how much he wanted and he said "you get this out of my back yard and it's yours!" I wasted no time and drove to Paramount, CA to pick it up. Unfortunately I was with a friend and we had other Wanderlodge parts to pick up at another location. I really wanted to take him and Linda out to dinner or something? He refused to take any money.

Lucas helped me a lot learning about the 3208 and all its adjustments and quirks. He also helped me troubleshooting the 83FC35 and gave me a lot of incite on the injectors and adjusting the fuel mixture. I can now run very strong and yet still pass Maricopa emissions thanx to his help.

He was truly an asset to all that knew him and he will be sorely missed.
Bless you Lucas, I hope the your journey is pleasant, peaceful, and just know you are loved by many.

Michael Putz

[1984Lodge]

I am so glad that Lucas made his way out to WOG a couple years ago, it was a pleasure chatting with him and he shared his knowledge at our seminars. Keep sharing your knowledge Lucas, and hang in there.

[Randy Dupree]

I don't have any one special memory,they were all special,but having him come to the WOG and to the warehouse after for a week or 2 was a pleasure.
He helped at the wog rally doing a few seminars and he was very happy to be asked.
Thanks Lucas for being a part of my life and a part of the WOG collective.
God speed kind sir.

[tsdevane]

Lucas...

I had the opportunity to you at Pine Mountain 2021. The amount of knowledge that you willingly shared with so many over the years became the catalyst that made me seek you out to shake your hand. I got the better end of the deal meeting you. Your intellect and problem solving skills are enhanced by your kind demeanor. Thank you, thank you, thank you.

Timothy

[chiplamb]

Lucas, I hope you get to read these, was good to meet you at WOG, always fun to talk 2CV.

[mburmandds]

I always liked watching Lucas hitch up his toad!
In addition, one year at Q I found out Lucas was a Marine electrician. We were living on our 53' Defever in Ventura harbor. Lucas graciously answered my queries, then mentioned the "Spirit of Zopilote" which I had been following on Passagemaker Magazine as it cruised the seas! I was all ears!
Thank you Lucas!

[bwinter1946]

I don't have a particular story to tell. I met Lucas at Quartzsite. I assume it was in 2010 as that was my first-year attending "Q". Lucas was always the "go to guy" for electrical issues. Lucas was always in shorts and his red plaid coat while at "Q". His hands were never empty. He either had a dog leash or a multimeter in his hands. He would work any electrical issue with any model of Bird. He was always eager to help someone in need. He also has a great laugh.

Last year in 2021 we asked for advise on traveling to the WOG as we were planning on attending in 2022. He gave his time and advice freely.

Thank you, Lucas, for helping and being a friend.

[isp2952]

Lucas, like others I have no specific incident, but many thoughts of you helping so many on WOG. I never thought I would get to meet you and Linda, but last year at WOG and some added time at the Warehouse I finally had the chance to meet the revered Lucas Willamse. I wished I had your skills and knowledge regarding how these Birds work and more importantly what makes things quit working. I wish you the best in what you are going through and recognize you have have made a tremendous impact on many people and their Birds.