Connie's Cup of Joy: February 2024

Our park will always be an adventure because of you and never the same without you.

Randy talked with students; he listened to all their plans, ambitions, and ideas.

A visionary. One year ago I had the opportunity to meet a man that knew how to make dreams a reality. He walked into the office with his big overalls on, a huge smile & larger than larger-than-life handshake and shared with me the passion of his work and all the people that came with it. He said he likes the variety of backgrounds I had in my past job experiences vs people that stay with one area for so long. This was his out-of-the-box thinking. Randy didn’t want normal, he wanted big, unusual, crazy ideas and he gleamed at the sight of watching people’s ideas come to life. He gave us all a platform to dream big. He wasn’t just the owner of a campground he was a storyteller of true experiences and a lover of the simple everyday life, as well as a mentor to others that came into his light. He and his wife Theresa, raised 3 girls who together, have the work ethic, love, grit, and passion in all they do like no other, and we are humbled, dreaming, and working alongside of them.

Randy, me & Theresa

Randy raised the bar on trial and error when it came to something new, he grunted or smiled and kept trying until it came to. Who else do you know that thinks of a life-size Picnic Basket or Santa’s Sleigh for all to ride on while he pulled it on his tractor? We all knew his therapy was hopping on a tractor and driving it around at his own pace whether there was a speed limit or not, we just knew to stay out of the way while he was on his thinking throne.

He took the time to talk with me and I took the time to listen. I knew these were magic moments for me, and I embraced every opportunity I had with him. I asked him what’s the most important thing I can do for his company and he slammed his fist down and firmly said, “Everyone’s gotta get along”. It wasn’t numbers or stats but empathy and love. He wanted all of us to be one family and I learned even quicker that we fight like one, laugh like one, and now losing him; cry together as one.

I gave my first training presentation with a slide of “Randy’s No-Nos” with his big smiling photo on it. He met with me after, asking if I could add about 20 more of his “Yes-yes’s” on there. Most of them were different ways to just work together or create new ideas, he always wanted more and it kept us wanting to do more as a team. He had this supersized- millionaire- mindset helping others live their dreams of owning campgrounds themselves and he would give tours of his own pride and joy when he met seeking dreamers like himself.

He couldn’t wait to take his grandkids on the “great” cousin tour again across the country in an RV. “The 1st one was “good” but the next one was going to be “greater”” he said. Only because he thought of a million more things he’d do with them again on their next adventure. Every trip would be a “memory worth repeating” he said, unless it was a bathroom accident that he found so funny after the fact .

His heart was angry with the world fighting and innocent lives dying at war and he didn’t keep that a secret; how important the military troops and first responders were to him and to all of us. I told him he had so much story to tell and we needed to start writing it together and he looked at me and said, “Oh my story’s not done yet Connie, I have many more chapters to share!”

We are angry and in disbelief that we didn’t get to share more chapters with you Randy but we know you’re soaring high with the eagles in that sunny beautiful sky. You are looking down saying to all of us, “You finish writing my chapters, with all the excitement I have shared with you in life, and all the joy and dreams I have fought for, now it’s your turn to share that with others.”

Theresa, he loved you so much, he not only told us that often, but he showed it with sweet gestures of bringing you your favorite coffee, flowers, or his crazy way of putting us to work to make sure you were happy, but you worked hard all alongside him and his dreams, together, and never let him give up to the very end; with you as the silent force of strength. May you and your family find peace as you move forward one minute at a time and hold onto the EVERYTHING that he was to EVERYONE, ALWAYS.