Arthur Requate Jr.

Requate, Artie, 71, died suddenly while walking his doggie Larry on Saturday, March 12th, 2022. On Friday, the day before, he attended his mom's funeral and three days after Artie's passing we also lost his sweet brother, John. Please make damn sure you smother the people you love with love. You never know if it will be your last chance. Truly, you never know. Services will be at Stanfill Funeral Home 10545 S. Dixie Hwy on Saturday, March 26th at 11:00 AM. Burial to follow directly after. Please dress casually in Artie's honor. My love letter follows: Yesterday was our 41st wedding anniversary. I miss you, I miss you, I miss you. What a dumb phrase we have for pain so deep it can take me to my knees sometimes. Larry is acting weird (well, weirder than usual). How do you explain to your doggie that his true love is gone? I don't know how to help him except to give him lots of cookies and baby talk. I am proud of him though. The neighbors said when you fell he was licking your face, trying to get you up and barked and growled at anyone who came near. Just so you know, I would have done that too. Hon, so many people, so very many people have come by and called in tears, telling me how much you meant to them. I am absolutely stunned and so grateful to them. They fill my heart. As we know, I am not "mushy" but you would be surprised at how many times I have heard myself saying "Love you too" this past week. It gets easier to say if you practice. I was looking for something else and found our old love letters. How I wish we had read them together every year on our anniversary to remind us of how we fell in love before real life swept in and carried us away. I want everyone to know what a good man you are. Seems they already know. Artie, the gentle soul, poet, artist, line dancer, sailor, snow skiier, tree-hugger, carpenter, golfer, tennis player, short-order cook and an expert on the use of the one-word response. You were the master of calm acceptance. When your dad died you said you put him in an osprey. Every time you saw an osprey you smiled and said "Hey, Dad". You figured out a way to work with life's crap. I always fought tooth and nail to "fix it". Sooner or later I have to realize I can't fix this. Today is your memorial service in Vero. I am scared. I don't want to say goodbye because then it's really true, but family and friends have been with me the whole week, showing me the way it's done. The practical parts. They have been truly amazing to me. Remember two days before you left I was singing a song to you, miming the words like one of the Pips and you were laughing so hard at how silly I was and how terrible I sing? I am so, so glad I did that. I will close my love letter with that love song. Betcha by golly, wow, hon, and love you forever: "There's a spark of magic in your eyes. Candyland appears each time you smile. Never knew that fairy tales come true, but they come true when I'm near you. You're a genie is disguise. Full of wonder and surprise. And, betcha by golly, wow, you're the one that I've been waiting for forever, and ever will my love for you keep growin' strong, keep growin' strong. If I could I'd catch a falling star, to shine on you so I'll know where you are. Order rainbows in your favorite shade, to show I love you thinking of you. Write your name across the sky. Anything you ask I'll try, 'cause betcha by golly wow. You're the one that I've been waiting for forever. And ever will my love for you keep growin' strong, keep growing strong." I love you Artie. See you soon! Love, Cathy. Donations can be made in memory of Artie to the UCF Restores program. They provide free counseling and support for PTSD for first-responders, veterans and anyone suffering from trauma. Free. ucfrestores.com. Click far right button "Give Now". Thank you to Artie's loving family for being there, Terry (Leibel), Pat and Jena, Patrick, Kyle and Tommy Madden, Jean (Requate), Kenny, Jake and Katie Bell, Susan (Leibel) and Charlie Serrats, Rose (Requate) and Bubba Russell, Rob and Carmen Requate, John Leibel (in memory of), and my loving family for giving up 2 weeks of their lives to be with me and help run my life, David and Jane Mertens, Alona (Mertens) and Chase Dixon, Victoria (Mertens) and Christian. And countless others doing so much of the work that I could not. Please forgive if I left someone out. Predictably, my brain isn't working right now. Thank you! "Love you too!"

In memory of Artie, please donate to ucfrestores.com, University of Central Florida Restores program in Orlando which provides a FREE two-week program with hotel paid for those first-responders, military and ANYONE needing help with trauma. FREE.