Paul Berg Passed Away This Morning :(

[tkb289]

David,

Well done by you, your company and the Club volunteers that made such a wonderful dream come true for Paul and his family. It's nice to know that people care and can make a difference.

[xlr8or]

Condolences to the Paul's family.

David,
Once again you have changed someone's life probably more than you will ever know. The Kirkham family truly is a class act.

[SkipB]

I just got home from a rather hard day at work and after an intense meeting on a charity group that I work with. I was not in the mood for anything but Cobras before I went to bed for the night.

I read this story, watched a video and ended up with tears in my eyes. I can't imagine the emotion in the Berg family right now. But, I will say that a whole bunch of people, including me are thinking of them and how very special Cobra people are around the globe. I feel like I just lost a brother, but in reality I didn't even meet Paul. It doesn't matter. He was a Cobra guy, and that is all the is important. I feel for his family and hope they want for nothing!

RIP buddy.

Skip B.
San Diego













Cobrea

[Igofastr]

Thanks for the post.

Rest in peace, Paul.

[Tugboat]

RIP Paul

Thanks David

Larry

[Dinobyte]

Nicely done David...very nicely done.

You would have to have a heart of stone to not shed a tear or two on this one.

[aspenbubba]

I just wanted to weigh in from afar. Firstly my prayers and thoughts are with Tiffany and the Berg family.

What a sterling example of what man can do if we all just try to emulate David and the crew at Kirkham. His reputation and that of his company are certainaly deserving. Reading Davids account of how he took the lead brought tears to my eyes.G-d bless to all that were involved and those who were touched by this story.

Larry White
Washington, D.C.

BDR #334

[acindrich]

Whatsoever a man soweth, that also shall he reap.

I'm convinced the good you send out will come back to you some day, some way. Thanks for the example little brother, brother-in-law and all others who helped Paul. The video and story really do put a lump in the throat and a tear to the eye. Hopefully we all can find opportunites to "build" in ways both small and great. And when we find them, to jump on them. Our families, our friends, our communities and the world really need it.

RIP Paul

[Joe Wicked]

David,
I remember reading the stories, but never got to see the video. Thanks for the post, and here is to Paul and Tiffany. May he log millions of miles waiting for his wife to join him.

[mtml427]

David, What a great post! You and those who participated are an inspiration to all. My hat is off to you. My sincerest regards to Tiffany. I hope she keeps driving that Cobra like Paul would have liked.

[Xavier]

Hats off to everyone one, really makes me want to drive my Cobra more. What a touching story.

[Trueoo7]

David

What you did.... I know you can't do for everybody.... but if everybody did it for somebody, the world would be a better place.

Well done !! You have my highest regards.

[N2VENOM]

David, you continue to master the art of life. My prayers go out the berg family. The Kirkham’s and Utah Cobra club have performed a wonderful act. Peace to all………

[John-Tucson]

Thanks David and the Utah Cobra Club. My prayers go to Paul's family.

[David Kirkham]

Gents,

Tiffany Berg gave one of the most moving talks I have ever heard in my life at Paul's funeral. She bared her soul to all who had the privilege of attending. She spoke lovingly of her husband and of the days gone by they spent running, lifting weights, and playing at the lake together with their family. Suddenly, she watched helplessly as Paul transformed from a world-class water skier into a shadow of death.

She described the financial devastation that befalls a family when such tragedy strikes. She described the tortuous rules of Medicaid that didn't allow a couple to earn more than $500 dollars/month. If they did, Paul would have been denied treatment from Medicaid. Forced into poverty, she was stripped of the dignity of providing for herself and her family. Trapped in a hole, they grappled with providing for their 5 children. She described many tearful nights as she and Paul wondered what to do. When they talked with the financial counselors at the hospital, they advised them to get divorced and then "shack up" with each other as "no one would ever know." In the depths of crushing financial and emotional hell, Tiffany asked Paul if they should get divorced...Paul's answer, "No, it's not in The Bible." To them, financial distress was not a reason for divorce. They lost everything. They lost their home; they lost their cars; they lost virtually all their worldly possessions. Paul ultimately lost his life; but, they refused to lose each other.

Then, she told the story of the widow in 2 Kings 4:1 who was being forced to give her sons up into slavery because of a debt she owed. She cried out to Elisha to save her. Elisha asked her what she had and she answered, "not any thing in the house, save a pot of oil." Elisha told her to go and gather up vessels from her neighbors and then pour her oil into all the vessels she had gathered up. She did as Elisha asked and filled all the extra vessels with the oil from her own jar and was able to pay off her debt and live off the rest.

Tiffany then told of the incredible outpouring of love they received from their friends and family. She told of how friends, family, and even strangers kept refilling their oil jars. Their "oil" never ran dry during their ordeal. Tiffany told of friends who gave them a house to live in. Others donated money and needed items. It was clear, however, the thing the Bergs treasured most were those who gave their friendship. Indeed, the chapel was full--standing room only. There was not an empty seat--or a dry eye. She spoke of Paul's Cobra that he loved so much. She said it was the only worldly possession he cared about. He drove it to the end of his life. She then expressed heart-felt gratitude to the many who had filled their oil jars.

After the service, Paul Berg's father, David Berg, asked all of us to drive our cars behind the hearse to the cemetery for the burial service--FFR's and Kirkhams leading the way. It was an honor to drive among all those good people down the freeway to the cemetery in Lehi. There, I signed Paul's casket and told him I looked forward to seeing him "in the big race track in the sky."

After hearing Tiffany speak, I have come even more firmly to believe, the government is not the answer to our problems. We don't need the government to take care of us; we need to take care of each other.

I am grateful the Utah Cobra Club was able to, perhaps, add a few more drops of oil into the lantern of the Berg family's life.

David

[kobrabytes]

Yesterday was truly touching. It's sad that only at the end of ones life do we understand how many others were marching around us on our journey.

I was privileged to be the passenger in Davids car. We had time to chat, between spurts of acceleration, about Paul and Tiffanys' struggles. I am horrified at the Governments suggestion that Paul and Tiffany divorce to maintain Paul's medical coverage should ever of them work and exceed the earnings limit. These are good productive people, and Paul will be truly missed.

I wish only the best for Tiffany and her children.

Sincerely,

len

[David Kirkham]

Here we are, lined up behind the hearse. Todd's Kirkham is just in front and out of the picture. The blue FFR is Paul's car. The sliver FFR in the back is Terry Stapley's car. I drove Brent DeHart's car. Chris Cindrich (yellow stripes) and Sandwich drove as well.

[David Kirkham]

Here we let the balloons go to say farewell to Paul. It was a beautiful Utah summer day.

Paul, til we meet again...

David

[Joe Wicked]

Thanks again David. It can't be said enough that you are a class act. I hope that one day I will have the honor of purchasing one of your cars. The type of person you are makes me want your product even more. Thank you for the posts. I enjoyed them.

[franklin]

As has been mentioned above, the funeral service yesterday was a truely great tribute to a man I wish I would have met sooner. It was an honor to help Dave Berg, the Utah Cobra Club and the Kirkhams finish Pauls car. It is sad to see a family of 5 children lose their father, a wife lose her husband and also very hard to see parents lose a child. I don't think I could bare to lose one of my boys.
I look forward to trying to help others where I can in the future.
Todd