Eulogy's from Darin's Funeral

Tom Ellsworth (Supervisor at Kuryakyn)

I have the honor and privilege of representing Darin’s co workers at Kuryakyn. Darin began his career with Kuryakyn in February of 2007. He was the newest person on the Research and Development team. As you all know Darin is very easy to get to know. He adjusted quickly to his new role and excelled every day.Most importantly he made friends rapidly Darin touched many people in our organization both internally and externally. His role included delivering and picking up from our major customers, suppliers and service providers. He was our ambassador to these contacts. In most occasions the team needed something urgently. Darin responded with speed and accuracy. When the contacts he was working with confronted him Darin’s easy going attitude was the calming force in a potentially hostile situation. Darin made friends very quickly at Kuryakyn and their outside contacts. He was a joy to talk to and it was obvious he enjoyed life every day. Upon hearing of Darin’s accident these customers, suppliers and friends of Kuryakyn had an immediate outpouring of sympathy. The loss was recognized by every business that Darin had contact with. He will be missed by many. My nick name is Fish. Darin was always respectful of everyone, and he called me Mr. Fish. My role in the company brought me to the office every other day or so. When I would walk in the R+D shop Darin would always be the first one to address me with a big smile, a good morning Mr. Fish and ask me how I was doing today. We always shared stories of how our week or weekend was. I couldn’t help but change my attitude after seeing him. His joy, smile, and happiness was contagious. I always felt better after seeing Darin Everyone please stand up. In Darin's honor extend your hand to who is sitting next to you and carry on Darin’s tradition of wishing each other a good morning and a great day. LET US PRAY Dear God, Do you see that young man sitting next to you. He’s the one with the big smile. Tell him good morning…. We Love You…. And we will miss you He will know who it’s from

Mike Swenson (Older Brother)

That smile, how can we ever forget that smile? When I think of a person who is kind, compassionate, caring, dependable, responsible, and lives life to the fullest, there is only one person who comes to mind and that is “Darin”. Whenever I saw Darin it was guaranteed to be a good day, he would not allow it to be any other way. If I was depressed or upset, he always knew what to say to make me realize every thing would be ok. He would tell me it is not that bad or worth worrying about. I can still hear him now, “settle down Mike it is going to be ok.” Whenever I need a hand he was there. I never had to ask him twice, heck most the time I did not have to ask him at all. He was not afraid of a little hard work. No matter what he had planed for the day. To him work was not something you did for money, but rather something you did because it needed to be done. A big plate of chicken wings and a cold one were more then enough payment for him. Darin never met a person he could not relate too. It did not matter if it was an eighty year-old couple at the coffee shop or three year old child just looking to play. A person recently told me “I realize I have only known Darin for a month, but it feels like years.” That is just the way Darin was. Darin lived life to the fullest. He rarely made plans to far in advance, because there was just too much to do today. I do not ever recall Darin saying “I wish I had done that”, because he always did. Whether it is playing football, softball, skiing in Colorado, tractor pulling, or riding a mechanical bull, he did it all. But for me it was riding shotgun across the country, because he knew I could use the company. It didn’t matter to Darin how much money you made, what kind of car you drove, the clothes you wore, or how smart you thought you were. He loved everybody. Darin loved his family and friends, and was never ashamed to show it. He knew they were the important things in life. Darin once told me that he would not allow Goose to ride his new dirt bike, not because he was afraid of him wrecking it, but because he was afraid he may get hurt. Darin loved his job and the people he worked with a Kuryakyn. It was his dream job, and I believe he would have done it for free. He was always so excited to tell me about his day at work and all the great people he worked with. Most 19 year-old guys have pictures of girls covering their mirrors, but not Darin, his mirror was covered with pictures of his niece and nephews. The love he had for them could not be described with words. They all worshiped the ground he walked on, he made their tiny lives complete. Most people take their mom out to dinner on Mother’s Day, but Darin took our Mom to his first dirt bike race. Darin loved that his Mom took an interest in all his activities. Darin always knew no matter what he did in life, his biggest fan would be there. When my father past away, I was always told that everything happens for a reason. That God has a plan for all of us. But I never thought I would find that reason. Then came Darin, and over the past 19 years I realized that he was the reason. Now I don’t know what to think. People always ask the question, “what would Jesus do?” Well I don’t know what Jesus would have done, but I know “what Darin would do”. That is how I plan on trying to live my life. If I can, then I’m guaranteed smile a lot more, laugh a lot more, and be a lot happier. He was the kind of person I want to be and that I want my son to be, the kind of person we all want to be. I know Darin would rather you leave here with a smile on your face, rather then a tear in your eye. And never forget to tell those you care about that you love them everyday of your life, as Darin did. So Get ER Done and Take ER Easy