Jay Lenhardt

September 29th, 2015

I met Jay through Bud Cretors when I moved back North from Texas back in the 90’s. I had just started to have some interest in the hobby through Bud but what I will never forget was one of our trips to Buffalo Rock range. He brought out his Browning 1911 and was sawing an oak door into pieces. I was AMAZED! He knew everything about the hobby and over the years turned out to be a true resource for questions, especially when I started to learn reloading through Bud. His excitement and love for the hobby was contagious and you might say I caught the bug in at least some small part due to Jay. Even up and to the beginning of this spring, Bud would ask questions we had and Jay as always would faithfully respond with his knowledge and support.

I also remembered quizzing him and hearing stories from his military days the couple of times on the way to the range. It was good fun.

Jay, you will be missed. God Bless.

~Tim Minier
~aquaintance, Burns Harbor, IN

September 18th, 2015

I met Jay, of all places, at a laser tag game called Photon back in the 1990s. A friendship developed first by coordinating future laser games, then movies, then shooting at both indoor/outdoor gun ranges and even some wok on simple independent films.
He dropped out of sight for 25yrs mostly due to a broken heart inflicted on him by a girl in one of our productions.

He reconnected with me on LinkedIN and we invited him for a night of good food (my fiance is a wonderful cook) and, of course, the THREE STOOGES. Anyone who really knows Jay know that the Stooges were his favorite funnymen. We went shooting with him last summer and had hoped to plan more get togethers.

I literally found out tonight, Fri Sept. 18 that it will not come to pass.

We will always remember one of the best jokes he ever told us…
“PEOPLE ASK WHY I WANT TO CARRY A GUN? THAT’S BECAUSE A COP IS TOO HEAVY”

You tend to forget how good a friendship you have had with someone (even if you don’t see them all that often) until news like this hits hard (and it hurts)

To Jay from the Stooges (FIRE AT WILL. WHICH ONE’S WILL?)
To Jay whose middle name should be SMITH AND WESSON)
and to Jay who I had the pleasure of dodging laser beams with.

You are missed

~DAVID ORI
~Friend, Highwood, IL

June 18th, 2015

I used to work at a BBQ place in Roselle where Jay would come most weekends and at least once a week. We shared many good stories and he had been there for me when things in my life weren’t going great, I could talk to him about anything. We also shared common interests with his job and his friends became mine. We developed great group and great friendships. I will miss you a lot Jay. See you again <3

Lindy Sue

~Lindy
~Friend, Cary, IL