Remembering Bill Soyka
8/17/24
We are all shattered here at CDHR. We are shaken to our cores. We are devastated. We are lost and we are broken. We are devastated to announce the very unexpected loss of one of our own. We lost our Bill. Our friend, our family member, our volunteer, our maintenance man, our cheerleader...our Bill. We, sadly, being in rescue, are no strangers to loss but this is unlike any loss we have ever endured. We truly lost a piece of us. We pride ourselves on rescuing "the special ones" and that's not always just horses. Bill always made it known how much he loved the horses, our farm, our mission. He would often be heard saying the farm saved his life. We would like to think it did indeed save the life he had left in him. Bill was so loved and respected. He truly was the man that kept our farm moving. Even while grumbling about us being too rough, too fast and too careless with all our vehicles and tools, he was there all the time helping us and fixing us. It's unbearable at the moment trying to think about moving forward without him. We had so much left to do together with Bill. We have no doubt Bill had an amazing herd of horses waiting for him when he crossed over to his next journey. Vern, Duke, Nick, Gulliver and Melody no doubt were at the head of herd to thunder across the heavens to greet him. You were loved Bill, more than you knew. We will miss you so much and will carry on for you and your horses with a piece of our hearts gone with you. "WE ARE RESCUE!" ~Bill Soyka
As we are still reeling from the loss of one of our own, we are overwhelmed by the generosity of our supporters, friends, and relatives asking about donations in Bill Soyka's memory.
We are assessing the immediate needs and our first priorities are ensuring that Bill's final expenses are covered and also critical is the forever home and future care of his canine family members, Wally and Snickers.
We would like to use any remaining funds to cement Billy into the CDHR legacy. As our maintenance and repair guy, he kept the farm running with a collection of tools and hardware in the back corner of our hay barn. We've often referred to this area as "Billy's corner." In his honor, we would like to turn it into a permanent workshop and tool shed with walls, cabinets, shelves and a workbench. A sign above would forever remind us of his decade of dedication to CDHR and his favorite phrase "We Are Rescue". We are more than just rescue, Bill, we are family and you will never be forgotten 💔
