Losing someone close to you is one of the most difficult things for a human being to endure.

One of my good friends, Jim Johnson, passed away due to complications from ALS (Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis) on Jan. 11. He was just 36 years old.

Jim was diagnosed with the deadly disease in early October.

I’ve known Jim since 2007. He married Jacinda Soete, who is the younger sister of my best friend, Nolan Soete in July of 2007. Over the past eight years I considered Jim to be the equivalent of a brother-in-law to me.

On Jan. 17, I attended his memorial service at Rill Chapel in Port Orchard. The funeral home was packed to the brim as close to 150 people were in attendance to pay their respects. I wasn’t surprised to see so many people at Jim’s service. He exhibited an easy-going persona coupled with an ability to connect with people from a wide array of different backgrounds.

On Sunday, the Soete family hosted a “Seahawks gathering” to watch the NFC Championship game in Jim’s honor. Jim was an avid Seahawks fan and his favorite player was Russell Wilson. Before the game began, Nolan emerged from his vehicle with a framed photo of Jim.

“Jim will be watching the game with us today,” Nolan said.

With Jim’s photo perched alongside the Soete’s gargantuan-sized flat-screen TV, we saw the Seattle Seahawks deliver an improbable, come-from-behind 28-22 overtime victory against the Green Bay Packers. Jim wasn’t there with us in a physical sense, but he certainly was with us spiritually and emotionally for arguably the greatest comeback victory in Seahawks history. It is something I will never forget.

The following is a passage I wrote on Jim’s tribute wall on his online obituary:

“When I think of Jim, I immediately think of the Soete family gatherings. We always had such a great time! Countless Seahawks get togethers, BBQs, birthday parties, Christmas parties and poker nights. The memories from those events will live on forever and never be forgotten. Jim was one of most welcoming individuals I have ever encountered and was the kind of person everyone liked. He always put others before himself and was the epitome of a family man. Jim’s spirit will live on forever. No one is gone as long as someone remembers them. RIP my brother.”

Shaun Scott: 425-453-5045; sscott@bellevuereporter.com