Ryan Wilson, Editor
SPRINGFIELD — Kai “Kai’s Ketchup” Lundstrom, a Lincoln Land Community College sophomore known as sweet, unique, blunt, goofy, kind and caring, died Thursday, Feb. 5, 2015, at his Auburn home. He was 20.
Kai was perfect. There was nothing bad about this kind soul.
Also an inventor, a gamer and a good friend, this was Kai’s fourth semester at Lincoln Land. He also graduated from Auburn High School in 2013.
“Kai’s Ketchup” was known his love of ketchup, which is what earned him the nickname.
He was known for having a conniving, toothy smile that looked as if he was conspiring against you. He never was.
He would always laugh at any joke. Funny or not, his face would turn blood red overtime. It was a silent laugh.
Kai was quiet. Quiet as a mouse, as the saying goes. But his words and the meaning behind them were loud. His words spoke his actions: care and kindness toward you. He was blunt, yes, though
he truly cared about everyone. He once had a long conversation with his pastor at the Auburn United Methodist Church, Brian Caughlin, and left by saying, “I thought he’d never stop.”
But Kai never tried to hurt anyone’s feeling. Everyone was his friend. No matter who you were.
He was also a creator. A builder. A hidden genius.
Kai made Lincoln Land’s Vice President’s List in the fall of 2014. He excelled in high school, especially with mechanics. He was studying to become a chemical engineer.
He built his own virtual reality mask. It had a black eye piece with white straps for his head.
This wasn’t a normal eye mask, though. It projected the game screen (like ‘Call of Duty’) to his eyes, and if he turned his head, the screen also turned.
He also built a hand from only Legos. It had pieces for fingers, knuckles and a palm. The hand was life-size, too.
Also, life-size was his love of technology and the latest gadgets. Kai would often make trips to Best Buy to
see what was new. He had an iPhone, a laptop and an Xbox.
Kai was an avid ‘Call of Duty’ fan. He would play this game with his friends. He could talk all day about it, if you wanted.
But ‘if you wanted’ was
the key in his life. If you wanted help, he would help you. If you didn’t want to do something, he wouldn’t make you do it.
He was all about making friends. Making you happy. Seeing you smile, laugh. He would never hurt anyone.
He was always himself. If you knew him, you knew the real Kai.
As a high school and Lincoln Land classmate of Kai’s, I can say that he taught me how to be myself.
We were in band together since the fifth grade through high school graduation. He played the trumpet and tuba. We spent hours on end together at band rehearsals and competitions. If I needed help or even just a laugh, he would be there.
Kai was not your average high school, though. Kids often put fitting in ahead of be- ing themselves. Some kids will go above and beyond to have
a ‘cool’ friend. Kai wouldn’t. He was always himself, and he never changed.
Kai was a perfect example of individuality. He taught everyone to be himself or herself. If you treat people with respect, they’ll respect you back.
Kai is survived by his parents, Tony and Tracy Nelson Lundstrom, his grandparents, Chuck and Sue Campton of Auburn. He has one sister, Katlin Lund- strom of Akron, Ohio.
Ryan Wilson can be reached at [email protected] or (217) 786-2311.
Phoebe Wilson • Mar 6, 2015 at 12:14 am
This was a lovely, well-written tribute to your friend, Ryan. May we all be so fortunate to have friends that love us and can see the best parts of us so clearly in life and for long after.