September 21, 2003
Death in the Family
This has been a tough week. Aside from having the most stressful September I have ever had on my job (deadlines upon deadlines upon deadlines), my dad underwent major surgery on his prostate. We went to visit him at home yesterday and fortunately he's doing fine.
We shared a lot of laughs and stories at the house. Mom informed me that my grandfather died the previous weekend. The news wasn't a shock (he had been afflicted with Alzheimers for the last 5 or 6 years), but still it came as a blow. I admired my grandfather not just for who he was, but also because his life seemed so quintessentially 20th century American.
Grandpa lived his entire life in the Midwest, growing up in the small town of Atcheson, Kansas. After graduating high school, he served in the Army during WWII as a radio communications specialist. I've heard that he saw conflict and was psychologically affected by it for the rest of his life. He completed his tour of duty, married my grandmother and had a daughter (my mom) in the Spring of 1945. In the '50s and '60s, he would manage a drug store while raising a family of five in Hastings, Nebraska. After the children grew up, they briefly owned a farm before setting in nearby Lincoln for the remainder of his life.
It was the period in Lincoln that I remember him best. He and my grandmother would tour America in their van with their pet Chihuahua, which seems like the coolest lifestyle possible. He was a no-nonsense, staunch Republican with passions for Native American artifact hunting, Frank Sinatra and Louis L'Amour novels. As a child, he intimidated the hell out of me. But as I got older, I recognized his warmth and humor - and his ability to bring out the best in everyone around him. I'll miss him.
Posted by mhinrichs at September 21, 2003 06:54 PM
You should have also mentioned the wonderful scrapbook your grandmother showed us on our trip in March with all of his exploits during and just after the war. I never met him; but he sure seemed to have had a fascinating life.
I'm sorry your grandfather died, but it's clear that you're glad he was in your life for as long as he was. And that's a wonderful thing.
Dear Matt;
I'm sad for your Grandpa and happy for your Dad.
September is always a complicated month.
Be well.
Brad
Sorry for your loss. Take care. Thank you for writing about your grandfather's life-it was a nice tribute.
Matt,
I am so sorry for your loss, but thank you for the wonderful portrait you painted of your Grandfather in your message.
We are quickly losing a treasured generation of Americans---the people we see when we look at Norman Rockwell paintings, or in newsreels from WWII.
Keep his memory alive---
And take good care of your Dad!
Fondly,
Helen
I'm sorry for your loss.
All my best to you and your family!
xox
What a wonderful life to live, your grandpa's. Hugs to you, Matt.
i'm sorry to hear about your grandfather.:( it sounds like he was a great influence on you(and others).
Thanks for your well-wishes, everyone.
Sorry to hear about your grandpa....
Sorry about your grandpa. What a rich and full life he had! Hope your dad continues on the road to recovery.
m
Sorry to hear your news. I hope you'll post some photos of him, he sounds like a cool guy. He sounds a lot like my dad, who comes from that John Wayne era. Tough birds, those. Fortunately my dad has an inner Gomer Pyle that makes him a little easier to take.
