This was the Eulogy that my brother Don read at Dad's service. He summed up Dad's life very nicely! We will all miss him very much!!!
The fact that all of us have gathered here today to celebrate the life of a great friend, husband, and father speaks volumes as to the wonderful life my father had. He was always there for everyone. When he owned his business, many of his customers became friends and he would do anything to help them when they were going through rough times.
I remember years ago when I worked for my father that he had a little green tin box on his desk that contained all of the people that owed him money for work that he had done on their vehicles. That was his version of credit. I once asked him why he kept letting some of his customers add to their debt without so much as making a dent on their past debt. He answered by saying "Son, the people in that box are going through hard times; they will pay me when they can, and if they do not, they have already helped me by referring other customers to me." To my Dad, the glass was always half full, and he always had the answer to what was truly important in life.
If it was not for my father helping my mother to raise us, we would not be the individuals we are today. Even though my father and mother both worked, we always had access to at least one of them on any given day when we were growing up. They struggled to put us through catholic grade schools and high schools to make sure that we had a good education that was backed up by faith in God. Despite our short-comings, my brother, sister and I all managed to graduate from college.
My father was always the first person I called when I harvested a deer or caught a large fish. He is why I love the outdoors as much as I do and I thank him for that gift. I know that the next time that I catch a fish or harvest a deer that I may, out of habit try to call him. Who knows, maybe I will get an answer.
My father was committed to his family and my mother. I believe he held out to their 52nd wedding anniversary to leave us to prove that he was going out on his own terms with no regrets. My Mother, brother, sister, Patty, and I all shared a final toast with my father at his hospital bed a few nights before he passed. We told stories of events that we shared as a family and shared a few final laughs. I believe my father truly appreciated that evening, and I know that everyone there will always remember our final toast to a wonderful father, friend, and husband.