ANTHONY P. SEGER

Dearest Marlene, thank you for your wonderful memories. Uncle Tony passed away on my birthday. I try to look at it as the day my Uncle went to heaven. I have some of his letters that he sent home during his time in the Army, I can clearly see from his writings how much he loved his family. He is dearly missed and forever loved.

(This is a poem Uncle Tony sent to his mother (my grandmother) in 1944 when he was in the Army and stationed in India.)

To Mother on Mother's Day
by Anthony Seger

Mother is the best pal I've ever had.
Even better than my dear old Dad.
Mother is ever so grand, thoughtful, and sweet.
By far the swellest lady you'd ever meet.

No matter how bad I am or what I've done,
To my Mother I'll always be her loving son.
She's always ready to help in sorrow and in shame.
And ever so happy when I've found love and fame.

I still have my Mother I am proud to say.
But I dread to see the day She is called away.
All through my life to me she's been swell.
So I know I'll miss her more than tongue can tell.

From morning to night, from dusk to dawn
The sweet kind words of my mother will forever live on.
So these words to my Mother I wish to say
I hope She'll be happy this Mother's Day.

Your Loving Son,
Anthony
5/14/44

This is a brief tribute to the saga of my Uncle Tony's life. I am the eldest (1st) niece of the Joseph V. Seger family – the daughter of Rosemary Seger Davis. Of the Seger children, Uncle Henry was the eldest, then my mother, then Uncle Tony, Uncle Bill, Aunt Betty, and Uncle Joe.

Even as a young boy of 8 or 9 years old, Uncle Tony was always concerned about his family and had a very special love for his mom (Rosina L. Seger) and his dad. Uncle Tony realized his family was poor and had a hard time making ends meet. My Grandfather Joseph was a barber in the city, but wages were very meager in those days and Grandmother had to find ways to stretch a dollar. So when Uncle Tony was only 12 or 13 he got a job in a bakery making bread and other baked goods. Sometimes he would work 8 to 10 hours - and then go to school in the morning.

When the war started in the 1940s, Uncle Tony and Uncle Henry were called to join the service. Uncle Henry was in the Navy, and Uncle Tony went to the Army. In 1944, Uncle Tony was sent to India, and while there he helped to build the famous Burma Road.

When he was honorably discharged he got a job in the Armour meat factory. Processing the meat was a very hard job - and very smelly due to the process. You could smell the odor of the plant miles away before getting there! But once again he was concerned for his family and did what he could do to help, and even though it was not the most pleasant work, he was very happy to have the job.

Throughout his life, even after Grand Pap Seger died (in 1952), Uncle Tony was dedicated to his mother and often brought home his whole pay and gave it to her.

Uncle Tony was always generous and thinking of others and how he could make them happy. One time my pet dog died, and Uncle Tony wanted to cheer me up so he took me to the shelter to find a new puppy. A shepherd-collie dog liked me, and pulled my shoe string open - and that's the dog I took home. I named him Shep and he was my dog and best friend for many, many years.

I'm not saying Uncle Tony was a saint, as he sometimes had a bad temper – and you would want to avoid that at all costs! I remember one time I did something that made him angry and Uncle Tony ran from down home to our house and I thought I could outrun him - but he caught up with me! But I'll always remember Uncle Tony as a man of prayer, a soft and caring heart for others, and my best defender.

Uncle Tony – you were always there for everyone. Although rough and gruff at times, you will always be a Teddy Bear at heart. Our hearts are full of memories; with pride we speak your name. Though life goes on without you, it will never be the same.

May you rest in peace and celebrate your reunion with those you loved.

Till we meet again –
Love, your niece,
Marlene
XXXOOO

To the Seger Family:

So very sorry for your loss. May Tony rest in peace!

Sylvia Hunt Hollis

Uncle Tony taught me how to ride a 2 wheeler, he used a garden hoe under the seat and ran behind me. He also placed a plastic liner in a hole he dug at the spring out home, to keep us cool on hot summer days. And it was the coldest water you ever felt!