Remembering Dad

An excerpt from Will's scrapbook:

June 24, 2005

You, Grandma, and I visited Grandpa's grave since today is the 3rd anniversary of his death. After going to Jefferson Barracks, we picked up the dogs and headed to Silky's for vanilla malts - a favorite of Grandpa's.

In Because of Winn-Dixie, India Opal asks her father to tell her 10 things about her mother who she never had the chance to meet.

10 Things about Your Grandpa

1. He truly appreciated the outdoors, and more specifically he loved the Missouri Ozarks. He grew up camping, canoeing, and fishing in the Ozarks with Aunt Fran and Uncle Bud. He in turn took Grandma, Sean, April, and me to Alley Springs.
2. He loved homegrown tomatoes. In the summer, Grandpa would eat tomatoes for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Sometimes he would salt them, and other times he would pour on salad dressing. He also loved them on BLT sandwiches.
3. He was such a proud grandpa. He plastered his website with photos of Jaden, the only grandchild he was able to get to know here on Earth.
4. He was a devoted husband to your grandma. He loved her very much and supported her in all that she did.
5. He was an "Electronic Whiz." Although computers were his forte, he could repair almost every electrical gadget.
6. He was a funny man with a very dry sense of humor. All of his jokes were stolen from television and radio shows, but he had a way of making them fresh. No matter how many times I heard his jokes they always brought a smile to my face.
7. He had a strong work ethic. Whether it was a job he disliked or his dream job (Chaminade), he always gave 100% and made the best of the situation.
8. He loved his weiner dog, Snickers. He was the first to speak out against getting a dog, yet he was the first to fall madly in love with Snickers. Quite often, he took Snickers to Rombach Farm and Chaminade with him.
9. He loved trains . . . riding trains, photographing trains, creating model trains.
10. He was an excellent and loving father.

You are a lucky little boy to have such a special angel watching over you from Heaven.