Tonight, my grandfather died at 5:30 pm, at the age of 86.  15 months ago, he suffered a stroke that took away his ability to talk, walk, and feed himself.  Tonight he returned to his Heavenly Father and was reunited with his departed family.

He was one of the better men I ever had the privilege to know and beyond that I was able to call him Grandpa.  I was his first grandchild - at a young age he taught me to shoot and first and foremost to respect firearms and to be safe when handling them.  He, at around 60 years of age, often took me up the side of the mountain with a knapsack of hot dogs and marshmallows to cook over a fire before we would shoot targets.  I remember riding in his truck with him on errands to the store while he sang, "don't sit under the apple tree with anybody else but me" and "Over there".

When he worried about me being bullied in school when I was about 7 years old, he brought two pairs of his old boxing gloves over and taught me how to box so I could defend myself.  As I child, when I saw his old Army Air Corps uniform, I was amazed and asked him if he had been an ace.  He laughed out loud and said, "Yeah, only it was spelled A-S-S".

My grandpa was John Wayne to me - his deep voice, natural swagger, and crooked smile reminded me of the duke so much that once as a child I asked him if John Wayne was his cousin.  He only laughed, but he was better than John Wayne to me because he was my grandpa.

I the 8th grade I once saw him cry - when I interviewed him about his time in WWII, while I was researching an English paper.  He voluntarily enlisted and served as a gunner on B-17 bomber crew - they never were in theater but saw training casualties weekly, "One a day in Tampa Bay" referred to the air crew death rate in training, he said.  He witnessed the bombing of Pearl Harbor, while serving as a missionary for his church in Hawaii.

When I was running track and x-country in high school - he came to most of my meets with his camera.  He was a better marksman than a photographer - he would line up his shots, holding his camera as though he were in a pistol match.  He would give me the photos in person and tell me how well I had performed.

He served many years as a district judge, he was politically active and a grassroots member of the NRA.  He always told me that the 2nd amendment protected the rest of our rights.  His service and willingness to fight for his country inspired me to join the military.

For almost 15 months, I've watched him lay in bed - unable to talk or even move his left side.  I watched his eyes meet mine when I came to visit him in various medical facilities as he was moved around by my aunt and grandmother.  He would try to communicate verbally, but only groans came out of his mouth.  He would grip my hand tightly and often I would have to leave the room so he wouldn't see me cry.  Sometimes I would visit him and he wouldn't open his eyes.  Worse wer the times when he was in pain or distress.  

Monday we were told he was close to death and we visited him only to find him in great pain.  He was barely able to breath and the fluid filling his lungs made a raspy sound my wife identified as the "death rattle".  I left that hospital wishing for death to visit my grandfather as a tender mercy from the Lord.  Tonight I arrived ten minutes after his passing to find his body, growing cold, but at peace and free from pain.

If I were a drinking man, I would be raising a glass to him tonight, for he truly was my hero.  God I miss him - it was his time to go, but that doesn't make me miss him any less.

Here's to you Grandpa - I have things I still have to do here but I can't want till we can go up the mountain, cook hot dogs and shoot targets again.

Sorry for your loss, may Peace be with you and your family

Sounds like he lived a full life.  My condolences to you and your family.  

Quoted: Sorry for your loss, may Peace be with you and your family

Thank you

My condolences...

I envy you. I really do. I do not know you, but I grieve for you none the less. May GOD send you and your family comfort.

He would be so very proud of you for the feelings that you just shared. Part of what you learned from him was love and compassion. He is looking down on you now, and beaming with pride. He lives forever, inside of you.

Damn. That was a very nice tribute. Kinda brought a tear to my eye.


He's in a better place now and your family can rest and not worry about him.



Gene

At least he suffers no more.

RIP

Thanks you guys.

I really do feel lucky that I was able to be this man's grandson.  It brings a tear to my eye every few minutes when I think of him.  I hope he's watching me every now and then and I hope he's not disappointed.

I'm very sorry for your loss.

Quoted: At least he suffers no more. RIP

Amen +1

May God bless you and your family. Something about grandpa's, I lost mine in 98 and a day dont go by I wonder or think about Pa. It really hits me when Im out fishing or hunting. I  thank God for the chance to have known such a man, not everyone is as lucky as us who had great grandpa's.

Peace be with you and your family during this time.  Be thankful that you have got to know him for a long time.  The major stroke thing, I, sadly, know a lot about, and I know it must have been a tough year for him, so it is good that he led a long life, and is now at peace.

That was one of the more beautiful things i have ever read written about another person.  Truely i believe that he would be proud to have read that, and was even more proud to have know you.  Here's to great men... thanks for making such an impression

jim

Quoted: Thanks you guys. I really do feel lucky that I was able to be this man's grandson.  It brings a tear to my eye every few minutes when I think of him.  I hope he's watching me every now and then and I hope he's not disappointed.

I would like to share something with you, if you don't mind. Your post got me to thinking about my Gramma....


She was from the "upper crust" Boston crowd, and when I was born, it wasn't cool to keep your disabled kid at home. Back then the norm was to institutionalize them. Well, that didn't happen in my case (Thank God), but one year at a family reunion, the SHTF.  I was about 6 and remeber it vividly.

We showed up to some of Bostons elite, (Gramma worked at the Smithsonian Museum and Grandpa was a proffesor of economics at a university.)

First thing said was.."What do we do with her?"  meaning me. Gramma got the red on and said. "What do you think we should do, lock her in the cellar??"

We got passage into the gala only to be pretty much shunned by the rest of the attendees. There was a lake by the mansion and a very old man sitting on a bench all by himself. To make a long story short, this old man happened to be like the head of the university Grandpa taught at, and after I saw him there, I sat down beside him...and turned on the charm.

I didn't know then what a hero my Gramma was to me then, but I do know. She passed away in 2000 to alzhiemers.

I was the last person she knew by name.

I just teared up, I dont know what I am going to do when I lose my grandfather. Sorry for your loss and I will say a prayer for him and your family.

Quoted: That was one of the more beautiful things i have ever read written about another person.  Truely i believe that he would be proud to have read that, and was even more proud to have know you.  Here's to great men... thanks for making such an impression jim

Thank you Jim - I didn't want such a great man to pass without something being said in his honor.  You made my day.

Quoted: Quoted: Thanks you guys. I really do feel lucky that I was able to be this man's grandson.  It brings a tear to my eye every few minutes when I think of him.  I hope he's watching me every now and then and I hope he's not disappointed. I would like to share something with you, if you don't mind. Your post got me to thinking about my Gramma.... She was from the "upper crust" Boston crowd, and when I was born, it wasn't cool to keep your disabled kid at home. Back then the norm was to institutionalize them. Well, that didn't happen in my case (Thank God), but one year at a family reunion, the SHTF.  I was about 6 and remeber it vividly. We showed up to some of Bostons elite, (Gramma worked at the Smithsonian Museum and Grandpa was a proffesor of economics at a university.) First thing said was.."What do we do with her?"  meaning me. Gramma got the red on and said. "What do you think we should do, lock her in the cellar??" We got passage into the gala only to be pretty much shunned by the rest of the attendees. There was a lake by the mansion and a very old man sitting on a bench all by himself. To make a long story short, this old man happened to be like the head of the university Grandpa taught at, and after I saw him there, I sat down beside him...and turned on the charm. I didn't know then what a hero my Gramma was to me then, but I do know. She passed away in 2000 to alzhiemers. I was the last person she knew by name.

Your Grandma sounds like she had character.  It's hard to see the people you admire in a debilitated state.  They are our heroes and it is hard to see them vulnerable.  I'm glad you shared this - it's a wonderful thing to remember these people - they are who we have become.

I know you will see her again someday and remember those experiences and create new memories!

To all of you who have commented - thanks for your condolences and prayers.  It's silly, but I had to get my feelings down in words.  This is my tribute to him.  Good Night!

That was a great Honor to your Grandfather, he must have been a great man.  I was also very close to my Grandfather actually he raised me.  So I feel your pain, I lost him sept 01 right after sept 11th.  Still miss him everyday.  Keep your head up I am sure he is very proud of the man you have become.

Sorry for your loss.  I strive to one day be thought of as you thought of him.  I can think of no greater honor.

you've done him proud with an eloquent tribute. i bow my head and raise my spirit to a fine man.

Please accept my condolences.  He sounds like a remarkable man.  That was a very moving eulogy.

Magnificent tribute Carabinero1979.   That brought a tear to my eyes.   Sounds like a great man indeed.

Prayers for you and family.


CMOS

it's a hell of a thing to go thru, good luck

I hope bumping this back to the front isn't in poor taste, but it is a very moving tribute.