This is My Fathers Eulogy... written by his
12 children and read by his son..
There once was a lady who was in a hospital,
who had just given birth to a set of twins.
Not having names picked out, she was struggling
to pick just the right names for her 2 new boys.
The doctor,upon seeing her dilemma, told her
"Just look out the window and pick the first 2 names you think of."
Later when the boys were in school, the teacher asked each student
to stand up and state their name for the class.
When it came to one twin,
he stood up and said his name was Elmtree.
The teacher said "No, whats your real name?"
and once again he replied "Elmtree".
The teacher; thinking he was just trying to make trouble,
told him to go home until he was ready to tell them his real name.
As the boy got up and headed toward the door;
He turned around and said to his twin brother,
"Come on Birdshit, she wont beleive you either."
This Joke was told for two
reasons; It is the earliest memory I have of Dad & secondly, he would
have wanted us all to smile today; because he loved to tell Jokes and make
others smile...
We beleive DAD got what he
wished for. He was strong and able until the day he passed away. When he went
into the hospital with the infection, he had worked across the road at the mill
and shop right up until suppertime and then he also picked the eggs yet. Some
may think his time on earth was cut short, but if you really stop & think
about it, this is how DAD would have wanted it.
He was on the phone Sunday morning
with Mom and my sister letting them know what had to be done to keep the chicken
barn from getting too warm and suffocating the chickens. Earlier in the week,
DAD had asked Mom to bring up some book work so he could keep busy. Another day,
I recall DAD asking me to keep trying a phone number that he couldn't get thru
to for some business matters.
Some non-working things that our
father enjoyed while he was at the hospital was to start a book called
"Lincoln, the Unknown". He was fascinated by how difficult life was for Abe and
talked to me several times about it. I never knew DAD to be much of a reader,
except for his Logging Magazines, so it seemed pretty nice that DAD had found
some enjoyable reading to pass his time while in the hospital. On another
day, some of his kids had brought upsome lottery tickets for DAD to scratch off;
and DAd gave the tickets to the Grandchildren so he could watch their excitement
as they scratched them off. That was an absolute trademark of DAD's; GIVING
TO OTHER'S SO THEY COULD ENJOY and his enjoyment came from seeing others
happy.
Another special time came from the
night I went up to see him and we watched the TWINS GAME on Kirby Puckett
Night. Now you have to remember one thing tho, I went up to see my Father
not to watch the twins play ball cause they were not doing that good this season
anyhow. we shared some peanuts, some conversation, and some quiet time and
marveled at how they could give up a 3 run lead in the 9th inning. Well with a
little armchair coaching, We did get them to pull it out in the extra innings.
But seriously though, DAD would give anything and everything to others
tomake life a little more enjoyable for those around him. That is when he was
the happiest! There was the time that despite having 12 children to care for and
support and a little angel in heaven to guide him; He took in his mother-in-law,
another time he took in a foster son and he let the neighbors live in our home
while theirs was being built. These are only a small sampling of DAD's
generousity, but it says loud and clear...that this was the type of man he was
all of his life.
DAD never had alot of money,
but he was the richest man us kids have known.
"Daddy never was the cadillac kind,
said some things did not glitter and shine,
taught us that love was the one thing money couldn't buy...
Just this once I hope
Daddy enjoyed the ride,
'cause DADDY never was the Cadillac Kind."
DAD was the strong, understanding,and forgiving
leader of his 12 children. Dad always seemed to be at his best when his
children were going thru those awlful 'growing pains'. Dad was never judgemental
and always had time to listen and accept us for who each of us were as
individuals... no matter which of lifes lessons we were currently learning.
Some of the best times was just spent going
to a restaurant and sitting and talking wiht DAD. He was such a good
listener. When us kids would worry if we had enough money for our children, Dad
would just say "all they need is a your love." Dad seemed to take pride in
the fact that he could help us all so much, even when We thought we were the
ones who knew better. Another fond memeory was to be Deer hunting with him.
He just loved to be in the woods and outdoors where it was peaceful and quiet.
One of the most important messages DAD left with us kids was times spent with
our own children is precious and very special; like the times he would take us
to the 4th of JULY fireworks and then to the Dairy Queen afterwards each and
every year. Another legacy DAD left wiht his children explained why we ALL drive
down the middle of the road... "We pay taxes on both sides... so why not use
both" DAD would always say.
"So go rest high on that
mountain; Your work here on earth is done. Go to the heavens a
shouting; Look for the Father and the Son." excerpt from
...::: Go Rest High On That Mountain :::... Recording Artist Vince Gill
ON BEHALF OF OUR MOTHER , MY BROTHERS AND
SISTERS AND HIS GRANDCHILDREN AND 'DAD' HIMSELF- THANK YOU ALL FOR
BEING HERE TO REMEMBER: SUNNY AND HIS SUNNY DISPOSITION FOR WHAT HE REALLY
WAS; A PEACEFUL , LOVING HUSBAND, FATHER, GRANDFATHER AND FRIEND