Hello Daddy O!!  

It's been six weeks today. It's a beautiful day outside. Spring is almost here. We had our last (we hope) cold snap for this winter.  It was a rainy, cold day on Saturday and I thought of you making some chili or potato soup.  I know you enjoyed this time of year with the grass getting mowed for the first time.  Spending time out in the yard, coming in for a few sips of beer and then starting up again.  I'm still trying to get thank you notes out and with each note I write, I think of you and how much I miss you.  It's been really rough missing you so much.  But we all seem to be managing the best we can.  Mom is still at the Nursing Home but she is improving each day.  I know part of her knows you won't be there when she comes home, and she has to do this on her own. She pushes herself more each day, but I know it's very hard on her. She keeps expecting you to come in her room with your Jack in the Box biscuit and sausage and sit in the corner.  She misses you so much too.   I know she is lost but she does very well hiding it.  I know it will be really hard on her when she comes home. Then the reality of you being gone will be there. 

We have your ashes on the mantle, with the beautiful portrait that we had done for your service.  I think we all have all stopped and talked to you when we are at the house to get mail and such.  Above the mantle will never be the same-- no more Christmas wreath or picture that you made sure we hung every year. It's you now!!  But looking at your picture brings us all comfort.  So many laughs, smiles that we will miss so much, but we have lots of memories. 

I hope you are OK in Heaven. I hope that you can see us all. I hope you are not lonely. I envision that you are with your friends and family that passed before you.  And you have Barney, Archie and  Flicka by your side. And I hope  Sophie and Brigette also found you and are keeping you company. I hope that you have unlimited beer, 7up, vodka and cigarettes and plenty of all your favorite foods.  No one will give you grief for not eating enough or smoking too much.  it's perfect where you are. Someday we'll meet again. 

Oh Daddy-- how I miss you.  I would give anything to see you. You know how much I love you!

Annette 

All,

 

I am so very saddened to hear the news of your dad passing away.  I have been thinking about and praying for him a lot in the past few days and weeks since Uncle Duane shared the news that Uncle Jerry had been admitted to the hospital.   I have been recalling the many wonderful memories of family holidays together and all of our visits to Lincoln, and also how much we missed seeing you all as frequently after your move to Texas.  Although it has been many years, it seems like it wasn’t really all that long ago.

 

I recall how important family always was to your dad, and how he wanted to make sure everyone was having a good time and being well taken care of.  I remember him making arrangements to take me and the folks to Memorial Stadium to attend my first Husker game, and how passionate he always was about his Cornhuskers.  I now attend all of the home games and think about how exiting that day was every time I go to a game.

 

While looking through pictures at my Mom’s house recently I came across a picture of Uncle Jerry next to his brand new Ford Elite.  I still remember how exited he was to show it off when we came to visit.  When my wife teases me about being a car nut I tell her she has Uncle Jerry and Kerry and Ed to blame (or thank) for that.

 

When I walk around the house whistling I tell her I got that from my Uncle Jerry.  He was always whistling a happy tune, literally.

 

Your dad was respected and admired by everyone that was fortunate enough to know him.  I always looked up to him growing up, and feel blessed to be one of those people.

 

Regretfully we are not going to be able to bring Mom down for the service.  Traveling any distance has become very difficult for her for a number of reasons. 

 

Our thoughts and prayers are with your family while getting through this most difficult time.  We will say an extra prayer for your Mom as well.

 

With Deepest Sympathy,

 

Jay

 

Dear Dad,

Here I sit at your bedside all alone,

 watching you as you lay comfortably numb, fighting  your final battle. 

Today is the day we dreaded, but knew someday we all will have to go through

at some point in our lives.   

I know you are fighting now,

and I know you have fought very hard for us. 

I know you wanted to be around longer in this life,

to be with your family and Mom. 

I know this is not the way you wanted it to end. 

But I pray that you are at peace as you lay here taking each labored breath. 

I don’t want you to suffer any longer. 

We can’t prolong the inevitable,

your body is just too weak, your lungs are too weak and your heart is tired. 

You were given a body to carry your soul and now it’s time to let it go. 

You had a great life, you used this body well!!

You are an amazing Dad!!!

You’ve always been there for me,

You always forgave me,

you always guided me,

you offered advice to me. 

You always know what’s best.

Father knows best.

You would do anything for me,

for any of us kids,

for our Mother your beloved wife,

your grandchildren, and for anyone that you loved.

You have done so much in your lifetime.

You have always provided for us.

We always had food on the table, clothes, Christmas presents

and you and Mom always made sure all of our Birthdays were celebrated. 

You are the strongest man I know.

You are an amazing Dad!!!

I grew up watching you do so many home improvement projects,

you taught me how to paint,

you let me help refinish dressers for my new “big girl” bedroom. 

You forgave me for the few nights I missed my curfew,

even when you grounded me,

you would conveniently forget the next day.  

I remember walking in a really late missed curfew.

The house was dark but there you sat taking a drag of your cigarette.

All I could see was the red glow.

You calmly got up and said

“You’re late. We’ll talk about it in the morning.”

And nothing was said. But I sure fretted those next few hours. 

I guess that was punishment enough.

You are an amazing Dad!!!

You gave me the love of rollercoasters! And Fast rides, round and round, up high, backwards forwards.

Remember when we went on Titan?  You were 68 years old and you rode the Titan!!

I remember 4th of Julys in Lincoln.

You would take me with you to go buy fireworks.

We’d come back to the house and you would dump the booty onto the table

and be so proud of the grand amount of fireworks! 

Lighting the sparklers!

I can still see you with Kerry and Eddie, lighting the big ones. Laughing!

My nightly ritual for the early years.

You made me a glass of Tang and brought it to me,

You tucked me in, let me drink my Tang and kissed me goodnight.

You are an amazing Dad!!!

Spending countless nights patiently helping me with those darn

Math word problems, fractions and decimals.  

I’m sure my manager wishes I paid better attention then!

When I failed my first driving test because I couldn’t parallel park.

You spent the following Sunday teaching me to parallel park.

Hours of frustration for both of us, but you were patient. 

I could finally do it with my eyes close. I Passed my test,

but now I’m sorry to say, I can’t do it with my eyes open.

You are an amazing Dad!!!

Always willing to take a risk.

The big one—moving us to Texas and leaving the rest of our family behind.

Always seeing you smile and be happy—and laugh.

You enjoyed being around people. You cherished your friends and good times!!!

You passed that love on to me.

I surround myself with great friends. 

My life isn’t complete without all of my friends.

You allowed me to drive a car 3 blocks to school every day,

and understating why it was important to me.

Letting me take my own risks, learning from my mistakes,

but supporting and guiding me through it.

I hear Joy and Chris talk about the memories that stand out to them—

“No elbows on the table.”

Seeing you with little Amy on your shoulders! You were so proud to be a grandpa!

Seeing you play in the snow on Starr Street.

Grilling ! You grilled back then between the two houses – with Bob and Helen

Twirly birds

Riding a tricycle

Riding the bike down Indian Road. 

We will never forget that.

Chris said you kissed her good night every night and she couldn’t go to sleep without your kiss!

And one of the best memories we have was just in December

 when we celebrated Joy, Kerry and Andrew’s birthdays. 

You had a couple of margaritas and you were feeling frisky. 

We all gathered around the dining room table as gifts were opened.

You started to tell stories.

You were a story teller that’s for sure.

You talked about the Santa sleigh marks on the roof on the green house,

that special Christmas Eve where it was believed that Santa really did land his sleigh and reindeer.

You weren’t sure how the heck those marks got there. 

Then you told us about the time Mom was pregnant with Kerry that story is priceless.

So was the margarita getting dumped all over Jeff’s cake. 

And we were lucky enough to capture those stories on video.

It was a glimpse of the Dad,

the Jerry,

that we have known all of our lives!! 

And how priceless these stories are for Kerry and Joy. 

You couldn’t have given them a better birthday gift!

You are an amazing Dad!!!

We have been blessed with a special man

who is an incredibly wonderful loving father,

devoted husband

and great friend to many people. 

So here I am contemplating the last 43 years of my life,

sitting by you and praying. 

I’m glad that I’m alone right now because I am crying. 

This could be our final night with you. 

I think about all of these great memories that I have of you,

that my sisters and brother have of you. 

I pray that you are at peace,

and whenever you are ready to fly with the angels and watch over us,

know that we will be okay.

We will take care of Momma,

we will always take care of each other.

We will carry on the legacy you left us.

You have given us so much.

You have enriched our lives. 

Please don’t be scared.

You are a brave man.

You are a strong man.

You are an amazing Dad!!!

I love you DADDY!

Your daughter, Annette.