I hope you and Mom have an awesome time! Love you both very much!

oxox

Always,


Jenny     

September 10, 2016......

We miss and love you

Angie

Good Morning,

This is a special day for Mom and Dad. A day that Mom and Dad talked about together. A day to honor their wishes. Mom and Dad always loved coming to Antioch with the family to boat, fish and barbeque. Their love for the outdoors has spilled over into all of our lives and the lives of our own children.

I know we all miss Mom and Dad, but we can remember today as we say our goodbyes, that it is a brief time of goodbye. One day we will meet again in eternity.

Mom and Dad are always going to be a part of our lives. God allowed Mom and Dad to be vessels for Him to bring our lives into this world. Mom and Dad loved all of us and did the best Mom and Dad could do to give each one of their children love, nurture and guidance.

Today I ask that each one of us reflects back on the good times we shared with Mom and Dad. The memories that we all created in the spirit of family. The laughs and of course and the times of sorrow. We must always remember love was the threads woven through the fabric of our lives that kept us together. Mom and Dad we love you with a love that is unending. We pray that you rest in peace until we all are reunited in eternity.

Dad's apple trees are 4 years old...however, the apples are Barbie doll size! So, I had to improvise with apples from the orchard in Wilcox. I baked Dad a Dutch Apple pie today. It turned out great. I think Dad would have been impressed considering that I have never made a Dutch Apple pie before. In memory of Dad ...4 years. Hard to believe it has been 4 years...seems like I was with you yesterday. I miss you and love you Dad...Angie

Dad bought a boat and suprised Mom.  I had to laugh when she told the story about Dad emptying the bank account to get this boat. I think after the shock, Mom loved it  just as much as Dad. Our parents would take us on weekend boat trips to the Rock River and Chain O Lakes State Park. Our family made a lot of memories fishing, boating and barbecuing. My parents tried very hard to give us good lives and I am grateful for all Mom and Dad did to keep us together.

Dad and mom opened the Venetian Pizzeria around 1980 in South Elgin, Illinois. Dad and Mom always loved owning their own businesses.

I believe the year was 1974, I was in the 5th grade. The house you see in the picture Mom and Dad had purchased a few months prior to the fire. The fire happened the day before Thanksgiving. The fire started from a faulty electrical outlet. Jimmy and I were in School. Mom, Dad, Angie and Tony were home that morning. It was pretty cold outside and Dad tried to put the fire out with the hose, but the hose was frozen. Mom brought Angie and Tony to the next door neighbor. Dad was going back into the house and the stove exploded throwing him off the porch.

I remember mom standing in her pj's with fireman boots on in the school lobby. I was confused when I was called to the office and I saw mom like that. My Grandma Drake (my dads Grandma) let us stay with her until we could find a place to move into. So many people in the community reached out to help us. The Salvation Army brought us food and clothes. The Cub Scouts also came to our rescue. When Christmas came around we had a townhouse apartment and two Christmas Trees with tons of presents.  Although we suffered quite a hardship as a family, we were always thankful that none of us parished in the fire. Our family had many years together.God really blessed us through the loss and pain.

Love you and miss you dad? 

Dearest Darling Sweetheart:
3 years will have passed tomorrow , the 16th. I know Jen told you I made your favorite Corned Beef an Cabbage with dark bread.  Dessert - no pie today not feeling up to that but made Chocolate Cookies. They were not my best, guess my heart wasn't in it today.

Hope you can hear this beautiful music, you  used to like to look at the Public Channel with me and listen to the 3 tenors, you thought they we really great.  

Well Spring is around the corner and I will be using the walker that Tony and Jennifer bought for me so I can get some good excercise.  When I left I had lost a lot of weight  (40 lbs) but have re-gained 19 lbs. but working on taking it off.
Still like our new apartment but would like to have a washer and dryer in the apt. Please see if one of your angels can help me with this one!

Well by now you must know my buddy Rocky is up in heaven wih you, I cried when I found out he left us but he was pretty sick. I'm sure he is playing with Angel and Maxine, Chance and Daisy and the protector you got me, our Shadow Girl. She did her job well.
By the way Jennifer (Tony's wife) is a flight attendant and passed 1st in her class. Keep a watch on her so she is safe.

Oh and a final note, you always told me not to use my front teeth to open things and guess what I should have listened....I weakened my teeth so much when I was looking at the Super Bowl eating a candy cane and yelling at the TV I broke my front tooth, how embarrassing..well had to have it pulled the other day so I' not a happy camper right now.

Just know that I love and miss you more than ever...don't know when I will see you, that is in God's hands, but I will be happy to get a huge hug from you when that day comes.

Love forever, your Joanie - and wife forever.     
P.S. Jenny is taking very good care of me, anthing I need she is right tere.
 

Dear Dad,

I can't believe you have been gone 3 years. Time has flown by. Mom is making your favorite corn beef and cabbage.Chocolate chip cookies for dessert. Thoughts of you have been on all of our hearts, especially mom. Mom misses you so much.


I am doing my best to take care of Mom. I keep reminding Mom that you want her to be happy despite your absense. Spring is right around the corner, the snow is melting and I can almost see you working in the yard planting lantana, petunias and pine trees.   


I bet you are having a great time in heaven! I miss you! I love you Dad! oxoxox 

  

Dear Love of my life:
I want to wish you a  Merry Christmas, although it is not very Merry without you by my side.


Love and miss you so much my heart aches for the tender momentns we shared together, the love you showed me all of our years together.


As you know Jen, Rachel and I bakedcookies together about a week ago ad hen I got sick with a sinus infection and some crappy bug. Guess the flu shot didn't work! I thought for a moment we woud be together as I really didn't care and not feeling goodmade me want you with me. I know you are here and I talke to you daily and send you kisses.

My love we will be together wewill be toghether some day but i is up to God as to determine the date, I wonder do yo have christmas trees in heaven! I'll bet they do and and I'm sure it is peaceful for you and all of our ittle babies.   Please give them a kiss and huge from monmy.

Love in my heart forever and thank you for the good years we had.
Your loving wife, Joanie        

We are down here celebrating, but we have not forgotten you. Mom, Rachel and I were baking cookies and listening to Christmas music and your favorite song came on, "The Christmas Song". Mom and I danced to the song while singing it and had a good cry.


We miss you so much, its hard to believe you have been gone so long. Just know you are not far from our hearts and minds. Here is a picture of Mom opening a gift at Rachels. We celebrated Thanksmas. Mom met all the great grandkids and little Kennedy kissed her with a face full of cool whip. I know Kennedy would melt your heart. I am sure you met her in heaven before God sent her to Mandy. I love you dad. Merry Christmas. Tell Jesus I said "Hi"!


Love Jen    


P.S. I am doing my best to make sure mom is happy, comfortable and loved.   

My Darling Husband:
Well I'm sure by now you know we made our great get away. I got on a plane and it was the best ride ever. The weight of the world had been lifed off my shoulders. You were with me all the way. Hope you like our new apartment, it is really nice, completely remodeled and in a small town. All of our neighbors are really nice, very family oriented neighborhood. Tony and his wife Jen and kids love our new place. 

I miss your physical being every day, but I know you are with me, although my heart aches for you.
 
Got started with all new doctors this past week and will probably having eye surgery.  Left eye not too good, but will get the outcome tomorrow a.m. at the eye institute. I've gained 9 of the 40lbs. I lost. I don't know what I would do without Jennifer, she takes such good care of me and even does my laundry. The midwest food is soooo good.

Spent 4 days with Tony and his family, 2 in chi-town and 2 at their house in Antioch. Beautiful home,you would like it. Going to Rachels for a BBQ today and I have to get ready. I'm making a new recipe, hope it goes over well.
I love you my darling and always will.

Your loving wife,

Joanie   

Another year without you...mom is doing so much better, but she is missing you so much. Here is a pic of mom playing with the geese. Love you dad.

I wanted to share an update on Dad's apple trees....Tony and I have put a lot of love into growing these trees in honor of Dad....today I placed a little girl and little boy in front of each of our trees.  Tony is holding a stone that says"inspiration" .  This is truly fitting as his tree has been an inspiration to me since mine has still NOT produced even 1 apple!  My tree has a little girl holding a stone that says "hope"....so fitting, as she represents the hope I have that my tree will bear fruit this year.  I will upload some photos of the trees to keep everyone updated.  One in particular taken today was the ray of sun shining down on our trees.  I truly believe it was Dad watching and shining down on us today.

I was working in the yard this weekend thinking of you Dad....I kept hearing your voice telling me to "put on a hat, Angelique"! You were always right....and you know how much I liked to help you in the yard...or painting the house so that I could work on my tan. And of course...I got scorched yesterday! I should have listened to your voice. Your trees are doing great...and what do you know? Tony's tree has blooms already! He was laughing this morning when he called me to ask me to send pics of your apple trees. We both miss you a lot. So many things that we wish you were here for. Blayne joins the Navy on July 2nd...following in your footsteps. It's so hard to believe that 2 years have passed without you. I feel like you are here with me guiding me thru life as if you never left. I know you are watching over all of us. I love and miss you Dad. Angie

Dad,

I can not believe you have been gone two years already. I miss you so much. Mom and I always talk about you with fond memories. Sometimes we laugh really hard, other times we cry. Mom is coming to Illinois and bringing you with Dad. Dad your dream of returning to Illinois will soon become a reality. I love you and I know one day we will see each other again.  


Thinking of you today and always.

Love,


Jenny  

Here's to great childhood memories.....Tony took his family to Florida this summer.  Here is a picture to share from their summer vacation.....It brings back great memories of when you used to take us boating and fishing.  Tony has turned out to be a great Dad just like you!  The kids wanted to wish you a Happy Birthdday!
Happy Birthday Grandpa!

   

Hi Honey: There just wasn't enough room on the message area...so here goes. After I get this house sold I'm going on an adventure with you, the one you wanted to do but were so sick you couldn't. You will be sitting next to me....so together off we will go. Not sure where we will end up but this will be my last adventure with you and it will make me happy.
Just know that I love you and still miss you soooooo much.
Tony's b-day is in a few days and I will send him a card from the both of us.
By now I'm sure you know that Shadow Girl is up in heaven with you. She got so sick, her last seizure lasted close to 7 hours and the doc said she was retaining fluid. Final was congestive heart failure. I wanted to keep her at home with me but that just wasn't possible, I hope you understand. Imiss her almost as much as I miss you, you were right she would be my little protector.
Well I will keep you posted, as I talk to you everyday as to when we are leaving, just talk to you buddy up in heaven and have him send me a buyer so we can leave on our trip.
With all of my love forever. 50  years wasn't enough together, I could have gone another 50.
With all of my love my darling,
Your little wife, Joanie

Dear Daddy,

I miss you so much. I hope you are having a great time celebrating your birthday! Everytime Little House on the Prairie or the Waltons come on tv...I laugh and think of how you used to make me watch those shows. It is almost like you are here in the room with me. I put a really nice picture of you in the living room and painted a rock  with an American flag to honor you. Annie always stares at your picture and I tell her that you are the last gift my dad gave to me and you are so special. I am attaching a picture of Annie for you Dad.Thank you dad for loving me so much and for instilling good values into my life.


I love you more than you know. Enjoy your special day.


Love always your daughter,


Jenny


P.S. Bill say's Happy Birthday too!              


  

Tony and I were just laughing about your apple trees.....how this is the 2nd season that he has apples growing and my tree still hasn't produced one.  We joke about how "my little Tony" always gets his way.  But we only joke to hide the tears of pain.  We miss you so much and love you FOREVER! There isn't a day that goes by that I don't think about you.  How sad to pass your birthday without celebrating with you.
I hope you are in heaven celebrating with Chance.  He just missed his 13th birthday.  I hope you two are comforting each other.  John and I were in San Diego for Labor Day...I took some beautiful pictures of the sunrise and sunsets over the bay.  They look like heaven.  I really hope that you are in a beautiful place like these pictures.  You deserve to be in the most beautiful...loving place.  You were the best Dad that anyone could ever dream of.  I am grateful for the time we had together and look forward to being with you again someday.  I love you so much and miss you even more.

Love, Angie   

Memories of you never fade, they make me smile and sometimes cry like today. I pray you are happy and know how much I love you and miss you.
Always and forever, Jenny oxox 

"Jesus said unto her, I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live: And whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die." John 11:25-26


I bet there is a huge celebration in heaven! Give Jesus a hug for me and tell Him I love Him!

Happy Easter Dad!  

Love you, Jen 

Dad,
 
I can not believe you have been gone a year today! Everyone misses you so much, but we know that you are no longer in pain.Dad you are never far from our hearts and minds. The memories of the times we shared grow more precious as time goes by. Rest in peace daddy. I love you!! oxoxo

Jenny

"For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life" John 3:16 KJV

Dad,
 
I can see your smiling face when I remember past Christmas memories. Everytime I hear "The Christmas Song" I think of you Dad. This has not been an easy year...we all miss you so much! Sending you Christmas kisses.

I love you,
Jenny

Thirty-six years ago today, my Dad and Mom lost their house in a fire in the town of St. Charles, Illinois. Although the loss was great, my family took comfort that we all survived.That Thanksgiving we gave thanks to God we still had each other. My father was very brave as he attempted to put the fire out, but the water hose was frozen. Dad was blown off the back porch  when the stove exploded. Thankfully he was not injured. Every Thanksgiving I remember and give thanks for Gods protection, love and goodness over our family. I love you Dad and I will never forget all you have done for our family!

Hugs,

Jenny

God bless you for your service to our country! I salute you sailor!
 
Love Jen
oxoxoxo  

Dad,

Nothing can seperate the love of a father and daughter. Wishing you a very Happy Birthday! Thinking about you and smiling.

I love you.

Jenny

I bet you are up there fishing and catching some really big fish!

I haven’t stopped thinking about you and I just want you to know that I love you! I hope your Father’s Day is filled will all the love your family is sending to you! I Miss you Dad!

Love Jenny

I didn’t get to see you before you left this place, my heart is weak from crying as tears streamed down my face. I’ll always remember the moments we had and your strong embrace, Daddy, nothing can take away the memories, they will never be erased.Easter is approaching quickly and though you are no longer here, I pray your day is filled with our Saviors love and not my basket filled with tears.

Happy Easter Dad!

I love you,

Jenny

The Final Flight

Don't grieve for me; for now I'm free, I'm following the path God laid for me.
 
I took his hand when I heard his call; I turned my back and left it all. I could not stay another day, to laugh, to love, to work, to play.Tasks left undone must stay that way; I've found that peace at the end of the day.


If my parting has left a void, then fill it with remembered joy.
A friendship shared, a laugh, a kiss, Ah, yes, these things too I will miss.
Be not burdened with times of sorrow, I wish you the sunshine of tomorrow.
My Life's been full; I savored much, good friends, good times, a loved one's touch. Perhaps my time seemed all too brief; Don't lengthen it now with undue grief. Lift up your heart and share with me, God wanted me now, He set me free.

(Author Unknown)

Prayer of Saint Francis of Assisi

Lord, make me an instrument of your peace.
Where there is hatred, let me sow love;
where there is injury,pardon;
where there is doubt, faith;
where there is despair, hope;
where there is darkness, light;
and where there is sadness, joy.


O Divine Master, grant that I may not so much seek
to be consoled as to console;
to be understood as to understand;
to be loved as to love.
For it is in giving that we receive;
it is in pardoning that we are pardoned;
and it is in dying that we are born to eternal life. Amen


This prayer has a special meaning to Tony, and the prayer was placed inside Dad's time capsule under the apple tree memorial with the little blue truck.

This is a video Angie made to honor Dad. Two weeks ago when Dad left us, John, Angie and Tony planted some apple trees as a memorial. Dad loved apple trees and cherry trees. The apple trees are a great memory of Dads childhood. This living memorial we will watch grow for years to come. Dads spirit will always be with us.

Tony, John and I created this special memorial to honor Dad. Dad used to pick the fruit from Grandma Drake's apple trees when he was a small child. Grandma would bake him homemade apple pies. We wanted to bring back warm memories for Dad.
We planted 2 apple trees to keep his spirit alive with us. As these trees grow and produce fruit we will keep his love alive. One of the trees has a special time capsule that we buried under it. You will see it in the video. We placed a special prayer inside the capsule with some other memories of Dad. The trees are now 2 weeks in growth already producing apples! We know Dad is with us and helping to nurture our trees as he did us thru our life. Dad, we love you and honor you for eternity. I hope you are in heaven eating apple pie with Grandma Drake....

I think the greatest thing  I remember about my Grandpa were his hugs! He gave great hugs, He always made you feel safe in his arms.

I remember being little and someone had bought him a belly dancer for his Birthday at a BBQ. He was smiling and I remember him dancing with her.

I also remember when I would complain about how "HOT" Tucson was he would tell me, "Its just a dry heat!" LoL!

When we went to Tucson for my Aunt's wedding he meet my son (Vinnie) for the first time and they played cars together, it was such a heartmelting moment. Vinne really loved Grandpa. It was so precious!

I am so thankful that he was in my life he was a such a wonderful Grandpa and I will miss him dearly!

Love you Grandpa!! Rachel

One of my favorite memories of Dad was Sunday morning at the snack shop Mom and Dad owned. Dad would have me take orders for breakfast and he would get the griddle ready and cook breakfast for us. At the snack shop Dad shined and made the best Uncle Tom's Pancakes. When breakfast was over Dad and Mom would send us on our way across the street to the old St. Charles Cinema so they could prepare food for the next week at the snack shop. Jim, Angie, Tony and I would eat pop corn and candy while watching a double feature. I wish I could have pancakes with you again Dad. I Love you and miss you dearly!
Jenny oxoxoxo

Revelation 21:1-5
1 Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth; for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and the sea was no more. 2 And I saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband; 3 and I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, "Behold, the dwelling of God is with men. He will dwell with them, and they shall be his people, and God himself will be with them; 4 he will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning nor crying nor pain any more, for the former things have passed away."