Dad loved life, his family and God. He was our “gentle giant” and our “rock.” I miss him dearly and it is still hard to believe he is gone. I am so thankful John and I were able to be with Dad and Mom in April. The last time I had seen them was 3 years previous and John had never been there. We had a wonderful time (as I told my coworkers it was perfect), ate a lot and played cards every night (his favorite past time). Most of the time Mom and Dad won each 500 hand, except for the one time I had a 500 hand. Dad took us to his favorite restaurant “Steak n Shake” as we had never been there before and he was right it was good. We took them out to eat at this wonderful place on Sanibel Island called “Island Cow” for their 61st wedding anniversary. I have been there before and they always like going there. So if you ever get to Fort Myers you have to try this place on Sanibel Island.
Dad had been writing his memoirs (one a day for some time) and the day we left I got to read them. I will type them up so everyone can see. It was so awesome to read them, and some of the things he wrote I had no idea.
I have so many wonderful memories of Dad – I can’t begin to tell them all – but here are a few: Dad and I were trying to think how old I was, but I think I was in 8th grade when we went to see the University of Iowa football game in Iowa City – I remember it clearly just Dad and I and we had a great time. I’ve been an avid football fan growing up with 2 brothers and on Sunday’s we would sit and watch the games. I remember going to my Uncle Tommy’s and Aunt Donna’s in Austin MN on Sundays and watching the game there. At that time I was a Minnesota Viking fan, but now that I have lived in Wisconsin 40 years – I hate to say it but I am a Green Bay Packer fan. Dad did not hold that against me though!! We would always talk about football when I called Mom and Dad every Sunday during the football season. Dad would tell me about a distant relative of his that lives in Alabama and has a dealership called “Eckenrod Ford Lincoln.” One trip on their way back home from Wisconsin/Minnesota to Florida they stopped hoping to see the owner. Mike Eckenrod was there and they got to talk to him for a while. Dad called me right away and told me that he played for Bear Bryant who was the coach for “The University of Alabama” and we got to reminisce.
When I was younger, when we visited Grandma and Grandpa Eckenrod, Dad would take me to “Bill Town” a convenience store and gas station on the way to New Hampton, IA. Sadly to say it is no longer there. Anyway, Dad loved their chocolate drops, which we would get and which I like too and I also loved the salted nut roll bars. Every now and then when we visited Mom and Dad I would buy Dad chocolate drops. I introduced my son, Seth, to salted nut roll bars on a trip once, and now he has to stop and get one whenever we are on a road trip. One time I will never forget though is when we went to Bill Town and Dad and Mom left David and me in the car, and David got behind the wheel and somehow put the car in drive and it started rolling to the highway. I immediately ran in to the grocery store and told Dad David was driving the car. He ran out and stopped the car before it hit the highway.
When I was in high school, Dad taught me how to drive a stick shift – we would go to the high school parking lot. He had so much patience with me, especially when I kept stalling the car.
We were always traveling as a family. I remember Sunday drives – traveling the back roads of Iowa and Minnesota, camping at Strawberry Point or Clear Lake, driving to Pikes Peak in MacGregor, IA, having picnics, visiting relatives, and so many other things. I had so much fun growing up. After Mom and Dad moved from Yellow River, they were looking at different properties in the Missouri/Arkansas area and I travelled with them and had a wonderful time.
As I said before Dad loved life, his family and the Lord. I know Dad is with the Lord and we are so thankful. He taught us so much by example and was always there for us, no matter the distance. We were always in his prayers. I will miss our conversations. I know he is with us, but it is still so hard. You are never ready for your parents to die. I will truly miss him!! Thank you Lord for the time I had with him (60 years)!!
I Love You, Dad
Yours always,
Cindy
