Kristina's Blog

This is a hard post to write.
My Mom called yesterday to tell me that my Grandpa had passed away.
I was baking sugar cookies at the time, and I had flour all over my hands and shirt. Eric had been at a meeting, and came in the door while I was on the phone with my mom. I was crying, as you might expect, and I got floury hand prints all over his clothes. The cookies in the oven were not left to burn, instead they were taken out, and were probably underdone by quite a bit.
We sat on the couch and cried for a while.
It wasnt that his death was unexpected. We have known for quite a while that his health was precarious. He was prone to infections and pneumonia, he wasnt able to do much of anything for himself, particularly these last few months. He couldnt even sit up, or shift himself in bed. It was so hard to see him reduced to such helplessness. Mom and Grandma did their best to care for him, and a wonderful lady named Neta came everyday to help out too. Between the three of them, and a home heath nurse that bathed him twice a week, they coped. But it was so hard on everyone.
Grandpa wasnt happy being a burden to them, and he wasnt happy being unable to do anything.
It is true that he is now beyond the pain, his body is whole again, he is able to run and dance. He is seeing again his mother and father, siblings, aunts, uncles, cousins. He loved family reunions, can you imagine how happy he is right now? We are happy for him, glad that he no longer is stuck in a helpless body.
But we miss him. Our family isnt the same without his humor and presence.
Here are some pics of Grandpa, that show the Grandpa I remember.


Grandpa reading to Joey and me, February of 1984, I was three and Joey was 4.

Here is Grandpa and me, snuggled up for a nap, out at the farm, aprox 1985.

Again, Grandp and me on the couch, probably 1985 or 1986.
Here we are down at the pond. Fishing, although I doubt I caught anything!

Here is my Dad and Grandpa, both modeling their Santa hats.

This was Grandpa's favorite Christmas past-time, a NAP! How he could sleep with all the people around I will never know.

This is my second cousin, Jennifer, and Grandpa and me, around 1998.

This is Grandpa and my brother Joey at Joey's college graduation, in 2000.

Here are Grandpa and Grandma at Joey's wedding in July of 2003.

The coming week is going to be rough. The visitation is Wednesday and the Funeral Thursday. Eric and I are driving up, leaving Monday night and returning Friday night.

We dont know what Heaven will be like, but I would be willing to bet, after some hugs and visiting, there is a Heavenly farm just waiting for Grandpa to take care of.

~Kristina