My Father's Work is Finished

Tweet

My father lived a good long life. He was a hard worker. From my earliest recollection Dad always worked, whether it was with a company called the P.C. Monday Tea Co. where he had a route and delivered soups and Jello's to customers, in the same way salesmen go door to door, to working in a bakery, to his final job he held for many years until his retirement at the Four Wheel Drive, painting trucks. Trucks that saw front line action in World War II. My dad was also heavy into politics. He was a Democrat and decried the fact I'm not. There would always be heated conversation regarding politics, whether it was with his father, in which grandma would halt the argument and restore peace to her home, or anyone who would lend him their ears to hear his thoughts on why the Democrats were the best party for our country. My dad was also a devout Christian. I am convinced of that. Lately it seemed all he did was talk about how important going to church and having faith was. When it comes to sports there are two teams that stand out. He loved the Cubs and was looking forward to going to a game later this month. Sadly he won't be going. He also loved the Packers. He could hold hours long discussion on both baseball and football. I think he also enjoyed NASCAR, but that one I didn't hear much about from him. Dad was a family man. He was always home and took care of his family to the best of his ability, which gave fruit to his work ethic. He married Mom August 30, 1952 and then the children started coming along. Me in 1953, my late brother in 1954, my sister in 1956, and my youngest brother in 1963. They were married 63 years this past August. Dad also had a few hobbies he enjoyed immensely. Gardening - I do not get my green thumb from him. We had a garden the whole time I was growing up. I never had a store bought vegetable until I left home and found out those things in cans are horrible. I still wish I could garden. My dad also loved to fish and camp. Every year from the moment I was born, he would haul the family to the north woods, set up camp, and spend the entire time in the middle of the lake fishing. It was a good thing Mom enjoyed camping and fishing. Again, I never ate a store bought fish until I left home. Huge difference between fresh caught and store bought. As much as my dad loved camping, I hate it. It rained every year and sleeping on the ground in a tent is not comfortable in the rain with nothing to do while your father is in the middle of the lake fishing, rain or shine, which in most cases was rain. Dad was born on June 16, 1931 and would have been 85 this year. My dad was a lot of things - opinionated and stubborn being two everyone is familiar with. However, Dad was honest. He loved life and gave it his all. Today, he entered eternity where I know he heard 'Well done, good and faithful servant.' He is reunited with his parents, sister, Mom, and my brother, next to me in age who passed on Father's Day, two years ago. Dad had some faults, but these are his strengths. And now his work on earth is finished. Thanks for reading. Image mine, taken at my brother's house this past Christmas - playing with their dog. He also loved dogs and we had one most of the time I was growing up and even until a couple years before they ended up in an assisted living home.