Monday, August 25, 2008

My Dad


My Dad was such a wonderful man. He turned 90 on the first of June. We had a open house for him . He didn't think anyone would come. He was so excited when he saw how many people came. He had a great time. He was a young 90 he enjoyed riding his four wheeler and driving his red ford truck. He always had a story to tell. HE HAD A GREAT MEMORY. He could remember everything about his life form about 18 months on. He remembered losing his hat off the wagon when his family was traveling from Kanab. He was 18 months. He ran away from home when was about Nine. He was mad at my grandma, so he decided to go find my grandpa. He caught a ride with his brother Farrell and they took him to almost Kanab. Then he walked to Johnson Canyon, but my grandpa wasn't there. So he kept going until he found him.My grand pa sent my grandma a letter telling her where Dad was. He ran away again when was about 14 or 15. This time he joined the Army. He was to skinny to join and didn't weigh enough so he drank a lot of water to weigh enough. After being discharged from the Army, He moved to California. He worked at MareIsland Navy Yard. He reparied ships during World War II. They wanted him to go back into the Army, but he was to valueable to the Navy. He wrote Mom and ask her to come to California (they had never had a date) but she went . They were married February 18,1941. They loved each other very much. After the war Mom and Dad moved back to Utah. They had alot of hard years but they stayed together. Dad finally got a job at Geneva Steel where work for 30 years. He was the only full time Boiler Inspector that US Steel employed.
After he retired his trials began. He had a major heart attack in june of 1982. He had a long recovery. Then a few years later he found out he had colon cancer. He had to have a colostomy he hated that damn thing for over 25 years. He had a five Bypass surgery and came through like a fourty year old. He also had a heart attack at 88 but they put in a pacemaker and he felt great. He married his sweetheart in the temple in January 1983, and sealed to his kids a few years later. The hardest thing Dad did was lose his loving wife on January 2002. Mom fought a valiant fight. He always missed her and loved her. He worked at Indexing Center where he sent over 1500 names to the temple to have thier work done. He was also a temple worker for a long time. I had the opportunity to do sealings with him a few times. It was great experience. He had a weedless garden and lots of yummy vegetables. He is the greates Dad in the world. He is now with his sweetheart and I know they are preparing a place for the rest of us to be with them.Ilove you Daddy. Until we can be together again.

1 comment:

The Burke Family said...

I love hearing stories about grandpa! I loved him so much and am so glad that he was my Grandpa! I can't wait to hear all of the stories that he is going to have to tell when we meet again!