Goodbye to my "Papa"

Yesterday my “Papa” passed away, my dad’s father & my last grandparent.

He was the most humble man Ever with unforgettable grip strength and a sense of humor that always led him to teasing & messing with us to make us laugh!

I have fond memories from doing Lincoln logs on the floor to long conversations on the phone as I got older.

I remember the sound of his voice so well that even when he stopped being able to talk I could hear the stories he would tell me in my head.

I remember his laugh & how he would always shave his beard walking around the kitchen with an electric razor!

I remember how he would stomp really hard for fun and the way he was always so well dressed and his hair always combed.

He loved my grandma with his entire being and never stopped loving her even after she passed.

He made my childhood & young adulthood so sweet even from miles away.

I recall many visits to his farm to shoot guns, drive the tractor, & always having to eat iceberg lettuce salad with ranch dressing before dinner hahaha!

1 trip me & my sister even got to paint his exercise room wall! We drew airplanes to commemorate his incredible career in the air force (which he is wildly decorated in but would never tell anyone) & big buildings.

He was always looking to teach us something through actions or stories or projects.

He even taught me how to remove my thumb at one of my birthday parties on our piano bench when I loved magic👍🏻

I always loved putting my arms through his arms & I can still feel the way his hand veins felt bc I’d always play with them & he never minded!

I was so happy when he told me he bought my book & then he would send me little things that were interesting for fitness or brain or writing.

He was heavily engrossed in ancestry too which always amazed me but also didn’t surprise me because I knew him to be patient, curious, & dedicated.

The only thing I’d change about my grandpa was his “3 day fish rule” which basically guided him to only stay for short periods of time when visiting because he didn’t want us to think he went bad🤣

I am so grateful to have had him as my papa, i’ll always love him & keep all our memories together strong in my heart & family.