Below is what I read at my fathers burial:
I guess it seems fitting that I began writing this the other night at 3:25 am sitting at the kitchen table with an open bag of chex mix. As we all know Dad enjoyed staying up all hours of the night in his kitchen chair snacking on something.
I know Dad didn't want chit chat at his burial but I would hope he wouldn't mind me sharing some memories of him and why he was such a great dad.
Dad was a very unique person. I am pretty sure Karl & I had the "weirdest" dad around. Most people wouldn't describe their father as weird. But, I remember calling him that one time when I was a teenager. Dad said being called weird was a compliment! I didn't really understand what he meant at the time. Now I believe he was the expressing the fact that being weird is being yourself, expressing yourself, enjoying the things that bring you joy without caring what others think of you.
Dad was very unique in that he loved animals of all kinds. Dogs were his main passion as we know but he enjoyed reptiles (snakes and alligators) fish, and tigers to name a few. I have many memorable moments with dad's pets.
I remember the time he brought home a small snake. He was holding it for me to see and I decided to pet his head. The snake of course didn't appreciate my loving gesture.
I know that mom remembers the time that Grandma Nash & I came home and was greeted at the door by Dad's pet alligator.
Of course all my memories of all the dogs we had growing up and all the many dog shows we attended on the weekends. Sam & Rocky having puppies was an experience as well.
I love the fact that in the later years the cat "Stranger" became part of the family as well. Dad's love of animals says so much about his unconditional love and generous heart he showed every day.
Dad always was giving to others unconditionally. Not only did he work hard all his life and save his earnings to take care of us but he was always generously giving to others too. Without spoiling me, or maybe spoiling me a little, he always wanted to buy me the things I wanted. The many times he encouraged me to pick out the shirt or trinket that I wanted but to buy several of them in different colors. When I had friends spend the night, he would take us to the grocery store and buy us all the snack we wanted.
He knew that I loved panda bears so he always bought me anything and everything he could find with a panda bear. Once I told him that I wanted more cookbooks so I received countless cookbooks from him. Not to mention all the books & models he lavished upon Karl. He was also very generous with gifts for Mom. He was ALWAYS helping and sponsoring countless people and their dogs.
I was always so proud of how intelligent Dad was and knew that he would always have the answer to our question or would know where to find it!
Dad loved food and enjoyed eating to it's fullest! We always knew how to make him happy with his favorite foods! And of course he started our family tradition of New Years Eve Restaurant Hopping.
Dad also had such a great sense of humor. I hope that none of us with forget the sound of his hearty laugh! I smile when I think about it.
I have so many more memories that I could share but all of them would remind us of what a great father he was and a loving husband! A very unique man that had a huge heard and shared unconditional love to everyone he came in contact with. He also was a father and husband that kept his word no matter what. Just like the refrigerator magnet in the kitchen says "Make a Promise - Keep a Promise!
Keegan & Logan: I hope from the times that you spend with Grandpa/Papa that you learned all these valuable lessons from him. To be yourself no matter what others say or think. To love others unconditionally and give generously. To enjoy life to the fullest as you can. To be an honest, sincere, trustworthy, unselfish, hard working, loving husband and father. Your Grandpa/Papa sometimes was a quiet man but from his actions you could always see all these attributes in the way he lived his life dad to day!
Dad- We will miss you sitting in your chair at the kitchen table. We will miss your awesome laugh. We will miss all your great jokes that sometimes went over our heads. We will miss your teasing nature. Kevin will miss stealing things with you from restaurants. We will miss your generous heart and unconditional love! We will miss all your weirdness! As my friend Shana said to me in a text the other day, "You are such a wonderful woman, I am sure he (your dad) had a lot to do with that." Thank You Dad for raising us to be stand up, honest, caring adults like you were! We Love You!!! We will see you and all 20 dogs again someday! Enjoy the second part of your life to it's fullest! We know that you will!!!!
I love you, Dad!!!
