My father was a small man with a big heart. He was about 5'9" but never weighed more than l25 pounds soaking wet. His two girls and my mother was his life. Farming weighed in secondly.

He had a dry wit that made life fun and if you could make him laugh you escaped punishment for your misdeeds which were many, at least as many as I could devise. My sister remembers him as being somewhat cold and I realize from that, I must have been more perceptive as it was difficult for him to bare his emotions. What was private stayed private.

I got into trouble a lot and it was during one of those times that he let me know that whatever I did, he would always love me and never judge.

His grandchildren adored him. When he died, after a 5 year bout with cancer, we were desolate. I was so touched when an old neighbor came up and gently kissed his cheek as he lay in his casket. So many people loved him.

His word was his bond and he was never false to anyone. He had eight siblings, two of whom died very young. He was the stable one who bailed the others out and helped them with their problems. His love for my mother was so strong and he often told me to be more patient with her.

This is his birth month and I remember him with love and I rejoice that we had him until his 65th birthday. It wasn't nearly long enough.