In memory of my Dad

My Dad Sidney passed away last Sunday morning. He battled Parkinsons for the last decade or more of his life. And spent way to many years in a nursing home. But before that he was a beloved son, husband, father and brother. A hard working farmer and small business owner. And as many of these photos will show, an animal lover. This is my favorite photo of my Dad. It just says everything you need to know about him.

This is my second favorite photo. He is walking in the hills behind our farm with my husband Dean. It just captured his life so beautifully. At the funeral my cousin Shannon said she had dreams of my Dad walking in tall grass before he died. How fitting. That was one of his favorite things to do. Walk in the woods.

But lets go back to when he met the most special woman in his life. My Mom Doris. Of course he probably thought of my Grandma Ruth as a pretty special lady as well. My Mom always said that she treated her just like one of her own daughters. I always thought they looked like movie stars in this photo.

And speaking of movie stars. My aunt Margaret (Dad's sister) passed away within 24 hours of my Dad. She was a beautiful and talented lady. She was also an awesome cook and housekeeper. No wonder one of her first jobs was in the employ of movie stars Alfred Lunt and Lynn Fontanne.

I love this photo of my Dad and his best man (my Uncle Jim)

My Dad looks pretty happy with his new wife.

I love this photo. My Dad saved a little orphan. He actually adopted a whole batch of baby raccoons. Which were nursed by the family cat. While I was going through old photos I laughed at one with a little flying squirrel on my cousin Julie's head. Yes, they also had a flying squirrel.

I bet I never made my Dad this happy again. But he is just beaming in this photo.

My Dad really has his hands full here.

My Dad was able to fix every piece of machinery on the farm with his hands. But sometimes all a truck needs is a little bit of duct tape. (as seen behind my Dad's head) But I think he forgot a spot!

My Mom and Dad were avid snowmobilers. They traveled to Wyoming and Yellowstone (with their sleds) almost every year of their married life.

That's me.

My Dad hard at work in the combine.

My Mom had just recently passed away in this photo. And things were never quite the same after that. But they lived a full life of hard work on the farm, traveling to Switzerland, Florida and Dad's beloved mountains here in America. Along with fishing, hunting and raising one wayward artist. Now he is at peace with my Mom once again.

FINAL HARVEST.

He was bound to the land from the day of his birth

His roots anchored deep in the fertile earth

Nurtured, sustained, by the soil he grew

And his life, like his furrows, ran straight and true.

In faith, each spring, he planted the seeds

In hope, to reap his family's needs

With patience, he waited for the harvest to come

To gather the fruits of his labor home.

Ever turning seasons, the years sped past

Till the final harvest came at last

Then claimed anew by beloved sod

He gathered home to be with god.

Barbara W. Weber