February 28, 1925 is a day of significance to me even though it was years before my birth. It was the day that my father began his life on this earth. I know nothing about the details of the day other than it was his birthday. He was the second born of four children and grew up in Des Moines. After high school he joined the Air Force and it was his desire to be a pilot. After being admitted to flight school the Air Force cut back on the number of pilots they wanted and he was cut from the program. He finished out his term of service and then returned to Des Moines. It was after his military service that he met and married my mother Carol on February 18, 1950.
The most important event that occurred in his life was when he met Jesus Christ as his Savior. He had a love for God and a love for people. Some of the things that I remember about my dad are that he talked to everybody that he could about the Savior, sharing salvation with them. As a young child we read Bible stories from the family Bible story book and I recall many times that he would kneel and pray each night before going to bed. He loved teaching his Sunday School class and was always willing to help people in any way he could. He was a whiz at fixing anything and was so creative in making most anything around the house.
When Mom and Dad were first married they lived in Vandalia and decided to move into Des Moines within a couple years. Property was purchased and Dad built their home, moving in well before it was finished and before I was three years old they had their home all paid for. The story goes that they ate potato salad for several years while Dad worked on the house. My grandpa had a service station and Dad was a mechanic so he would work when needed but his main job was building the house. Amazingly Dad still liked potato salad the rest of his life. This house was my home all my childhood years.
Dad was such a craftsman and not afraid to try anything. He not only built their house but all the cabinets and such inside, even their bedroom furniture which still is in use today, approximately 60 years later. That is quality workmanship! He was such a thoughtful person and one day showed up at my house with a shelf to put my cups and saucers on. One Christmas my sister and I both got end tables, my children enjoyed desks, doll cradles and high chairs. He was a man who liked to work with his hands. More times than I can remember he fixed our cars, helped with remodeling, worked on plumbing, did painting or yard work to babysitting and giving a word of encouragement.
He supported his family by working hard, first with my grandpa at the service station and then at Anderson Erickson Dairy delivering milk to homes and later to schools. After 20 years of service with the dairy he retired and drove a school bus part time until he suffered a stroke and was no longer able to work. During his retirement years my parents enjoyed going up to their cabin on Lake Hattie. Dad and Mom enjoyed their summers on the lake and besides fishing he was always fixing something.
In December of 1989 Dad suffered a major stroke which changed his life forever. My dad could talk to anybody, anywhere and as a result of his stroke he was left unable to talk. His right side was affected and he lost use of his arm and only had limited use of his leg. This was a time in his life when his faith in a sovereign God was his rock. Thankfully he was able to come back to his house for a time even to remain there with live-in help after mom passed away. He moved to the nursing home in Mitchellville and was there for about 10 years. Even then he was cheerful and a joy to be around.
There were many episodes through those ten years that we thought God was going to bring him home because he would get so weak after being sick. God did call him home on February 25, 2005. I know that to be absent from the body is to be present with the Lord. Dad is rejoicing in the presence of the Lord and the trials of this life are over for him. We do miss him here and look forward someday to being reunited with him.
I thank God for the dad that he gave me, for the example of love, hard work, generosity, patience, meekness, and faithfulness. I am so blessed to have grown up in his home.
Love you Dad.
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