DAD  
1/27/1927 - 11/11/1974

    During shore leave from the Navy
dressed in his Navy best,.
He met a beautiful lass
and decided he’d been blessed. 

When he was discharged two years later,
sounds of wedding bells filled the room..
She made a beautiful bride
and he, her dashing groom. 

Life wasn’t always easy,
even though their love was strong.
He fed, housed and clothed them
working in the mines from dusk till dawn. 

After the first baby came,
he wanted a safer occupation.
Working as a truck driver
was almost like a vacation. 

He was a kind and devoted father,
always ready with an ‘I love you’.
Later, he worked in the steel mills
and along came baby number two. 

He taught his two daughters well,
encouraged them to give their all..
Told them never to get discouraged,
if they should happen to slip and fall. 

He was proud of his little family,
his loving wife and both of his girls.
Always ready with a laugh,,
willing to give any adventure a whirl. 

He swelled up with pride
as his first grandchild filled him with joy.
Always surrounded by females,
finally his little family had a boy. 

Then, in a trip to Michigan
to visit that new grandson,
the Lord’s will was answered
and my dad was the chosen one. 

It was a perfect week-end,
filled with family and friends.
No one even remotely suspected
that his laughter was about to end. 

He’d always been so healthy,
never missed a single day.
Then a surprise heart attack
took my wonderful dad away. 

The little family was in shock..
The whole community stunned.
This dad at age forty-seven
was loved by everyone. 

His funeral was an event.
People came from far and wide.
The church couldn’t hold them all.
Many stood outside the doors and cried. 

Someone will take his place
as an Elder of his church.
Someone will replace him
on the school board he loved so much. 

The meetings at the Masonic Lodge
will continue with an empty seat.
The people who knew my dad
say he was the best you’d ever meet. 

But for our little family,
the loss was so very great.
A dad as loved as he
can never be replaced. 

One day my heart will fill with joy
when I see that familiar grin..
So, rest with the angels, Dad,
until we meet again.