An Ode to Grandpa

Grandpa was born in 1935. He was a normal American teenage boy; his life was as typical as could be. So he grew older and met a young woman named Geraldine Becker at practice for the Kiel Municipal Band. They quickly fell in love and were soon married. And he was a normal, average husband and soon after became a normal. average father of four. But he was more than he appeared to be. He was a strong man, though he was mild on the outside; wise though quiet and calm; and gallant in his own way.

Soon his children had children and he became a grandfather. He was always there for us, not overbearing or meek, but always there in his big, plush chair. He listened quietly but still gave his own opinion. Sometimes he was angry but always with good reason. Grandpa wasn't perfect - not by a long shot - and he knew this. I have no doubt that he tried every day to become a better man. My fondest memory is seeing him in his den, watching an old TV show.

He is gone now, but in my mind he will always be with us in that big brown chair, surrounded by his fifty or more mugs - not an overbearing figure but not just part of the furniture. He was Grandpa, the best one he could ever be. And I know I will see him again, not as the old man I knew him as but as a newly created masterpiece in God's presence. We are here today to say good-bye, but it is not really a good-bye, more of a "See you later." He is waiting for us, a strong young drum major, dancing through the clouds. We will see him again.