In Loving Memory of My Grandpa

Heaven gained a special soul on January 21, 2022. My 91-year-old grandpa made the journey to be Home with the Lord. His time on Earth served God’s perfect purpose, and his time is just beginning in God’s perfect presence.

Many years ago when I was in my twenties and yet a wife or mom, and Grandpa was in his seventies, he fell from a ladder and suffered a brain injury. My mom and I flew out to see him in the hospital, not knowing what the outcome would be. By God’s grace, that fall didn’t take his life. And though his health gradually declined after that traumatic injury, his sweet demeanor lived on.

His memory became cloudier and Alzheimer’s was his daily reality the final years of his life. My amazing grandma faithfully stayed by his side and cared for his growing needs.

In the summer of 2016, I had the gift of going to spend time with my grandparents and stay with them in their assisted living home apartment. When I arrived at the airport my grandparents came to pick me up. With all my luggage in hand and standing on a sidewalk with cars passing by, Grandpa walked towards me to greet me hello. Though I could tell he didn’t quite know me in the way he once did, his love for me was the same as he embraced me with a hug and kiss.

And this past summer my family of four along with more family, flew out East to see my brother marry his beautiful bride. And while there we had the opportunity to visit with my grandparents, our sons getting to meet/meet again Great Grandma and Great Grandpa.

Grandpa didn’t know who I was and his body had grown tired, but what a gift to see him one last time.

And now…

Grandpa is at complete peace, no longer suffering, and reunited with loved ones who went before him.

I can only imagine the glorious reunion between him and his son, my Uncle Steve who always me laugh, and who passed away at the young age of 38 after a battle with AIDS. Two men that have a dear place in my heart and that I will one day see again.

It is not difficult to speak highly of Grandpa because he was always a presence of love and joy in my life.

Kind, patient, loving, hardworking, giving, generous, loved the Lord, a teacher at heart—he ran the race well.

And so many fond memories I hold dear.

From fun camping trips with my grandparents when Grandpa made pancakes and we’d all sit around playing card games, to trips to the beach to build sand castles, to visits and sleepovers at my grandparents white-brick house, to walks across the street to the baseball field to play baseball, to sitting in the pop-up seat of the beloved brown station wagon while Grandpa always drove below or under the speed limit, to watching Grandpa tend to his garden and eating the yummy food Grandma would make with the harvest, to birthday parties and meals shared together, to Grandma and Grandpa making summer and Christmas visits to see us once our family lived in Colorado, to smiles and laughter…

And to the special moment Grandpa proudly walked me down the isle on my wedding day.

And that first time Great Grandma and Great Grandpa got to meet their great grandson (my firstborn) when he was 2 years old.

“What we have once enjoyed we can never lose. All that we love deeply becomes a part of us.”

-Helen Keller

Grandpa left an incredible legacy. He inspired me with his positive outlook, love for teaching, and faithful dedication to his family. Truly a blessing to be his granddaughter.

It’s moments like this that remind me we can hold both grief and joy at the same time.

Grief because Grandpa is no longer with us and was loved so dear. And joy because He is now in glory with Jesus, healed and whole.

It’s goodbye for now, but not goodbye forever. I know I will hug my sweet grandpa and see that joyful smile again in a beautiful place where tears are no more. But for now, I hold the memories close.

Well done, good and faithful servant.

Well done, Grandpa.