The Grandpa

Born of immigrant parents who settled in Iowa, he moved to Minnesota before settling on his homestead with his own family in Montana.  He saw the changes of the industrial revolution, WWI, the Great Depression, WWII, and the ‘60s.  One son went to college and rose to the top of his profession.  A daughter married and settled in the area.  And his other son fought against Hitler for the liberation of Europe in 1944 and later followed in his footsteps, raising a family on a small farm.  Eight children called this quiet man of character and strength “Grandpa” and he left an indelible mark on each one.  To this day he conjures images of love, respect, and honor to those who knew him. 

No one worked harder or complained less about the ardors of farm life before modern machinery—and after.  No one could build a better haystack, set a firmer corner post, shovel more barley, or plow a straighter furrow.  And say less about it.  He would be in the fields on the cold windy days of spring planting with his coat collar turned up. He would be building haystacks and fixing fences in July, and shocking oats on the dusty and blistering hot days of August.  

He was the youngest of eight children and knew what it was like to be overlooked, but he overlooked no one.  When you were with Grandpa, you were somebody.   You learned to work because he worked.  You learned to respect your neighbors and their property because he respected them.  You learned to listen before speaking, because that’s what he did.  And you learned something about who God was because this man was real.

The world is a better place for this man.  His life stood in stark contrast to many in his generation, and he became and remains an inspiration to his grandchildren.  Their children never knew him, but his legacy has been passed on to them, and now to their children.  He was not alone in making such a mark, but he is the Grandfather of our family, and future generations have him to thank for being faithful to his calling as a father, grandfather, and a good man.

By: An Anonymous Contributor 

Photo used under the creative commons license courtesy of WaterArchives.org: http://bit.ly/1FuyPjw