One of the hardest posts I have had to write.
Probably one of the reasons I have waited so long to write it. I am crying while I write this.
When these pictures were taken I had no idea it would be the last time I would see my Grandpa alive. I had no idea that it would the last time I would give him a hug and kiss and say "love you Grandpa, see you again soon" and he would say "well you never know I might not be here next time" and I would say "oh, Grandpa, sure you will". I had that exact good-bye many, many times with him. But in the past Grandpa was always wrong, and I was right. He was always there the next time I visited.
I had no idea that 2 1/2 weeks later he would be called home to Heaven and get to meet Jesus face to face.
See this was the same day Gracelyn, Zach, and I randomly decided to drive to Mom and Dad's on a Sunday to see all the family, since they would be home. It was a last-minute decision. I was 7 1/2 months pregnant and uncomfortable - but something told me I better go drive the 2 hours to visit. Marty said he would stay home with Jared, so make the trip easier. Everyone was home and it was a gorgeous fall harvest day.
I will be forever GRATEFUL I went. I truly believe Jesus was telling me to go. And Jesus told Darrin to randomly come home to help Dad with harvest. See there is always a purpose and a plan. God up above knows this, we just gotta believe it.
On this visit Shelly talked Dad, Darrin, and Grandpa into gathering up to take a generation picture.
This lead to snapping a bunch of pictures.
See Grandpa is 98 years old and on this particular day we just never knew how long he would be with us on Earth. We all truly felt is would be a couple of more years. We had no idea it would only be 2 1/2 more weeks.
Grandpa Elmer Walter Sohre
Born: August 2, 1915
Died: October 31, 2013
Just a little less than 2 years short of 100.
He told us he would be sure to make it to 100 - so naturally we believed him. He even had the day's counted down on his birthday this year in August. I really couldn't have seen it happening any other way. He was a wonderful man. The best Grandpa a grandkid could have.
I love him dearly and even though it has been over a month I miss him dearly.
I find myself talking about him a lot. I find myself thinking about him a lot.
He was an inspiration. Always had time for me. Always had a little sense of humor to share. Always could talk to me or Marty for as long as we liked. He would always let my kids sit on his lap (if I could get the kids to do it! So bashful they are.) Marty never knew his Grandpa's so this was kinda his Grandpa too for the last 13 years him and I have been together. As a kid I probably saw him weekly or at least quite frequently - even if it was only shouting "toot toot" across our back yards. See our farm yards touched each other, so we were within walking distance to each other (or shouting!). He was a constant in my life. I don't think I ever saw him get mad. I don't think he ever yelled at me. Doesn't mean I didn't deserve to be yelled at as a kid!! I just don't think he ever did it, he must of taken a different approach or maybe in his presence I did behave pretty good, maybe he had that influence on me and my siblings!
Here is my siblings with Grandpa on that beautiful fall day.
This is Grandpa's normal attire: flannel shirt, hat, jeans - out on the farm.
This is how I knew him the most.
My Dad and my Grandpa.
Two of the most treasured men in my life.
One hard working farmer to another.
Passing on the treasure of family farm living.
And this is how two well-seasoned farmers talk - they are always looking down on the ground - I never could figure out as a kid what they were looking at!! I guess it doesn't matter - it is the million of conversations that have occurred in this pattern - it is the mutual feeling of respect between two men - the feeling of love and comfort of being next to each other - knowing they both mean to world to each other.
Love you Grandpa.
I know you are enjoying Heaven and you very much deserved to go as you more than served your purpose here on Earth - but gosh I miss you soo much!
Can't wait to see you in 50 to 60 years. I hope I am as wonderful as Grandma to my grandkids as you were a Grandpa to me.
And here is a tribute the grandkids all wrote and was spoken at Grandpa's funeral:
I think it sums up wonderfully what Grandpa meant to all of us.
HI Grandpa.
We were all at the farm the other day and something wasn’t right. You weren’t sitting in your chair in the kitchen. So we started looking for you………..
We looked for you down in the basement and you weren’t down there fixing the couch or cracking walnuts. You weren't upstairs watching I Love Lucy, Leave it to Beaver or the Vikings game. You weren't at the table drinking coffee with your boys, reading the Free Press or listening to the markets on the radio.
So then we thought we’d look outside. You weren’t in the barn feeding Grandma’s kitties, burning trash, fixing the lawnmower or mowing the lawn. We checked the chisel plow tractor and you and your lunch box weren’t in there. You weren’t in the garden either.
So….we guess we have to accept the fact, that as hard as we search, that we are only going to find you in our memories BUT you will never leave our hearts.
So, how are things in Heaven? We miss you Grandpa.
Here are just a few of the things you have taught us;That you don’t have to talk all the time and that the best conversations don’t need words. Even though you didn’t tell us that you loved us all the time. We always knew.
The quiet times that we remember are;
· Sitting on the school bus bench in the garage
· Husking corn
· Watching TV with you
· Walking to the barns and checking the piggies
· Counting your hats
· Fixing the H tractor
You’ve taught us how to work hard and pinch our pennies.
· We’ve learned how to patch with duct tape…..our slippers, shoes and flannel shirts.
· It is important to keep track of the gas price at the Good Thunder station and to only fill up when the price was low. However; that haircuts are important and it is ok to splurge on a trip to Amboy for a haircut from the barber.
· Don’t waste the morning brew. Coffee made at 8 am is still just as fresh at 8 pm. Just microwave it!
· Don’t throw away a good shirt or socks just because there are a few holes in them. That’s good air conditioning!
You’ve taught us how to be farmers.
· By showing us how to plant potatoes on Good Friday. Rain, shine or snow.
· How to know when sweet corn is ripe and that to scare off the raccoons you should play talk radio, overnight, in the patch.
· How to pick apples, strawberries, peas, beans and raspberries with patience and care as to not smush or bruise.
· How to butcher chickens. Enough said.
· Touring the pig barns with you was like a trip to Hollywood. A walk down the pig aisle was like walking the red carpet.
You’ve taught us how to enjoy our food Grandpa style.
· That ice cream on cereal in the morning is fine. Just don’t tell your Mom!
· That cookies at 5:00 before supper are ok too. Just don’t tell your Mom!
· You should put Cranberry sauce on pumpkin pie.
· That Pickles go with every meal.
· That you should Split a beer with the person you love.
· And that the Coffee is always ready by 9:30 am and the more the merrier!
You had a memory like no other.You remembered everyone by name. Whether we were a Grandchild, a Grandchild’s spouse or a Great Grandchild. We could always count on you to help us remember everyone else’s name.
This is one big family that you and Grandma created. Your legacy will continue to live on.
You had a prenominal life Grandpa!
· You’ve taught us patience.
· You’ve taught us kindness.
· You’ve taught us to live simply.
· You’ve taught us to enjoy life every day.
· You’ve taught us to be humble.
· You’ve taught us to love unconditionally.
You didn’t quite make it to 100 Grandpa.BUT you got pretty close.
Well done.
You were a treasure to have as our Grandpa.
We Love You.
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