After the passing of my Dad in September, there were lots of handwritten notes in the cards received, face-to-face visits, and also many phone calls and e-mails. It warmed my heart to know that Dad had touched so many lives in a positive way, and that the stories told and remembered showed how one life, well-lived, can make a difference.
I had the privilege of being inside our family and watching my Dad live and work, “up close and personal”. I thought it would be a tribute to my Dad to get personal and tell you about the kind of man my Dad was. First of all, he was the same person at home, at work and at church. He was the “real deal” in every setting.
My Dad would answer to the name of “Christian”, but most importantly, he was a Christ-follower and a Believer. He knew the Bible, had a lot of Scripture memorized, and did his best to follow the great principles taught by Jesus Christ as recorded in the Bible. He had a Bible verse memorized to quote for almost every occasion.
My Dad was honest. In all my growing up years, and years of working together, I never heard my Dad tell a lie and I never saw him cheat anyone in his dealings with other people.
My Dad had courage and was a risk taker. Imagine the courage it took being a farmer in Kansas in the 50s and deciding to start a manufacturing company. His college education was interrupted by WWII and he had no formal training in business, engineering or manufacturing—all disciplines that are necessary for designing a product and setting up a manufacturing operation. Also, there was little money, which made a big challenge for him to “poor boy” his way into business. My Dad liked to say that he went to the “School of Hard Knocks” with a degree in T&E—trial and error.
My Dad was generous. He was a giver and not a taker. He modeled the spirit of generosity very well for all of us in the family.
My Dad was committed to his family, to his work and to the Lord. He was diligent in his work and would never give up on doing what he thought he was supposed to be doing until it was finished. A favorite Bible verse speaks to this: “For I know whom I have believed, and am persuaded that He (the Lord) is able to keep that which I have committed to Him against that day.” – II Timothy 1:12.
My Dad was not perfect. I saw him make mistakes, I saw him apologize, I saw him change his mind, and I saw him work to make amends.
My Dad loved people—all kinds of people. He did an especially good job of loving my Mother for 68 years.
I think you can see why my family and I count ourselves blessed to have had a dad like My Dad.
Site Search
