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Laying Dad to rest

searcher5searcher5 Member Posts: 13,511 ✭
edited March 2015 in General Discussion
We laid Dad to rest today. He'll sleep in a coffin built by his Amish friend and neighbor. He was carried there by six of his Amish friends. The preacher cried. My nine month old granddaughter laughed, and it was a welcome sound. A young autistic boy, whose family he had helped, stood up and told a story about him, when it was opened up for stories. Most of the stories drew respectful laughter, as that was my dad. He always brought smiles and laughter. We topped a hill (yes, there are hills in SE Kansas) and looked back. You could see over a mile, and you could not see the end of the procession. There were tears and laughter, there were people I hadn't seen in decades, and people I had never met, all paying their respects. The VFW gave a ceremony, the volley was fired, and the flag that draped his coffin was folded and given to my Step Mother. I sat on one side of her, and my step Brother on the other, as she asked. She is a tiny woman, and my Step Brother and I are quite large.
The preacher likely summed up Dad's life, in just a few words.

"Roscoe was something else"
Thank you friends, for your prayers, concerns, supportive comments, messages and e-mails during this time of personal distress.
Dan
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Comments

  • Dads3040Dads3040 Member Posts: 13,552 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    Tears and Laughter. As good a sound as you could hear today, I think. It pretty well covers the Spectrum of Life.

    I will leave you this, Dan. For whatever value you might find in it. It was sent to me almost ten years ago when I lost my Dad. Peace to you today.

    Life is full of soaring joys, and crushing sorrows. Cherish the joys, and with time and the love of your family and friends, the sorrow will lessen. It will never go away completely, as the sorrow is the reminder of what we lost, and the price we pay for love.
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  • allen griggsallen griggs Member Posts: 35,696 ✭✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    Sounds like a poignant ceremony and a good sendoff for a good man.
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  • fishkiller41fishkiller41 Member Posts: 50,608
    edited November -1
    My heartfelt condolences for the loss of your Father Dan...
    May god hold him close for eternity.
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  • Ditch-RunnerDitch-Runner Member Posts: 25,387 ✭✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    sad day ,
    and as it should be a celebration of life well lived . sharing stories and remembrance
    May he RIP
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  • spasmcreekspasmcreek Member Posts: 37,717 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    i found the obit and gathered he had an interesting and varied life...sounds like quite a day...preachers summary said it all...well
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  • kimikimi Member Posts: 44,719 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    Thanks, Dan. He was obviously well known and well loved. I don't think it gets any better than that.
    What's next?
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  • retroxler58retroxler58 Member Posts: 32,693 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    It's been 34 years since I sat at my Dad's side and spoke with him for the last time.
    Never easy... May your Dad RIP.
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  • OakieOakie Member Posts: 40,565 ✭✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    Dan, the laughter of a child is so heartwarming and consoling. I can bring a smile to a face that had tears the minute before. One life ended and another has begun. The angels of our ancestors are watching over us, bring us comfort and peace. Our time is short and precious, like the wind on a hot summers evening. Go in peace my friend and rejoice as we shall all be together again someday, to dwell in our fathers kingdom. Roscoe did one hell of a job while he was on this earth, just look at all the people that came out to celebrate his time with us. He raised a fine man in you my friend. God Bless and find comfort in your friends. John
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  • bigt7mmbigt7mm Member Posts: 4,719 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    Thank you brother.

    You have no idea.
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  • searcher5searcher5 Member Posts: 13,511 ✭
    edited November -1
    Odd thing happened the day he died. Now, I won't try to explain it. I just don't know. Could have been weariness, or something else. He passed at 1:30 in the morning. It was 4:30 before I got home, and didn't get to bed for another hour. Laid down, I had to be up at 6:30, just to get a little rest if I could. I hear singing. Kind of with a churchy feel about it, though the exact tune and words were too vague to recognize. I have an alarm clock radio in the spare bedroom, that sometimes goes off. I get up, that wasn't it, tv wasn't on, or the computers. Don't here the music anymore. Go lie down again, and the music is back. Three times I got up, looking for the source of that music, and never did find it. I could hear it, up until the point I opened my bedroom door. Just kinda strange. Likely, just weariness and stress messing with my head.

    Dan
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  • montanajoemontanajoe Forums Admins, Member, Moderator Posts: 60,265 ******
    edited November -1
    God Bless,,
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  • FrancFFrancF Member Posts: 35,279 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    My condolences to you searcher5 and your family form our home.
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  • CapnMidnightCapnMidnight Member Posts: 8,038 ✭✭
    edited November -1
    Memories of your dad a precious, treasure them.
    W.D.
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  • jarjar Member Posts: 620 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    it make it a lil easier when the funeral becomes a celibation of ones life rather than a goodbye , and a laughing baby makes it the circle of life. my prayers to you and yours , your not alone!
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  • 1BigGuy1BigGuy Member Posts: 4,033 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    quote:Originally posted by searcher5
    Odd thing happened the day he died.

    Wow. I can only hope to have such an experience when my Dad passes. You obviously have been, and are, blessed.
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