Join us in honoring a truly remarkable man who has been not only a foundation of strength and
love for his family but also a pillar of the community. Below is a heartfelt tribute from
his daughter, capturing the essence of his impact and the depth of his influence.
"Hi Daddy, thought I would add my two cents in a tribute to you. You are my rock, my life, my
strength. You are my hero, my mentor, my guide. You are a simple, ordinary man who has
achieved extraordinary things that have benefited me, your wife, my mother, your family,
friends, your church, and community. Dad, you taught me how to enjoy the little things and
not take life too seriously. I remember you walking me to school on the first day of
kindergarten. You taught me how to hold a knife and fork; how to swim, and how to ride a
bike, holding onto the handlebars so I wouldn’t fall and running as fast as you could to
steady me. You taught me how to drive a car. You and Mom came to every school recital. I
remember the careful way you baited my fishing hook and then patiently showed me how to do
it. You taught me patience when the little fish didn’t bite. Later on, you gave me strength
and patience when a big 20 lb. Chinook salmon hit the line and I netted my prize fish. You
carried in all the furniture in my first apartment. You showed me that hard work, kindness,
compassion, and unwavering integrity plus a radiant smile can really make a difference.
Thank you for your gentle heart. You taught me to be humble in everything that I do, to know
how to listen, to know how to care for others. Your quiet love is the backbone of our
family. Thanks to you, Dad, I developed a love of music, playing clarinet in the high school
band. (You and Mom raised all the money for new band uniforms, didn’t you!). I inherited my
singing voice from you. I learned not to be afraid when I sing in front of people, for you
are still nervous in your many solo performances. And thanks, Dad, it seems you have hiked &
walked every wooded trail that exists. You taught me a love of nature and animals. We
visited so many of the national parks and climbed so many hills together. And what a memory!
It seems that you remember the first names of hundreds of people. You said that by
remembering first names, it shows that every individual is special and important. That is
the gift you gave to me. Dad, you have faced more than your share of challenges, but by God,
you will never let them define you. You are the epitome of resilience no matter what life
throws at you. You always find a way to push through with your heart full of hope and your
head held high. Even in the toughest of times, you always believe that things will get
better and a positive attitude can overcome any obstacle. Dad, sometimes you may have
embarrassed me, but you have always supported me unconditionally. You taught me that no
matter where you start, it's where you finish those counts."
Share Your Memories
We invite family, friends, and all who knew him to leave their own tributes, share memories,
and celebrate the life of a man who has touched so many.