Today, is the seventh anniversary of my Dad’s passing. It seems like yesterday.
My Dad was an avid Iowa State Cyclone fan and today is the Big 12 championship football game. My siblings and I will cheer them on from Oregon, Colorado, Kansas, and parts of Iowa. We will also be joined by our Dad in heaven. Here’s to you Dad and your Cyclones today! We love you and miss you!
The following is the eulogy I wrote to honor my Dad and delivered at his funeral:
Good morning.
I am Sherry, one of Jerry’s girls. Most people can still pick each one of us out of a crowd. In fact that happened again Friday as I walked across the parking lot at Brogan’s.
I’d like to start by saying that we’d all like to thank you for braving this cold, snowy day to honor our father, grandfather and great-grandfather.
I brought with me today a most precious gift Dad made for each of us many years ago. It is a wooden plant stand fashioned out of the wood from cedar trees that once stood behind the house at the farm. He cut these trees down and took them to a neighbor’s sawmill and cut them into the wood planks he would use to create this work of art.
The plant stand is significant not only because it was a precious gift, but also because I believe it symbolizes our Dad.
This plant stand has a broad, sturdy base or foundation. Dad grew up knowing hard work and family values. He was a pillar of strength to many. His parents, his brothers and sisters, his daughters and son, his neighbors, his friends, and his grandchildren. He was always willing to help.
I remember one snowy day much like this one when I was young, but one with much more snow. The wind was blowing snow over the road at the top of our hill and it created a huge snow drift. We were inside the warm farmhouse watching television as a lone car approached, not knowing the drift was impassible. The driver would bury his car in the drift and Dad would go out in the wind and cold (and most of you know how much he hated the cold). He would start up the tractor and pull out the car so the traveler could be on their way. He would never accept any money for his help. That was just what you should do. Help people. Be a strong and sturdy base.