Happy Birthday Dad

by

My dad would have turned 98 today if he were still alive.  He died at 78.  He was just a good man who lead a simple life.  Although he lived in the city most of his adult life in order to work in a factory he was always a good old country boy at heart.

Dad

This is probably my favorite picture of him.  I took it at their farm near Lodi Missouri.  He was probably around 70 when the photo was taken.

Happy birthday Dad, wherever you are.

0

36 thoughts on “Happy Birthday Dad”

  5. Happy Birthday, Sir!(wherever you are) You have a lovely smile, the kind of which a person smiles with mouth and eyes!

  12. Pass along a Happy Birthday to your Dad from me ALN. It was a real pleasure to meet you and your parents.

  18. I really like this picture for more reasons than one. I like to see and hear about people that have had profound impacts on others lives- whether it be a parent, a friend, or even a complete stranger. I’m sure your dad would be excited that you haven’t forgotten him even twenty years later. That’s a fear alot of people have- not being remembered after they are gone. But I’m sure wherever he is, he’s comforted by you passing his memory on. I think you should post some pictures of yourself growing up- I’d really enjoy seeing and hearing about any life experiences you went through- because I firmly believe you can learn so much from people, if you only take the time to listen.

    If you don’t mind me asking- how did he pass away?

  19. i really love this picture. and i think its great to remember your father. He looks alot like my grandfather who has also passed… i bet he was a great man..

  20. Cool dad, Jonco. Too bad about his passing but death will always also be a part of life. It makes us try to do better in the short time we have.

  21. Heidi,
    He worked for 35 years in a factory that made asbestos shingles. When he started there they didn’t know that asbestos could cause cancer. He developed mesothelioma but that wasn’t the cause of his death. He was always healthy and never went to the doctor until he had a heart attack when he was about 60. He had to retire a little early because of the heart attack. He could do pretty much what he wanted to for quite a few years. My parents had bout about 40 acres of land in rural Missouri, so they moved there. He was in pretty good shape until about 75. Then he gradually deteriorated until his heart just gave out.

  22. I can’t help but remember the time we were all at your mom and dad’s farm at the dinner table when my son, who was around 4, says to your dad {Grandpa Chick Chick}, that he has a big nose. I told my son that wasn’t a very nice thing to say, that if you don’t have something nice to say, don’t day anything. So he turned to Grandpa Chick Chick and said that it was a pretty big nose. We all got a snicker out of that comment. Out of the mouths of babes!

  24. reminds me of my Uncle Bud. Uncle Bud built he and Aunt Goldie’s house himself, to her specs, she was 4’8″ the counters were low, the cabinets, everything, it was great to go there as a kid, I could reach everything. He worked for the railroad, also had that hat, and the overalls.

  26. More tears! What has got into me today?! This picture helps me understand why you are such a good man, Jonco. You had a great role model..

  27. Hope you liked the cleaned up (de-yellowed & repaired the scan blotches in the top right) version I posted. I was doing a bunch of that when I took a break and saw your post about him. I know its not much, but I wanted to thank you for reminding me to remember my own…thanks bud.

  28. Thanks for sharing. A terrific picture. My father would have been 78 on March 10 — those kids of the Depression.

  29. Awww…. so sweet! Love your parents if they’re still around, folks, and continue loving them even after they’ve passed!

    Bless ya, Jonco!

  31. Yep it is a great pic. Looks like a Railroad Man to me too although he was a factory worker. Reminds me of a US TV show that ran in the UK when I was a kid in the 60s. Casey Jones (I think!) “Casey Jones, a steamin’ and a rollin’. Casey Jones a steamin’ down the tracks.”

  32. He always wore those overalls and cap. Not too many times did I see him dressed in slacks or other clothing. Only when he “had to”. 🙂

  35. My uncle was in the Navy and he has Mesothelioma, but he’s doing good right now. My grandmother just bought a farm because the house she shared with my grandfather was just too hard to live in by herself, and being from the country- it’s helping her get out of her depression. My dad’s mom died from Melanoma cancer about 17 years before I was born. If it weren’t for my family passing her memory onto me- I’d know nothing of my heritage and most importantly about her. For my kids, I’ve made a family tree and have done a good bit of research so they can also know where they come from.

Leave a Comment