Remembering Dad

Happy Father's Day Dad!  Forever loved and always missed.

Dad was born at home on the family ranch near Meyronne, Saskatchewan in August 1910.  The second youngest of 6 siblings, his father passed away when he was just 14 years old.  He left school after grade 8 to help his brothers with the ranch.

In 1931, his mother, sister, one of his brothers and Dad travelled north in search of land.   Dad and his brother travelled with the train to ensure their possessions arrived intact, while Grandma and my aunt travelled by car.  They arrived in Nipawin on Dad's 21st birthday.

He was allotted a quarter section of land, and worked hard to break the land.  He had no money for equipment so he worked for other farmers during the summer, and in logging camps in the winter.  Through hard work and perseverance, he built his little farm up to 3 quarter sections.  

The house we grew up in was built in stages, starting with two granaries and then added to as the family grew.  That house burned down several years ago.

He married mom in 1954, and immediately became a father to my oldest brother.  A few years later, I was born, rapidly followed by my sister and younger brother.  Dad always said we kept him young, and when he turned 65 and started receiving the old age pension, he gave the cheques to mom to bank.  He was too young, he said!

Dad passed away in September 2008, just a few weeks after his 98th birthday.  He had always thought he would make at least 100 but it wasn't to be.  The photo above is one of the last I have of him.  He always had a smile on his face, no one was a stranger, and he had a heart of gold.

I will remember him, until I can remember no more.  Love you Dad!

*Comments are off.  

Happy Father's Day to Dad

I don't have many photos of my Dad.  I'm not even certain where I found this one, as I know I didn't take it, nor do I know where it was taken.  It's not a particularly good photo, a little blurred, but still is one of my favorites.  There is a sense of other-worldliness with the light shining onto him with a sense of his hands in motion on the keys.

Dad loved to play the piano though didn't get a lot of opportunity to do so.  Mom always yelled at him when he sat down to play so he had to wait until she was out of the house (usually on Sundays when she went to church).

I assume he could read music, as he had a couple of hymnals that he used.  I don't know when or where he took any lessons or if he was simply self-taught.  It wouldn't have surprised me if it were the latter.  He undertook the task of learning to read in French when he was sixty by using a dictionary and laboriously searching out every word.

Some of my earliest memories are standing beside Dad as he played, singing along to some of his favorite hymns.  There were several but my memory only recalls they included Flow Swiftly Sweet Afton and The Old Rugged Cross.  I can no longer recall the words of the first and only the first verse of the second. 

Dad passed away on September 15, 2008 at the age of 98. I'm sure there will be a celebration in heaven, though I suspect mom still won't allow him to play the piano.  Happy Father's Day Dad!  Thanks for the memories.

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I've invited my daughter, J and baby Eli over for dinner this evening.  We'll celebrate J's first Father's Day.   He too, plays the piano, so I'm sure he and Eli will create some wonderful memories together.