It's been a few weeks since I've been here and those weeks have been busy, eventful, sad and blessed...
Many of you already know this from facebook, but my sweet Dad passed away on April 3. He went on hospice last June and at that time wasn't expected to live more than a few months, but as he did so many times, he bounced back and did quite well for 9 months. You may remember that he even celebrated his 92nd birthday in March with all of us around him.
He had been getting much weaker toward the end of March. On Friday, the 31st he had an appointment with his tax people and he wanted to go. My sister Cheri and I took him, he went in and talked to the people he knew, joked around with them as he usually did. On the way home he wanted to stop at a place that has malts that he loved, so of course we did.
Here he is, back at his house enjoying his malt.
He was really tired out though. The hospice nurse told us to tell people to come see him as more declines were expected.
Laura and Heather and their families all came Saturday morning. He recognized them and was able to talk a little, but by Sunday he was mostly sleeping. Hospice came again, brought him a hospital bed and we stayed with him.
On Sunday afternoon, we told him we would be ok, and that Ann would be too. He said "I'll see you all in heaven", and shortly after that he said "I'm packing my bags." Those were his last words.
By Sunday night he was not responding at all and he passed away shortly after noon on Monday. Ann, my 2 sisters and I were with him, and he was very peaceful. We were so happy we had been able to keep him home and that he passed quickly and peacefully.
Here he is at about 8.
This picture was taken when he worked for the road commission, doing lots of snow plowing in the winter and mowing in the summer.
Last, I want to share something I wrote for his funeral bulletin that tells more about him.
Elmer DeWeerd was born in 1931, the 5th of 10 children. He had 5 sisters and 4 brothers; one sister died as a child. It was a busy household with several mischievous kids, one of which was my dad. We used to hear stories of the pranks they pulled on each other. Good thing their mom had a good sense of humor and lots of patience!
Dad went to school through 8th grade, then started farming. He left briefly and served in the army, spending time in Germany where he made some life long friends.
Shortly after returning he married Jeanette Zinger and they settled on 32nd street. His brother Purcel lived across the street and they farmed together.
Elmer and Jeanette had 4 kids; Maribeth, Duane, Terri and Cheryl. He was a strict, but fun Dad. The kids remember him coming home for lunch and playing with them, other times they would bring lunch out to him in the field and eat with him there. Church was central in their life and the kids remember seeing him on his knees next to his bed praying. There was always a lot of teasing and laughter as well.
In 1972 the highway went through their land, which meant there wasn't enough land for both Elmer and Purcel to farm. Elmer decided to go to work for Road Commission. He enjoyed driving the trucks and plowing snow, even though there were often middle of the night calls to go to work.
At that time, Elmer and Jeanette built the house on Quincy street where he lived till his passing.
As the kids grew and left the house, Elmer and Jeanette were able to do more traveling, and also enjoyed staying at cottages and doing lots of fishing.
Jeanette passed away suddenly in 2003 and Elmer was lonely but he enjoyed spending time with his kids and starting doing things like making pies, canning juice and sharing those goods. He also started bowling and it was there that he met Ann Postma and started telling his kids about this new friend.
Ann brought new joy to his life. They had such fun with each other, frequently laughing and teasing. Bowling was always important, but they also enjoyed camping up north, spending time in Florida in the winter, playing cards.
With Ann came more kids, grandkids and great grandkids to love and enjoy, and he certainly did! During this time, Elmer also had grandkids getting married and he welcomed those new family members along with 3 great granddaughters that were a great joy to him. He always made sure he had suckers in the house so none of the little kids left the house without one when they visited.
As his health started to fail and his vision was decreasing, he wasn't able to get out as much as he had before. He continued to bowl for as long as he could and made it to church just the week before his death. He continued to smile and joke; visits to see him and Ann were always enjoyable.
The day before his death, he told his kids he would see them in heaven, and then that he was packing his bags. Those were his last words. He left a great legacy of faith.
I was so blessed to have such a wonderful Dad. I miss him, but am so thankful to have had him for all these years, and even more thankful that I know of his faith in Jesus, and the knowledge that I will see him in heaven.
