This gathering is now. I sent this message to be read by my younger sister on my behalf:
When I
think of John, all of those things that you have heard so far — and will no
doubt hear more of — come to mind. He was always someone who didn’t do things
halfway and seemed to be able to teach himself how to do new things — and do
them well — all the time.
What I will
remember the most, though, is that other thing he did well: loving his family.
You could see that in the way he played tirelessly with his grandchildren, down
on the floor with the young ones, challenging the older ones to excel as he
always did at sports almost too numerous to mention.
You could
see it in the way he and Terry raised their own children, helping them when
they needed it, encouraging them to be their best at whatever they wanted to
do. How many trips for various sporting events? How many practices, how many
family ski outings and curling bonspiels? They were endless and neither Terry nor
John would have had it any other way.
You could
see it in his interactions with all of us in-laws: brothers and sisters, son
and daughter. He could always find common points of interest, he could tease,
and he could compete, and always with a level of calm and thoughtfulness that
made us all feel welcome, feel at home.
And the
most important thing for me to see was John loving my sister Terry. They were
together 47 years and built a life of love and stability for their family — for
all of their family — that none of us will ever forget.
Thank you
John.
The family's obituary for John can be read here.
