Thank you all for your condolences

[Yami]

I want to thank all of you on this board for helping me getting through this tough times when I lost my Dad. I can't thank you all enough for your prayers, your condolences and kind words. I want to share you the eulogy that I did for my Dad's funeral mass that my friends and family and I know my Dad have loved because it show how much he meant to me.

To start things off I want to say that my Dad was one of the greatest aspects of my life. He’s been around me since the day I was born. He was kind, caring, generous, always looking out for me, and lots of times he supported me from doing school plays, playing on the band for school’s basketball trips, singing the national anthem, being on the football team, right down to me being Elvis for Glacier Peaks Casino.

My Dad was many things, he was a Vietnam veteran, football player for the Minnesota Vikings, a cop and promoted to Judge. He was also a fighter, around 1986 he was diagnosed with congestive heart failure and the doctors gave him five years to live. But he outlived those odds and had a full life 28 years later. People say it’s because of his strong love for his family that what kept him alive. He survived all kinds of threats from diseases, heart attacks, even when his stomach exploded a few years back he still lived. He was the kind of person that no matter what you throw at him he’ll always stand his grounds. He was a strong figure that helps us through so many hard times.

But don’t think he is stone cold; there have been many times when he cried when we lost Grandma Hilda, his mother, and my Mom, his wife Maria Larson. Yes he cried like the rest of us, which proves that strong men also cry.

My Dad had taught me many life skills since childhood. He taught me how to be brave, he taught me many cooking skills, he taught me a lot on football, how to bowl a good game in bowling, he showed me how to build a dog house. He taught me how to be aware of scammers or crooks who would want to take advantage of my good nature, how to study the rooms to see what is out of place, and how to keep track on current events and local news. He help mold me to be a better man, he even taught me not to make some of the same mistakes he had made in his youth like drinking and smoking; in a way he prevented me from being a smoker and a drinker.

We shared many interests, of course like many other people we both had other interests in our lives as well. Some not so interesting to one-another but we always over look those because we both knew our different interests is what makes us both special and unique. Like for TV shows he was more interested in cooking shows as for me…well I’m still a cartoon lover at heart. He would rather play Keno I prefer the slots and poker. He would be at home while I yearned to travel to different places. Still he loved me for who I am and I love him for who he was.

My Dad told me a lot of different stories like on his travels and road trips with his bowling buddies, his years in the army, when he was with the Vikings, drag racing in his teen years. I wish I could tell you all but there are too many to tell and knowing myself I would probably get some details wrong or out of place. I will however carry his stories in my heart for years to come because without his stories what is there to tell about him?

I’m glad to tell my Dad how I felt on his last day on earth and it did my heart good knowing how many friends and family loved and cared for him. I had never knew that he has so many loved ones on earth from old friends, cousins, uncles, aunts, people I rarely seen or heard about. I am glad that they could all come to help me and my Aunt get through this tough time and Dad I know he is here in my heart and spirit because I am the part of him and that’s the part I will do my best to keep him proud of me. Because I’ve always been proud of him.

[Chris]

sorry to hear that I got my own fears about death and there may be a next life where you see him again

[SnidelyOne]

That's a very heartfelt tribute to what sounds like a fantastic father; so sad to hear of his passing.

That's great that he was able to pass on so much to you; it's always great to have someone in our lives to help inspire and guide us, and he sounds like he was quite the mentor for you, even despite his health issues.

Grieving is never easy, but it allows us closure and remembrance of those we've lost. Best of luck to you and your family, and thank you for sharing your experience with us.

[Yami]

You're welcome. Yeah Dad was a great guy.