God Bless America!

Thank you Scott.

 

Glad everyone likes the story and thanks. After I typed it all up I was like, do I really need to post this ? But I figured what the heck.

 

Lyle S. Gearhart.

Middle name is Soloman.

 

Pretty cool!

 

Thanks, yeah I wear my heart on my sleeve when it comes to talking about my Grandfather.

And thanks for your service.

 

Funny you mention that Jeff. And for sure always let your loved ones know you care for them because you never know. Especially the elders.

When I went to see him before he passed it came out of no where. My brother was still living at home finishing high school and one day I called my mom and said get Mark a ticket to Nebraska, we are going to go see Papu (his nickname). She was like why, everything o.k. ? (this is my father's dad but my mom really liked him too.). And I told her I had picked up on something odd when I was talking to him on the phone. My grandmother (his wife) and my aunt (his sister) had both died about a year prior and both suddenly. He also found both of them dead.

So off we went on short notice a week later to see him. When we got there he was a little frail looking where he had always been the big strong looking guy even into his 70's. He had also lost a lot of his sight from some unexplained eye issues so I think he was somewhat depressed that he was not nearly as mobile as he use to be plus had a hard time going fishing / hunting on his own. But we got over how he looked knowing the last year was rough on him.

None the less we took him out and did all of the above (minus hunting) and had a great week with him. As I mentioned before I got to tell him personally my wife was pregnant, he was elated.

I told my brother when we drove away to go back to the airport I think that might be the last time we see him. My brother was pissed I would say a thing and I was not sure why I said it. But a week to the day later we got the call that he had passed. He had a stroke, the took him to the hospital, and was not doing well. He was at least conscious enough to tell them no life support because he did not want anyone to see him that way. He passed a few hours later.

I did not go to his open casket viewing because I did not want to remember him that way but I was a Pallbearer at his funeral (closed casket thankfully) and it was tough. I held it together for the most part until we got to the cemetery. When they started the military side of the service and played taps it was over for me. When they started firing the rounds into the air I jumped every time, it al lset in right there. I am not ashamed to say I lost it big time as well as my hard nosed Marine father, uncle, and everyone else for that matter. I have one of the shell casings sitting right here on my desk from the firing of the guns during taps.

There is the short version for ya I like to talk about him I suppose and food for thought when you think about the elders in your family. Go see them, life is short, and you never know when you are going to get that call.

Here is a pic of my brother and I a few years ago, we stop by every time we go to Nebraska (about once a year). Note how it is surrounded by nothing but corn fields, it is the most quiet place you can ever think of. The yellow flowers on the headstone were put there by my children on there own.

 

Thats really cool scott! Im sure your kids enjoyed it very much. Must of felt kind of like going to see him or somthing. Must have been very hard on you. I feel your pain.

 

I'm glad you posted it!!!!

 

Probably why I avoided going for so long.

I felt it was the right time now that my children are older and taking them fishing for there first time that day at the same place my Grandfather took me many times seemed like a good reason to go and tie it all together.

I probably look like a sap of some sort now for sharing this but just as I can be a complete asshole and say things without sugar coating them to people I can also share the other end of the spectrum too.

 

I dont think anyone thinks your a sap at all for sharing this with us bro