Reflecting on Dad

Father's Day just passed on June 17, and it is the first I've spent without mine. My Dad passed away one month to the day on May 17. He was not a perfect man, but he did exemplify many qualities that I'm proud to reflect on. Since Thursday is my regular day to post on topics having to do with 'Arts and inspiration', let me tell you a few inspiring things about my dad. Most of this comes from my brother Gregg, who prepared and delivered Dad's eulogy.

"I believe the word eulogy in the context of the death of a loved one is just that – words that describe and honor– and I would like to share a few of those “ good words” with you that I saw in Dad’s life, not only to serve as remembrance but as encouragement as well.

The word competitive by itself is somewhat understated when it comes

to Dad and sports. Well, for that matter, anything he did took on some

level of challenge. But he was most competitive within himself. We

heard stories of him growing up, throwing rocks on the pond or at

anything that moved. He became very accurate and strong enough to

break the leg of some poor farm animal. He became one of the area’s

most outstanding baseball pitchers, and many of you have said you

remember either playing with him or against him on the ball diamond.

He loved hockey too, learning to skate on the pond at home, shooting

and shooting, dodging around and through imaginary opponents,

raising his hands in triumph when the winning goal of the imaginary

game was scored. After his playing days, he continued to play in

recreation functions. At one fund raiser for the new rink in Mossbank

he became dubbed as “Frisky Fred”. That nickname stuck with him even

into his eighties while skating with the “old pucksters”. For those of you

still skating with that group, I would ask that you ring the old disk for

him one more time when the rink opens next season. He curled, played

badminton and loved boxing. At around 40 he became enthralled with

the game of golf. I remember him practicing and practicing, in order to

improve himself. Someone once said golf is 18 little games, and that is

how he approached it…striving to achieve par whenever possible and if

he won a dime now or then from Bill, Harold, Harvey or Al Solberg, that

was a bonus!

The word compassionate is not often used when describing a man, but

Freddy certainly had a compassionate heart. He was always on the

lookout for the underdog – whether that be in the sports arena or in

life. Some would say that because of his soft heart it caused him and

others some serious grief.

 While we can’t deny that there were times of trouble, it was his

compassion and rekindled love for Doreen that took some of us in our

family by surprise. Dad always knew about God, but we never

considered him a “religious man”. However, sometime just prior to

mom suffering her memory loss and the down turn in her health he

came into a personal relationship with Jesus. He never said a lot about

it but we noticed a change in him. He hardly left her side during those

last years, and when she died he was truly sorrowful. While spending a

lot of time at Providence Place Dad met Ada McBride. Ada ministered

to mom even when mom didn’t seem to know anyone was with her.

Her and Dad would have coffee together and just talk about their life

journey. After mom died their relationship grew into one of close

companionship and love.

An entrepreneur his entire life, Dad loved new ideas, challenges and

innovation. Being in business for himself was stimulating and

rewarding. It was never about how much money he could amass but

rather about the excitement of the sale. He started farming with his

brothers, but before long he was looking into the newest farm idea or

invention. He purchased the Massey Harris dealership in Mazenod in

the early 1950’s and never looked back. His was one of the first

dealerships to sell the Sund Rake Pickups. Even after selling the

business in Mazenod he kept his hand in the machinery business,

selling Morris Rod Weeders, Noble Blades, and later Smith Roles short

line equipment from the farm. He owned a tire shop, sold cars for

Lakeside Chrysler as a satellite dealer and eventually got his own

dealership for General Motors.

After selling the shop in Mossbank, he turned to other business

ventures – Mr. Mike’s Steak House and then in 1980, purchased Crystal

Lake Golf Course. It seemed he always had his nose stuck in the

Western Producer looking for that new venture or business opportunity

to try. We often said it wasn’t the business itself that drove him but the

challenge and excitement of something new. And if ever someone said

it couldn’t be done, it was like throwing down the gantlet, and it was

“game on.”

Dad was tenacious. Once he started something he worked and worked

on it. As kids we sat many an hour waiting for him to finish getting a

hitch on a car or to pack the luggage just right so we could head out to

Waterton Lakes for a summer holiday. If he started discussing a deal on

a new car, you better hope that you chose to stay a home take day,

because once started he would work on that poor salesman dickering

over the price or the options or something else. When the tables

turned and he was the salesman he was always ready to try to close the

deal. Later in his career, he became a salesman with Co-op Implements.

I remember him saying to me that he enjoyed traveling, he was making

a really good income and they were paying into a pension plan for him

– all for something that was FUN to do.

The last word I want to share with you is Dad was affirming. Grant put

it best when he said you could always depend on Dad to be your

strongest cheerleader. He supported every endeavor we entered into.

We could do no wrong. And to each of his grandchildren I would say the

same thing. He was your greatest fan. You may not have seen him at all

your functions or may have thought he was unaware of what it was

that you were doing, but he knew and kept track of how things were

going in your lives.

He loved to hear about the latest farming technology or the latest

business venture. He loved to assist when he could help in the search

for a new vehicle, to follow you in your sports endeavors and proudly

attended your weddings. He became overwhelmed with a sense of

pride with each new great grandchild – 25 and one on the way! He

treasured birthdays shared on the same day as his, and visits with

cookies of your own making. He watched as you travel abroad, became

carpenters, machinists, accountants, professionals, business men and

women, and excelled in music and voice. He loved each of you from

Julie to Zak and the 13 in between. Throughout your lives and now the

lives of your children he was Grandpa Fred. At his annual birthday party

he would sit amazed to think he was so truly blessed by such a large

and diverse family.

Dad was certainly not a perfect man and during these last few weeks

expressed to us that he lived with some serious regrets. As I mentioned

earlier though, he came to a realization and understanding of just how

much God truly loves His children – even when we fail. It was that

understanding of how Christ carries us during the trials we encounter

that got him through these last few weeks of his life on earth. We saw

and heard the evidence of this, as we watched in amazement, the love

and compassion Ada provided to Dad. On May 17 at 3:06 am with Ada

on one side of him and Jane on the other, both singing songs of praise

to the Lord, Dad left this earthly life, freed from his regrets. He took the

hand of Jesus and was then made perfect in the image of Christ, going

to heaven to worship God for eternity with loved ones already there."

       - written by Gregg Nagel