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
