Good-Bye, Grandpa John

Jay's dad passed away last night. It wasn't a total shock to us; he's been in and out of the hospital a few times already this year. His health, or what there was of it, was failing. But no matter how prepared you are for a death, it's never easy to let go and say good-bye.

John, or JB to many of us, was a bit of an enigma. He put on a show of being tough and mean, but he was a tender, caring man when he was put on the spot. There are family stories of how he provided Christmas gifts for a child who wasn't his own, but was in need. He offered advice to Jay throughout his healthier years whenever Jay called on him, especially when Jay and I were first married and were trying to get ourselves established. He could cook too; JB would whip up a great pot of chicken and dumplings when we came to visit, and often made the potato salad for our family reunions. There are so many sides to this man, whom I only knew for 22 years. Unfortunately, when I first met him, his health was already declining, so I never got to know him in his more robust days. But I do love to listen to the family stories.

My two older children remember their last visit to Grandpa John in 2007. Merrilee has prayed for him and laments his passing. We will miss him, and I am thankful I got to know him.

Good-bye, Grandpa John. We love you and will cherish the time we had with you.

Love,
Petrie and the kids