July 16, 2011
Opa Oepie
80 years
6 children
16 grandchildren
8 great-grandchildren
My Opa, my mom’s dad, passed away on Thursday after a well-fought battle with cancer. He was a great man, the best grandfather I could ever imagine. My favorite childhood memories are of time spent with him. He always had time for us.
mid-eighties
He took us toobalooping, fishing, and he played soccer in his back yard every Friday night with the neighborhood kids.
mid-eighties
I vaguely remember a song we made up about toobalooping to the tune of The Beatles’ Yellow Submarine.
May 2008
He taught me how to play pool on the pool table in his basement. I learned to play Hearts at his kitchen table. He was hard to beat at Foosball.
May 2007
He taught me how to wait tables and how to pump gas. Some of my favorite times were spent “working” with him. I made $30 in tips one summer and it was like I’d won the lottery.
May 2007
He ate raw eggs on his mashed potatoes, made the best pancakes, and put loads of salt on everything. I always liked visiting him on Saturdays, because it meant Brown Bean Soup day at the cafe.
August 2007
He gave greasy cheek-kisses. He always had King peppermints in his pocket and gave them to us at church.
March 2010
His house is full of photos of his children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren, and friends. He had a huge garden and was so generous to me with his produce.
April 2008
He loved puzzles. When I was a kid, he would draw out word or picture puzzles/riddles for me on the place mats at the cafe. He could solve a Rubix cube in minutes. He had all sorts of figure-it-out-type puzzles at his house, some of them I could solve, some of them I would spend hours only attempting.
May 2008
He loved Scrabble. He liked to play quickly and I could never keep up. He was so patient, though.
May 2008
He sent me a birthday card every single year. He never had a problem telling us how much he loved us and how special we were to him. He bought us KFC every time he came to visit.
May 2008
He had one of those spirits that never got old. The last Telkwa Barbeque I was at, about five years ago, he was helping “the seniors” make pancakes. He was 75.
June 2009
He loved the Holland soccer team and had a huge orange Hup Holland flag in his entrance way.
June 2009
I don’t remember a Grandparents Day at school that he did not attend. While the other grandparents were dressed in old people clothes, he was in a polo shirt, cargo pants, and runners. Everyone knew who he was and I was always proud that he was my Opa.
June 2009
He loved to sing and I loved to listen to him sing. Teresa texted me last night to tell me that his answering machine had him singing the message so I called it a couple times and then voice-recorded it.
August 2009
He took a trip out here for Kaylie’s spring break when we lived in Regina. It was so fun showing him around and taking him to all the places he wanted to see.
March 2009
He said that, after the BC Lions, the Saskatchewan Roughriders were his favorite CFL team, so we took him to Taylor Field.
March 2009
It was so fun to have him, and the girls absolutely loved spending time with him. While he was there, Liliana would let only him take her out of her car seat.
When I learned he was sick, I took the girls out to Telkwa for a visit.
March 2010
It was strange to see him unwell, as he’d always been so independent, outgoing, and active.
March 2010
When I got the call from my dad, I waited until the next morning to tell Kaylie about Opa’s death because I wanted her to be able to have the day to process it instead of crying herself to sleep right away. She pulled out and read a letter he’d written her a couple months ago, in response to the Christmas card/letter she’d sent him. I left her alone in her room to process things and she came out a half hour later with some words that she’d like to say at his memorial.
Kaylie, Preston, and I are leaving tomorrow morning for the 20-hour drive. After thinking through all the possible scenarios, Noah and I decided that Liliana would stay here with him, as she does not like traveling and it would be stressful to keep her quiet at a memorial that she does not understand. Noah’s still in the probation period of his job and it would just not be wise to take a whole week off already.
As much as I’m looking forward to seeing my family in a couple days, I’m not looking forward to saying goodbye to someone who had such a tremendous impact on my life. I don’t like thinking about stepping into his house without his voice to say hello to. It’s such a surreal thing to think about.
Rest in peace, Opa. We love you and we miss you.
What a beautiful tribute to your Opa. I’m all tear-eyed. I will always remember his warm smile and hearty laugh.
He sounds like a wonderful man. I’m so sorry for your loss – my thoughts and prayers are with you and your family.
What a beautiful tribute to what sounds like a wonderful man. I’m so sorry for your loss.
What sad news! So sorry for this loss! He sounds like a great man and he will remain a part of you forever. My thoughts are with you.
Jen these are beautiful memories, you’ve made me tear up…… What an Awesome Opa he was to you and your children. I hope to someday leave this kind of a legacy for my children.
This is beautiful, Jen. He sounds like he was a wonderful manm who had a big impact on and was loved by many people. I’ll keep you all in my prayers as you travel.
Lovely memories Jen. What helped me walking into my Gramma’s house after she passed away was that I just kept concentrating on the fact that the memories I had were in my heart not in the house itself. Hopefully that will help you. Death is a strange thing, but remember your Opa is in Heaven with God and is no longer in pain. My prayers are with you and your family. Be strong and keep God close during this time!
Beautiful post Jen! Sorry to hear about your loss. He sounds like a remarkable man.
Also, Lilliana looks a lot like him!
That was so beautiful, and I’m so sorry. Saying goodbye to someone you love is so hard. We’ll be praying for you guys for a safe drive and for peace at the memorial.
I’m all teary over here. What a beautiful tribute, Jen. Big hugs and prayers. Safe travels!
aw, i’m sorry jen.
Jen
My thoughts are with you and your family. Treasure those memories, they are so special.
Hugs
Beautiful post Jen, it made me cry! My thoughts and prayers are with you and your family!
Oh Jen, I’m all blubbery over here.
I know what you mean about stepping into his house without him being there. I still have that feeling when I step into my grandad’s garage or into the living room where he used to sit.
Know that I am sending you useless internet hugs, my friend, and that you are in my thoughts.
Safe travels.
I know I’m not close to you or even know you but I have to say you have a Beautiful family. I’m sorry for your loss, really i am. He looked like he loved you all so much and that he’s was very happy person. Treasure all the memories, they’re all so precious. *hugs*
This is such a fine tribute. I’m sorry for your loss.
You and your family was so blessed to have such a wonderful man in your life.
I’m so sorry sweetie.
Such a beautiful tribute. I got goosebumps as the pictures began to show his deteriorating health. My grandpa was so similar and I miss him very much. So sorry for your loss.
Lovely! I am so sorry for your loss, but so happy you have so wonderful memories. Thank you for sharing him with us.
Wow Jen, what a beautifull tribute, we will all miss him dearly.