Dad, Tom as he was known, was the most devoted husband to his wonderful wife Brenda. Tom was also an incredible father and Dad. My parents had a marvelous marriage of 53 years, Although the family was by no means wealthy, we had a richness that exceeded any amount of money. My folks also maintained a family type relationship with the family of Ray and Jan Stockwell in Westland, MI. They developed this bond after becoming baby sitters for the Stockwell childen Jennifer and Lindsey. Both girls addresses my parents as Papa and Brenda, as my folks became non-related grandparents.
Dad was a Marine in WWII and saw combat on Iwo Jima, Guadalcanal, Tarawa, and a whole lot of other islands in the South Pacific.
My folks were married October 8, 1949 in Detroit. They moved to Nankin Township (now Westland) Michigan in 1954 and maintained our family home there on Frumin Ct until 1999. In 1999 they moved to Grain Valley, MO to be closer to me as they grew older. Mom died in 2002 and dad stayed in the house in Grain Valley until 2006. Tom was diagnosed with moderate Alzheimer's disease in September 2006 and spent the next 6 months at St. Mary's Manor. As his disease progressed he became unable to care for himself, and needed constant attention for the remainder of his life. He moved into the Missouri Veteran's Home in Warrensburg in April 2007. It was crushing for him not to be able to have his own house any more.
We drove the 40 miles 4-5 times a week to spend most evenings and weekends with him. During this time at the Vet Home, Dad and I made many excursions exploring the Missouri countryside, trips to Whiteman Air Force Base to watch the B-2 bombers practice landings, and found a number of places to eat.
Dad developed pneumonia in the middle of September 2008, and true to his tenacity, he kept fighting that disease for the next 6 weeks. He wouldn't accept defeat for those six weeks, literally rebounding from the brink of death on 5 occasions. The day before he died he had obviously developed his 6th round of pneumonia. I asked the nurse to check him, and when she did and heard the squeaks and gurgling, he looked at her and said, "I've got it again, don't I. So what's the use." That was the only time he ever commented negatively on the situation he was facing. He died 14 hours later.
Dad loved the family, my family and all 5 children, and was so fortunate that he got to meet two of his great grandchildren, Aiden and Audrey. In spite of his Alheimer's, he never forgot the names of any of us, although he did tend to get Joe and James mixed because they look so much alike. Dad couldn't remember what he had for breakfast, but his family was sacred and could not be erased from his memory.
There is so much more to tell. He loved the Stynes family, my mother's side of the family. His neighbors in Westland were vital to him.
But, dad, you were absolutely the best I could have ever dreamed of, as a son.
Dad was a Marine in WWII and saw combat on Iwo Jima, Guadalcanal, Tarawa, and a whole lot of other islands in the South Pacific.
My folks were married October 8, 1949 in Detroit. They moved to Nankin Township (now Westland) Michigan in 1954 and maintained our family home there on Frumin Ct until 1999. In 1999 they moved to Grain Valley, MO to be closer to me as they grew older. Mom died in 2002 and dad stayed in the house in Grain Valley until 2006. Tom was diagnosed with moderate Alzheimer's disease in September 2006 and spent the next 6 months at St. Mary's Manor. As his disease progressed he became unable to care for himself, and needed constant attention for the remainder of his life. He moved into the Missouri Veteran's Home in Warrensburg in April 2007. It was crushing for him not to be able to have his own house any more.
We drove the 40 miles 4-5 times a week to spend most evenings and weekends with him. During this time at the Vet Home, Dad and I made many excursions exploring the Missouri countryside, trips to Whiteman Air Force Base to watch the B-2 bombers practice landings, and found a number of places to eat.
Dad developed pneumonia in the middle of September 2008, and true to his tenacity, he kept fighting that disease for the next 6 weeks. He wouldn't accept defeat for those six weeks, literally rebounding from the brink of death on 5 occasions. The day before he died he had obviously developed his 6th round of pneumonia. I asked the nurse to check him, and when she did and heard the squeaks and gurgling, he looked at her and said, "I've got it again, don't I. So what's the use." That was the only time he ever commented negatively on the situation he was facing. He died 14 hours later.
Dad loved the family, my family and all 5 children, and was so fortunate that he got to meet two of his great grandchildren, Aiden and Audrey. In spite of his Alheimer's, he never forgot the names of any of us, although he did tend to get Joe and James mixed because they look so much alike. Dad couldn't remember what he had for breakfast, but his family was sacred and could not be erased from his memory.
There is so much more to tell. He loved the Stynes family, my mother's side of the family. His neighbors in Westland were vital to him.
But, dad, you were absolutely the best I could have ever dreamed of, as a son.
