Grandpa

I've been putting off posting about my Grandpa, mainly because I know it will make me cry to write it, but also because every time I click on my blog I get distracted by the song playing and Thatcher's picture ;)

I was beyond blessed to know all 4 of my grandparents growing up, and I was close with all of them. Kara and I would spend 2 weeks every summer down in Pekin, IL visiting my dad's parents and sister, besides seeing them here and there throughout the year (they passed away a few years ago and I still miss them terribly). We lived closer to my mom's parents so we got to see them more often. I was always in awe of what wonderful grandparents they were, never having known their own grandparents who stayed in Poland.

I can't ever remember my Grandpa raising his voice. Sometimes Grandma would raise her voice to him, but never to us grandkids. He was always so excited to see us, and loved his whole family so deeply. He was in WWII and we were fortunate enough to hear some stories from him, like how his front teeth were knocked out in hand to hand combat by the butt of a Japanese soldier's gun.

One of my favorite stories is how they were both out dancing one night at Polonia Grove, my Grandpa looked across the room and saw my Grandma, turned to his buddies and said "That's the girl I'm going to marry," without ever meeting her before. 6 months later he fulfilled that prediction and married my Grandma.

They were devout Catholics and loved God and prayed all the time. These last few months when he and Grandma were in and out of the hospital, I would pray with them every chance I got. One time when I went by myself to visit him in the hospital, I walked in the room, his eyes got real big and he said "What are you doing here?!" I said "Why do you think?" And very sheepishly he answered with a grin and a chuckle "To see me." Sigh.

No matter what gift you gave him for a holiday or his birthday, he acted like he had just opened the keys to a brand new car. Whether it was a tie, jar of cashews, or a toy slot machine. On his 75th birthday I photoshopped a picture of his head onto the body of a Chicago Bears player's body that was on the front page of the Chicago Tribune. He was tickled pink.

I am so thankful that Grandpa knew Thatcher and that Thatcher got to meet his Dzia Dzia. Kara brought Thatcher up to Grandpa's casket, and without a word or any nudging from anyone, Thatcher leaned over as if he wanted to kiss his Dzia Dzia. I will do my best to always share stories and pictures with my children Grandpa, so they will know you as if you are still here. Thank you for loving me so unconditionally and for being the best husband, father, grandpa and great grandpa I have ever met. A piece of my heart went to heaven when you left us.
Always yours, GiGi.