June 28th marked a sad day for us...Pawpaw, Ron's grandfather, passed away. He had been in the hospital for a few weeks with health issues and we all knew he was not in the best of health. Yet, it came as a shock to receive the call that he had passed away a little after 5a.m. on Monday, June 28th. Although he was my grandfather by marriage, never once did he make me feel like I was not a part of the family. After all, he was the only grandfather alive for both Ron and I; he was also the only great-grandfather that Zachary and Zane ever really knew. Words cannot explain how much he really meant to all of us and we are so sad to have lost such a great man in our family! I wrote a poem that came to me after he passed and I am posting it as a tribute to Pawpaw. The poem sums him up like no other words could describe. Rest in Peace, Pawpaw.
A Man called Pawpaw
There is a great man
I call Pawpaw and friend..
He had the scowl of a bear,
but a love without end.
His nickname was Kraut
that he rightfully earned
His sweetheart was Addie,
and for her, he yearned..
Many years ago,
they tied the knot.
Then he served in the war
and for freedom he fought.
Together they raised
3 wonderful boys,
he taught them about life
and the meaning of joys.
He taught them to be
honest and true,
but the very best thing
he really did do,
was to live as an example
for his boys to see,
and of Butch, Ronnie and Jerry,
he was proud of all three.
As the years passed
his family grew,
with the addition of 'daughters'
he already knew,
that his boys would leave home
to start families of their own,
to share their seeds of love
that he had sown.
But he became pawpaw
with the birth of little Ron,
then Jennifer, Brian, and Michael
but the list goes on...
Jeremy and Barbara would
finish the crew...
with all these grandbabies
time really flew...
Next thing you know
great-grandkids were born,
creating this big family of
whom he adorned.
Before he knew it
Father Time had marched in,
grey hair and wrinkles appeared
where none had been.
Along came aches and pains
as his body grew old,
while he tried to be
strong and bold.
But like people in the future
as well as the past,
we know that this body
won't forever last.
He finally decided
that his family was strong,
and for his Heavenly Father
he very much longed.
So with one last breath
he departed this life,
leaving his loving family
and beautiful wife.
Forever we will remember
this wonderful man,
a man I call Pawpaw,
a man I call friend!
by Stacy Smith
