Remembering our Pop Pop

 The last few months have been very tough for our family and these times of mourning are sad, but we are comforted that our Pop Pop is no longer in pain, look forward to seeing him one day again, and have wonderful memories of life with a special man.  Roy certainly knew how to live and seemed to enjoy every minute of life.  Brian, Cheryl, Linda, and Dan did an amazing job of remembering our Pops at the funeral and wake.  These pictures are just some memories of the wonderful man that we will never forget.  

We will forever be thankful that Brian and his Dad got to go on four mission trips together.  It was a great spiritual time and great father-son time.  I know Brian especially loves this picture because it is a metaphor to him of what his life has been like- Brian looking up to his Dad doing great things. 

 Brian and his Dad have gotten to do so much together in life.  Though our time together was certainly shorter than we would have liked (by about 20 years) we really did make the most of our time together.  Wherever we lived, Roy and Linda would always come out and we would enjoy the great spots of where we lived.  Whether it was Forest Park, architectural boat tours, Botanic Gardens, or many sporting events, Roy was up for fun and especially up for doing things with his boy, Brian.

Our Pops was always happy to help.  His first instinct was always what could he do for other.  He and Brian did countless projects around our house and no one was harder working or as handy as Pops.  When he wasn't the last one working on a project that was really our first clue he was sick.  Brian will always think of his Dad as an ox.  After weeks of Roy being very very sick he was still walking around.  He was walking the morning he passed away.  Spiritually and Physically our Pop Pop was tough!

I will always remember how proud Roy was of Brian not just for being a Pastor but for being a good person.  I think Roy enjoyed that Brian has such a deep spiritual life and that he is committed to helping others with compassion.  The neat thing to me is that these are qualities that Brian inherited from Roy.

This picture captures one of the many loving moments we have had the joy of watching Linda and Wa share.  It was like they had a secret that only the two of them knew.  Their connection was special and as their kids we were privileged to see it and feel it.  We will always remember what a special love Linda and Roy shared.  They really were best friends, and were such an amazing compliment to one another.

We are all so happy that we successfully surprised Roy at his 60th Birthday. Boy was he surprised!  It took awhile for it to sink in and I think he was very pleased with the party.  It was so nice to honor him while he was still alive.

Roy was always such a pleasure to be around and his enjoyment of life was contagious.  Whether we were on our big cruise or our regular family trips to Wisconsin and Lake Placid we were lucky to have Pop Pop with us.  He was up for anything and enjoyed everything.

We will always remember Pop Pop for the wonderful person he was.  He was so good to everyone, he was so good to us, and he was so good to our kids.  He loved us and them so much. Brian and I especially want his legacy to live on in our kids.  We so badly want them to remember what a special Pop Pop they had.

He was tremendously KIND!  

He was tremendously LOVING!  

He was tremendously JOYFUL!

He was our POPS!