Life My dad passed away this week

RJ · 12-05-2008, 04:19 PM

He died Sunday of a heart attack. He was 69, still young by today's standards. He suffered from diabetes and high blood pressure, was overweight and wouldn't give up his cigars. He probably could have lived longer but he was stubborn. I can't blame him for that, he went out on his own terms.

I never knew my dad as well as I'd have liked. My parents divorced when I was still a baby and he stayed in Kentucky after we moved away. I generally saw him in the summers only. Still, I always liked him and loved him and was proud of him. He came from parents who didn't have enough education between them to earn a HS diploma and barely got one himself. He was wild and reckless in his younger days but eventually got his shit together enough to own a couple of very succesful businesses in the same town he grew up in. In later life he taught me some invaluable lessons. Some were about business but most were about life in general, about how to treat others and how to expect to be treated.

He was a very well liked and respected man and the funeral was evidence of that. Between the viewing and the funeral I estimate about 800 people attended. I have no idea how many of them - most of whom I didn't know - came up to shake my hand and tell me what a great man he was. A lot of them were customers from his bar. Maybe they owed him money.

My stepmom and half siblings, who live there, had all thought maybe a couple of hundred people would come. It turned out there was a line around the building that lasted for three hours. Guess that's the result of treating people right and maintaining roots for a lot of years.

Anyway, I just wanted to say something about my dad and I figured The Planet was the place to do it. I could go on but I won't. Thanks for indulging me and the next time you see your dad, give him a hug.

**Pestilence** · 12-05-2008, 04:21 PM

Damn dude....sorry to hear that.

undercover · 12-05-2008, 04:22 PM

He sounded like a wonderful man. Sorry for your loss.

Chief Henry · 12-05-2008, 04:23 PM

Your dad sounds like the type of man that lived his adult years by the golden rule.
Treat others the way you would want to be treated. It sounds like your Dad was a good man.

I'm very sorry for your loss.

Simply Red · 12-05-2008, 04:26 PM

Man-O-Man, RJ. I'm so incredibly sorry to hear this. Stay strong.

NewChief · 12-05-2008, 04:27 PM

Sorry to hear it, man. It's rough.

**Iowanian** · 12-05-2008, 04:28 PM

Sorry to hear it.

**luv** · 12-05-2008, 04:30 PM

Sorry for your loss. I have no idea what I'd do without my dad here.

Demonpenz · 12-05-2008, 04:30 PM

I am sorry but congrats on your dad living his life way he wanted too

StcChief · 12-05-2008, 04:30 PM

RIP sorry for your loss. Hope you and your family are doing their best in this grieving period.

Sure-Oz · 12-05-2008, 04:31 PM

Sorry to hear it man

RJ · 12-05-2008, 04:36 PM

I'm feeling a lot better about the whole thing now than I was a couple of days ago. I guess maybe I just wanted to post something about him and to say that I was proud of him - probably because I never said it when he was alive. Not that he'd have expected me to, he wasn't that kind of guy.

He really was a great American story. Small town guy from parents who never got past 5th grade cause they had to work at home on their farms. This country has come a long way in a hundred years.

**Buehler445** · 12-05-2008, 04:36 PM

RJ,

Sorry to hear about your loss. That is a big step for any person. Hopefully I've got awhile before I have to bury anyone from my family.

**Rain Man** · 12-05-2008, 04:45 PM

800 people? That's quite a testament. If I died, I think I would be surprised if 8 showed up.

I'm sorry for your loss.

Ari Chi3fs · 12-05-2008, 04:51 PM

It is great to hear that your father was so well respected and loved. Take that lesson and grow from it.

You, too are a good man, Mr. RJ.

Celebrate his life... and remember you can still talk to him.

12-05-2008, 04:19 PM
RJ Bon vivant....occasionally. Join Date: Oct 2000 Location: In a shotgun shack Casino cash: $3132	My dad passed away this week He died Sunday of a heart attack. He was 69, still young by today's standards. He suffered from diabetes and high blood pressure, was overweight and wouldn't give up his cigars. He probably could have lived longer but he was stubborn. I can't blame him for that, he went out on his own terms. I never knew my dad as well as I'd have liked. My parents divorced when I was still a baby and he stayed in Kentucky after we moved away. I generally saw him in the summers only. Still, I always liked him and loved him and was proud of him. He came from parents who didn't have enough education between them to earn a HS diploma and barely got one himself. He was wild and reckless in his younger days but eventually got his shit together enough to own a couple of very succesful businesses in the same town he grew up in. In later life he taught me some invaluable lessons. Some were about business but most were about life in general, about how to treat others and how to expect to be treated. He was a very well liked and respected man and the funeral was evidence of that. Between the viewing and the funeral I estimate about 800 people attended. I have no idea how many of them - most of whom I didn't know - came up to shake my hand and tell me what a great man he was. A lot of them were customers from his bar. Maybe they owed him money. My stepmom and half siblings, who live there, had all thought maybe a couple of hundred people would come. It turned out there was a line around the building that lasted for three hours. Guess that's the result of treating people right and maintaining roots for a lot of years. Anyway, I just wanted to say something about my dad and I figured The Planet was the place to do it. I could go on but I won't. Thanks for indulging me and the next time you see your dad, give him a hug.
Posts: 14,744

12-05-2008, 04:21 PM	#2
Pestilence Wanna go for a ride? Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Nor-Cal Casino cash: $77570341	Damn dude....sorry to hear that.
Posts: 36,613

12-05-2008, 04:22 PM	#3
undercover The Black Sheep Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Illinois Casino cash: $1150	He sounded like a wonderful man. Sorry for your loss. __________________ I love a confident man!!
Posts: 31

12-05-2008, 04:23 PM	#4
Chief Henry MVP Join Date: Aug 2000 Location: IOWA Casino cash: $26241	Your dad sounds like the type of man that lived his adult years by the golden rule. Treat others the way you would want to be treated. It sounds like your Dad was a good man. I'm very sorry for your loss. __________________ On January 3rd, 2007 the unemployment rate was 4.60% with a RECORD 52 months of JOBS growth and the GDP was 3.50%. January 3rd, 2007 is also the day Harry Reid and Nancy Pelosi took over the House and the US Senate.
Posts: 8,298

12-05-2008, 04:26 PM	#5
Simply Red MVP Join Date: Sep 2005 Casino cash: $1021215	Man-O-Man, RJ. I'm so incredibly sorry to hear this. Stay strong. __________________ DaneMcCloud Join Date: Sep 2000 ** Todd Haley, Scott Pioli, Matt Cassel and Clark Hunt. One Arrowhead Drive needs a nuclear **ing enema.
Posts: 33,293

12-05-2008, 04:27 PM	#6
NewChief Greenbacker and Loving Liberal Join Date: Aug 2001 Location: Fayetteville, AR Casino cash: $154147	Sorry to hear it, man. It's rough. __________________ In this world of sin and sorrow there is always something to be thankful for; as for me, I rejoice that I am not a Republican. - H. L. Mencken
Posts: 17,303

12-05-2008, 04:28 PM	#7
Iowanian Hey Jack! Join Date: Aug 2000 Location: The Jolly Barnyard Casino cash: $418088	Sorry to hear it.
Posts: 48,162

12-05-2008, 04:30 PM	#8
luv Mortal Luv Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Springfield, MO Casino cash: $975676	Sorry for your loss. I have no idea what I'd do without my dad here. __________________ It's never too late to become the person you were meant to be.
Posts: 58,229

12-05-2008, 04:30 PM	#9
Demonpenz MWSU Royals SKC Chiefs GoPens! Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Apartment "G UNIT!" Casino cash: $124824	I am sorry but congrats on your dad living his life way he wanted too
Posts: 42,540

12-05-2008, 04:30 PM	#10
StcChief Playing for #1 Draft Pick Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: Just West of Lambs land Casino cash: $1024708	RIP sorry for your loss. Hope you and your family are doing their best in this grieving period. __________________ sig test for this screwy schema
Posts: 25,902

12-05-2008, 04:36 PM	#12
RJ Bon vivant....occasionally. Join Date: Oct 2000 Location: In a shotgun shack Casino cash: $3132	I'm feeling a lot better about the whole thing now than I was a couple of days ago. I guess maybe I just wanted to post something about him and to say that I was proud of him - probably because I never said it when he was alive. Not that he'd have expected me to, he wasn't that kind of guy. He really was a great American story. Small town guy from parents who never got past 5th grade cause they had to work at home on their farms. This country has come a long way in a hundred years.
Posts: 14,744

12-05-2008, 04:36 PM	#13
Buehler445 Supporter Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Scott City KS Casino cash: $126423	RJ, Sorry to hear about your loss. That is a big step for any person. Hopefully I've got awhile before I have to bury anyone from my family.
Posts: 17,666

12-05-2008, 04:45 PM	#14
Rain Man Welcome, Eric Fisher & Friends Join Date: Jul 2001 Location: 1.61 KM high city Casino cash: $62680444	800 people? That's quite a testament. If I died, I think I would be surprised if 8 showed up. I'm sorry for your loss. __________________ Onward Fisher, Onward Fisher, block right through that line. Block the ball clear down the field, a touchdown sure this time. Onward Fisher, Onward Fisher, fight on for her fame. Fight, fellows, fight, fight, fight, we'll win this game.
Posts: 67,216

12-05-2008, 04:51 PM	#15
Ari Chi3fs Winners Pick Up Wrappers. Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: University of Kansas Casino cash: $1013767	It is great to hear that your father was so well respected and loved. Take that lesson and grow from it. You, too are a good man, Mr. RJ. Celebrate his life... and remember you can still talk to him. __________________ ☮ ♥
Posts: 27,000

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