Dad-

You were an awesome father. You were always there when I needed you and always had the answers to my many questions. I always thought it was funny that you wanted to beat up my own bullies for me… but I will never forget the time you finally got to put one of my boss’ in his place. It was so hilarious. You never pressured me to do anything I didn’t want to do, whether it was a job, major, or sport, but instead you learned about my own hobbies and encouraged me. You taught me to be the best I could be and to never give up. Although sometimes I feel you were too perfect, you have shown me to make a goal and put all my heart into it, just as you have done with sports, work, and with your family. I hate that you were taken from me so early, but I will always try to live a life that you would want for me. I feel like I have lost my best friend, but remember, you always told me not to say I had a “best friend” because it would hurt my other friends’ feelings. I have always envied you, been thankful of you, and wanted to be just like you. I wish I could have told you how much I loved and appreciated you. It hurts to think that I will never see you again in this life, but you will always be a part of me. Your amazing qualities are a part of me and I will hold onto them dearly. I could not ask for a better father. I will always remember you and cannot wait to see you again.
Love you and miss you with all my heart,

John Mark


Dad,
I miss you already. You were such an amazing man. I always knew that I could come to you for anything. Whatever the problem, whatever the obstacle, you always had the solution. Your advice was always sound. You taught me so much; you taught me to build roofs, renovate plumbing, and more importantly to respect myself. I can’t believe that when you were my age you had a wife and child to care for. Somehow you always managed to take on huge responsibilities and make it look easy. When you took on a job or hobby you never merely succeeded, you excelled. You taught me, and showed me, that hard work pays off. I remember playing soccer as a child. All the other kids were bigger than me, but you kept promising me that if I worked hard I could beat them. You took me for jogs and helped me practice at the park. Sure enough, you were right. That season I was outrunning and beating the competition. If only life was always that fair. I still can’t comprehend that you’re gone. I promise to do my best to remember the lessons you taught me, and to live a life you would be proud of. I love you Dad, and I will always miss you.
Love,
Paul

Mark, my love

My heart aches for you.

Everywhere I look I see evidence of the man you are. As I wander through our home without you I see your handy work. It could be something as big as roofing our home, something fun like helping me choose my first bike, or even something as small as me wanting to choose a new protein powder for myself. You always research, research and research to come up with what would be perfect, and it always was. You are my go to guy and I have so much confidence in your opinion. What will I do without you?

You can be very proud of yourself. You have provided me with two wonderful sons. You have helped to mold them into the incredible young men that they are and you would be glowing with pride if you could see how they have cared for me these last few days. They have been fiercely protective of me just like you raised them to be. I see you in them.

There is something I never told you. Everyday when I would sit on the end of the couch to watch TV with you (not only are there two couches, it’s a long couch and has plenty of spaces to sit on) you would always sit so close to me that I barely had room to move my arm. I would think to myself, “Dude, there’s a lot of space, how about giving me a little”. I was so blessed to have a husband, that after 28 years of marriage would not only choose to sit on the same couch as me but to sit right up against me day after day after day.

I promise you that I will put all my love and effort into continuing on to raise our son’s into adulthood the way we had planned. We will carry you in our heart to every event that you will miss, college graduations, marriages, births of grandchildren… you will be with us in our heart.

Please know that I love you deeply and miss you terribly,

The wife of your youth,

Denise