Grandpa Milt

(Edited to add: Here is Milt's obituary in the Journal Times. There is a guest book you can sign/view if you like as well as a link to the funeral home. If you locate his page on the funeral home site, you can view a photo tribute that played during the visitation. Andrew's brother, Benjamin has actually put all this and more onto a special webpage just for Grandpa Milt.)

We learned last Wednesday that Andrew's Grandpa Milt passed away. He had been sick for about six weeks and we sort of knew the inevitable was coming. Even though you know you'll have to deal with it at some point, it is still difficult when the time comes. He was 91 and a great man who was strong in his faith, full of humor and happiness. And he will be missed dearly.

My favorite story about Grandpa Milt is from when we told him about our engagement. He had a big smile on his face and just sat on the couch pondering our news for a moment. Then he said thoughtfully, "Well that's very good. Marriage...it's a lot of give and take." And that was it. :-) His sage words of advice on marriage.

We spent the weekend in Wisconsin with family. The service on Monday was very nice with Tom giving the eulogy, Andrew doing a reading, and Benjamin leading everyone in song with his guitar. Perhaps the most poignant moment of the day came when the procession made its way toward the cemetery. Milt had been a fireman for many years before retiring. When we passed a fire station, they came out and saluted all of us as we drove by.