Sunday will be Father’s Day, a time to honor the men who have enriched our lives. I would like to pay tribute to four fellows who have been great fathers–my dad, Alex; my father-in-law, Rolland; my husband, Ken, and our son, Kurt. These guys have generously given their love, time and support to their sons and daughters. It leaves a lasting impression–our family continues to observe the old-fashion virtues including trust, honesty and treating others as you want to be treated.
My dad was a dairy farmer so every day was ‘take your daughter to work’. I spent many hours in the cowbarn with him. We shared a love of animals and a fascination with the Old West. During evening milking, the barn radio was turned up as loud as it would go so we didn’t miss a word of our favorite program, “The Lone Ranger.” Dad continued to be a good example of how a man treats his family when he became a father-in-law and a grandfather.
My husband owes his male parent for many things. Ken has said his dad emphasized give a firm handshake when you meet others. A lot of the lessons weren’t pointed out–they just happened. Ken inherited his father’s mechanical ability, honed those skills helping his dad fix things and continues to keep our household running smoothly. I benefited when Rolland became my father-in-law and a grand father to our two girls.
Sadly, both of our fathers were taken from us too soon. Rolland was 55 when he was killed in a car crash. He missed meeting our son, Kurt, who was born the following spring. Alex succumbed to a heart attack when he was 63.
Every generation has benefitted from these men whether they spent time together or not. For example, law enforcement has become a family tradition beginning when Rolland was a motorcycle cop in Freeport during the 1930s. Ken joined the Winnebago County Sheriff’s Police during the 1960s followed by Kurt in the 1980s. Our daughter, Lisa, became one of the first female Illinois troopers at the same time. Today, our grandson, Jacob, is a member of the Rockford Police Department and our granddaughter, Katelyn, is an assistant prosecutor in the Winnebago County State’s Attorney’s office. Each of them fulfills an innate desire to help others.
How have generations of fathers influenced your family?