Theodore (was also known as Ted and Dude but to me and 12 others he was Grandpa)
Tonight is our ward's youth temple trip. We finally got our stuff together and submitted the names of my Grandpa and his mother and father for the youth to baptize tonight! I could not be more excited!! They are the first members in our family to have work done in the temple. My heart is so that I feel like it might burst. So in honor of their big night I thought I'd post a few pictures of them and say a few words. Just a few, of course there will be much more to come. After all, it is impossible to sum up a life in just a few short paragraphs. And I have no intention of "summing up" anyone's life here. They all deserve far better than that.
Ted in 1940
Their Wedding Day: My Grandma and Grandpa in June of 1942
A month later my Grandpa left for basic training in the Army and then he was sent to fight in France. More on WWII is yet to come.
Grandpa wrote on the back of this one for Grandma: "Yours truly washing while on maneuvers."
I love reading all the little notes Grandma and Grandpa sent back and forth while he was serving. What a way to start off your marriage.
After the war: My grandma, Jennie, my grandpa, Ted and the baby is my Uncle Bill, their oldest of four children.
Ted and Bill (son)
Camping: there is a funny story behind this picture but there will be more on that later.
This is a bit more how I remember my Grandpa. That mischievous smile. He was such a funny guy, always making jokes and laughing. He loved children and animals, LOVED them. And was always tickled to see grandchildren do good things and excel at them. He never missed a game, a recital or performance of any kind. You always could count on seeing him there with Grandma. With 13 grandchildren it never fails to amaze me that they were able to pull that off. We were all so busy with our extra curriculars, but they were always there for each of us.
I remember thinking as a child that he was a giant. And he was. He was a giant of a man. Honest and hard working. When he gave his word to do something he put all that he had towards it and you always got his absolute best. He had an eye for such fine detail, it's hard to find people like that any more with such integrity and that's sad. He was a devoted husband, loving father and grandfather and a fierce friend. He was the real deal.
Carl 1878-1938
This handsome man with the handlebar mustache is Carl. He is my Great Grandfather. I unfortunately missed scanning in my Great Grandmother, Mary's picture during our last visit. I'll be sure to do that next time and add it later. Carl and Mary came to America from Poland. Carl arrived first and then Mary followed later with their two children. They both landed at Ellis Island.
Carl and Mary had 12 children. My Grandpa was baby #9 in that line up. Grandpa always loved it when we (my sisters and I) would grow our hair long. He would tell us about his mother, Mary's hair. It was very very long and she always wore it piled high up on her head in a bun and at night when she would take it down he remembers watching her sit and comb it over and over. It's one of the few memories of her he shared with me. The only other memory of her I had the honor of hearing was much more solemn. Mary passed away from tuberculosis when she was only 36 years old and my Grandpa was just 3. Carl passed away 17 years after Mary leaving their children to lookout for themselves and one another.
Tonight they are on my mind. Clearly with 11 brothers and sisters there is much work yet to do for their family. I feel so blessed and honored to be able to do this work for them. They are the first three of many to be baptized. If this is the emotion that runs through me for their baptisms how am I ever going to make it through the rest? I guess it's not the worst thing to show emotion. :)
Happy Baptism Day!
