20 years ago

[bruiser]

today. We lost my oldest brother to pancreatic cancer. He was diagnosed April 1994 and died August 1994. He handled the disease with grace. Despite the pain, he remained upbeat. His faith did not waiver nor did his love of family. He knew what was in store for him in the end. He wrote his own funeral service and made a video for the family. It was the tradition of our family, after visiting mom and dad, to ring their phone one time to let them know we got home safely. During a quiet time in the funeral service we were all stunned when the church phone rang one time. We all looked at each other, and smiled.

I looked up to Butch, in more ways than one. He was 6'2". We hunted and fished together. When I was old enough, drank together. When I was stationed in England, he would call every New Years Eve to wish us a Happy New Year. He had a lot of hard times in life. He was funny, a practical joker. He was caring. We had our share of tears together. I believe his greatest joy, before he died, was seeing his son turn his life around, and accept the Lord.

Miss you Brother. This is for you.

 

[Bob Denman]

Continue to celebrate his Life; don't mourn his Death...
Thanks for posting this beautiful song! :thumbup:
Soooo... who was on the phone??:shocked:

 

[PrairieSpyder]

A beautiful tribute to your brother. ray:

 

[Dan McNally]

Thanks for sharing . . . the loss of a loved one never quite goes away, does it?

 

[Chupaca]

Sad..!!

but sounds like an amazing brother. Glad you got the time to grow up with him and still have all the memories to keep him alive in your heart and mind...

 

[bruiser]

We will gather at my nephew's house in two weeks for a "family reunion". We will not only celebrate my brother but mom and dad too. It will be a day of memories but most important, a day of laughter. In our family laughter is foremost in our gatherings. At the funerals of Butch and mom and dad we laughed, sometimes to tears. Some people didn't think it was right. But to us, a funeral is a celebration. There were many inside family jokes that came out at these celebrations. Seeing the family from behind, gathered around mom's casket shoulders hunched over, quaking from laughter at a silly picture of her. At dads casket, putting "the club" in the casket. You all know what "the club" is. At Butches casket with a "fart" machine. What can I say. We're "sick".

 

[Bob Denman]

Not at all... :thumbup:
My Missus is the Grounds Superintendent at our local Cemetery. Her most important job, is making the arrangements for interments. :shocked:
My job; is to go pick up the paperwork on-site. (I do what I'm told...)
One January; we had an instance where an elderly couple passed within a few weeks of one another, and a double interment was held.
January.... We had four inches of snow coming down HARD! during the ceremoney...
And everybody was smiling, joking and telling stories! This wonderful couple LOVED the snow. They'd get in their car, and ride around during storms just like this one.
It seemed so nice that their last journey together, was during a snowstorm...
I personally prefer to see happiness at funerals... nojoke

 

[Top End Unlimited]

today. We lost my oldest brother to pancreatic cancer. He was diagnosed April 1994 and died August 1994. He handled the disease with grace. Despite the pain, he remained upbeat. His faith did not waiver nor did his love of family. He knew what was in store for him in the end. He wrote his own funeral service and made a video for the family. It was the tradition of our family, after visiting mom and dad, to ring their phone one time to let them know we got home safely. During a quiet time in the funeral service we were all stunned when the church phone rang one time. We all looked at each other, and smiled.

I looked up to Butch, in more ways than one. He was 6'2". We hunted and fished together. When I was old enough, drank together. When I was stationed in England, he would call every New Years Eve to wish us a Happy New Year. He had a lot of hard times in life. He was funny, a practical joker. He was caring. We had our share of tears together. I believe his greatest joy, before he died, was seeing his son turn his life around, and accept the Lord.

Miss you Brother. This is for you.

God Bless ! He is walking with God now.

 

[retread]

Thank you, I'll be praying for you and family.

john

 

[ARtraveler]

A great video and tribute to the remembrance of those who have gone on. :2thumbs:

 

[ChasCS]

Enjoy your family reunion

And yes, rejoice in his passing.
He resides with the all mighty maker.

Chas

 

[Netminder]

As Bob said celebrate is life, don't mourn his death!ray:ray:

 

[NovaSpyder]

Thanks for sharing, a very nice tribute to your brother with your words and the video.