Goodbye Daddy.....

This past week, I had to say goodbye to my father. I spoke at his funeral and wanted to share it with family and close friends who weren't there. Here it is.....

What can I say about my dad that everyone doesn’t already know? Everyone knows how much he loved his wife, adored his kids, enjoyed being with his friends, and lived to make us laugh (even though sometimes, WE were the butt of those jokes!) Daddy made friends everywhere he went, and everyone always had wonderful things to say about him. He just had something about him that made him so lovable to everyone he met.

Daddy is the best father ever. He always told me how much he loved me. He never raised his hand in anger towards me when I had done wrong. He always let me watch and ask questions when he was tinkering with something around the house or in the garage. Daddy always had a joke or story that would lift my spirits when I was down. Anytime I needed a break from “life”, daddy’s door was always open for his little girl. Though I came from a broken home, the home that he and Annie made for us, filled my heart with all the love a young lady needed, all the guidance I sought, and the freedom to make mistakes (which I did quite often). Even when I would come home at 4 am from a night out with friends and leave again at 6 am to go to work, he never said anything, he let me learn on my own that I was going to eventually burn out. That is a trait of am amazing parent. Someone who lets you make your mistakes and take what life has to throw at you. But is there to pick you up, dust you off and keep pushing you along to keep trying and keep going. That is how daddy was with me.

You were even a better grandpa, or better known as OPA. I remember when Haylee was a newborn, you holding her like she was so fragile. Even though you wouldn’t change her diaper, you beamed over her. You were always so sweet and patient with her....She loves her Opa. And she knows her Opa, has always adored his Haylee (AKA Oma & Opas Tadpole).


I know you are up in Heaven looking down on all of us, smiling today. I wish I could see your face when the Lord turns to you, and tells you that He is happy that you appreciated all the love he had brought into your life, and that He is so pleased with the amazing man you had become thru the years you had on Earth. And for being such a wonderful person, friend, husband and daddy.

I’ll miss our everyday talks. I’ll miss your jokes that only I understood and laughed at. I’ll miss your hilarious subtitles on my birthday cards that always made me laugh hysterically. I’ll miss hearing how beautiful you would say I was, and how lucky you were to have me as your daughter, when in actuality it was I who was lucky to have YOU as my Daddy! I wouldn’t be the woman I am today without having had you in my life.

Im sorry that you had to go. But the Lord said that you were needed up in Heaven, and we will always hold close to our hearts our memories of you and your love. I look forward to the day, when the Lord calls me home, when I will once again feel you hug me and kiss my cheek and say “I love you”.

Today a HUGE piece of my heart is gone. And no one will ever be able to repair it or make it better. Always remember daddy, I love you more then anything in the world and I will make sure I pass on EVERYTHING about you to your granddaughter. And I will NEVER stop loving you.



You are the best daddy a girl could have ever had. And know, that I’ll be missing you, every second of every minute of every day.....until I see you again DADDY.....

Your loving daughter, Missy