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Tonight I want to celebrate and honor the life of a man who did many great things, quietly and with courage. Well, the quiet part was not always true, he had a great sense of humor and an infectious laugh.
He served in WW II and in the Pacific Theater from 1941 to 1945. During a leave he married his high school sweetheart. Their first child, a daughter was born while he was serving and died before he could ever meet her.
He was awarded the Bronze Star and the Combat Medical Badge, having served in the 1st Medical Regiment of the U.S. Army.
The high school sweetheart developed Huntington's Disease and he cared for her in their home until the day she passed.
This man was known to many as Erv, to my oldest he was known as "Grandpa."
Grandpa K. was a special person in both our lives. He helped me find courage at various times in my life.
One of those times even gave me the courage to write and submit an article to our local paper one holiday season, it was chosen to be published
I'd like to share that part of Grandpa K with all of you tonight because it describes a lot of the essence of who he was.
Cedar Rapids Gazette
Wednesday December 19, 2001
GAZETTE EDITOR'S NOTE:
The song says, "There's no place like home for the holidays."
Today our readers share the moments that made their seasons bright,
even when all their plans went awry.
Several involve Random Acts of Kindness that still warm hearts years later.
An Angel Reaches Out
Erin, my oldest daughter, will be marking her 16th Christmas this year, but her first will always be the most emotional and meaningful for me.
Less than two months old, Erin was admitted to the hospital with pneumonia on Dec. 21, 1985. She was in a pediatric intensive care and was critically ill.
My first child, her first Christmas and though compassionately spoken, I was not given a lot of encouragement for her recovery.
My plans had been to spend her first Christmas with my family, who all lived in Ankeny at that time. Due to flu bugs and bad weather no on was able to get up here to be with me, and I had never been so scared and alone in my life.
I had never met Erin's paternal grandparents, but in desperation I called their house, trying to contact Erin's father, who was out of town.
Though I was a total stranger to him, her grandfather was at the hospital withing the hour and was up there several times a day for the next few days, checking on his granddaughter an offering me much needed moral support . At the same time this man was caring full time at home for his wife, who was suffering from Huntington's disease.
Christmas Even day I received the greatest Christmas gift I believe I will ever get.
First, the doctors told me Erin had made marked improvement overnight and her chances for recovery were realistic.
Later that morning, after sharing the news with her greandparents, her grandfather came up to the hospital with beautifully wrapped gifts - one for Erin and one for me.
Mine was a nice set of gloves, hat and scarf that matched my coat perfectly.
Erin's grandfather, a man who didn't know me from anyone else on the streeet just a couple of days before had going out in the Christmas madness and picked thiese out for me because he said he'd noticed I didn't have anything but my coat.
These things might sound so simple. but what they meant at that time, and still mean today, are so rich with the message that has sustained me in my life.
No matter how alone we may be or how bleak a few days in our life may seem, if we just reach out, there is always someone unknowingly accepting the duty of an angel who can make a difference in our lives - not just at that moment, but for years to come.
emphasis mine
Erv, thank you for being that angel for me. Thank you for your service and sacrifice for our country, and most of all thank you for being a wonderful grandfather to my Erin.
We will miss you, but will always celebrate your memory with smiles, laughter, and love.