I was back in Port Huron earlier this week. My father passed away on Thanksgiving morning at age 94.

He lived a long life that spanned from World War 1 through the Great Depression and WW2. He and my mother were married at noon on December 21, 1940 and he had to report for his first day of work at 3 pm that day.

He worked for that company until he retired in 1979 and then lived on for 30 more years as a retiree.

He only saw a doctor three times in his life including the trip to the Emergency room Sunday before last when my sister arrived from Florida to find him on the kitchen floor where he'd fallen the day before and couldn't get up. He spent a few days in the hospital and was released to a nursing home where he was to undergo physical therapy to rebuild his strength. He passed less than 12 hours after arriving. He never did want to spend the last of his life in a nursing home.

He lived in the same house from 1948 until the week before he passed away.

We had a nice celebration on Tuesday and put him to rest with mother who passed in October 2007.

The service for dad was on December 1 - which would have been mom's birthday. R.I.P Dad.

You can view some photos of Dad and Family CLICK HERE

John, Sorry to hear of the passing of your Dad. He lived a good long life, but I'm sure he still will be missed.

Deb's Mom is 94 and my Dad is 90. Their needs keep us close to home. I dread the day they will leave us.

John,

Truly saddened to hear of your Father's passing.
Your parents are together again! Their love will continue on!

Take time for all of the memories to help heal your heart.

Mary

John, So sorry for your loss. May you find comfort in memories and knowing that others are thinking of you.

Sorry to hear about your Father John. He's much better off then living in a nursing home if he didn't want to.

John - I'm sorry for your loss. My father-in-law has been in a nursing home for over a year now and I fully understand why your father didn't want to spend any time in one. You and your family are in my thoughts and prayers.

Paul Conlin

John, So sorry to hear of your loss. Your father had to lead a pretty good life to have avoided the doctor like he did! You and Chris will be in our thoughts and prayers.

So sorry to hear about your Dad's passing, John. And thank you for sharing your family photos. I really enjoyed looking at them. Next time I pass one of the Salvation Army kettle's I'll put in a special donation.

John, we too will keep you, your sister, Chris and your family in our prayers!
I have included your dad on our tree of lights - our local hospice has one every year in town. You can dedicate a light on the tree to someone who passed away over. My dad gets a light every year, so now yours has one too!

Our condolences, John. It's so sad to lose a parent at any age. I've buried three friends in the last month ages 56, 87, and 88. The 88 year old I worked for in high school and remained friends forever. He was failing and told me he never wanted to go to a nursing home. He had a fire at his home and his wife succumbed to the smoke two weeks later. He ended up in a nursing home and passed one week after his wife's passing. I really think he willed himself to die.

Our thoughts are with you and your family, John.

Lorna & Bob

Thanks to all of you for your thoughts, prayers and condolences. Chris, my sister and I appreciate them all.

For us it was a time of celebration and reconciliation.

Of course at age 94, Dad had outlived many of his friends, but it was a blessing to have about 40 at the service, including two who had been life-long friends of mom and dad for over 65 years, people who had worked with Dad or mother (who was a teacher), several high school classmates of my sister or me and even my Junior HS band teacher (who had worked with my mother.) His younger sister is now the only living child of the parents. She will be 80 next year.

The eulogy by the chaplain of the hospital traced Dad's life through the signposts of history and the difficulties that those events were to all who lived through them.

John,
A little late here but my condolences as well. It is never easy losing a loved one, but it always seems compounded when it happens during the holidays. It reminds us that we really need to take time with those whom we love and make as many good memories as possible, because some day that may be all we have left. Looks like you have some good ones to remember.

John,

Our condolences and prayers to you and your family. Both sets of our parents are gone and we will always miss them but appreciate the times we had together which are gifts we will always treasure.

Bill and Judy

John,
You and your family will be in my thoughts and prayers during this sad time.
Judy

It's nice to hear that your Father had a long healthful life John. It is nice that you celebrated it.

Count your blessings for the extended time you were lucky to have with both Mom and Dad.

Thoughts and prayers are with you,
Bob