My Grandpa

Today would have been my grandfather's birthday, July 12th. My grandpa is the kind of man that left a legacy in his wake. Growing up he was just "my grandpa" but years later I would grow to understand that he was larger than life to many people besides me.

As a kid I wasn't aware of the impact he had on the people he knew and the community he lived in. It wasn't until he passed away that I would get a glimpse of the number of lives Grandpa touched.

My favorite memories of Grandpa are simple things like the way he smelled in the mornings of Old Spice and Listerine. Or the fuzzy "old man" sweater he would wear in the winters, going to USD football games and being embarrassed to wear the huge mum boutonniere he would buy us for Dakota Days or how calm he was when he would take me out driving before I got my license.



Me and Grandpa several years ago



But Grandpa was more than scratchy, wet kisses and old stories of meeting baseball legends; he was Dean of Men at the University of South Dakota, he was involved in his local church and community, he was a math professor, a referee, a father and a friend. There are so many questions I wish I could ask and lifeevents I wish I could share with him. But I do know he is in my heart and I think I'll hold on to the idea that he is there watching and guiding me through life, giving me a gentle push in the right direction when I need help staying the course.

My grandpa was my hero.

Happy Birthday Grandpa!