Grandpa

Allen “Gene” Claibourn 08.12.1932-08.05.2013 Grandpa showed me the way to get things done and how to do them right, he showed me how to make a knot but i could never get it quite as tight. He showed me how to splice a board to support a shaky beam, he taught me how to get that row boat easily upstream. He showed me how to be polite and to act with dignity, showed me that respect and honor go one and one with common courtesy. He told me to have Pride and honor in all the work I do, do it right the first time and it will surely repay you. You have to sacrifice in life to get the things you want, keep your wants last put your family out in front . Always take two steps back before that one ahead, don't stress about material things you can't take them when your dead. I only started realizing how right he was as I grew into a man,our lives pass by so fast like air through his homemade blower fan. I wish I had just one more week with him or even just one day, maybe do his metal runs, junk a car and maybe hear him say, I had that once "took exlax "then adjust his hat with his thumb and index finger, look at someone smile shake his head and say "humdinger", maybe hear him whistle an old tune that I'd never heard, sit on the porch in the morning with him while he mimicked every bird, go trim some trees, cut some weeds, maybe dig some more, the list of things to do never shortened that's one thing I know for sure ! He was a family man who knew what life was all about, he worked hard so his family wouldn't have to go without. He helped and helped oh yeah and then he helped some more, never turned his back, wide open is how he kept his door. Your hungry then come eat we have plenty is what he'd say, then give someone his money for the bill they couldn't pay. But most of all the greatest thing my grandpa's ever done, was ask my Grandma Shirley if she would be the one? I don't know exactly how they met or where they went on their first date, but I know one thing for sure this was no accident a Love like this is Fate. I guess I underestimated the power LOVE can hold, I witnessed it recently it was worth more than any amount of Gold. Grandpa loved You Grandma he fought so very hard to stay, he knew he'd get one more Eskimo kiss if he could make it just one more day. I'm telling you first hand at night he laid there so very still, but when you walked into the room magic is all that u could feel. I know he's up in heaven driving through a small ol country town, looking for the perfect place to settle his family down, I'm sure it'll be near some water a quiet place where the view is really nice, he'll gather up those with him and start building the second Claibourn's Paradise. He'll have a big jug of water filled with ice to the brim, smiling and working with loved ones all surrounding him. No more pain no more strain, no more clear plastic pill dividers, now he's relaxing working a crossword or showing people how to make those paper airplane gliders. He loved his kids so much endlessly I'd say, he tried his best to be there even on the darkest day. I could go on and on about my Grandpa there's so much more to say, these are only my thoughts imagine the countless others in this room today. I Love you Grandpa, Grandpolio and thank you for being you, I hope one day I can be a legend to my family too. See ya when u get there.... Love ya Grandpa, Neil Thirstrup