SAD NEWS

It's been almost 2 months since I last blogged, but it seems a life time! A lot has happened in the last 7 weeks.

My dad passed away on May 13th. Even though it was a blessing, it's still too soon. Mom was the strongest of all and somehow manage to prop up the rest of us. We had his memorial on June 19th to accommodate family being there. I wrote and gave the eulogy: the toughest job I've ever done, but I'm glad I did. I've posted the eulogy in its entirety at the end of this post.

Now some good news. Jason and Shelley announced their wedding! It's on July 3rd (our anniversary) of 2010. The nuptials will be held right here in Regina. Furthermore, Jason successfully defended his thesis on June 2nd and now I can proudly say that its DR. JASON GOERTZEN! Formal graduation will be held in Toronto in October. I'm looking forward to Jason and Shelley walking across the stage to receive their doctorates. WOW! I'm proud.

Scott is finishing up his teaching in England, but has no plans yet on returning home. He is planning on working for about 3 months and backpacking Europe over the winter. May is the month of his planned return. I'm proud of Scott too, surviving his first year of teaching is no easy task, but his was complicated more by doing it in a different country.

Deb left June 27th for the cottage. Her summers have been spent there and she finds it very relaxing. She's taken everything, but the kitchen sink (I had to take it out of the car) with her as she there until the end of August. The car was riding pretty low when she left. She works on the garden, does some maintenance, scrapbooking, and of course reads about 10 books over the summer. She loves it out there.

Me... well I'm home here. I've just finished a 2 month full time temp job at Janzen School as a sign language interpreter. It was both tiring and rewarding. I was in a grade 6 classroom signing for 2 boys. They were great kids! Fortunately, they read lips very well and thus my slow signing wasn't a big factor. I've applied for another temp. job in the fall for the same thing. This time I'll be working in a grade 1 room! Imagine me, helping in a grade 1 room. I'm looking forward to the challenge with renewed optimism. This might be a good retirement job to have! For the summer, I'm will be working a bit at the airport again. I'm also photographing a wedding on the 15th of August! Looking forward to this. I may even get to Seattle to watch the Blue Jays.

Y'all keep well!

The Eulogy of Frank Goertzen:

Our Dad, Frank George Goertzen, was born Feb. 4, 1923, the 3rd child of seven, to Jacob and Margaretha Goertzen in Rosthern, Sask. He grew up on a homestead during the Dirty Thirties. Everyone knows that times were tough during the ‘30’s and Dad’s family had their share of hardships. The family had to travel from Rosthern to Penn, Sask. (some 200+ miles) to take possession of the homestead. The 3 oldest sons, Dad included, had to drive the cattle on foot the whole way. While his brothers went off to war, he quit school at Grade 6 to remain behind to help at the farm. In the late 40’s, our dad got a job working for the Dept. of Natural Resources; clearing bush to build roads. It was at one of the jobs at Cypress Park building the Seven Mile Hill Road where he met his wife, our mom, Kathleen Neely. These early years had a great effect on the kind of father he was to become.

Together with mom, they raised 4 children. In 1957, they rented a small house on Broad Street in Regina and Dad now worked for Tobin Tractors, welding and fixing the big Euclid’s. In 1960, they purchased a home on Rose St. where they remained for 49 years. This home was filled with many memories, some sad, some funny, but all found places in our hearts.

We didn’t see much of our dad during our early years growing up on Rose St. Dad was constantly on the road trying to make enough money so that he could feed, clothe and shelter us. He had one brief period away from this traveling in 1960, when he broke his arm. Though this didn’t stop Dad from helping out. Mom was babysitting at the time, and one of Dad’s chores was change the babies’ diapers. I remember him changing a little guy, Danny, I think, and during this change, a stream of pee shot out, straight up into the air. Luckily, Dad quickly covered up the fountain with the clean diaper.

Near the end of the sixties, Dad was tiring of the road trips and he was fortunate to able to get away from it and had more or less of an 8 to 5 job. With this new freedom, Dad was now able to find more time to do the things that he wanted to do. We kids soon realized that Dad was unafraid to tackle any interest, big or small. Throughout the following decades, refurbish and fiberglass a boat (which on its maiden trip was struck by a train), make wonderful oak furniture, grow fantastic tomatoes and flowers, just to name a few. He and mom also joined square dancing, took up playing card games (of all kinds) with friends and still found time to take in some trips: camping trips at Echo or Oyama, fishing trips (On one of these he caught a whopping 22 lbs. jack fish and on another trip catching the worst sunburn imaginable), a bus trip to Texas, and a camping trip to Alaska. We also took a number of trips for family reunions in Minnesota, Alberta, and in parts of Sask. He and mom even found time to become Regina Pat’s fans and had season tickets for many years.

Dad’s circle of friends grew steadily larger during these years. His helpfulness gained him quite a reputation. He always found time to help a neighbour, a friend, or family, unafraid to tackle any job. He and mom had a membership for Oyama Campgrounds near Kronau, Sask. where he became a board member, this was due to all the work he had done around the campsite.

Dad may have not been a very well educated man, but was smart in many ways. And along the way, he taught us kids a number of things:
1. Family is number one.
2. Get an education.
3. Friendship is important and worth cultivating.
4. Never stop learning.
5. Be independent.
6. Have integrity.
7. Plan for tomorrow, but live for the day.
8. Make the most of what you have.
9. Measure twice, cut once.
These were just a few of the many things that Dad taught us and he did this with quiet authority and setting the example for us to follow.

Dad, we thank you, we will miss you and we’ll always love you.