Dec 24 2008
Missing Our Brother
Yesterday was a day that was full. Full of tears and memories. My husband’s older brother passed away. He had ALS and had been going downhill for a little over a year. We had a friend who died of this awful illness and she suffered with trying to breath and eat and it was horrible for 5 years. Fortunately, Doug had only just begun to have those issues. Yesterday, he told his wife, Sandy, that he was tired and not ready for his bath. He wanted to take a nap. With that he closed his eyes and was gone.
Doug did not want to live confined to a bed but you would never hear a complaint from him. He was always smiling and talked about politics, the weather and how he wished he could be in Arizona. He loved their home in Arizona and loved getting away from our cold Indiana winters. He was a graduate of Purdue University and was a pilot in both the Air Force and for the government as a civil service employee. He flew KC-135 tankers all over the world. He served in Vietnam and Iraq. We sure are proud of the service Doug gave to his country. It was fortunate that he was stationed at Grissom Air Force base right here where his family lived. His only other assignment was when they lived in Riverside, California.
Doug loved to play golf and read. He enjoyed his little wiener dog, Jasper until he passed away a couple of years ago. That dog ruled when it came to who slept where. He especially enjoyed scuba diving and took trips with his son, Jim, to warm places where they could get into the water and check things out.
Doug enjoyed 5 years of retirement. He played golf and was able to help his mom, Betty, keep her computer up and running and fixed things around her house. He was always available to help his mom and even helped put displays together in our floor covering store. Doug and Sandy were very neighborly in the little addition they lived in here in Indiana and were just beginning to get used to their new home in Arizona.
My husband feels like a big hole is inside him and especially feels outnumbered as the girls in our family are beginning to outnumber the guys. He is sort of the guy in charge and is not sure he wants that title.
We are all going to miss Doug. He was a good brother, friend, husband and dad.
5 Responses to “Missing Our Brother”
I am so, so sorry to hear of your brother-in-law’s passing. I know how difficult his illness was for your family and I can only imagine how devastating it must be for him to have lost his earthly battle. At least he is no longer suffering. My thoughts and prayers are with you and your family, Karen!
I am so sorry for your loss. This is a difficult time to lose a loved one, but he died easy and did not linger. That is a blessing.
This has given me solace in the past.
Remembered Joy
Don’t grieve for me, for now I’m free!
I follow the plan God laid for me.
I saw His face, I heard His call,
I took His hand and left it all…
I could not stay another day,
To love, to laugh, to work or play;
Tasks left undone must stay that way.
And if my parting has left a void,
Then fill it with remembered joy.
A friendship shared, a laugh, a kiss…
Ah yes, these things I, too, shall miss.
My life’s been full, I’ve savoured much:
Good times, good friends, a loved-one’s touch.
Perhaps my time seemed all too brief—
Don’t shorten yours with undue grief.
Be not burdened with tears of sorrow,
Enjoy the sunshine of the morrow.
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Karen,
I am so sorry for your loss, especially coming so close to the holidays. But it sounds like a blessing that he didn’t have to suffer long with the indignities of ALS and you have written a beautiful tribute for a man who was undoubtedly greatly loved.
My thoughts are with you and your family.
All the Best,
Carri
Carri´s last blog post..Ok, good. So it’s not just me who has spent the past year…
Karen,
I am so sorry to hear about the loss your husband and your family has suffered.
I feel so badly for you this happened during this time of the year.
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I am so sorry to hear about your loss. It sounds like your brother-in-law was a dignified man and wanted things on his own terms. I’ll be praying for you and your whole family during this difficult time, especially that it is so close to Christmas. God bless you all.
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