Love Shown Through Work and Protection

I do not remember outward displays of affection as a child. It was probably all around but I just don’t remember hugs and kisses and “I love yous.” I do remember one time Dad and I were in the car going somewhere, and just up the road from the house a stranger was walking toward our street. Dad stopped and said, “We better check out this guy.” We turned around and waited until the stranger moved on. I also remember times the plate of pork chops went around the table and there were none left when the plate got to Mom. Of course, I now know that working as hard as Mom and Dad did was the most important love of all during our childhood years. Dad talking me out of joining the Navy, when six of my close friends joined, was loving advice.

SUE

In junior high school I had a few dates but nothing I remember a lot about. I do remember my first dance. I was in ninth grade and Mom got me a new shirt and pants. I picked up my date by taking the bus to and from the dance. I also attended dances at the “Rec Room” at Coolidge Junior High and in the summertime at the Moline swimming pool. I was a friend of Bob Warner in high school, and that’s how I met his sister, Sue. We dated for six years and got married in 1960. We were married for thirty-six years until she died from cancer in 1996. We had forty-three wonderful years together. We did many things over the years—the great trips, and great family times. Sue was an organizer and saw to it that we had something going on all the time. We had lots of great friends, most of whom Sue got to know first. We never missed Saturday night out and never missed a New Year’s Eve party. Sue did a great job raising our two sons, Steve and Brian, while I worked. She always made the best of what we had. She loved all four grandchildren as I do. We miss her.