oldsarg
April 22nd, 2009, 10:52 am
Eulogy
For
Uncle Brownie, a WWII Veteran and Great American
Uncle Brownie graced us with his presence for 86 years and had achieved the status of Great-Great-Great Uncle. He was a kind and gentle soul. One time I asked my mother, Uncle Brownie’s elder sister, what was her fondest memory of him. She said that on the day he was born, she was GLAD when she heard that she had a little brother. He always wondered why his mother named him “Brown”. My mother told me that the attending physician was Dr. Brown. We all smiled about this pleasant story about how his mother named him.
I am honored to speak about three of Uncle Brownie’s many qualities. First, his perseverance, second his integrity, and third, his smile.
First, he grew up during the Great Depression. At a young age his father died in an industrial accident. Mom quit school to take care of the younger children. It was a hard time for all in which Uncle Brownie persevered and honed his “True Grit”. He developed a hardy work ethic that I admired greatly. He worked hard all of his life and did not retire until after his 70th year. He also played hard. That same hardy attitude was there when the family got together. He relished family gatherings. He always enjoyed rounding up a crew for a fishing outing. I remember all of the big fish stories—you have heard them all, I’m sure—but his were all true … I promise … cross my heart. At any rate, we always had some fabulous fish feasts afterwards so I know that at least SOME of the tales were true. AND, I know that he and Aunt Daisy, in their golden years, had wonderful quiet times together fishing in the river behind their apartment house. And those are stories that Aunt Daisy holds close to her heart about her beloved husband.
Second, Uncle Brownie’s integrity was without question. He served in the Navy and Merchant Marines during World War Two. I was always moved by the fact that he had an unassuming attitude about his role in the war. He and his generation broke the power of tyranny and preserved freedom. These hardy Americans, every one of them, were heroes of the highest sort. They accomplished, under the most trying conditions, more than any other generation in our history. Even so, he was never aloof and was ever humble when he talked about this great accomplishment. According to Uncle Brownie, this was what he was supposed to do. I asked him on the occasion of his 80th birthday what was the best moment of his life. He stated that a great shout went up from the crew of his ship when it was announced that the war was over. These real men had overcome the fiercest rivals of freedom.
Third, Uncle Brownie’s smile was awesome. The soft look on his face portrayed his kindly nature and was apparent in all that he did. My first memory of him was when I was four years old. He loaded Mom, Dad and us six kids in his car and drove us all from Tennessee to Michigan in order for us to have a better life. I can still see the soft smile on his face. It was a daunting task that he took on with pleasure. His smile never faded all of the years that I knew him. When I visited him last summer, it was still exactly the same. I thank the good Lord for giving him that smile and I enjoyed it all of my days. And, Aunt Daisy, when you need a refresher, all you need to do is call your nephew Terry. He has that same smile.
In conclusion, Uncle Brownie was always full of life. He lived through a world that saw dramatic changes which were never before envisioned in the history of mankind. He boldly took part in that change with only a seventh grade education. WHAT, you say; he was not “e-du-ma-cated”? I say Nay to that; he had intelligence and skills far above the normal man. He lived his life unpretentiously for his family, his God, and his country.
For
Uncle Brownie, a WWII Veteran and Great American
Uncle Brownie graced us with his presence for 86 years and had achieved the status of Great-Great-Great Uncle. He was a kind and gentle soul. One time I asked my mother, Uncle Brownie’s elder sister, what was her fondest memory of him. She said that on the day he was born, she was GLAD when she heard that she had a little brother. He always wondered why his mother named him “Brown”. My mother told me that the attending physician was Dr. Brown. We all smiled about this pleasant story about how his mother named him.
I am honored to speak about three of Uncle Brownie’s many qualities. First, his perseverance, second his integrity, and third, his smile.
First, he grew up during the Great Depression. At a young age his father died in an industrial accident. Mom quit school to take care of the younger children. It was a hard time for all in which Uncle Brownie persevered and honed his “True Grit”. He developed a hardy work ethic that I admired greatly. He worked hard all of his life and did not retire until after his 70th year. He also played hard. That same hardy attitude was there when the family got together. He relished family gatherings. He always enjoyed rounding up a crew for a fishing outing. I remember all of the big fish stories—you have heard them all, I’m sure—but his were all true … I promise … cross my heart. At any rate, we always had some fabulous fish feasts afterwards so I know that at least SOME of the tales were true. AND, I know that he and Aunt Daisy, in their golden years, had wonderful quiet times together fishing in the river behind their apartment house. And those are stories that Aunt Daisy holds close to her heart about her beloved husband.
Second, Uncle Brownie’s integrity was without question. He served in the Navy and Merchant Marines during World War Two. I was always moved by the fact that he had an unassuming attitude about his role in the war. He and his generation broke the power of tyranny and preserved freedom. These hardy Americans, every one of them, were heroes of the highest sort. They accomplished, under the most trying conditions, more than any other generation in our history. Even so, he was never aloof and was ever humble when he talked about this great accomplishment. According to Uncle Brownie, this was what he was supposed to do. I asked him on the occasion of his 80th birthday what was the best moment of his life. He stated that a great shout went up from the crew of his ship when it was announced that the war was over. These real men had overcome the fiercest rivals of freedom.
Third, Uncle Brownie’s smile was awesome. The soft look on his face portrayed his kindly nature and was apparent in all that he did. My first memory of him was when I was four years old. He loaded Mom, Dad and us six kids in his car and drove us all from Tennessee to Michigan in order for us to have a better life. I can still see the soft smile on his face. It was a daunting task that he took on with pleasure. His smile never faded all of the years that I knew him. When I visited him last summer, it was still exactly the same. I thank the good Lord for giving him that smile and I enjoyed it all of my days. And, Aunt Daisy, when you need a refresher, all you need to do is call your nephew Terry. He has that same smile.
In conclusion, Uncle Brownie was always full of life. He lived through a world that saw dramatic changes which were never before envisioned in the history of mankind. He boldly took part in that change with only a seventh grade education. WHAT, you say; he was not “e-du-ma-cated”? I say Nay to that; he had intelligence and skills far above the normal man. He lived his life unpretentiously for his family, his God, and his country.