I remember my dad.... playing jazzy tunes on his trumpet in the yard; watching Have Gun Will Travel and eating Cheez-it's with me on his lap; towing us boys around in a go-cart he built us; going down Green's Creek rapids, along with his brother Dave, in a homemade boat which disintegrated under them; having a deer in the sights of his 30-30 rifle, and not having the heart to pull the trigger; telling me to lift my legs as I sat on the back of his motor scooter, while he beat a rattlesnake to death; saving brother Tracy from choking on a piece of candy; catching my brother Randy by the hand as he was starting to fall into Mule Creek Canyon; building us kids a zip line in the yard; looking sad to have to finally spank us all for not putting away his tools after many warnings; telling me he was doing something he should have done a long time before, as he put on a suit and tie to take us all to church. And now as I look back, it's amazing, I don't ever remember hearing Dad use foul language, or saying anything mean about anyone. But I do remember one more thing which is the most precious of all for me... it was hearing my mom and dad recite the Lord's prayer together each night before they went to sleep. It's my comfort and hope that Dad is with Him, even now.
Nicholas Wilhelm