Write a new post in response to today’s one-word prompt.
Popular or Prudent
The popular thing to do most of the time is to take the easy unknown road, it is about 6 Lanes wide, bumper to bumper traffic, speed is no problem. The prudent road is under construction in places, it has a few potholes but it is safest, few take this road today.
I attended a funeral yesterday. It was more of a celebration of a complete and well-lived life. He was 98 years old. His prudent generation is the reason America has become so great and is such a leading world power. His age group stood for many things, family, faith, hard work, and service to the church, community, and country. I will not write his name here as that would be against what he believed in. He would never want accolades for himself. I wish I could say the same thing for the majority of the people today but, Individualism, inflated egos, fortune seekers and just plain refusal to work together is destroying the hard, dedicated work of past generations in this Democracy. The popular hot button issues rule government today while citizens watch in awe.
Obituary Of A U.S. Citizen
He was 98 years old and passed away on October 1st, 2017. He was born on September 11th, 1919 on a farm, went to Country School until the fourth grade when his family moved to a different farm. He completed his grade school and high school education graduating in 1937. He enlisted in the U.S. Navy in 1941 and was discharged in October 1945. During World War II he was assigned to the USS Charles Carroll. The ship participated in six major campaigns to include D-Day at Normandy Beach.
He married his wife Ruth on April 3rd, 1947 they operated a grocery store until May of 1948. They then bought the City Cafe in another town. The restaurant was a true family business where all his children learned the value of hard work. In 1984 he sold the cafe to one of his sons.
He was a rural mail carrier for many years. He loved the sport of baseball and played as an amateur for many years. In 1970 he and a teammate were inducted into the South Dakota Baseball Hall of Fame.
He had a strong sense of community and served on church council, Commercial Club, volunteer fire department, and Meals on Wheels. He was a member of Trinity Lutheran Church, the National Association of retired federal employees. The men’s chorus and various committees. He was a past American Legion Post Commander and a member for 70 years. The area Chamber of Commerce presented him with a lifetime recognition award in 2012.
Grateful for having shared his life and blessed by his memory are his children, three sons, two daughters sixteen grandchildren and 18 great-grandchildren had a host of nieces and nephews he was preceded in death by his wife, his parents, one sister. one grandson, four sisters-in-law seven brothers-in-law.
All of his children finished college and grew up to become outstanding citizens and bright lights shining in their own communities. Dad and Mom’s prudent lifestyles made them all popular. This should still be the American family way. It certainly doesn’t happen by accident or by chance, it happens because of right decisions, dedicated living, with purposeful goals in mind.
My Mixed Blog 