I am back in Nebraska. Surprise!
I'm surprised too, I didn't think I'd be flopping into my childhood bed until Thanksgiving, but here I am. This is not one of those happy drop-ins that belongs in a corny movie. Today, my suitcase isn't the only thing that is heavy.
On Thursday evening, I received a message from my sister that my grandpa, Gordon Deichmann, was likely nearing the end of his life. I prayed for peace and safe travel for family traveling to say goodbye, and I waited for the inevitable phone call.
Early on Saturday morning, after 93 years of life, Grandpa Gordon passed away. His life was one marked by acres upon acres of crops harvested, hundreds of cattle raised, and land cared for in that way only a farmer can care. But my grandpa's greatest legacy is his family. The Deichmann side of the family has been close for as long as I can remember, and we make an effort to meet with each other regularly. I've seen posts honoring Grandpa on social media, and I guess it's my turn. Here are some of my memories of Gordon Deichmann.
Grandpa Gordon was never the first person you would notice when you walk into a room. He wasn't the loudest or most talkative, but he had a quiet reserved kind of strength. He was like a support beam at the center of a building. He worked hard to provide for his wife and children, and he took pride in his work.
It always seemed like Grandpa was happiest when he had a dog. His dogs followed at his heel and would obey his every command. If he told a dog to sit on the tractor and wait for his return, that dog would not have moved if he was gone for two hours. He loved the living things and treated them all with care and respect, from the livestock to the barn cats.
By the time I came along, that side of the family had been blessed with an abundance of cousins for me to play with. It was always a fun time to get together and explore the old farm buildings and play pretend amongst the old equipment. This is one of my favorite pictures of Grandpa Gordon. I remember him carrying me and all of his grandchildren in the buckets for as long as we would fit.
When Grandpa passed on Saturday, I was sad, but there was a part of me that was grateful. Over the last couple of years, his body was becoming less and less able to do the simplest of tasks, and it was hard to tell well his mind was taking in his surroundings.
My last conversation with Grandpa Gordon was to introduce him to my significant other, Alex. I am so grateful he got to meet my grandpa, even if it was only once. Grandpa was having a good day. He recognized me and we engaged in a good long conversation. I am so grateful that I am able to have that day as my last living memory of my grandpa.
My grandma is still living, and I was able to visit her yesterday. She grieves in her own way, as we all do. She had Grandpa by her side for 63 years, and I can't imagine how hard it must be to navigate life without him.
I hope this doesn't come across as self-serving, but I felt like this post was a good place to share this picture. Last Christmas, I borrowed my grandmother's wedding dress and took some pictures while wearing it. I was astounded that it fit this well and the pictures came out beautifully. This dress is over 60 years old and the lace is so fragile, but the marriage it represents was so definitely not. When my aunt showed the picture to my grandpa, he said that I looked beautiful just like my grandmother.
My grandpa's life was one well-lived, and his rest is well-earned. God has freed him from a body that had been used up. I'm sad that he's not here, but I am grateful that he no longer feels pain, exhaustion, or illness. Rest well grandpa. I'll see you again someday.
