Grateful for Grandpa

Late Saturday morning, my grandfather, Mr. Sheldon Rasho Stremmel, was called home to heaven.

Born on August 14, 1907, he is the son of Charles and Estella Stremmel and the older brother to two sisters, Fern and Frances. He was a devoted and loving husband to my grandmother, Ruby Margaret Webb, and she preceded him in death exactly ten years ago this week in March 1997.

He is the father of Norma, Richard, Dennis, and Roger. He is the father-in-law of Charles, Billie, and Phyllis. He is, to so many of us, Grandpa... Great Grandpa... Great Great Grandpa. To even more, his nieces, nephews, brothers-in-law, sisters-in-law and church friends, he is simply "Shed."

A long-time member of Mt. Zion Primitive Baptist Church (Astoria, IL), Grandpa was a man of few words. But, his actions spoke volumes... about his love for his wife, his family, and his Saviour.

Our entire family realizes we had a great blessing in having him in our lives for such a long time. There are so many memories to recall about my stays over at Grandma and Grandpa's house: Grandpa showing me the iodine that he placed on his cuts, timing how long it would take for Grandpa to fall asleep after sitting down to watch TV, enjoying Lawrence Welk and Andy Griffith together, helping him out in the garden, picking strawberries and going mushrooming, watching him walk around the yard with his hands behind his back, listening to him recall the old days back in Astoria when he "set up house" with Grandma, just sitting and holding hands,... and especially the three little clicks he'd make just after kissing me hello and goodbye each time I saw him.

I'm sure going to miss those clicks... and kisses... and Grandpa.