In honor of a great man! My Grandpa

[BigfishDM]

What a great life my grandpa lived to be 100, was the oldest serving council member ever to serve in California. This is the man who taught me how to fish. Love you grandpa RIP!


http://www.legacy.com/obituaries/sgvtribune/obituary.aspx?n=henry-harkema-hank&pid=153411532

 

[John L]

My heart goes out to you. Every day I miss my Grandfather.

 

[skdave]

Sorry about your lose Josh. I hope we are all printing at 100.

 

[BigfishDM]

Thanks guys, we had a huge party set up and then he had a massive anureism in his stomach and his only option to live was to have immediate surgery and the doctors had never operated on a man that age but he made it through the surgery but two weeks went by and he got kidney failure. I was able to see him the night before he passed and he told me it wouldnt be long now till he went on to bigger things. He knew excactly what was going on and it was really sad to see but he lived a very full life.

 

[GypsyGraphics]

he sounds like a wonderful man Josh... and someone who made the best of his many years. i hope the joy he brought to your life overshadows the sadness of missing him.

xoxo -gg

 

[Rodi]

Sorry for your loss, but how much did you gain from him? Sounds like a lot, and that is cool!!

 

[signage]

Sorry for your loss, he will always be in your memories, sounds like he was a great man!

 

[Jillbeans]

What a cool-sounding guy, how proud you must be to have had him for a pap.
I lost my aunt StaDort today (Stella Dorothy) she was 90.
Aren't we lucky to have known such great people?
Love....Jill

 

[Marlene]

All of his adult life was centered on healthy living with LOTS of vitamins! He took pride in the fruits and vegetables grown in his garden and getting his grandchildren to eat healthy without them even knowing it. One of Henry's biggest peeves was seeing young kids drink soda and eat fast food. Henry was an advocate of positive thinking, productive living, and not letting the little things in life get to him. He loved traveling, playing poker machines, hunting, camping, gardening, and story telling - especially those war stories! Many times Henry would be unable to finish a story without laughing before reaching the end of it

just this little part really painted a good picture of him for all who knew him and those, like us, who never got the chance to meet him. he sounded like a great guy. you and your family must be so much richer for having him in your lives and I am sorry for your loss.

 

[hightop]

To Bigfish and Jillbeans, I am so sorry that you have both lost beloved family members. It is so difficult to go through. They both sound like wonderful people.

 

[Gino]

Sorry to hear of your loses to both of you. When you get up around that age, it's just so much fun, listening to their stories. May he, and your aunt, Jill, rest in peace.

 

[TresL]

My prayers are with both of you.

Today is also my DAD's New Birthday.
He passaway 1 year ago today.

 

[laserman70]

Sounds like he was an amazing man.
Sorry for your loss.

 

[Tim Aucoin]

Very sorry to hear about your losses Josh & Jill. I truly warms my heart though to hear when people have lived such long and wonderful lives. I find that the people who make the greatest difference in our lives tend to live the longest. When God has a plan for us, He keeps us around as long as He needs us! 90 and 100.... WOW! Those are lives worth celebrating!

 

[BigfishDM]

Thanks again everyone for your kind words! Sorry to hear about your loss also Jill, its great they were able to have lived for so long and experience so much.

 

[rushworks graphics]

never having/knowing a grandfather he sounds like someone well worth knowing!.......sorry for your loss bigfish.

 

[MachServTech]

My prayers and condolences to both of your losses.

 

[Mike F]

Sorry for your loss BigFish, you too Jill. Wish I had spent more time with my grandfather before he died of stomach cancer about 10 years ago, I was too young and stupid to realize how much I'd miss him though.

 

[eye4color]

Sorry to hear about this BigFish. How lucky to have had him in your life for so long. I lost all mine early on. I recently found the speeding ticket my grandpa wrote me in 1976. I was written up for excessive speeding in the garage while "piloting" a properly finned '60 T-bird. Brought a smile to my face and some mist to my eye. You'll have a part of your Grandpa with you always and we are all lucky to have known that generation of Americans.