Kenneth Wheeler, My Grandpa

My Grandpa passed away last evening right after supper time, very peacefully and surrounded by people who loved him and who sang him his favorite hymns as he died.

He was my last living grandparent, and I feel privileged that my girls were able to know him. Yesterday as Merry sketched at the breakfast table, completely out the blue, she began humming "I'll Fly Away," which was my Nana's favorite hymn. I took this as a sign, found the hymnal, and began singing for Grandpa: I'll Fly Away, Marching to Zion, and Pass Me Not. The girls joined in and I felt that God somehow took our songs to Grandpa since we could not be there in Ohio with him. (We'll head down on Wednesday for services).

The girls and Martin and I discussed at supper what Grandpa would eat for his first meal in heaven, after so long with Parkinson's disease, living in his weak, failing body--I think the consensus was pancakes. It's sad that he is gone but such a mercy too--he was taken care of at home by hospice care, by my mother who travelled to Ohio once a month for years, and most importantly, by his loving, generous wife--a woman whom I admire and who has shown me a real picture of Jesus: patient, gentle, and faithful.

We love you, Grandpa!