Grandpa Supinger

I still can't believe that the most wonderful father-in-law is in heaven.  

As I sit and type this post the tears are building up in my eyes and I'm not sure how I will get through it.  My father in law Joe was just the sweetest!! He was so kind, loving and a perfect dad.  I remember when I first met him when Spencer and I were in the high school marching band and I could not believe he was Spencer's dad because he was so much older than all the other dads.  What I soon found out is that he had more energy and life in him then most dads 20 years younger than him.  I don't think he missed a single band review.  He was very supportive of everything Spencer did.  When I started coming around his house more and more dad always made me feel comfortable.  He had such a serving heart and loved everyone.  Dad was amazing at every sport he played and played softball into his 70's as a pitcher.  Seeing him as a grandpa to my kids just melted my heart.  You would think after having 7 children and almost 30 grandchildren and a handful of great grandchildren he would be over it all but it was the opposite.  He loved each child very much and you felt his love when he was around you.  Dad never sat down.  He was always up helping with anything and everything.  He was known for always doing the dishes and I remember when I just got out of the hospital after having Carter he was mopping my floors.  After every kid party (he came to all Aubrey and Carter's parties!) he was there cleaning up the chairs, vacuuming the floors, doing the dishes and pulling the decorations down.  He loved animals and Deuce sure loved him! He would sneak pizza crust and sausage to him under the table.  Dad was amazing at any game he played.  He loved Rummikub and he was a force to be reckon with! He won so many times when we played! He had amazing stories.  Like the one of him and his brother walking down the street in Ohio and decided to sign up for the air force.  They went and signed up and didn't tell anyone and jumped on a bus and headed towards California.  He called his family 3 months later to tell them where he was.  He had so many other amazing stories and adventures that he went on.  These last few months have been really hard.  We have loved the time we had with him but it was hard watching him fad away.  He had dementia for about a year or so and then in January was diagnosed with Stage 4 lung cancer.  Since he was 84 and the healthy cells he did have were really too weak to fight the cancer the family decided to not do treatment. It was very hard seeing a man that did everything start to not know what he was doing and slowly deteriorate.  I wondered a lot is it better to know some one is close to death so you can do and say everything you want before they are gone but have to watch them get sick and sicker or have someone you love die suddenly but not suffer??? I still wonder which is the better choice.  I try to just look back and remember all the wonderful memories we have.  Since dad's favorite color was blue we all wore navy for him.  Also all the sons and grandsons wore dad/grandpa's ties.   

When we got to the church that morning we started to set up and the tears were already flowing! 

 This picture of dad looks a lot like Spencer to me!

After we set up the ward made us a wonderful breakfast.  It was really nice to get to be with all the family.  Here is Carter in his grandpa's tie...

 We first had a family service in the RS room and then had the main service in the chapel.  It was beautiful.  I cried the entire time.  David did an amazing job on the eulogy.  We all sang a family song, Teach me To walk in the Light.  After the ceremony we walked outside to go to the cemetery before we left we took some pictures.

 Once at the cemetery it was time for the burial service.  This was also very tough.

 The flag ceremony was beautiful.

 Spencer's best friend Joel came.

 What a day! It was really tough. 

 Spencer's mom found these fortunes in his wallet....

 Dad we love you so much! You are just amazing.  Such a great role model.  You are and will always be a great man, husband,dad and grandpa.  You have left a huge legacy behind and make me so proud to be a Supinger! We will love you always and forever!