It’s hard to imagine that this picture was just 4 months ago when we were singing happy birthday to GK and watching him blow out his candles! If you didn’t read about the big 80th celebration you can get a full recap by clicking here.
Today my Grandpa Kenny passed away at 3:20 pm.
I can hardly type this post without tears running down my face, but I’m gonna give it my best shot.
Although we are all very sad to see him go, we are so happy that we had as much time with him as we did! I could only wish that I didn’t live so far away because I didn’t get the chance to say goodbye or to be there to hug my grandma as he took his last breath. I was just there visiting a few weeks ago and I had the chance to spend some time with GK. He was put in the hospital the day we arrived and wasn’t too responsive when people would talk to him. But, man did he smile when he saw P! He pretty much always smiled when P was around.
He held my hand very tightly and was able to mumble “i love you” before we left to head back home. I didn’t know if that would be the last time he would tell me he loved me or if it would be the last time I watched him smile at P, but I do know that I believed my GK was a fighter. He has battled many different types of cancers over the last decade and he has beat them all. If I knew anything, it was that this time would be no different than all the others and he would come out victorious.
Even though my grandparents lived 4 1/2 hours away we rarely missed spending a holiday with them. I can remember growing up that the first thing I would do as a little girl when we got to their house was go lift up my gpa’s recliner so I could find all the coins that had fallen out of his pocket. It never failed….every single time I would find money. Actually, it got to be such an exciting thing for me that I often wondered if my GK would secretly put coins under there before I came just so I wouldn’t be disappointed.
I could tell you stories and stories about my GK. He is definitely where I get the “Wilson” side of my family…anal, organized, and particular. But, what’s not to love a about a little Type A? 🙂
I just can’t believe that when we go to visit, he won’t be there sitting in his recliner waiting for my hugs. I am not sure how it will ever be the same, but I know that my Grandma is a ROCK and she will make this all ok. When I talk to her on the phone she kept telling me “Grandpa loved you so much and was so proud of you and Jeff and Parker. He is proud of all his grandkids.”
That is one thing I do know…My grandpa loved me just as I loved him.
I will miss you dearly GK and I am not sure how I will be able to sleep at your house downstairs knowing that you are not in the room right above me. I guess now your room will be a little higher than just the floor above me and as days go by I will somehow find peace knowing that you are smiling at P from above.
I will miss everything about you!
I am so sorry for your loss. May you find peace knowing that your wonder GK is in the arms of our Lord and will be watching over you & your family from now on. My thoughts & prayers are with you.
So sorry for your loss. How wonderful for you to be blessed with all these happy, sweet memories. He’ll always be in your heart. xoxo
i’m so sorry to hear about this mandy! losing someone is never easy! you and your family will be in our prayers!
I’m so sorry – grandpas hold a very special place….and you’re right holidays and visiting just won’t be the same. At least he knew how much you loved him, and how much he loved you. You and your family will be in my prayers.
i’m so sorry for your loss, mandy. your family will be in my prayers. this was a very sweet post.
I am so sorry to hear about your loss. My grandfather passed away in January and my grandmother almost 2 years ago….I still miss them dearly! But like you said, it’s great to be able to have them in your life for so long. Thinking of you.
Love your new blog! You have one dear of a husband!
I’m so sorry for your loss. My husband lost his grandfather on Friday, so we are currently visiting with the parents for the service. Your blog post is a beautiful tribute to him.
I’m so sorry for your loss honey. Eric and Addie and I will be thinking of you and praying for you. Love you tons!!
We all loved him sooo much and thank you sooo much for showing everyone how much he meant to you and he to you! What a great tribute to the best dad, G’pa and friend anyone could have. I too luved him as much as my own father! He was never an in-law to me but DAD always! Thanks Mando for that great tribute to Papa Kenny whom will be missed always! SPECIAL!
So sorry for your loss. Grandparents always hold a special place in our hearts. You and your family will be in our thoughts and prayers.
Thanks Mando, Very nice. We will all miss him very much! There is no one in the world I will miss or respect more in my life than my Father. I was lucky enough to have the best Dad and Mom ever. I will always miss him! Everyone should be so lucky as to have a Dad as good as mine. Love you even more, Dad.
I am sorry to hear about your Grandpa! My thoughts are with you during this difficult time.
Oh sweetie…I’m so sorry to hear about your Grandpa. I’ll be thinking of you and your family!
So nice, though, to see you guys were so close! What a special relationship grandparents have with their grandchildren.
i am so sorry for your loss. People who touch our lives are missed I think because we wish as mothers that they can have the same impact on our children. Now it’s up to you to keep your GK’s memory alive for your children by telling stories and adopting traditions that you remember from your own time with him. I am sorry.
I’m sorry about your grandfather. My prayers are with you and your family as you deal with this loss. Losing a grandparent is never easy.
You could not have said it any better in Honor of Granpa. All of his Kids and Gran Kids feel the same. I look forward to seeing you Jef and P this week. I wsih it was unsder better circumstances. Love you all.
My dear friend where to I begin. I can feel your unbelievable sadness in my heart just from reading this post. You and GK had a special bond and with your faith I’m confident that you will be able to continue to feel that closeness to GK now that he is looking down and protecting you and your family as your guardian angel. As I sit and cry for you, I just wish there was something I could do. Love and a really tight hug, A.N.
hi mandy, i’m so sorry to hear about ur grandpa, i know he was sick from reading ur blog previously. so sad but at least u had him for a large part of ur life and he met parker! it was so good seeing you this wkend!!!
I am so sorry to hear about your grandfather, Mandy. My grandfather’s health is declining every day and it is so difficult to watch. Just last April he passed his driver’s test, both written (100%!) and the actual driving part. He is 90 and I thought he would live forever! As I watch everything change before my eyes it tears me apart. I can see what a special bond you had with him and I honestly understand how much you loved him! I am so glad that he was able to spend time with P before his passing. I will keep your family in my prayers.
I am so sorry for your lose. You and your family are in my prayers.
I love you baba! We’ll make it together.
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What a beautiful tribute to a man that you clearly loved greatly. My thoughts and prayers are with you and your family during this difficult time.
I’m so sorry to hear about your Grandfather.
Mandy, this is such a wonderful tribute and something you will hold onto forever. I know how you feel. It has been one of the hardest things I remember in my adulthood. Jeff is right…you will get through this together and be stronger because of the positive impact GK had on your lives. I loved how close my grandpa and Tom were because his relationship with my grandma is one we hope to mirror!
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so sorry for your loss mandy, but this is a beautifully sweet post.
the last pic of the two of you is perfect.
you have great memories to share!
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