Mahler’s Monday Morning Motivator # 46 : Eulogy for Dad
Good Morning, guys.
My wife and I arrived in Pittsburgh on December 27th to celebrate the holidays with family and friends, only to find out that her father had suffered a heart attack. This gentle soul died on December 30th. We had just celebrated his 90th birthday in November. All of his family is here and he will be buried tomorrow. I have been honored to be asked to deliver the eulogy which I have been working on for the past few days. He has been a real inspiration in my life and I would like to share it with you, my many friends.
There is not much that one can say about Ken Bixby that is not already understood and appreciated by those who have known and loved him.
How do you summarize a life that spanned nearly a century and touched the lives of so many others in its journey?
Some men march, headstrong, through the forest and cut a swath of devastation.
Others, slip quietly between the trees and branches so that you would never know their passing.
Kenneth Ervine Bixby walked through the forest, gently touching each leaf, softly moving a branch here and there that brushed against his face, and left a trail for others to follow.
He was a man of many names and many titles which he gathered along the way,
but he relished the simple ones the most and cherished those who spoke them;
Kenny, Dad, Pop, Grampa.
He was a gentleman and a gentle man,
A quiet man of few words,
yet he spoke volumes to us all
About the simple joys of living.
He was a man who did not live from day to day
but from event to event;
from accomplishment to accomplishment;
excelling as a student, an athlete, a soldier, a man of business, a friend, a husband, a father, a grandfather.
Growing up in North Fon du Lac, Wisconsin
he was no stranger to hardship, which he overcame
with hard work and athletic and academic abilities.
He attended the University of Wisconsin and
was president of Beta Gamma Sigma and Alpha Kappa Psi fraternities.
He was elected to Phi Kappa Phi, the all university honor society.
He was co-captain of the Varsity Baseball Team lettering in athletics.
One of his proudest achievements was his receipt of the award in 1941 of the
Big Ten Medal for Academic and Athletic Achievement.
He served in the armed forces during World War II attaining the rank of
Master Sergeant and the title of husband having married Anne Behrendt of
Cleveland Ohio who remained throughout their nearly 61 years together, the love of his life.
After the war he began a long business career starting with American Steel and Wire which subsequently became a part of US Steel. He also started a family which, over the years, found him blessed with five children, and six grandchildren
It may be erroneous to say that he only had five children because, Ken – Dad, held the wives of his sons and the husband of his daughter as closely to his heart as his own children.
He was a giving man, a generous man,
but not the generosity that revels in fanfare and show.
He served his God, his country, his family, his friends
equally well and with nothing expected
except the pleasure he derived from doing so.
He was a man of faith.
Not the faith that merely brought him to this church for
an hour or so every Sunday,
but a faith that he took from this sacred space
and carried with him always.
When you grasped his hand and looked into his face,
his lips would curl into a smile,
and Christ was looking out from behind those eyes.
It is often said that only the good die young.
The life of Ken Bixby is a testament to the fact that God,
in his infinite wisdom and boundless generosity,
just sometimes leaves the good among us
for a little while longer
before gathering them to himself.
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Have a great week. I hope each of you has someone like my
father-in-law in your lives.
In Fitness & Friendship,
Mahler
__________________ In Fitness & Friendship, MAHLER
______________________________ __________________________ There is no light at the end of the tunnel. You carry the light with you.
Originally posted by Mahler: Mahler’s Monday Morning Motivator # 46 : Eulogy for Dad
Good Morning, guys.
My wife and I arrived in Pittsburgh on December 27th to celebrate the holidays with family and friends, only to find out that her father had suffered a heart attack. This gentle soul died on December 30th. We had just celebrated his 90th birthday in November. All of his family is here and he will be buried tomorrow. I have been honored to be asked to deliver the eulogy which I have been working on for the past few days. He has been a real inspiration in my life and I would like to share it with you, my many friends.
There is not much that one can say about Ken Bixby that is not already understood and appreciated by those who have known and loved him.
How do you summarize a life that spanned nearly a century and touched the lives of so many others in its journey?
Some men march, headstrong, through the forest and cut a swath of devastation.
Others, slip quietly between the trees and branches so that you would never know their passing.
Kenneth Ervine Bixby walked through the forest, gently touching each leaf, softly moving a branch here and there that brushed against his face, and left a trail for others to follow.
He was a man of many names and many titles which he gathered along the way,
but he relished the simple ones the most and cherished those who spoke them;
Kenny, Dad, Pop, Grampa.
He was a gentleman and a gentle man,
A quiet man of few words,
yet he spoke volumes to us all
About the simple joys of living.
He was a man who did not live from day to day
but from event to event;
from accomplishment to accomplishment;
excelling as a student, an athlete, a soldier, a man of business, a friend, a husband, a father, a grandfather.
Growing up in North Fon du Lac, Wisconsin
he was no stranger to hardship, which he overcame
with hard work and athletic and academic abilities.
He attended the University of Wisconsin and
was president of Beta Gamma Sigma and Alpha Kappa Psi fraternities.
He was elected to Phi Kappa Phi, the all university honor society.
He was co-captain of the Varsity Baseball Team lettering in athletics.
One of his proudest achievements was his receipt of the award in 1941 of the
Big Ten Medal for Academic and Athletic Achievement.
He served in the armed forces during World War II attaining the rank of
Master Sergeant and the title of husband having married Anne Behrendt of
Cleveland Ohio who remained throughout their nearly 61 years together, the love of his life.
After the war he began a long business career starting with American Steel and Wire which subsequently became a part of US Steel. He also started a family which, over the years, found him blessed with five children, and six grandchildren
It may be erroneous to say that he only had five children because, Ken – Dad, held the wives of his sons and the husband of his daughter as closely to his heart as his own children.
He was a giving man, a generous man,
but not the generosity that revels in fanfare and show.
He served his God, his country, his family, his friends
equally well and with nothing expected
except the pleasure he derived from doing so.
He was a man of faith.
Not the faith that merely brought him to this church for
an hour or so every Sunday,
but a faith that he took from this sacred space
and carried with him always.
When you grasped his hand and looked into his face,
his lips would curl into a smile,
and Christ was looking out from behind those eyes.
It is often said that only the good die young.
The life of Ken Bixby is a testament to the fact that God,
in his infinite wisdom and boundless generosity,
just sometimes leaves the good among us
for a little while longer
before gathering them to himself.
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Have a great week. I hope each of you has someone like my
father-in-law in your lives.
In Fitness & Friendship,
Mahler
Mahler, You continue to amaze me. 100% wonderful. Ken is a lucky man to have you watching over his daughter. Best of luck to you and the family.
John, I'm very sorry for your loss. Sounds like a great member of the greateest generation. I'm sure he'll be missed.
Bill
__________________ 'I feel sorry for people who don't drink. When they wake up in the morning, that's as good as they're going to feel all day. ' ~Frank Sinatra
WARNING: The consumption of alcohol may create the illusion that you are tougher,
smarter, faster and better looking than most people.
Man it just hurts me to see that W.W.II generation go. Most of the world owes their lives today to men like him. I'll be praying for your family tonight. Don't worry yourself about that old soldier though, his body is stronger than it ever was and his mind is sharper than it ever has been. I can assure you that one day when your hour has come he will meet you again with open arms. God bless you all.
__________________
There are no born winners. There are no born losers. Everyone is born a chooser. Choose your path wisely.
I'm sorry for the loss you and your family have felt. You have always spoken highly of your father in-law one more than one occasion on this board so I understand that this must be an extremely tough loss. Your family is in my thoughts and prayers.
__________________
Past performance is not indicative of future success.
Never argue with an idiot. They drag you down to their level and beat you with experience.
Mahler, the part about Christ looking out from behind those eyes were really thouching. I feel many people, have lost the faith in God and give up. I think Christ looks out thru many eyes, but its US who fail to see it.
Ash
__________________
Never underestimate a man. He may be slow, he may be weak and he may be an asshole but given the chance, he could put you to shame.
Most people sit around talking ABOUT God, but how many people sit around talking TO God? - A.M
Originally posted by goldwave84: Mahler, the part about Christ looking out from behind those eyes were really thouching. I feel many people, have lost the faith in God and give up. I think Christ looks out thru many eyes, but its US who fail to see it.
Ash
I really have to thank you and all the guys for the support I have gotton on this forum. It's not a popular thing, these days, to proclaim your faith. Of course, as anyone can tell you, I don't often say or do what is popular, just what I feel. By the way. On the morning of the funeral, I scribbled some additional words to the eulogy. Here is the final paragraph that I added.
- - - - -
Ken Bixby has finished his journey.
He emerges from the forest.
And, waiting in the clearing,
patiently,
Jesus stands with arms open wide,
to welcome him home.
- - - - -
Thanks for your support and your faith.
Mahler
__________________ In Fitness & Friendship, MAHLER
______________________________ __________________________ There is no light at the end of the tunnel. You carry the light with you.
Mahler, it's an excellent eulogy, and there could be no better testament to the greatness of a man than having his son-in-law honor him in this way. Very sorry for your family's loss.
:p 
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