Eulogy for My Dad

My Dad was a Hero.

The dictionary defines a hero as “Someone who is admired for their courage or outstanding achievements.” And I can’t think of a better way to define my dad. He has served his country during the Korean War, served his community as A Fireman for over 20 years, and most importantly.. he has served his family as a husband, a brother, and a friend.

I remember when I was growing up, I saw super-heroes on TV or in the movies, but my dad was the real thing. He wasn’t bulletproof, but that never stopped him from running into a burning building, risking his life to save others. He couldn’t fly, but he found a way to work two jobs, so our family could have the things it wanted. And he didn’t have any magic super-tools or weapons; because he had something better and much stronger than that… he had a Super Heart.

He was a gentle man of caring and compassion. He was humble, never one for standing in the limelight or accepting much praise. He simply did what needed to be done, often going that extra mile just because it was the right thing to do. And when my father worked his second career as a mechanic, he wasn’t just fixing cars or fire trucks, he was placing part of his heart and soul in everything he did, a part of him that would endure and live on forever.

His high school yearbook summed things up pretty good even back then. My dad’s quote for his senior year was; “I work a little, I play a little, I live a content life.”

He continued to value these ethics throughout his life. He taught me to stand up for myself against adversity, to forge on ahead even when I was scared, and to always follow my heart, regardless of what others were thinking. He helped me to appreciate the little things, to take time for myself and play, and that the reason why we fall in life… is so we can learn how to get back up. And just like life, he showed me that every tool in his tool chest had a purpose. It didn’t matter if one tool was used more often that another or was more popular than another, each of them had a special job, and it was only that one special tool, which could do that job.