Just 2 weeks after my dad's memorial service, we celebrated the life of his dad, my Opa, Colin's Uber Opa. Opa had been in failing health for just a short while. On his last day, he waited for my cousin to visit from Manhattan. When Blazik walked in, he told Opa (he calls him Poppa) it was ok to leave us and go see Oma (our grandma), and just a few seconds later, he took his last breath. He had a wonderful life, and he was a great man! Below is a link to his obituary and what I said at his memorial service.
http://www.penwellgabelhutchinson.com/obituary.aspx?src=choice&obitid=70498&name=Vernon+F.+Martens&city=Hutchinson&st=KS
"To my brother and I he was Opa. Our sweet Opa, who loved us so much, who grew
tomatoes every summer, who took us for drives in his old car, tried to scare us
by taking out his teeth or playing the missing finger trick. He loved photographs, taking them, being in
them, collecting them. One of my favorites
is of him and Oma on the steps of the church they were married in. While Zach and I lived in Europe, we were
able to visit Munich and take a photo on those same steps. Opa loved Zach, talking to him on the phone,
asking questions about military life.
Uber Opa loved his first great grandchild, Colin. He thought he was absolutely perfect. He loved holding him, talking with him, and, playing
with him on the floor. He would wait
until we were all looking away, and somehow get to the floor with him. He rolled around on the floor and played with
Colin. Then, it would take a few of us
to get him back up. Just a few days
before he left us, he was talking about playing on the floor with Colin. Opa was such a sweet guy. He loved his family. He was a good person. And, because of his love of pictures, we have
photographs to go along with the wonderful memories we have of him. We love you Opa, and we will see you soon!"
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| The first time Colin & Opa met |
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| Sweet hands |
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| 4 Generations |
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| Opa's favorite shirt! |
