Wistful Wednesday: Uncle Dennis

Last Friday my Uncle Dennis died.  He was 78 years old.  He was a strong man not only physically built like a big old bear but strong in his faith.  He could quote you a Bible verse or two or three.
He adored his wife my Aunt Judy.  He was a good father, grandfather and great grandfather.  He was an honorable man serving God and Country.

This photo was taken shortly after he was drafted in 1955 at the age of 18.  He spent six years in the Army.  This photo in a 8 x10 slightly colorized version was always on top of Grandma’s Cabinet where she stored her pretty dishes or on the porch on the cabinet where she kept favorite pictures. 
My Mother has marked this photo Dennis May 6 1951. He was 14 years old.

Laura, Julie, Dennis May 6 1951.  Dennises Confirmation.  The photos were taken by my Mother at my grandparents farm.

I think that Laura and Julie (short for Julius) were my Uncle’s Godparents.  It is sometimes a custom (in Lutheran families) to have a photo taken with your Godparents…those people that held you at your baptism and renounced the devil and all his wicked works and ways for you because you were too little to speak for yourself….well they were also there the day when you confirmed your faith in our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ and they were people who upheld you in their prayers. Julie and Laura were long time friends and neighbors of my grandparents.

I have no doubt that my Uncle went straight from this world to heaven….and that is a joyous feeling!  The last time I spoke with him we touched on the subject of death…he said “Ya ya in God’s time, he is in charge you know? Ya ya.” (Ya ya was one of my Uncles favorite ways to begin and end a sentence.)

My Maternal Grandparents had twelve children.   My Mother and her three youngest siblings are all that remain.  My Mother is second to the oldest.