110

 Far Guy's Dad would be 110 years old today.  He died shortly after his 80th birthday.  That was 30 years ago. 

He was a very kind, wise man.

Marvin with his Willys - Knight.  He liked cars. 

Far Side

Wistful Wednesday: Far Guy’s Family

This is a photo from Cousins Bonnie and Wayne.

Grand Forks North Dakota about 1958.  The car we think is a 1957 Plymouth Fury Stationwagon. The photo is taken in the driveway of Jim and Esther’s home (Marvin’s brother and his wife).

Evelyn has her cosmetics case ( I think either Trica or Jennifer has it now) her purse and something else in her hands?  Marvin is wearing one of his favorite flannel shirts under a wool coat, Janice has been shopping, she said “We often went shopping when we went to Grand Forks.” Far Guy is holding Muggy.

Far Guy said “I forgot  all about that car, my Dad didn’t have that one very long.  We might have been in Grand Forks for Easter that year.”

Far Guy’s parents were born in 1914, they have both been gone for some time now.  His Dad in 1994 at the age of 80 and his mother in 2006 at the age of 91.  His sister is alive and well and lives in Indiana and she still likes to shop!

 

Wistful Wednesday: Summer Fun

Nothing better than kids growing up on a farm and finding ways to entertain themselves.

Far Guy’s Grandma Tracie marked these photos. The one above is marked 4 1/2 years.

This one is marked five years.  Far Guy’s Dad would have been five years old in the summer of 1919.  I don’t think that Ronald born in March of 1918 would be old enough to be in the photos…unless Grandma was off by a year then  it is possible.  That is the old barn in the background.

The wagon looks to be outfitted with a steering wheel of some sort and a wooden crate.  I am not sure what the lampshade thing on top could be.

I bet these two went on some real adventures.

Wistful Wednesday: Fishing long ago

This is a photo of Far Guys Parents and his Great Uncle and Aunt.  This is another photo from the trunk upstairs.  I think it was most likely taken in the 1940’s.

Uncle Herman, Aunt Charlotte, Evelyn and Marvin..and the dog Lady or Tippy (I cannot tell them apart) the photo was taken at Grandpa and Grandmas farm.  (Herman was Grandpas youngest brother.)

This may have been the fishing trip where Far Guys mom got all the fish.  She didn’t fish much when she got older because she got seasick real easy.

This is Far Guy’s dad.  The photo was taken in 1979 well after he retired. He went fishing all times of the year.  He liked winter time fishing the best..it got him out of the house and it seems like all his record setting fish were caught then..perhaps that is because he had more time to fish.

I think this is the largest fish he ever got..a Northern weighing in at 25 1/2 pounds and 45 inches long! Now that is a fish!

“As a rule, men are very forgiving when you fish badly. It’s only when you fish well that they get truly upset.” Mallory Burton

His 98th birthday would have been last Monday..but he has celebrated the last eighteen of his birthdays in heaven.  He died in 1994 shortly after his birthday.  Eighteen years..how can it possibly be that long ago? 

Other than fishing and hunting..he liked to read the newspaper, listen to baseball on the radio, play solitaire and look at maps..he had an Atlas next to his chair and could be immediately transported to another state and tell you the best route to get from here to there. He liked to argue politics with whoever would argue with him.  He liked a good conversation with differing points of view.  Often times if Trica was argumentative we would say “Call your Grandpa and argue with him!”  He could spend hours looking at all the new cars when they came out for the year. He liked big cars..Lincolns and Chrysler Imperials. Red was his favorite color.  He loved fried potatoes and he learned to fry his own the year that Far Guys Mom had her hips replaced.  He had the hiccups for well over a year after his heart surgery..the only way he could get them to stop was to chug down some ice cold Fresca. He liked to watch TV “All in the Family” was one of his favorite shows..and Police Woman with that sexy Angie Dickinson. He watched “General Hospital” every day with Far Guys Mom.  If one of them would miss “the story” then the other would fill them in on the happenings in Port Charles... they even managed to get me interested in the happenings during the “Luke and Laura” era.

I have lots of good memories. He was a fine man and I was blessed to have him for a Father In Law:) 

Wistful Wednesday: Old Car

This is a photograph of Far Guys Dad. The car is a Willys Knight from the late 1920's (according to Far Guy) I have no idea when the photograph was taken... I would guess in the late 1930's. I have not been able to come up with a better date than that. Perhaps a relative knows.. If anyone out there can date the car more precisely..just leave me a comment.

I have many photographs of Far Guys Dad and cars. He loved cars. He loved looking at and talking about cars. In the eighty years that he lived (1914-1994) he had lots of cars. I think he must have made the rounds to all the car dealerships when all the new cars were released for the year. Car dealerships used to print out wonderful brochures, he stored them in his magazine rack next to his chair. Sometimes they would be all spread out on the floor. He could car shop from his chair!

When I was on a quest for a new to me four wheel drive vehicle back in 1987, it was just natural for him to accompany me on my quest. We spend days looking and comparing. I think he was just a little bit sad when I found the vehicle I wanted..our days out and about vehicle shopping in Park Rapids, Wadena, Perham and Detroit Lakes..were over..shucks..:)