A snippet of a eulogy

Willa's first Easter

Telling stories at Willa's 2nd birthday party

Willa's 1st birthday, with all of her grandparents and great-grandparents.

70th wedding anniversary

72nd wedding anniversary/ 99th birthday party

These are the words that I shared at my Grandpa Ray's funeral last Tuesday...

My Grandpa Christensen passed away last Friday.  Well, duh, Allison you're probably thinking.  I mean, he was 99 years old!  But I don't think a single one of us who knew and loved him believed it would happen.  I KNOW we weren't ready for it in our hearts.  Wasn't it just last week that he was still fixing sprinklers?  Didn't he just take grandma out dancing, and keep her on the dance floor for every song?  Maybe it was a bit longer ago.  But it WAS just days ago that he still had his sass, his sense of humor and his love for his wife and family.  Grandpa, what you have given to our family is immeasurable.  As an adopted grandchild, I didn't get the priviledge of inheriting your good looks, but I think I can make a pretty solid case for just how important good role models are in learning life lessons.  What I have learned by watching you and grandma has shaped who I am.  Your strong sense of family, appreciation for respect, education, hard work, providing for your family, all while having a good time and truly enjoying life.  Those things are all so important.  Your passion for the things you did, both professionally and as a hobby, that can be rare these days.  We were just reading that as a child during the Depression, your favorite toy was a big spoon for digging. And then you went on to farm and put in underground sprinklers.  That is passion and consistency!  With all of your admirable qualities (and the sassiness) I think what I would like to take and hold in my heart, is your simple faith.  You lived your life in a way that quietly honored God and others, such a good man, showing kindness and compassion.
None of us was ready for this day.  You had 99 wonderful years, we all wanted 99 more.  That's how long it would have taken to prepare for this sadness.  BUT, you always loved a good party, especially if it was for you.  So today, we will celebrate you.  Love you, Grandpa.

And these are the words that my cousin Marty shared:

Just as Grandpa and Grandma were responsible for many very different offspring, there were many sides of him as well. 

He was the man in the green coveralls with the short sleeves. 
The guy asleep in the easy chair.
The farmer out standing in his field.
The young graduate with a fictitious middle initial.
The eligible bachelor who refused to marry until his hair fell out.
The fellow in the bleachers at all the football and basketball games.
The dude in the bright orange Honda full of sprinkler parts.
The dancer cutting a rug with Grandma.
The party animal who liked to stay out late.
The Burger King breakfast crony.
The disappearing man of mystery named Raybo.
The world traveler.
The historian of the family--and a lot of other people's familys, too.
The irascible patient--unless the doctor or nurse was cute.
The sale clerk with a garage full of treasures.
Did I mention the green coveralls with the short sleeves?
The retiree watching The Price Is Right.
The ornery old cuss giving Grandma a hard time.
The sprinkler repairman who made the old ladies swoon. Literally.
The guy at Fonner Park teaching grandkids how to bet on horses.
The storyteller who always had a story to tell.

The husband, father, grandfather, great-grandfather, great-great-grandfather, friend.

The reason we're all here today. To remember, and to say goodbye. We love you, Ray Christensen.