Sad week

[ImpeachBush]

I had a rough week, last week, as my father passed away after a long, long battle with cancer. I loved my father and miss him terribly. He was a wonderful, loving father and family man ... respected in his community ... a soft spoken, quiet man who loved to busy himself with work, hobbies, and family. He was a member of the Ohio Operating Engineers for over 50 years, and was proud of his skills as heavy equipment operator. He worked on many of Ohio roadways and interstates, and other construction projects all over Ohio.

My dad was involved in the Normandy invasion. He landed on Utah Beach, among the first troops to reach the beach, and fought in many other battles in France, Belgium, and Germany. He received the Bronze Star and 3 Purple Hearts. That was a long time ago, but I know my dad was always proud of his service years. He loved his country (that's why he voted Kerry/Edwards last election).

He died peacefully in his sleep, and I miss him so much. If you'd like to view his obituary (Roger W. Rude Sr.), here is a link (it's the second one on the page, I believe):

www.examiner.org/obituari...uary/9.php

[Bunny]

1. Oh, I'm so sorry.

My deepest condolences. My dad passed away two years ago last Wednesday. I miss him terribly. :cry:

Take care. :hug:

[Mikimouse]

2. My condolences...he sounds like a great guy...

Many hugs from us!:grouphug:

[trotsky]

3. A wonderful man whose contributions were immeasurable.

A perfect example of a True American. My condolences on your loss.

[demnan]

4. I'm so sorry

I offer my sympathy in this sad time. My Dad died over 10 years ago and I still miss him.

[flamingyouth]

5. I'm very sorry for your loss

:hug:

[ProfessorGAC]

6. My Condolences

I lost my dad just a few years back. I can empathize and sympathize. Take care.
The Professor

[ET Awful]

7. I'm sorry to hear it

:hug:

[El Fuego]

8. I am very sorry.

I also lost my Dad to cancer last year.

[nothingshocksmeanymore]

9. My condolences on the loss of your father

:hug: I am so sorry

[livetohike]

10. My sympathy to you and your family

:hug:

I lost my Dad to cancer in November. He was also from "The Greatest Generation". He was in the hospital on election day and we couldn't get him an absentee ballot. It was the first election of his lifetime in which he couldn't vote. He died four days later. Oh, and he had a Kerry/Edwards button pinned to his hospital gown.

[ImpeachBush]

11. Absentee voter registration ...

I'm so glad I was able to help my parents with that. My staunch republican brother was not the least bit helpful with getting my parents set up for election day .. probably because he was aware how they felt about Bush. I sent in the registration forms, and they only got one response back. But my more liberal brother handled that issue, and we were able to get them ballots in their hands and help them complete the voting process. Both parents were (are) frightened by what Bush is doing to this country and his complete lack of compassion/concern for eldery Americans. My parents hate the Iraq war, the civil rights degradation, the social security fiasco, the tax cuts for the rich, etc., etc. and were so consfused & upset by the election results. But they voted ... the first time since they voted for Reagan ... and my mother is determined to continue on voting each November.

[livetohike]

13. My Dad went so fast

the deadline for applying happened the first week he was in the hospital. It's a long story....but he died three weeks after his diagnosis of pancreatic cancer.

Bottom line is there was no way to get him a ballot. That made all of us sad. My Dad was a lifelong Dem and active in the party for years. We tried every way we could to get that ballot. This was in PA. There was no way we could get him to the polls on election day. That was the only way he (or anyone else in the hospital on election day) could vote.

[ImpeachBush]

15. You'd think that they could have worked something out ....

It is such a disservice to our country that we can't get ballots to the ill. I've heard stories of a few people getting some exceptions made for them, but it is rare. I'm so sorry your father was unable to participate and the situation was so sudden. I'm sorry for your loss, as well.

At Thanksgiving we found out that my dad's chemo treatments were not working and that he had a few months left (pretty accurate assessment). He was first diagnosed in 1991 (he beat it), again in 2001/2002 (he beat it, they said, but I'm not so sure about that now), and then again in 2004. So it was a long, drawn out affair, and my dad had been too weak to do much since mid-summer. We had plenty of time to get his absentee ballot taken care of.

[Rainbowreflect]

12. I am so sorry for your loss.

[Lavender Brown]

14. He sounds like a wonderful man

I'm so sorry for your loss.
:grouphug:

[Pithlet]

16. I'm so sorry.

:hug: From your tribute, I can tell he was a good man.

[Historic NY]

17. My sympathies to you and your family.