Granddaddy

Granddaddy with Austin as a baby...his first great grandchild.

Granddaddy, my paternal grandfather, passed away on Monday and I sure hate being halfway across the world at times like this. Granddaddy was diagnosed with ALS last year and was taken a little quicker than expected but he lived his 82 years WELL and was well-thought of by everyone who met him.

The only grandfather I ever knew, Granddaddy was kind, always learning new things, always looking for ways to serve others, gave great bear-hugs, was passionate about his alma-mater Penn State, was the model citizen.  As I was thinking of the many memories I was able to share with him, I started with a theme of ice cream and breakfasts.  It started when I was really little and he would take us to McDonalds for a chocolate sundae (which was a really big deal since we were rarely allowed dessert at home).  I remember once he tried to get me to guess where we were going by telling me about "The Golden Arches" and I tried and tried but never could guess what it meant till we pulled in the parking lot.  Then we moved up to Dairy Queen - I am pretty sure I had my first blizzard with Granddaddy.  Then after he and Grandma moved to State College after retirement, we got the deluxe treatment with trips to Meyer Dairy and The Creamery.  When I was really little, I remember getting up early to eat breakfast with Granddaddy (he was always up early)...especially I remember eating Frosted Flakes at their house, asking for donuts and later no trip was complete without a trip to the Waffle Shop of State College. I remember how we all made fun of him for drinking skim ("blue) milk, though now I would drink nothing else.  And he was an amazing cook- we have his famous ham glaze recipe in our family cookbook to pass down for years to come.

Not all my memories are about food of course.  Granddaddy was always learning- he was passionate about the Civil War and led us on trips to Gettysburg, learned to frame pictures after retirement and framed several things I own, compiled a detailed history of the Haney ancestors, gifted me with many classic books I was excited to read, kept up amazingly with technology, a true friend to Amish neighbors and respectfully interested in their way of life; he always had something to teach and share about.  He also was a quiet model of a servant- spent many hours delivering meals on wheels, serving his church, volunteering and serving alumni of PSU, was an EMT with Grandma when I was very young...was never flashy about his service but it was a part of life for him.  I googled his name the other day to see if there was an obituary out yet.  There wasn't, but I came across several articles about him, including one from 2009 when he won an outstanding alumni award from Penn State.  I learned quite a few things about him I never knew...awards he had won and services he had given in many places throughout his career in the Forestry Service and Department of Agriculture and as a very active alumnus of PSU.  He was always quietly doing many great things and I admire his humility and care for others.

I am so thankful Austin and Bennett got to meet him, though far too briefly.  Bennett is named Bennett Price after Granddaddy (Glenn Price Haney) and we are so proud to pass on his name.  I will miss Granddaddy greatly, but am so thankful for so many years with him with such good memories.  As I turn 35 tomorrow, was thinking that I have few friends my age who have enjoyed as many years as I have with my grandparents (both my grandmothers are well and active still).  So I am both sad and thankful and glad I will see Granddaddy again one day.  I will miss being there on March 17 for his memorial service, but glad I have many fond memories to ponder over even from this side of the world.