remembering my Dad 

8.31.1930 - 5.26.2014

that's me with my Dad somewhere in the fall of 1952

but let's go back - he had a life before me

October 1930

at the top - he's the seven year old boy peeping over his Dad's shoulder

his mom, my grandmother (and a saint by the way) is on the far right

on Dad's left is his grandmother and grandfather and his sister, Martha

to the right he is the little one with his sister and mom

he is with his parents in Florida about 1937

our family was all about fishing

they started going up to Sault Ste. Marie since before my Dad was born

top left he is with his mom, bottom right is his dad

we went up north and or to Florida every year I was growing up 

I can't tell you how many pictures I have of family members with dead fish

Dad was a handsome young man

my parent's met in high school

he was the captain of the football team and she was the queen of the prom

(and also a saint by the way....)

the Daubner luck

Dad went into the service out of high school

he was mostly stationed in Germany and he played basketball for the army

he said he loved the military

(he also won enough at poker to buy a car and a fancy set of German dishes

for my mom.....)

he always said we had the Daubner Luck

I guess I did - look at those cute parents

I can't get over how young he looked....

he had cool cars - he use to stand me up beside him in the convertible

it was Detroit the 50's it was all about the cars

Dad, as did his dad before him,

worked in the tool and die industry building cars

he was a fun dad, we always got the hotel with the pool

and he had as much fun as we did

we were a great threesome

then add my brother - 1960

 I could not imagine life without now - he is/was and incredible gift

super cute too

top left - my brother with my Dad's dad

that was out ski boat, Dad taught us all to ski

bottom right, parents, grandparents and brother about 1965

my first prom 1967

Mom and Dad look so young

1979 their first grandson

they came all the way out to northern California to the 100 acres

we lived on

Dad loved it, he went to town and bought me a new ax

first one grandson, then another in 1981

and a granddaughter in 1984

  

this is Port Townsend 1986

and in Florida April 1995 - they loved the kids and were wonderful grandparents

they LOVED Florida too and

moved down from Michigan in 1997

Dad in his classic Florida mode

sitting on the porch watching the kids swim in the pool

he was having trouble walking then but

Dad walked me down the isle in my 1995 wedding in Port Townsend

(my only wedding - yeah I know)

this is one of my most favorite photos of Dad and I

still looking good at my brother's wedding 1999

next thing you know he is a great-grandpa! in 2002

 their 60th wedding anniversary December 31, 2009

yep, married on New Year's Eve

the second great-grandbaby born on their

60th anniversary!!

  Mom's 80th birthday - May 2010

the gang May 2010

their grown up grandson came to visit 2011

grandpa was so happy

the 3rd great-grand child October 2011 and was named after my mother

mom died the next summer - 2012

there are so many stories I could tell about my Dad

that he was a really good golfer, pool player and poker player

he loved the casino and he really was lucky

check out these 2 photos

first 1999

 he is 2nd from the left 

still winning every tournament he ever entered

and then 40 years earlier

Vegas 

Dad is 2nd from the right

the man on the far left and far right are guys I have known all my life

they are still both living near where Dad lived in Florida

and

they still have something they call "the Daubner" at the country club in Detroit

he was also a very good dad, he was fun, generous and honest

 he was always there for me - always, and I knew he loved me

 in the end he went fast

one week he was in the hospital, the next the nursing home for rehab

 he wanted no rehab, he was tired

comfortable and out of pain for the first time in a long time

one week later we put him on hospice

he lived only one more week

he died the way he lived, with enthusiasm, bravery and in control

I love you Dad and I am so proud of you, oh and

give my love to mom, grandma and Thomas for me would you - thanks

xxoo