RIP Dad

My father-in-law, Don Geigner, passed away in his sleep Tuesday evening/Wednesday morning. I will forever be grateful to him and his former wife for creating the best person to ever walk into my life, their son - my husband. I'm also happy that I was able to get to know him, prickly personality and all.

Don had many hobbies he enjoyed over the years. He was first and foremost, an engineer. He had his pilot's license for many years and was a ham radio operator for all of his adult life, having participated in many a Field Day. There was talk that he asked his assisted living facility to allow him to put up an antenna on the property (I don't think they said no, but sadly, there is no antenna). My father-in-law was a former broadcast engineer for WTTW television - Channel 11 Chicago. When you come into Chicago via the Eisenhower or Stevenson expressway and you see the Sears Tower (Willis Tower I think it is now), there are two antennas on the top. He referred to the left one as "HIS antenna". And it was. I remember getting pictures in my email from the top of the Sears tower (yes, the roof of the Sears tower, not the observation deck). He could go on and on about his transmitter. But it wasn't all about electronics (just most of it). He could also talk incessantly about fishing in Squirrel Lake (Lac du Flambeau, WI) or his garden (most of his yard). Or the chemical properties of gravy. That was the first story he told me when Chuck introduced us at Punky's in Lombard. I think it was a test. I appear to have passed because he danced at our wedding.

Over the past several days we've be told about another side of him, one is family rarely saw. We were told how much he was loved by the residents and staff of Bickford House. How missed he will be. How Don could be counted on the help out his neighbors, the staff, anyone in need of help. He was proud of his daughter and son and grandchildren - he spoke of them frequently to anyone who would listen. And listen they did. Don was a great teller of stories. His brother can attest to this, so can the rest of his family and anyone else he ever came in contact with.

He is now pain-free and reunited with his special friend Janice. When he finally crossed over in the wee hours of that Tuesday evening - I imagine her saying "Donald, it's about time. Heaven is waiting for you." And that's where our sadness and happiness come clashing together. We are sorry to see him go, but so very happy that he's now at rest. His idea of Heaven may be a little different than Jan's. Heaven for him is a fishing boat with clouds above, on a dark lake, in the North Woods of Wisconsin. I'm sure Jan will understand if he holds her off, just for a few more casts.

Love you dad!