Grand parents

37chief

Well-known Member
Location
California
The post below got me thinking of my grand parents. My mother's dad died at their farm in North Dekota. Grand mother couldn't manage the farm with out him. Grand mother moved the family to California in the late 30's. My dad's father left the family in the late 20's. Dad, and his brothers managed to keep the farm going without him. Years later Dad made contact with him. I would see him a few times. Both grandmothers ended up living on Dad's farm here in California. Each one had their own separate house. If my mom wouldn't give me a snack I cold usually score something from one of the grand mothers. I think that is why I was fatter than I should be when I was young. I didn't realize at the time how fortunate I was to be around my grand mothers growing up. Stan
 
i only had one set, just a bicycle ride away. Snacks there were, well not what a young boy would necessarily ask for; cold biscuit with honey dribbled on it but the LOVE was there.
 
Dads dad died in 1919, grandma lived till 1929, in 1956, I just remember seeing gramps on moms side, grandma moved to calif shortly afterwards, and lived till sometime in the 70's. At school other kids would come in Monday telling about going to gram and gramps over the weekend. Didn't really know if I was missing something or not, never being around them. And now that I'm a gramp, and great gramp, the family has nothing to do with me, so the title of that goes to a step gramps.
 
My grandma got sick and passed when I was about 5, and my grandpa passed away of a massive heart attack on my 12th birthday while we were on a fishing trip. My twin brother and I spent every weekend with him until his death. My grandparents on the other side didn't really want much to do with us until we were old enough to do yard work, cut wood etc.
 
My dads parents lost their farm in the 30's and grandpa went to work for the highway department. Grandpa rented another farm and dad and his brothers farmed it. Grandpa and Grandma didn't not buy another farm till 1945. It was about three miles from where he lost the first farm. When I was old enough to drive a tractor we went to grandpa's place to help hay and fill silo. Grandpa still worked for the highway department and dad farmed. The three best things were getting to drive a tractor all day long, grandma's dinner, and at the end of the day grandpa would slip me a 5 dollar bill for helping. For a 12 year old boy it made you feel pretty big. My mom's dad turned wrenches for the IH dealer in town. On Saturday's we would go to town with mom and grandma always had cold cuts and cheese to make sandwiches at noon. Thought I had the best life a young boy could have.
 
Dad was sick from my earlest memory and died when I was 11. His dad taught me to hunt,fish and fight. "Papa" lived until I was 20.
 
I was lucky. I had both sets of Grand Parents, three of my Great Grand Parents and one Great Great Grand Father all living when I was born. I lived just across the drive from my Fraternal Grand parents. My Maternal Grand Parents lived 5 miles away. All within bike riding distance. I was the only Grand Son on my Fraternal side until I was ten. I was surrounded by Family. All my younger grand kids all live within a few miles. I try to be involved with their lives as much as possible. Not much on doing the sports watching thing but have them over as often as possible. Teaching them things I know .
 
I missed growing up with grandparents. Mom's dad committed suicide just before my mother was born at the start of the depression. Her mom lived till just before I was born. Dad's mom died when I was about 6 months old. Grampa lived till the fall of 72. I saw him a little when I was very young then his last 6 months he lived with us when I was 17. I regret not having all of them around when I was a kid.

Rick
 
I never knew mine too much. I did learn more about my great grandpa recently, farmed the hollers in southern Indiana. His WW1 draft card had something like these checked off: "Tall", "stocky" and something else I can't remember. He was a big dude and tough. His youngest son just died. When I was a little boy he scared me. He was 6'5" and weighed 350+ pounds. Just a big guy like his dad. When he died recently he was 88. I was just a bit taller than he was and I'm 6'3". He still kind of scared me a little!! My great grandpa worked hard his whole life. He got sick in the 40's and withered down to not much of anything and committed suicide in the crib.
 
I only had one grand parent left when I was born, my dad's dad, but I didn't see him more than once or twice a year. He died when I was about ten and my dad when I was five.
 
Three of my grandparents died before I was born. Last grandmother died when I was about two. I can only remember one flash of her. One old lady in a black dress glaring down over her boosum at me. Not a pleasant memory.

There is a big hole in my life. What I would give to sit on a bench in the back yard and visit with them. Find out what they were like. Makinģ a point to be part of my grand kids lives. At least they will know something of their people.
 
All my grandparents were in Sweden and I never knew anything about them until I went there 2 years ago. Wish my parents had told me about them when I was young. Had aunts and uncles on my Dad's side, some were great and some not so. Just a great aunt on Mom's side who was a neat old lady. Those of you with grandparents you knew are fortunate and I'm sure you know that.
 

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