Our Grandfather's Legacy

Rod’s family will fondly remember him as a loving father and brother, devoted husband, and precious grandfather. His friends will recall his affinity for a glass of wine and great conversation. However, all those who knew Rod will smile when they remember his infectious laugh. Somewhere between a chuckle and full-fledged guffaw, Rod’s genuine laughter could fill an entire room with warmth.

Rod wasn’t particularly passionate about traditional gift-giving at Christmas or birthdays, but he did have an incredibly generous nature. He gave of his time and resources to many causes, but to his family and friends he gave much more. The Lord blessed Rod in many ways, and during his time on Earth, he poured those blessings back out to all of us.

As a grandfather, Rod never limited a child’s imagination. Instead, he gave us the practical tools we needed to fuel our imaginative ideas. He gave his young grandson the plastic grocery bag necessary to catch wind in the backyard, and helped make sure the tree house tucked back in the woods was sturdy enough for adventurous children to oversee their forest kingdom. He showed us how to use a fishing pole and see what lies below the surface of the water. He explained that each piece of a jigsaw puzzle contains clues that will show you exactly where it goes, if only you study it long enough. He also encouraged us to marvel and wonder about everything around us - God’s creation, works of art, skyscrapers, and even engineering triumphs like boats and hot air balloons.

As we got older, Rod and Carol both showed us that even if you have the resources to hire outside help, there’s nothing quite like rolling up your sleeves and tackling the hard work yourself. And of course, they taught us how to best appreciate an excellent wine.

If we close our eyes, we can see Rod gliding through the lawn on his tractor, cutting the grass for a second time. Or maybe we see him out in the vineyard with a pair of clippers, pruning the vines to yield a delicious concord harvest. We may also see him sitting in the living room with the fireplace burning, enjoying a football game with his sons and grandsons or simply sitting quietly with classical music playing softly on the television.

We will all miss Rod dearly, but the memories we have made with him and the lessons he taught us will live on in our hearts forever. God bless all.

By Samantha Hubay