60 Comments

What a blessing to have a person like that in your life. May the memory of him bring a smile to you and your wife for many, many years to come.

Expand full comment

So very sorry for your loss. Your beautiful heartfelt tribute to this wonderful man is so touching. Thinking of you and your wife during this difficult time.

Expand full comment

What a beautiful tribute to your father in law. My deepest condolences on the passing of Ken, to you and all of your family. ❤️🙏

Expand full comment

Very sorry for you and your family’s loss. Beautiful tribute.

Expand full comment

Chris, what a great story. I admired my father-in-law too. He was a Will Rogers type, never met a man he didn't like! He went to work on the family farm instead of going to Blackburn College on a football scholarship in Carlinville, Illinois after graduating from high school in 1930. It was the Depression, and everyone had to sacrifice for the greater good. After enrolling in The MPs during WW II, he met my mother-in-law while being stationed in Fort McCoy Wisconsin. They were married in 1943 and then he was sent to Italy to guard Italian and German POWs. After the war in Europe was over, he was shipped to California and guarded Japanese prisoners until honorably discharged in 1946. He and his wife moved to Decatur, Illinois where he worked for A.E. Staley until his retirement. His daughter, my wife was not born until 1955. She always claimed she was a "change of life baby" and never had any sibs. He was generous, kind and loving to my wife and our kids. After his death in 2004 at 89 after a brief illness, at his funeral people of all ages came for visitation which just astounded me. I know he had positively touched their lives. A man for all seasons and embodiment of the Will Rogers philosophy. I miss him to this day.

Expand full comment

A lovely tribute, Chris for a really great human being. Thank you for sharing it with all of us who are also your fans and right now are deeply concerned for you, your family, especially the hockey coach.

With every good wish for all your healing and remembering.

Donald Morse, Debrecen, Hungary

Expand full comment

Chris, this was such a moving post. Your relationship with your FIL was incredibly special, thanks for sharing this.

Expand full comment

My deepest condolences to you and your entire family on Ken's loss. How very sad that we still lose such wonderful people to infections such as these. Thank you for sharing the story of the kind of person who uplifts those around him through such positivity. We need more Kens in this world.

Expand full comment

What a wonderful guy. Thanks for sharing his story with us.

Expand full comment

I've been reading these post since they started and finally decided to pay after this one. I'm a TK Little and have known and liked Chris for some time. Please keep the quality of these posts up so I don't regret my decision!!!!!

Expand full comment
author

I’ll do my best!

Expand full comment

So sorry for your loss. Thank you for sharing this moving post.

Expand full comment

My deepest condolences to you and your family. God bless

Expand full comment
founding

I am so very sorry for your loss. I know only too well how hard a sudden death in the family can be. Sending you all the best wishes for comfort in the days to come. Also, your wife is a pretty amazing writer.

Expand full comment

I am so sorry for your loss. May his gentle soul rest in peace, and may you and your wife and family, find the fortitude to bear the pain of his sudden departure to the great beyond.

Expand full comment

this is the kind of man I have aspired to be. Thank you for sharing, and providing me with extra inspiration

Expand full comment

I, too, had such a wonderful, encouraging person in my life: my father, who died 5 weeks ago at the age of 93. Each person who spoke about him experienced someone who cared about what was important to them--and remembered it.

Please accept my sincere condolences to you and your wife. Such people leave huge holes in the fabric of our lives.

May his memory be an abiding blessing to you.

Expand full comment