We lost a good man

Well, Sunday evening, January 27 God called Grandpa home. As ready as we were, you are never really ready. He had been in the hospice hospital for a few days so we knew it was coming. I had stayed with him a couple nights, then Megan stayed with him, then me again. The last night I was with him I sat to pray for the family and the timing of his death. I had told him I was there and squezed his hand. As I finished praying, I realized he had breathed his last breath. What an awesome man. God knew we had all seen him one last time. Grandpa knew. It had come full cirlce and it was just him and I again. He was ready. God was ready, so he went home. I asked Grandma if I could share a few words at the end of the funeral mass. If you would like a small glimpse at my grandfather's life and the man he was, read on.

Before I begin an adventure down grandpa’s journey, I would like to take a moment to thank each of you for being here today. I know many of you had to travel and rearrange work schedules to be here and your compassionate hearts and efforts do not go unnoticed. I would also like to take a moment of silence to remember those who are not with us today that were a special part of grandpa’s life. Pause for a few seconds.

According to a history search on names, Eugene means “well born or noble”. For me that translates to king and grandpa was king of all of our hearts. He was king of the Hemken family. Eugene was also a name born by 4 popes and several saints. How fitting is the verse from Psalm 116:15 then, that states “Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of His saints.” To many of you, grandpa was a “saint”; a man who was exceptionally kind and patient in dealing with everyone he encountered. Whether you were blessed by his work with St. Vincent de Paul, a golf buddy, a traveling partner, or just a friend on the street, he showed you God’s love through his actions and heart. How special is it that even the nurses that were with him in the last days of his life told me, “Your grandpa sure is a kind man. Even in his pain he tried to smile at us as we cared for him and asked him questions. How lucky you were to have such a special man in your life.” Through his struggle, he still put his self aside and showed appreciation and love.

You know, we are so thankful to have each been touched by the special man that brings us here together today. We are blessed in so many ways. I remember back in April, my daddy told me that the doctor told him it would be a stretch to say that we would have him with us in the fall, and a miracle for him to be with us at Christmas. Well, God delivered us a miracle for Christmas this year. Not only was grandpa with us, but he was happy, telling jokes about horses and some of the noises they can make, laughing at the great-grandkids being so excited about their gifts, and even sharing a tear with us when they gave daddy his bracelet. The bracelet reads, “I can do all things through Christ who gives me strength.” That message is so true and is what we need to lean on in times of trial and times of loss. Grandpa was a strong man of faith and if that is one gift that we got from him, then that is the greatest gift of all.

Before grandpa passed away I was able to take some extra special time to spend with him. I was so blessed to have these opportunities. I wanted to put together a special project to share with him; however, time came before it was fully completed. I was able to share some of these special memories with him though and he remembered each of them. So as we go on with our lives here on Earth, and as grandpa is healed with our Ruler in Heaven, let us hang onto these things.
Jennifer, never forget his special technique of drying off after a nice bath. He had a special way of getting every last drip didn’t he? Always keep close to your heart how patient he was when you wanted to go along with him on a jog and did not make it maybe a quarter of a mile before you asked him to take you back. Always tolerant in his words and actions, returning you home to grandma and waving good bye as he went along his way. Remember this as you go through and need patience with your children.
Amanda, each time you get your haircut remember the trips to the barber shop downtown with him. Look at your trolls that he got you each time and remember his sweet smile and giving, generous spirit. Give to others willingly as he gave to you.
Momma, although you do not jog any longer, never forget how special those runs with grandpa were to you. When the men would go ahead and grandpa would stay back with you, encouraging you the whole way and never seeming bothered that he had to hang back. As you go through your jogs in life, have him in your heart, encouraging you to run the race that has been set before you. Don’t ever stop and don’t worry about speeding up.
Elizabeth, as you go on your great white hunting sprees or shoot skeet at the ranch, remember how grandpa taught you to hold the gun. Consider the love for the outdoors and the sport of hunting that he instilled in your heart. And when it is your turn to share with Kyleigh the sport of hunting, keep in mind all the tips and patience that he had with you on your first outing.
Ryan, you also keep close to your heart how grandpa taught you how to shoot a gun. Stalking crows with a b-b gun off the back porch and making the hour drive to Bedias, just you and him, for target practice. Remember how he made each trip special in its own way; taking trips down memory lane all the while creating new ones with his only grandson. Don’t ever forget how proud of you he was when you got into A&M, and were on the Dean’s list your first semester!
Cindy, as you see new sites in this world, remember all the times that your dad showed you the world. Keep close to your heart your memories of Yellowstone Park and how grandpa and Nick slept under the car while you, Steve and grandma slept inside the car. Oh, to be a fly on the wall of that trip! You shared with me that grandpa was a family man in every sense of the word. Keep that as your guide with your family as you continue on through this journey.
Megan, know that grandpa enjoyed each of your visits from College Station. What a blessing it was for you to be so close to him and to be able to just drop in when you needed lifting up during these hard college years. Keep your special relationship close to your heart and never forget what a blessing it was to him to get to see you so often; to visit and to really want to listen to your stories. I know he enjoyed your visits because anytime I talked to him, he would always mention how nice it was to see you. Grandpa, please take care of Steve while you are up there. We know the two of you are happy and free of pain while we miss you down here on Earth. Megan asks that you please give him hugs for us until we can be reunited again.
I was so privileged to get to grow up with grandma and grandpa right around the corner from us. Whenever I would jog I would end up visiting at their house and momma would call looking for me. Every Saturday night since we lived in Montgomery was burger and chicken night with them. If I missed, I knew he would be disappointed so I made an effort, even in college, to try to be there every time. He picked me up from school when I was sick and stayed right by my side the entire time they had to put stitches in my head after falling of my bike; just holding my hand and I knew with him there, everything was ok. Like Cindy I take away how much of a family man he was. Always putting others first, making sure they were taken care of before him. Not a selfish bone in his body; maybe a stubborn bone, but never a selfish one.
Daddy, keep close to your heart how special you thought the relationship that grandpa and Steve had with the family dog Champ. Their relationship grew closer through this good buddy of theirs and the bond was never broken. My dad wants everyone here to know that when Gene and Mary joined St. Mary’s, it was one of the happiest days of their lives. Further to that, grandpa felt so proud and privileged to be associated with the fine group of people in the St. Vincent de Paul Society. All of you have made the last few years of his life so meaningful. He took that position to heart and very personally. Thank you for all you did with him.
When I sat down and shared some of these with grandpa I also took the opportunity to ask him to share something for each of us to remember him with. I could tell this was a struggle for him, whether it was emotional or just too hard to concentrate, so I asked him if he could share something for the whole family to hold on to … something he did not want us to forget. Through that time sitting there, this is what I took away from him: Take care of each other. Remain close as a family. This is the family that we have been given and be there to help each other through. Take care of grandma until she gets to be with me; never forget where you came from and where you are headed. Stay close to the church like you are and don’t let days pass by without saying you are sorry to someone you may have hurt. I know where I am going. I am not scared.
So as we walk away from here today, not just us Hemkens, but each of you, take to heart what my grandpa felt was important to share with me. Grandpa had a wonderful 80, almost 81 years of life, living each day as if it was his last; always expressing love and gratitude when it was needed to be shared. Hold onto your special memories of him and please, rejoice with us today as he is celebrating his healing from cancer in Heaven.

Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of His saints. Psalm 116:15
Then Abraham breathed the last of his breaths amd dies in a good old age, an old man, full of his years, and was gathered to his people. Genesis 25:8