Today (27 March) is my Dad’s birthday. He isn’t here to celebrate, but I am and this is my day to remember him.

Dad lost his long fight in December, just after Pearl Harbor Day. He fought long and hard, but in the end cancer took its toll and no matter how much he wanted to fight, his body couldn’t continue the fight. He passed quietly with my Mom and oldest daughter by his side. We all miss him very much.

Dad wasn’t a war gamer. I don’t think he really understood what it was all about, but that doesn’t matter. He supported our war game figure making business. He helped pack and move molds and masters to our first shop. He was a major force in setting our first casting space in California. When it was time to move, eastward, to Wisconsin he was there to help pack and load the many boxes of molds and figures as well as the casting equipment. Together we drove, 3 days straight, from California to Wisconsin. The day after we arrived he began work on setting up our first casting shop here in Wisconsin. Later he was back to see our new space, he would have helped set that up too, but he was feeling weak, and it was time to head back to California. This is when he found out about his gastric cancer. Dad was never well enough for a return visit, but we talked often about the figure business and when I would visit him, he would help me plan new shop projects and would even ship new molds and figures from his home to mine.

Dad was a mechanic by trade. A tank mechanic when he was in the Army. He hand many stories and told them often. We all miss Dad and his stories and we will always remember him.

The past months have been busy, many things to take care of. Much time spent remembering Dad. And sometimes, just doing ‘things’ to keep busy. Things that Dad might have done, or been supportive of. We’ve been lax on the business side of life. No excuses, but now you have an insight as to the reasons why. As we move into spring, things are shaping up and casting work shifting back to ‘normal’.