This is what my daughter, Codie, wrote about John for Father's Day. It's clear to see the impact he had on my children growing up and I'm ever grateful for that. "Today is father's day and its feeling a bit sad to me. See, while everyone knows that my dad and I are close now, that isn't the man who raised me. So let talk about the one who did, who shared no genetic material and yet chose everyday to do it anyway without expectations of recognition. This man was my Papa. I called him that because he said he didn't want to try to replace my dad, and because he was kinda a big bear of a man in the 90's. This man, the most bachelor-y of single men everywhere, allowed an 8 year old to tie pink ribbons on his shoes for all to see. He woke up every morning and make us breakfast in his bathrobe. He was the one who "elbow-hugged" us everytime we left the house. He was the one who stayed up late helping us with homework and then brought it at school when we forgot it. He was the one who came on school field trips and attended school board meetings. He helped with 4-H projects and building a tree house. You could come to him with anything and know he would help and not yell. He was the one who stayed with us when we were sick and nursed us back to health. He was the one we called with all those "dad" questions about science, technology, and fixing things. He could have continued his carefree life of boating and hunting and paling around with the boys but instead he gave it up to come be a stay at home dad who vacuums, and does dishes, and takes dogs to obedience school because we weren't strong enough to hold them. As I look back on his life and comb through his digital existence, I've realized we were his world, and we didn't give him the credit he deserved. No credit for teaching us to drive, or never missing a school program, putting us before himself, or the million cappuccinos he made me with extra foam. Family isn't blood, family is love. I'm missing you so much today, Happy Father's Day, Papa Bear."