Remembering Grandpa Clyde

My Grandpa Clyde died last week, and I thought I would share a few memories here. He lived an incredible life, and his death was tender, loving, and peaceful. I am so thankful that my mother could fly out for the last few days of his life and get to be there with so much family to see Grandpa off as he starts his new adventure. And I love that he had five new great-grandchildren on the way. I obviously couldn't fly to his funeral because I am too far along in the pregnancy, but knowing he is there on the other side sending off the next few great-grandchildren is really wonderful. 


Below are just a few unique memories of Grandpa. He was an incredible husband, father, and grandfather, and I have so many memories of visiting him while growing up (and even more family stories that I've heard from my Aunts about their childhood at home). I love that modern medicine gave him an additional 47 years (he had his first heart attack at age 40) and enabled him to have an incredible quality of life right up until the end. 


Grandpa's war memories:

I remember Jocelyn and I once asked Grandpa about serving in WWII and asked to see some of his memorabilia. We had heard some of his war stories before, but seeing his scrapbook that he very carefully put together was really wonderful. He had saved maps, food stamps, shrapnel, and other items from the war. Seeing these items that Grandpa had used was so interesting. I remember that he still had a map of Vienna from when he was stationed there, and he had marked Brigitta's house. It was so incredible to see an old map and his markings of where he lived and where Grandma lived. It was also touching to see Grandpa put so much time and attention to preserving some of these memories. Grandpa also showed us his Purple Heart (I think he accidentally received two, because they forgot they already gave him one) and some other military medals. 

I also remember asking Grandpa why he was able to talk about WWII, while other veterans seemed to have a hard time talking about it or even remembering serving in the war. Grandpa said that it was because when he served his mission following the war in Berlin, he learned to love the German people, and that made him realize that good men and women fought on both sides. He saw his once enemies as people, and his years of service on his mission really changed his perspective and made him able to talk about the war, even though I am sure it was incredibly difficult and hard. I loved hearing this from Grandpa, and I have often reflected back on his unique experience of learning to love people whom he had previously had only one generic perspective on. I love his example that he set for all of us, of service in the church, of loving others, and of being an incredible husband to Grandpa and father to DeAnn. Grandpa was not annoyed that two granddaughters wanted to see a scrapbook; he had a wonderful time telling us about different places he served and showing us some pieces of history that meant something to him. 

Grandpa's games for the grandchildren:

I remember at the first Clyde Family Reunion in Breckenridge, Grandpa organized a few games for all the grandchildren, giving out a few dollars to the top winners. I remember there was a paper airplane contest and some foot races, and I think the top prize received $3, which was a lot of money for young kids back then. 

Working on Grandpa's Personal History:

I love that I was able to help Grandpa finish one of his huge life goals before he died. I helped clean up and format all the pictures that went into his life history. The best part was getting to look through the photographs of Grandpa growing up, and seeing him go from young boy who loved airplanes, to an incredibly handsome college student and soldier, to a doting father with an ever growing family. Seeing those photographs really made me realize what an incredible life Grandpa lead. Not only did he have one of the greatest love stories I have ever heard, but he had an incredible carrier, traveled so much with his family, and accomplished so many things in his life. I loved seeing all these aspects of Grandpa's life, not just the last 20 or so years of his life that I have been around. 

I am so thankful for this last opportunity to help him achieve a goal. I love that his personal history is almost done and he was able to complete it before he died. I love that his grandchildren and future generations will get to read his own words about his amazing life. 

My parents, brother and sister were able to attend Grandpa's funeral. My computer skills finally proved useful, as I helped my Mom design and put together the funeral program. Here are some pictures that my brother took of the funeral.

Grandpa's WWII uniform, which he still fit into 40 years later.

Safari hat, canteen, and 3-D camera. Yes, I have the coolest Grandfather ever. He had a 3-D camera, so we grew up looking at slides of our mother in 3-D.

Grandpa's scriptures, reading glasses, and some of the last professional photos of Grandma and Grandpa.

Sons, Sons-in-law, and Grandsons as pallbearers. 

Grandma surrounded by her daughters.

Grandpa was given a military salute by the American Legion.

Grandma saying one last goodbye.

I know I will see my Grandfather again, and I am excited for him to start a new adventure. I love the reassurance that the gospel brings to my life that families are eternal and that Christ's Atonement allows all of us to return to our Heavenly Father. We have joked for years that the only way Grandpa and Grandma would attend our weddings would be if they were dead (since they are getting too old to travel across the country for grandchildren weddings), and I love knowing that he will be at the next grandchildren weddings.