My Grandfather, my Grandpa Cooper was someone that I will miss dearly. There are regrets I have of not seeing him enough in his later years, I believe that this is because he took so much time out of his day and cared for me in my younger years. From what I remember from my childhood, Grandpa Cooper was always there for me. He was there for my family, he would walk our dog at the time, Bowser, he was there for my mother through thick and thin, and he never asked for anything in return. There was not a day that would go by where I questioned what my Grandpa was doing, he was always right in his decisions, however a very good listener to the arguments I brought up as the energetic urchin child that was my young self.
I think the best of him though, was his humour. His witty, dry and extremely quick jokes always caught my family off guard, as it would take us all a second to get it, but once we did, he would send the room into smiles and laughter with one small quiet remark. It was never strictly verbal though, he had a trick with his right thumb where he could pop the tendon over the knuckle, making a loud cracking sound. It never failed to cheer me and my three older sisters up, and then he would move on to making compressions with his hands making a squeaking sound, which had us all thoroughly entertained.
I remember once him and I where out for food, I think it was after school, or perhaps just a day with him, and we went to Dairy Queen. I remember getting my usual blank hotdog, and a little cone, and Grandpa Cooper had his beast of a sweet tooth to neutralize, so he ordered his burger and a double chocolate covered vanilla ice cream cone. I was in fear for his stomach, but the almost animated glint his his eyes told me it would not be a problem. We sat down and I started on the hotdog, and I being raised in a household where dessert would always come after dinner, was in absolute awe of the sight I saw before me. "Why are you having the icecream first grandpa?" I exclaimed. With that same twinkle in his eye, he said "What do you mean? Dessert always comes first!" and my view of the world had changed forever.
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I could go on in the memories I had with him, he and my Grandma Cooper were always there for us in our time of need, and even in his later years he never lost his witty humour, despite the relatively secluded situation that a seniors homes bring. He was a good man. He was a loving husband, father, grandfather and great grandfather to all of his relatives. That I can say. I will miss him very dearly, the stories he told and the words he spoke are something to hang on to, something I would like to remember. We all must pass on, and he passed peacefully in his sleep at an accomplished age in number, and in life. That is all that anyone can ask for, he will live on through the influences he had on our family, from the love of sailing to even the little hand compressions I hope to perfect someday as he did. His love and endearing gentle spirit is something to always look up to, to listen and forgive, to have determination in everything you do, to enjoy the little moments in life, understanding that they will pass, and to protect your own. The few of the many things that made up my Grandpa Cooper, and for that I am grateful.
-Luke Martindale, Grandson
