Jeff and Jeanne

It’s Jeanne’s mom’s birthday today!

Don’t forget to wish Jeanne a happy birthday!

I’ve added the photos we used at Dad’s visitation and funeral luncheon.  At the visitation, they were running on the picture frame I made for Granny last year.  At the luncheon, it was running on a projector in the fellowship hall at the church.  You can see them all here.

During the luncheon we asked people to write down their thoughts and stories about Dad.  We got quite a few.  Mom is going to scrapbook them.  I’d also like to add them to this post as comments.  So, keep a lookout for them later.  I’m not sure when I will be able to get to them.  It might not be until sometime after Christmas.

The funeral and visitation were amazing.  I couldn’t believe how many people where there.  I met so many wonderful people that who knew Pa in one way shape or form.  Dad always said, live your life so your funeral is standing room only.  He certainly got his wish!

This is a link to Dad’s obituary as posted on the Mohnke Funeral Home website.

Below is the text, just in case the link stops working.

Big Rapids – Thomas L. Proefrock, 64, of Grant Township, passed away Thursday, December 4, 2008, at Spectrum Health Butterworth in Grand Rapids.

He was born September 2, 1944, in Detroit, the son of Theodore and Edna (Knauf) Proefrock. As a child, Tom moved with his family to the Reed City area, and graduated from Leroy High School in 1962.

Following graduation, he joined the US Air Force, and served as an airplane mechanic stationed in Dover, Delaware until his honorable discharge in 1966.

On April 14, 1973, Tom married Linda Harrison of Paris, and they have made their home in Grant Township. For nearly 20 years, they owned and operated Gone to the Birds Farm, specializing in raising Bobwhite Quail. Tom drove bus for MOISD, and also drove athletic teams for Ferris State University. He also drove truck for several local companies.

Tom was a member of St. Paul’s Lutheran Church in Reed City, where he was confirmed. He enjoyed his AA Fellowship, was active with Therapy Dogs International with his Golden Retrievers KDB and Molly, and was formerly Scoutmaster of Reed City Area Troop #70. He also actively participated in the LIFT Program, reading to children at G. T. Norman Elementary School in Reed City. Tom was “Dad first”, and looked forward to the annual trips to Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness in Northern Minnesota with his family. He loved shooting sports, and built his own skeet and trap range on the family farm in Ashton.

Surviving are his wife Linda; 5 children; Melissa (James) Barns of Ft. Leonard Wood, MO, Jamie Proefrock, Jeff (Jeanne) Proefrock of Muskegon, Jason (Debra) Proefrock of Hersey, and Josh Proefrock and his fiancé Julie Feutz of Paris; his mother-in-law Audrey Harrison of Paris; and his half brother Philip Parker of Battle Creek.

Funeral services will be 11:00 a.m., Monday, December 8, 2008, at St. Paul’s Lutheran Church in Reed City, with Rev. Dawn Pooley officiating. Burial will follow in the Ashton Cemetery. Tom’s family will greet friends at the Mohnke Funeral Home in Big Rapids on Sunday, December 7, 2008 from 2-4 p.m. and 6-8 p.m., and after 10:00 a.m. on Monday at the church.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made for the Reed City Food Pantry or the L.I.F.T. Reading Program at G.T. Norman Elementary School, with envelopes available at the funeral home.

This morning at approximately 7:30 am, my Dad, Tom Proefrock, was met with his eternal reward.  Today we lost a husband, a father and a friend.

I struggle to come up with a fitting tribute for him.  Words just escape me at the moment.  So, instead, I will leave you with the following pictures.  They are some of my favorite that are in my gallery.

What I would ask of anyone who reads this is to post your own comment.  Then, pass this on to anyone who knew Dad so that they may add their comments.  And, if anyone has some pic

Dad, you are soarly missed!

Today we went up north to spend the afternoon up at the farm.  No particular occasion, just kind of a final trip to the farm before the weather gets took cold and stuff needs to be winterized.  It was a beautiful drive up.  We took 120 to 20 to 37.  Then we turned at Bitely and went over 131, then the rest of the way north.  The color in the trees was amazing.

As you can see from the picture above, of course there was food.  When do we ever get together when food isn’t the center?  Dad put a brisket on the smoker.  Jeanne made some apple sauce and an apple pie.  I think Granny made the German potato salad.  I also brought up some summer sausage that I made in the smoker Saturday.  I’m sure there was more food that that that other people brought, but that’s all I can remember at the moment.

All in all it was just a wonderful day.  The drive up was nice.  It’s always good to get to spend the afternoon with family.  The weather was nice too!

The drive back wasn’t too bad.  Only saw a few deer.  None that were too close for comfort! 

I hope I’m not letting the cat out of the bag here, but we got a phone call this morning from Josh.  Last night he proposed to Julie!  The best part is that she said yes!  If you are immediate family, I hope you heard it from them first, but I had to put something up to congratulate them!

Congratulations Josh and Julie!

We had a good long weekend.  On Saturday, Jeanne and I went for a bike ride on the Hart/Montague trail.  The plan was to go from Montague to New Era.  That’s about half way.  ~11 miles one way.  We pooped out at about 9 miles.  So, we did 18 total.  Not bad for our first time on bikes in 2 years.

Then, Sunday, we took Scout to the beach.  We spent about 3 hours on the sand and in the water.  That was plenty of time to forget to re-apply sunscreen, and figure out where you missed sunscreen all together.  Some parts were a little redder than others.  But, we had fun.  Scout played hard.  In fact, he wanted to play the whole time we were there.  If we weren’t throwing the toy he wasn’t happy, but towards the end, when you threw it, he was pretty slow in bringing it back. 

Monday was Labor Day.  Of course, that means the flea market at Burly Park in Howard City.  That’s always fun with a sunburn!  Many treasures were found.  I think Jeanne got 25 books!  I got 1.  She’ll probably beat me finishing hers!  Josh and Julie brought lunch for us all.  That was darn nice of them.  Of course they cheated us out of our last corndog for the year! 

Happy anniversary Jason and Debra!

Today is a sad day in the Proefrock household. Due to complications with a urinary tract infection and his third bout with bladder stones, we had to make the difficult decision to put Figgaro to sleep this morning.After 11 years of the runt trying to get into our cheese dip, or announcing his presence every time he hopped on the bed, he will surely be missed. For only being 8 pounds, he sure has left a large hole in our house, family and hearts.