My Dad was an amazing man - who loved his family.
He was born to Harrie and Dulcie (Olney) McPeake in Washington Heights, Bedford Twp, Michigan. He was one of 14 children, but most died as babies. He had 2 brothers, Matt and Loren who lived past infancy. Matt, however, died in 1924 at the age of 16 and his other brother, Loren, died in 1954, leaving my Dad as the only survivor of the 14 children.
My Dad's mother died when he was 8 and he was passed around between relatives. He cherised the time he spent with his grandmother, Adelia (Miller) McPeake, after his Mom died. However, his grandmother would die4 years later and he would go back to live with his father, who had an alcohol problem, and a stepmother who beat him.
On Oct 5, 1940, he married Caroline Grinnell and they had 6 children. One of those children, Max, died as an infant. Years later, my Dad and Caroline were divorced and my Dad was given custody of the kids.
On Sept 9, 1960, he married Mary Frances Vandenberg Green, a young widow with 4 children and two families became one. To this marriage, 2 more children (my brother and me) were born.
My Dad worked for Ralston Purina for 45 years to support his family. His family was his first love - Ralston's was his second. He could go nowhere in town, without driving past Ralston's. Ironically, when he passed away, we had the funeral procession drive by there one last time. As we approached the factory - the light turned red and the hearse had to stop - Dad wanted one final look.
He was born to Harrie and Dulcie (Olney) McPeake in Washington Heights, Bedford Twp, Michigan. He was one of 14 children, but most died as babies. He had 2 brothers, Matt and Loren who lived past infancy. Matt, however, died in 1924 at the age of 16 and his other brother, Loren, died in 1954, leaving my Dad as the only survivor of the 14 children.
My Dad's mother died when he was 8 and he was passed around between relatives. He cherised the time he spent with his grandmother, Adelia (Miller) McPeake, after his Mom died. However, his grandmother would die4 years later and he would go back to live with his father, who had an alcohol problem, and a stepmother who beat him.
On Oct 5, 1940, he married Caroline Grinnell and they had 6 children. One of those children, Max, died as an infant. Years later, my Dad and Caroline were divorced and my Dad was given custody of the kids.
On Sept 9, 1960, he married Mary Frances Vandenberg Green, a young widow with 4 children and two families became one. To this marriage, 2 more children (my brother and me) were born.
My Dad worked for Ralston Purina for 45 years to support his family. His family was his first love - Ralston's was his second. He could go nowhere in town, without driving past Ralston's. Ironically, when he passed away, we had the funeral procession drive by there one last time. As we approached the factory - the light turned red and the hearse had to stop - Dad wanted one final look.
My Dad was an amazing man - who loved his family.
He was born to Harrie and Dulcie (Olney) McPeake in Washington Heights, Bedford Twp, Michigan. He was one of 14 children, but most died as babies. He had 2 brothers, Matt and Loren who lived past infancy. Matt, however, died in 1924 at the age of 16 and his other brother, Loren, died in 1954, leaving my Dad as the only survivor of the 14 children.
My Dad's mother died when he was 8 and he was passed around between relatives. He cherised the time he spent with his grandmother, Adelia (Miller) McPeake, after his Mom died. However, his grandmother would die4 years later and he would go back to live with his father, who had an alcohol problem, and a stepmother who beat him.
On Oct 5, 1940, he married Caroline Grinnell and they had 6 children. One of those children, Max, died as an infant. Years later, my Dad and Caroline were divorced and my Dad was given custody of the kids.
On Sept 9, 1960, he married Mary Frances Vandenberg Green, a young widow with 4 children and two families became one. To this marriage, 2 more children (my brother and me) were born.
My Dad worked for Ralston Purina for 45 years to support his family. His family was his first love - Ralston's was his second. He could go nowhere in town, without driving past Ralston's. Ironically, when he passed away, we had the funeral procession drive by there one last time. As we approached the factory - the light turned red and the hearse had to stop - Dad wanted one final look.
He was born to Harrie and Dulcie (Olney) McPeake in Washington Heights, Bedford Twp, Michigan. He was one of 14 children, but most died as babies. He had 2 brothers, Matt and Loren who lived past infancy. Matt, however, died in 1924 at the age of 16 and his other brother, Loren, died in 1954, leaving my Dad as the only survivor of the 14 children.
My Dad's mother died when he was 8 and he was passed around between relatives. He cherised the time he spent with his grandmother, Adelia (Miller) McPeake, after his Mom died. However, his grandmother would die4 years later and he would go back to live with his father, who had an alcohol problem, and a stepmother who beat him.
On Oct 5, 1940, he married Caroline Grinnell and they had 6 children. One of those children, Max, died as an infant. Years later, my Dad and Caroline were divorced and my Dad was given custody of the kids.
On Sept 9, 1960, he married Mary Frances Vandenberg Green, a young widow with 4 children and two families became one. To this marriage, 2 more children (my brother and me) were born.
My Dad worked for Ralston Purina for 45 years to support his family. His family was his first love - Ralston's was his second. He could go nowhere in town, without driving past Ralston's. Ironically, when he passed away, we had the funeral procession drive by there one last time. As we approached the factory - the light turned red and the hearse had to stop - Dad wanted one final look.
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