My Grandpa Schilling was such an intelligent, caring and generous man. He grew up in Cottonwood, Minnesota and was raised by his grandparents, Ernest and Selma. He was surrounded by siblings*, cousins, aunts and uncles, and they were a close-knit family.
After graduation, Grandpa attended Case Western Reserve University in Cleveland, Ohio and lived with his Uncle Pete. Pete's wife had just passed away during childbirth, and Grandpa helped take care of little Gracie while he was studying and doing homework. He met Grandma during this time and they married in Westfield, New York on 12 July 1935. After Grandpa received his degree in education, he taught English at Central Junior High School in Cleveland. He and Grandma lived in Elyria, Ohio and raised four children, Peter, Susan, and twins Jane and David.
"Hello, sweetie!" is the greeting I would always get from Grandpa, and always with a wonderful hug. He would write letters to me 'just because', even though we lived in the same town. He was a talented writer and wrote many short stories and poems, some of which were published in local magazines.
After my grandma passed away and he was living in Florida, I was fortunate enough to fly out to visit him for a week with my aunt and cousin when I was 14 years old. When I was 21 and he was living in a retirement home back in our hometown, we were able to visit, read the Bible together, and just enjoy each other's company. He even came to my wedding which I'm so grateful for.
*Grandpa and Mardie were raised as brother and sister but she was actually his mother. Mardie and Elmer Thompson were married in secret when she became pregnant with Grandpa, and when Ernest and Selma found out about this, Mardie was sent away to have the baby privately. Grandpa was then legally adopted by his grandparents. Grandpa's half-siblings were Tom, Alice Darlene, Alice Dorothy and Louis.
After graduation, Grandpa attended Case Western Reserve University in Cleveland, Ohio and lived with his Uncle Pete. Pete's wife had just passed away during childbirth, and Grandpa helped take care of little Gracie while he was studying and doing homework. He met Grandma during this time and they married in Westfield, New York on 12 July 1935. After Grandpa received his degree in education, he taught English at Central Junior High School in Cleveland. He and Grandma lived in Elyria, Ohio and raised four children, Peter, Susan, and twins Jane and David.
"Hello, sweetie!" is the greeting I would always get from Grandpa, and always with a wonderful hug. He would write letters to me 'just because', even though we lived in the same town. He was a talented writer and wrote many short stories and poems, some of which were published in local magazines.
After my grandma passed away and he was living in Florida, I was fortunate enough to fly out to visit him for a week with my aunt and cousin when I was 14 years old. When I was 21 and he was living in a retirement home back in our hometown, we were able to visit, read the Bible together, and just enjoy each other's company. He even came to my wedding which I'm so grateful for.
*Grandpa and Mardie were raised as brother and sister but she was actually his mother. Mardie and Elmer Thompson were married in secret when she became pregnant with Grandpa, and when Ernest and Selma found out about this, Mardie was sent away to have the baby privately. Grandpa was then legally adopted by his grandparents. Grandpa's half-siblings were Tom, Alice Darlene, Alice Dorothy and Louis.
My Grandpa Schilling was such an intelligent, caring and generous man. He grew up in Cottonwood, Minnesota and was raised by his grandparents, Ernest and Selma. He was surrounded by siblings*, cousins, aunts and uncles, and they were a close-knit family.
After graduation, Grandpa attended Case Western Reserve University in Cleveland, Ohio and lived with his Uncle Pete. Pete's wife had just passed away during childbirth, and Grandpa helped take care of little Gracie while he was studying and doing homework. He met Grandma during this time and they married in Westfield, New York on 12 July 1935. After Grandpa received his degree in education, he taught English at Central Junior High School in Cleveland. He and Grandma lived in Elyria, Ohio and raised four children, Peter, Susan, and twins Jane and David.
"Hello, sweetie!" is the greeting I would always get from Grandpa, and always with a wonderful hug. He would write letters to me 'just because', even though we lived in the same town. He was a talented writer and wrote many short stories and poems, some of which were published in local magazines.
After my grandma passed away and he was living in Florida, I was fortunate enough to fly out to visit him for a week with my aunt and cousin when I was 14 years old. When I was 21 and he was living in a retirement home back in our hometown, we were able to visit, read the Bible together, and just enjoy each other's company. He even came to my wedding which I'm so grateful for.
*Grandpa and Mardie were raised as brother and sister but she was actually his mother. Mardie and Elmer Thompson were married in secret when she became pregnant with Grandpa, and when Ernest and Selma found out about this, Mardie was sent away to have the baby privately. Grandpa was then legally adopted by his grandparents. Grandpa's half-siblings were Tom, Alice Darlene, Alice Dorothy and Louis.
After graduation, Grandpa attended Case Western Reserve University in Cleveland, Ohio and lived with his Uncle Pete. Pete's wife had just passed away during childbirth, and Grandpa helped take care of little Gracie while he was studying and doing homework. He met Grandma during this time and they married in Westfield, New York on 12 July 1935. After Grandpa received his degree in education, he taught English at Central Junior High School in Cleveland. He and Grandma lived in Elyria, Ohio and raised four children, Peter, Susan, and twins Jane and David.
"Hello, sweetie!" is the greeting I would always get from Grandpa, and always with a wonderful hug. He would write letters to me 'just because', even though we lived in the same town. He was a talented writer and wrote many short stories and poems, some of which were published in local magazines.
After my grandma passed away and he was living in Florida, I was fortunate enough to fly out to visit him for a week with my aunt and cousin when I was 14 years old. When I was 21 and he was living in a retirement home back in our hometown, we were able to visit, read the Bible together, and just enjoy each other's company. He even came to my wedding which I'm so grateful for.
*Grandpa and Mardie were raised as brother and sister but she was actually his mother. Mardie and Elmer Thompson were married in secret when she became pregnant with Grandpa, and when Ernest and Selma found out about this, Mardie was sent away to have the baby privately. Grandpa was then legally adopted by his grandparents. Grandpa's half-siblings were Tom, Alice Darlene, Alice Dorothy and Louis.
