My Dad, Richard James Luckenbach ("Dick" to most),73, passed away early this morning after a week long struggle following a very severe allergy attack. Last Saturday evening he couldn't breathe, lost consciousness, and went into cardiac arrest. By the time EMS got there, he wasn't breathing and had no pulse. Although they revived him and stabilized his body, it was clear by the next morning that he had suffered severe brain damage due to lack of oxygen.
Although that was how his life ended, I'd rather talk about the life I lived with him. I've only known him for my 43 years. He is a wonderful man and has always been a wonderful father to me. I'm going to miss him terribly.
Dad was always interested in my education. I'm told that when I was a small baby, just barely lifting my head up, he laid on the floor with me and tried to teach me to roll over. Later, he worked on teaching me to crawl. My education continued during my preschool years as he tried to explain how to eat cookies. You see, they had to be dunked just right into the milk, and then the entire cookie had to be put in the mouth at one time. As far as Dad was concerned, there was no other way. He taught me about the Lord, too, and made sure I went to Sunday school every week. Once I started school, he became my cheerleader and coach, chastizing me when I didn't try my best, or cheering me on when I needed encouragement. He often paid me in dollars for each 'A' I earned. When I graduated from high school, and then college, my Dad was there with a twinkle in his eye, smiling and waving from the crowd.
Although he was all about education, there are things he taught me without knowing he was doing it. He taught me by his example to be loyal, generous, and compassionate toward others. Whenever Dad said he would do something, he was faithful to do it. He took his own word seriously. He often gave of himself even when it wasn't convenient or when he didn't feel good. I don't think I ever saw him let anyone down. Not at work, nor as a deacon or elder, as a husband or father, a bowler, choir member, Lion or Kiwanis, nor in any way. His generosity was known by orphan children through Kiwanis, or through his deeds at church: meals on wheels, and as a deacon. But most of all it was known by his children. He was always giving to us of his time and abilities, but also caring for us financially when we needed it most.
But what I will miss most about my Dad is his sense of humor. He would get a twinkle in his eye when he thought something was funny. Sometimes life was serious, but most of the time, we found something to laugh about together. One of the last times we really laughed together was over the summer when I took him to see Get Smart for his 73rd birthday. Sometimes the humor he liked was a little off-color (like Archie Bunker, or Caddyshack), but he always liked slapstick type humor, like what you would see in old episodes of Get Smart. His laughter was infectious.
I hope the Lord is enjoying his laughter now...miss you Dad!
Rajah and I, enjoying a late afternoon discussion with my Mom and Dad on their swing.
Some days you wake up, and there's a gift from someone--for you--outside your door. Today was one of those days for me! As I looked out my big picture window, I saw snow, and many footprints from my children who had already discovered it.
And the Amaryllis that my sister Jan gave me as a housewarming present had bloomed beautifully in my garden window! Perhaps I'm not a black thumb afterall?
We drove six hours to reach Lookout Mountain, GA. Lookout Mountain overlooks Chattanooga, TN and is just over the TN/GA border.
Covenant College chapel
the library
Using warm water, a little dish soap, some baking soda, food coloring, and lastly some vinegar, we created our volcano:
My Dad, Richard James Luckenbach ("Dick" to most),73, passed away early this morning after a week long struggle following a very severe allergy attack. Last Saturday evening he couldn't breathe, lost consciousness, and went into cardiac arrest. By the time EMS got there, he wasn't breathing and had no pulse. Although they revived him and stabilized his body, it was clear by the next morning that he had suffered severe brain damage due to lack of oxygen.
Rajah and I, enjoying a late afternoon discussion with my Mom and Dad on their swing.
Kara Lee Farley, born October 20th
Her auntie Karen, enjoying some "baby" time.
Grandma loves baby Kara too.
