-Lon Tikkanen

The morning that Ralph passed away I went out into his garage for a few minutes, and then went out and sat in the yard looking at the little things that had his "touch". I started thinking about the little things that made Ralph such a unique individual. His sense of humor, his quick wit, his ability to figure things out, size up a situation and take care of it.
Like the time we were fixing my car, in front of his garage, so that I could get back from military leave on time. A car full of solicitors pulled into the drive, they got out and walked towards us. As they did his dog Patchy got up barked and walked towards them. They asked," Does that dog bite?" Ralph continued working, didn't even lift his head and said, "Only strangers." They left.
I thought about the way that he has touched us all, the way he was there for all of us anytime, all of the time. He was there for us in the Pacific, to allow us to be free. He was there for us as we grew, to allow us to be what we are now. He was there for us when we needed someone to lean on, to use the words of Bob Seiger, "Like A Rock."
He didn't have to be there, but that's the way Ralph is, I say "is" because he is, and always will be, in my mind. He was a good son, brother, husband, father, grandfather, great-grandfather, and friend. You might, in your lifetime, be fortunate enough to have as good a friend as him, but you would have a difficult time finding a better one.
This is how I will remember him, in the words from the song,
Like a rock, standin' arrow straight,
Like a rock, chargin' from the gate,
Like a rock, carryin' the weight,
Like a rock.
Life chipped his rock away; but all of us have a piece of that rock within us now, holding us up, helping us make it through each day. For a while he has had trouble remembering, but he remembers now, the pretty girl and wonderful woman that married him, the children that are a part of him, and those that became a part of him. You rest now, your work here is done; we'll try to carry the load now.
I'll miss you my friend.
He once told me that now is the best time to say or do. To often we put off things that we should say or do. We may not have another chance. So say it now, do it now.
Dad, I love you.