Steve's Message of Thanks
Delivered at the Funeral Reception
October 25, 2006
The reception was held at the Ft. Meyer Officer's Club just after Chuck's Burial and was attended by well over 250 people.
Just before he died, my Father asked me to thank everyone who helped us during his illness and after his passing. As you can see there's a heck of a lot of you so if I were to name everyone who helped us in the past year individually you'd have to listen to me drone on and on and on. So I'll spare you that. Please forgive me for summarizing.
First let me thank Dr. Keith Schreffler, whose concern for my father led to the diagnosis of his cancer, and who gave consistent and continuing support to our family. Because of you, we were able to have more time with my dad.
Thank you to Pat Pitzer, who visited Dad every day he was in the hospital.
Mike Harlan, thank you for your care and skill in dressing my dad's uniform.
We would like to thank the men of the 1041st, the Safeside Association, the Security Police Association and all of the personnel with whom Dad served his country. We know he was proud and honored to have served with each of you.
Thank you to Mike and Sue Welpley and to Richard and Maureen Aven, our long time friends from the Royal Air Force Regiment who have come all the way from the United Kingdom to be with us today.
We would like to thank all of the people who worked with my father at Wackenhut. We will always remember your kindness to us after Dad's passing.
Our family is very appreciative of all Mom and Dad's High School, College, and Air Force friends who came from all over the country just to help out with odd-jobs. These include:
- Pat and Joe Neuland
- Eileen and Wayne Herr
- Celeste and Bob Kersten
- Sandy Whiting and Carl Saalbach
- Jay and Mary Lou Swander
- Mike and Diane Harlan
There's plenty more to do if you'd like to come back!
Thank you to:
- Chuck and Mary-Ann's neighbors
- Mary-Ann's Ladies Bridge and Cursillo Groups,
- Chuck's Saturday morning Men's Group,
- The Good Shepherd Church Community
- All of our local military friends
- The ladies from the Via Venato Restaurant
- The team from the Old Mill Gallery
- And Krista's In-line Skating team
...for helping Mom and Dad with supportive visits, food, lawn mowing, picture framing, and most of all hugs.
We would like to thank everyone who wrote notes of encouragement on the family website. Dad looked forward to reading them every day. It meant a great deal to him that so many people were behind him in his fight against cancer.
Thank you to our entire family, especially
- Tante Lou
- Aunt Carrie and Uncle Norm
- Cousins Heather, Dan, Daniel, and Brennan
- Cousin Erinn
- Cousins Lucille, Larry, Jeremy and Zoe
Without your words, teddy bears, and just being here for us, this ordeal would have been that much more difficult
Finally, we would like to thank everyone who has come here today to help us celebrate my dad's life and witness him being honored by the country he served for his whole life.
Thank you all.
