TimJ
Well-known member
This seems to fit with the recent happenings on this and other groups.
It seems all to common of occurance now that those men and women who influenced my youth are disappearing. A few weeks ago I saw the obituary for a teacher who I had in junior high. She was as nice of a person as I think I ever met. As nice as she was it still seemed like no students disobeyed her. She was so genuinely nice and caring that she garnered the respect of even the most disruptive youngsters. She lived a long productive life and I'm better for have knowing her. RIP Mrs. C.
Now to make it actually duck related I heard of the death of a man I hunted with when I was young. For several years when I was 12 to 14 my brother took me along when he hunted. One of the guys in the group was a little older than the rest. My brother is 10 years older than I am, this gentleman was in his late 30s at this time. For years I remember him as a beast of a man. He had been in the navy and I believe he was a welder in the early 80s. He was built like a brick, a very stout man. He was dressed like the older hunters at that time...blob-o-flage was even too trendy for him. It was a surplus OD coat and a floppy hat for him. He carried a SxS (I wish I had asked him what it was the last time I saw him) and shot some homemade loads that were likely of questionable pressures.
After those first few years I didn't see him for a long time. I know he wasn't the best man in those years. He had family issues, some that made me uncomfortable even asking others about him. Then about 6 or 8 years ago I saw him and didn't recognize him. He wasn't that big man I remembered. He was built the same but even though I'm 5'9" he seemed short now. He was graying and pot bellied. I almost wished I could have unseen him and continued with the memories I had of him. I saw him a couple more times in passing but never really talked about those days long ago.
Tonight I learned he passed away at 73. I believe he had made peace with his family and had become a much better man. I hope he did...it makes the memories I have of him pleasant like they should be.
When I was young 73 seemed so old...but I remember that tough, barrel chested man who hadn't yet hit 40. RIP Mr. Feucht. You always made me appreciate the simple...the utilitarian...the basics of waterfowling.
Tim
It seems all to common of occurance now that those men and women who influenced my youth are disappearing. A few weeks ago I saw the obituary for a teacher who I had in junior high. She was as nice of a person as I think I ever met. As nice as she was it still seemed like no students disobeyed her. She was so genuinely nice and caring that she garnered the respect of even the most disruptive youngsters. She lived a long productive life and I'm better for have knowing her. RIP Mrs. C.
Now to make it actually duck related I heard of the death of a man I hunted with when I was young. For several years when I was 12 to 14 my brother took me along when he hunted. One of the guys in the group was a little older than the rest. My brother is 10 years older than I am, this gentleman was in his late 30s at this time. For years I remember him as a beast of a man. He had been in the navy and I believe he was a welder in the early 80s. He was built like a brick, a very stout man. He was dressed like the older hunters at that time...blob-o-flage was even too trendy for him. It was a surplus OD coat and a floppy hat for him. He carried a SxS (I wish I had asked him what it was the last time I saw him) and shot some homemade loads that were likely of questionable pressures.
After those first few years I didn't see him for a long time. I know he wasn't the best man in those years. He had family issues, some that made me uncomfortable even asking others about him. Then about 6 or 8 years ago I saw him and didn't recognize him. He wasn't that big man I remembered. He was built the same but even though I'm 5'9" he seemed short now. He was graying and pot bellied. I almost wished I could have unseen him and continued with the memories I had of him. I saw him a couple more times in passing but never really talked about those days long ago.
Tonight I learned he passed away at 73. I believe he had made peace with his family and had become a much better man. I hope he did...it makes the memories I have of him pleasant like they should be.
When I was young 73 seemed so old...but I remember that tough, barrel chested man who hadn't yet hit 40. RIP Mr. Feucht. You always made me appreciate the simple...the utilitarian...the basics of waterfowling.
Tim