OSKAR ABENDSCHOEN

Condolences & Memories (1 entries)

• My dad was a man. He wasn’t always a man though: he started off as a baby, a little brother and a son. This was all long before I came on the scene and I only mention it to remind myself that there is always much more to the people in our lives, than our own personal experience of them, more than we can know. My dad was a strong man, in every sense of the word and he never made any apologies for it. Nor should he have. He was strong in his love for his family, in his Christian faith, his commitment to friends and in his beliefs and opinions. My dad was a man of integrity, an honest man through and through and no matter what, you always knew where you stood with him. In my whole life I never once heard him talk behind someone’s back or speak an ill word of another. If I ever needed his advice, or moral support, or if I was struggling in some way, he would be there, either with advice, which was always heartfelt, and to the point. Or, sometimes he would just be there, if that was all I needed. Words might not have been his forte. Anyway, they say that actions speak louder than words. I’ve never known anyone else that this could be more true of, than my Dad. It was in his actions that he showed his caring, compassionate and helpful nature, and yes his love. So many of us here today, in various ways, have benefitted from his gift. I think there’s at least a few people here, including his family, and friends, and his brothers and sisters in Kolping, who can look around their home and see, a fence that was built, a shower installed, a fixed toilet – and we can say: “ You know, Oskar Abendschoen, came over and helped me with that.” He was a loving husband, father and Opa. And a friend to many. I have to admit that I don’t know as much as I’d like to about some of my Dad’s innermost thoughts, or his relationships. But I know he had good, close friends who he loved, friends like Kurt Raabe, Steve Keicher, Joe Krovat, Mike Ruf- and my Uncle Joe, his golfing buddy. I am so grateful that he had you guys in his life. My Dad was a devoted family man. To put it simply he would do anything for my mom, his beloved wife Rose. And he was just as committed to me and my sisters, Wendy and Nancy. When we were kids it was very important to him that we were active, and involved in things like sports and music, and he spent endless amounts of time driving us back and forth between lessons and practices. One example of his dedication: when I was in my teens I was a competitive speed skater. I don’t know how many winter nights, right after supper me and my dad would hop in the blue van and drive to Sergeant Park Oval so I could train. I’d get my skates on, get bundled up to head outside and my Dad would disappear. I guess at the time I didn’t care what he did. And so I’d be out there going round and round the track for a couple of hours; this could be 4 nights a week. And every once in a while I might look up, and see the bleachers inside, through the window. And very often there’d be just one person sitting there. That was my Dad. He always encouraged us kids to strive. He helped us with our school work. He taught us valuable lessons and how important family is. That me and my sisters are also best friends, I think, is a good example, of my Dad’s legacy and the values he instilled in us. I heard a beautiful line from a movie, “After we go, we live on in the traces that we leave behind.” We live on in the traces we leave behind. And so I know my Dad is very much alive. And here with us. He will always be our Dad. And I am always going to be, as he would often call me, his “Number One Son.” We are going to miss him so much. - Posted by: Glenn Abendschoen () on: Sep 15, 2013