DOREEN (LORRAINE) SCHILKE (DE CARLE)

Condolences & Memories (6 entries)

• Today is Lorraine’s 85th birthday, and I would like to share a few heartfelt words for my Grandma. Although it has been over 6 years since you left to be with Grandpa, it still feels like yesterday that you and I were sitting at the table in your den, playing Yahtzee, Shamma sprawling out across our scorecards, you preparing a meal for me large enough to feed an army, and talking about anything that tickled our fancy. You weren’t a big football fan, but you loved to keep up with the Rough riders just because you knew they were my favorite team. You absolutely despised The Simpsons and their giant, crazy eyes, but you never said no when I asked to watch it because you knew it made me laugh, and you’d sit there with me and watch too. I needed a place to stay when I graduated high school, and you offered me a room without me even asking. If I was having a hard time with a relationship, you always knew the right thing to say to cheer me up. You were always there for me. You always made me feel safe, happy and confident. I always knew that I was your world. The sacrifices, time, energy, everything you put into helping raise me and take care of me, it showed. I just wanted to tell you that I appreciate absolutely everything you have ever done for me. You were my world, too. How can I share a favorite memory when... I have hundreds of thousands to choose from? I could go into detail about weekends at “Grandma’s House Is Blue”, trips to the mall to pick out a new toy, your famous breakfast of bacon & waffles with warmed-up syrup that I could never perfect myself, or your out-of-this-world Halloween decorations. I could speak for hours about your secret family recipe Crab Feasts, chocolate zucchini cake, or your award-worthy custom Gingerbread Houses at Christmas time. Oh! The day you pulled out your custom Payday game board & cards completely blew my mind. I have that game board hanging in my living room, you would love it. You always had the prettiest backyard on Talbot, and you were beyond proud of it. I never had the pleasure of meeting Grandpa, but all the amazing memories you shared of him made me feel as if I knew him my whole life. Your laugh, my god your laugh was so contagious, especially when one of your babies (cats) did something stupid. Or when you’d tell me stories about anything funny, anything at all. You were a master storyteller. You had a way of always building it up, you’d lean back in your chair, hand on your forehead, blurt out “Jesus Christ”, then deliver the punchline. I swear every single time I thought my sides would split from laughing. Nobody has ever been able to make me laugh like you could. If I had to pick my absolute favorite memory that we shared it would have to be the day you first let me look at the cribbage board that Grandpa had made by hand. I was so young but I remember it like it was just this afternoon. All the holes were drilled to perfection. The felt on the bottom was so smooth. The board had a perfect finish with no streaks whatsoever. Even the black, red and baby blue pegs he had done himself. You used to tell me about him making it all the time. That day you started to teach me how to play. You showed me how to build my hands and how to determine which two cards to throw to the crib (whether it was for my own crib or yours). You taught me the importance of keeping a “pegging hand” when the game was near completion. You never went easy on me, even from day one. You taught me to play with a “go big or go home” mentality. But you explained every single hand, why you played each card when you did during the exchange once we were finished, and why you had thrown certain cards into each crib after we finished counting our points. You taught me exactly how you played, why you played aggressively or defensively when you decided to, and how to anticipate the types of cards that your opponent would play. You were so patient with me while I took it all in. We never played with Muggins. Not because you wanted to go easy on me, but because you taught me so unbelievably well that Muggins was never needed when you and I played. You and I would play for hours. Hours upon hours upon hours. Once I started earning an allowance or started working we started playing games for a dollar. My god, you and I were so good. It still amazes me to this day. I’ll sit down with other people to play and I feel like I’m playing with a rookie. I could think multiple cards ahead, like foresight. My mental math was so fast because of our many games. I’d just look at my hand and I’d immediately know the total without even calculating it. That was all because of you. Some may think “Crib, it’s just a game”. Not for you and I though. Crib was special for the two of us. Crib was our everything. It built the foundation of our relationship. I cherished every single game I ever got to play with you. I’ll be honest, it is still so hard not having you around. You were my rock. I think about you each and every day, and all the fun we had. I’m not sad though, I’m happy because I know you are happy. You are happy because you are with Grandpa, and resting peacefully, knowing you gave your all raising Becky & I. Our Baby-Becky is going to be a Momma soon. Her and Corey are having a little girl. Please watch over the three of them, send them all your love and good vibes whenever you can. If you could also, please give my son Keaton a hug and kiss for me. Teach him how to play crib like you did with me, so when it is my time, the three of us can sit down and play some hands. From the bottom of my heart thank you for everything and all the happy memories. I will cherish each and every one of them for the rest of my life. I love you so much. Happy Birthday Grandma. Hugs & Kisses Billy Boy - Posted by: Dylan Schwark (Grandson) on: Oct 16, 2018

• My heart goes out to all of you. I know what a close family you are. Sorry for the belated condolences. I just found out. You are all in my prayers. - Posted by: Brenda Ford (friend) on: Oct 29, 2013

• From wherever you are now Mom, protect the children as you protected me. Miss you. - Posted by: Calvin (Son) on: Jun 10, 2013

• Our Days on the Farm Grandma was hilarious. I remember one time on pur giant swings the moon hung low that night as Angle and I swung higher and higher. This was our nightly ritual, Grandma and Grandpa at the table smoking and swatting the mosquitows away, Joey playing with his cars at there feet. Angle and I running around in the hot sweet summer air. After listening to the scary bear story of the night we would swing while nervously sneeking peeks at our back feeling stalked by whatever monster from the nights tall tale lingered in the darkness. Both of us putting on our tough exterior but scared inside wished the other would pull of the swing first so we could leave that monster behind us and jump into bed but not TONIGHT! As we swung high the scariest loudest GROWL came bursting from the garden behind!!! AHHHHH we shreeked and flew off into the summer sky. Never had anyone be as scared and happy to see GRANDMA!!!!! WOW could we run! Grandpa laughed marvelling over his family, the nights fun had hit its top and we giggled our way into the house. Grandma thankyou for those hot summer nights!!! - Posted by: jennifer Schilke (grandaughter) on: Jan 10, 2013

• love you and miss you grandma <3 - Posted by: Becky (granddaughter) on: May 24, 2012

• Dearest Lori, You're with your sweetheart now. Camping, fishing, growing pumpkins in trees and picking raspberries at sunset. Rest in peace. - Posted by: DG () on: May 19, 2012