My Grandpa passed away on September 14, 2013. It was sudden, but I suppose also expected. My Grandpa has always battled with heart disease and had his first open heart surgery before I was born over 30 years ago. Since that first surgery he has had numerous by-pass surgeries and has always come out strong! My Grandpa was always quiet and usually behind a video camera but he was a man of great strength and vibrancy! I learned a lot about him that I didn't know from the eulogy my Aunt gave at his funeral:
Len Scheibner Eulogy
It
is a sad day when we lose someone we love but that sadness becomes less as we start remembering the rich
blessing our dad has been not only to his family but to many others . Dad has
left us with a precious gift. That gift is how he lived his life and the role
model he was for us.
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| This picture was taken at Grandma and Grandpa's 60th Wedding Anniversary |
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| This is the most recent picture taken of Grandma and Grandpa with their children, it was taken last year for their 65th Anniversary at my Mom's house! |
He modeled service
The
first thing I remember him being involved in was Civil Defence in Coaldale and
since he had his ham radio license he participated in the Amateur Radio
Emergency Service. They had a
regular net for the purpose of passing emergency communications not to mention
the often noisy background of a house full of kids.
He was a member of many Ham Radio Clubs, Bowling
leagues, Horseshoe pitching clubs, Seniors Groups, Rotary Club. He was never
just a member of a club – he was the driving force behind the clubs.
He modeled
leadership
When we were clearing out the house this summer we
had to empty about a dozen briefcases each containing old records from the
various clubs of which he was either president or the treasurer. I don’t think he belonged to anything
he didn’t take a leadership role in.
When he was working for Automatic Electric he
travelled extensively as part of the CSA group developing and monitoring
standards in the phone industry. He always brought home a souvenir plate for
Mom of the many places he travelled to in Canada and the U.S. and it was added
to the collection lining the walls. None of us can think of their home in
Coaldale without immediately visualizing all the plates.
Dad modeled
adventure
Dad came from brave and adventurous
roots. (So did Mom) His dad was born in Kingston Tennessee and his mom in
Kansas City Kansas – a long ways from Alberta. Their families moved to the
Wilbur Washington area where my Granddad and Grandma married. They made the decision
to move to Canada – the only branch of the Scheibner family that did and
homesteaded in the Gem, Alberta area in 1915 going on to develop a large ranch
that is now home to Glen and Linda Scheibner. Dad was the baby of the family –
and spoiled as such. I always loved hearing the stories of his youth and some
of the things he got up to – one in particular left its mark when he shot
himself in the foot. I don’t think he did much shooting after that!
He got his pilot’s license –
we actually found his original flight log book this summer. He had a lifelong
interest in flying even though he had to let his license lapse when we kids
came along. One of his favourite TV shows was Discovery Channel’s Flying Wild
Alaska.
What Dad did he did
enthusiastically. Sometimes more enthusiastically then his kids liked. If he
was keen on something he expected us to be just as keen. I hated bowling but he
roped me into his bowling league one season. I’m not a horseshoe pitcher yet I
spent a day in Calgary pitching in a Pro/Am competition – thank goodness for
the Pro I was matched up with. I actually did not too bad myself! He kept
trying to convince me how Excel was the best system for keeping track of my
finances – the way his were set up was brilliant. Finally, when he was staying
with us a few days he set up a complete set of Excel books that I still can’t
figure out.
Dad
modeled good sportsmanship
Dad was active in sports –
starting on the Scheibner hockey line with his brothers Lawrence and Clarence –
they were unbeatable.
Hockey must be in the gene
pool somewhere. Our cousins Glen and Mark carried on that tradition with the
Lethbridge Native Sons – winning the gold medal at the 1975 Canada Winter Games
headquartered in Lethbridge. With their involvement on the team, Dad enthusiastically
recruited Bonnie to go to the games with him and created a real rink rat that
continues to this date. They were loyal fans through the transition from Native
Sons to Broncos and now to the Lethbridge Hurricanes. Bonnie is going to miss
her hockey buddy!
He enjoyed cross country
skiing and even took up water skiing. It was horse shoe pitching that he really
excelled at. He received so many titles while competing at the local,
provincial, national and even world competitions. He was honoured by being
inducted into the Horseshoe Pitcher’s Hall of Fame. He enjoyed the friendship
of other competitors more than just beating them – though he rather liked that
too.
He promoted his sport in
many different ways. He was often called upon to get a group together to
demonstrate the sport and try and encourage new people to join the clubs.
The gift of hard work and
responsibility
For
many years Dad always had a second job as a telephone lineman. He often would
take Larry and me along as he either repaired downed lines or fixed someone’s
phone. It was amazing watching him climb the poles and, while suspended by his
tool belt, splice wires together to get the rural phones up and running again.
One
of the scariest moments I remember was not when Dad was suspended from the
telephone pole, or when he skittered to the bottom, but it was when he went to
one of the Hutterite colonies to fix their phone and Larry and I were waiting
in the car. This Hutterite lady came over to entice us out of the car which we
would have no part of – bear in mind even if we weren’t so scared of her
appearance, we wouldn’t have understood her speaking to us in German anyway.
When Dad was finished the job he came back to the car carrying a paper bag full
of the donuts she was inviting us inside to have.
As
phones and service became more reliable there wasn’t much need for telephone
linemen and when he finished at the TV station, it was this phone experience
that got him the job with Automatic Electric/Microtel/Novatel from which he
retired in 1991.
The gift of humour
Dad
laughed a lot – he enjoyed a good joke and especially a good comedy show. I
remember how he got such a kick out of The Carry On Gang shows.
As
in all other aspects of his life, when he had seen a very funny show he enthusiastically shared the details
with us. It usually lost something in the translation either because he did not
have the gift of delivering a punch line or he was laughing so hard we couldn’t
understand what he was saying.
The gift of music
Dad
loved good gospel music, good country music, and good old time dance music. Our
living room was the site of many jam sessions when Dad would strum along with
his guitar or play along on the piano.
The
violin here was our Granddad’s and – together with our Grandma’s pump organ
(which has now taken up residence at Debbie’s) was used at many a barn dance in
Gem. This violin was even used in a recording of old time dance music. Dad and Mom
went to the Pemmican Club Christmas dances for years dancing and/or watching
the 2 step, schottisches, old time waltzs. They got me to go many times.
I
also remember going to many country music concerts over the years. Since Dad
became Director of Live Programs at the TV station he got to know all the
entertainment that came through the city. We had back stages passes more than
once to the Tommy Hunter concerts.
Up
until the last few years, every day Dad would either play his guitar or the
piano. Hopefully we will soon hear Maryssa giving us a tune on that same piano
which is now at her house.
The gift of faith
Dad’s
was a constant and trusting faith. Mom and Dad joined the Coaldale United
Church in the mid-50s, later moving to Southminister United Church in
Lethbridge and then in the late 80s becoming part of the Lethbridge Salvation
Army.
As
their health failed, they kept up their regular Sunday worship through the Hour
of Power with Robert Schuller and The People’s Church
with Charles Price. If we were visiting, he would crank up the volume so
everyone there would have the benefit of the message!
Dad
loved his family so much that if he knew we were coming he would actually record
The Young and The Restless and wait to watch it later! Last November they celebrated their 65th anniversary. No marriage
lasts that long without being held up by much love on both sides.
Dad
didn’t often verbalize his love. If we would say “love you” his response would
be “same” but there was at his core a romantic loving man. We recently came
across a love letter he wrote to Mom on November 1, 1945 from Brooks at 7:00
pm. (he was a man of detail) which I am so glad she kept. It paints a picture
of Dad that we, as kids, never saw. I won’t read it today but will highlight
some of the parts –
It
starts by saying – I received your letter this morning which I have been
anxiously waiting for all week. I have read it about four times today and each
time wishing I was with you. He goes on to say he is promising to come up on
the weekend (from Brooks to Gem) and if Clarence doesn’t come down to get him
he would hitch-hike up no matter how cold it is. He goes on to say that next to
her those “town girls” don’t stand a chance.
It
was Dad’s final act of love to Mom to have her settled in a safe place where
she has all she needs – including him, through her and our memories.
Many
gifts we have received from Dad and now we offer a gift to him of a tribute to
his rich and full life.
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| Grandma and Grandpa with all their Grandchildren and Great Grandchildren at their 60th Anniversary! |
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| All of Grandma and Grandpa's Great Grandchildren! |
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| Calum and Great Grandpa Scheibner |
Jared was asked to play Amazing Grace on my Grandpa's classic Gibson! He did a wonderful job, and it truly was a tribute to my Grandpa. The way Jared played it reminded me of the style my Grandpa always played when he picked up the guitar! I taped it while he played at the funeral but it didn't turn out because I had my had covering the speaker! So I had Jared play it again at home, only he used the Martin, but it sounded very similar!
It was a beautiful service celebrating a beautiful man! I am thankful for the example of my Grandpa and for the love that he showed to me and my family whenever we were together.
