Grandpa's "selfie"

Another year has gone by since the passing of my father, Frank Sigurdson. I think about him a lot and miss him tremendously. I wish he could have been here to experience the events of the past year, giving us all support and advice, helping us enjoy the "ups" and get through the "downs" of our lives. He was always there for us, even in the later years when he was struggling with health problems. Dad put others first, and cared about every member of the family with equal attention and respect.

Today some of the family will gather at my brother Chris's house to watch the Super Bowl, as has become a tradition over the years. I'm sorry that I won't be there, and know that there is still a big absence felt without Dad there. He loved that event, and was always the most keen on the toonie-per-person betting on the outcome. Of course there's no way to know for sure, but I wonder who he'd be pulling for in today's game? The Broncos because he'd want to see Peyton Manning get another title late in his career? Or the Seahawks because they're the upstarts (and close to Vancouver, where he'd always had an affinity)?

For me, this year marks my own awareness that I am now at the same age when Dad had his first heart attack. While this was the start of many years of health challenges for him, it also led to some positive changes in his life that allowed him, in spite of a more massive heart attack a year later, to enjoy a full and rewarding life for many years after these cardiac events. He and Mom had many years together in retirement, allowing them to travel and share their love for cottage life. Dad was indeed blessed, not just to have those valuable years of living, but to have such a wonderful partner to share them with.

So while I am sad on this day, as I am often when I think of Dad and so selfishly miss him, I'm also thankful that he had such a full and happy life, surrounded by so many people that loved him and that he loved so dearly. Really, what more can anyone wish for out of life?

Richard Sigurdson (February 2, 2014)

Grandpa Frank and Nola Dueck-Sigurdson

My Dad was a wonderful, complicated, intelligent, funny and very loving man. Frank Sigurdson died four years ago today (Feb. 2, 2010) and I miss him even more as every year goes by. He had an enormous heart. As a school principal in Winnipeg’s inner city he worked hard to better the lives of the mostly native and immigrant children he served. Dad loved life and fought vigorously against many health obstacles in his final years and did so with the perfect mixture of tenacity and grace. Here he is with my niece Nola, the last of Mom and Dad’s nine grandchildren, sharing the joy of her new life! - Norman Sigurdson (February 2, 2014)