John's 75th Birthday

It is with great joy that I honor my father, John Heron, on his 75th birthday. It is so hard for me to believe that my father is 75! So often we ask ourselves where did the time go? You've been so many things to so many things to so many people you've lived more than one life time in your life.

Yes, Dad where did the time go?  First you were a loving son and dependable brother. Being one of nine children you had to find your place in your childhood family. You often joked that he who ate the fastest got the mostest and that we should excuse your boarding house reach. It certainly was challenging feeding nine kids and being resourceful enough to clothe nine kids. How does one fit into a family of nine kids, not getting lost or overshadowed by all your brothers and sisters. When your father died you dropped out of high school because your family needed you to. Your family always knew that they could count on you.

You've always been an entrepreneur, before you even knew the meaning of the word and before the word was known by the public. You got work on a milk route, delivering milk to peoples homes and office buildings.  Later on, you got your own route.  When you saw the writing on the wall you sold your milk route and moved on.

Lots of people have quit school over the years but education meant something to you, so you got your GED.  Your desire to learn brought you down the path of becoming a Journeyman Plumber. You and Mom would tell us how she helped you study for that test. Over the years you've learned about lots of things and you tried to pass on to your kids that an education was an important thing. You tried to motivate all of us to go to college (something that I did).  You learned about the stock market. You've taken a few courses that you always threw yourself into, because education was so important to you.

Nicole, Heather, and I were all blessed to have you as our father. I think that you and Mom did a good job raising the three of us! When Nicole and I were very litte you wanted to get us out of the hustle and bustle of the big city into an enviroment where you thought that kids could be kids, so you bought the house in Livonia. Later on you decided that you wanted fresh air and room for us to be able to run around safely, so we moved to Ortonville. The two of you did so much for us. Parents teach us many things and have such an impact on our lives. You did your best to raise the three of us, something you can really be proud of.


Living in Ortonville, presented some challenges. 10 acres meant there was a lot of grass to mow and a lot of property to take care of.  You spent so much time with the old Ford tractor, mowing the law and just trying to keep it running.  Mowing the lawn often took up the better part of a Saturday.  When it snowed you had to plow the driveway.  I remember you hitting golf balls in the front yard.

 Grandpa with all the grandkids (2005)

I remember you and Mom welcoming your grandchildren;.Caitlyn, then Jake and Dallas into the world, like it was yesterday. This was the beginning of you being a grandfather, later there would be Anna, Sarah, and Brenden. Mom, loved kids much that we all knew that she'd be a great Grandma, it seems terribly unfiair that she was only a Grandma for only 5 years. This also meant that you loved all of your grandkids for the two of you!   There probably aren't too many grandfathers who aren't brimming with pride over their grandchildre and who love them to death, but you took on the role of a grandparent very well and are greatly loved by your grandkids. With Caitlyn and Jake taking drivers training last Summer, so now you've entered into new territory again.

I remember you and Mom flying to Germany for Christine and my wedding. the wedding rehearsal was pure chaos and Mom asked if there would be heat in the church for the wedding the next day. I was so glad that the two of you were able to make over for my wedding.  I'll never forget that carriage ride through Rothenberg ODT or so many of the things that happened in the time that the two of you were there for the wedding.  I know that this trip meant a lot to Mom as she always wanted to go to Europe. You and Mom really welcomed Christing into the family, this has meant a lot to her.

Fortunately, you've been able to visit us in Germany a few times. I remember when you visited us a few months after Anna was born. You were here again when we had Sarah's baptism. You and Aunt Betty have visited us a few times over here and we've had some really good trips with lots of memories.  I loved gong to Scotland with you and Aunt Betty, meeting family and actually being in Scotland after hearing so much about your family's ancestrail roots over there, so this was a real thrill for me. We've been lucky enought to have some memorable trips when you've visited us on this side of 'the pond' I can still smell that stinky cheese you bought in the Netherlands and that we brought back home. I  remember being in that glacier at the Top of Europe, with the memorable train ride there, as well as taking the train to Lugano the next day. Remember when we drove to the see the Castle in Neuschwanstein and we were all surpirsed by the snow in Austria?

Anna and Sarah really enjoyed their visit last Summer.  They'll never forget that week at the cabin and all the nice trips that we took while we were there, including the incredibily hot day when we went to Mackinac Island. I wasn't with Christine and the girls when they were in Michigan in 2010 so I can't really talk about Anna and Sarah's visit then but I can say that their visit was very memorable and had quite and impact on them.  I really hope that we're able to have many more visits like that before they grow up.

I've often been impressed by how much people love and admire you.  So many places  we'd go, lots of people were always glad to see you. People like to have you on their side.  You're a good brother to your siblings.

You've lived quite a life so far.  Heres hoping that your journey has lots of more trips, visits, memories, and lots of time and opportunity to share with the people that you love.  Happy Birthday.

Grandpa with Aunt Betty and a few grandkids (2012)

In honor of Dad's 75th birthday, I've started a board on Pinterest, feel free to have a look and if you have a picture of John that you'd like to share, let me know.