I grew up in father’s lap. I truly feel lucky that Dad took such great care. He put food on the table. He was home every night… Enforced the rules and supported our growth.
He taught me all the things a dad would… to ride my bike and shoot a gun.
When I was five he put me in ballet. I wanted to learn to fly.
He rarely missed a class.
He'd come running in, still in his army fatigues and would sit down quietly. As soon as the class would end, I'd run up to him, jump in his lap and get all the hugs my little heart could handle. He made me feel special.
One time he was talking to another adult on the sidelines and hadn't looked down yet. I was desperate to get into his lap, so like any 5 year old…
I grabbed his shirt along with a fist full chest hair and… “OFFT!”
What a look I got. Only the kind of look that a Dad can give...
The whole world stops… and just for a moment, I felt like… I lost my dad.
But that WAS just a moment.... thank goodness.
…and he forgave me right away.

I was proud of him when he earned his master’s degree in Germany.
He let me wear his graduation cap. He was my hero.
Education was an important component of a well-balanced life.
He encouraged us to have one. Preferably both: education and balance.
After moving to the States, I remember my father being called back to Berlin. I don't know how long he was gone. Too long I suppose for a 10-year-old girl.
He, of course, returned with presents and treats. But I remember…. **sniff
All I wanted to do was sit in his lap, because it felt like I lost my dad.
Even if just for a little while.

Dad always kept on us. He made sure we learned martial arts, so we could never be bullied. He made sure that we learned to Fall and Fly.
To this day I’ve never broken a bone. I’m grateful.
We learned how to observe our adversaries first (to avoid conflict) and then to stand strong when the opportunity presented itself.
No sooner. It’s a waste of energy.

Before his illness, Dad was always down for an adventure.
He loved his black coffee and house shoes.
He had a dry sense of humor… placed great value on a good joke.
Once I was too big for his lap, we switched gears….
I’d do anything for his smile and those sparkly blue eyes… anything.
One liners, magic tricks… you name it.
He was infectious.

My Father grew up in a house his granddad built.
He was raised by a single mother with three sisters.
I can’t imagine he got away with much.
Actually, I know he didn’t… because he told stories.
One of my favorite stories was about the time he got caught on the roof with his grandfather. Dad said, “The old man pulled me up there to help him and next thing I know … every women in the neighborhood was outside yelling at me.”
Dad was surrounded. *chuckle

He attended military school as a child.
With a history like that, you know he’d become an interesting guy….
One of his favorite past times happened in the garage…
But not working on cars like other dads…
Mine could be seen loading his own ammunition. He had the entire set up, along with the monstrous cleaning machine for used bullets… It was pretty loud.
I’ve got a feeling the neighbors slept with two eyes open.
Dad was always ready for hunting season and he prepared us accordingly.
“Gun safety and beef jerky.” That was the Moto.
While other kids were watching Saturday morning cartoons, we were already on base… at the shooting range… I can still hear his voice…..
“You best tuck in that riffle or you’ll be on your ass.”
-That only happened once, by the way.

He made me feel like a grown up when he let me yell… “DOWN RANGE!”
And down range is where he taught us to keep our eyes open… for shells.
Not the kind you find at the beach. You know, the kind you can reload.

-Nelson Mandela said:
“What counts in life is not the mere fact that we have lived.
It is what difference we have made to the lives of others
That will determine the significance of the life we lead.”

Dad inspired me and he always will. He WAS significant.
Anyone who knew Geoff was lucky. He changed the trajectory of our lives.
He taught us to be conservative yet vigilant. To keep our eyes open for injustice and to help the little guy. He exemplified what a good man looked like.
Dad was a resilient man and a fighter. Not only did he serve 20 years in the military, he retired chief warrant officer.
I find great joy in knowing my father will rest in peace among his brothers.

He supported the community and encouraged the youth.
He was a mentor to other men and a father figure to the neighborhood kids.
I know my teenage years were spent serving with and surrounded by
Positive influences that encouraged our development.

Dad also encouraged our spiritual development.
Not being overtly religious himself, He motivated us to find and seek our own paths and connections with a universal power outside of ourselves.
He was grateful and taught us to be also.