Remembering my Dad, Donald W. Griswold, on what would be his 108th birthday

My father, Donald W. Griswold, was born 108 years ago today, on August 6, 1914. We all remember him fondly for his devotion to his wife, family, community, career, and country. Below the photographs is the eulogy I delivered at his funeral in Sauk Centre, Minnesota, in 2005. For more details about his life story, here is an obituary posted at the time by the local funeral home.

Eulogy for Donald W. Griswold (1914-2005), delivered by Daniel Griswold, Sauk Centre, Minnesota, July 25, 2005:

My Dad was a good husband, a good father, and a good man, and he enjoyed a good life. In his final years, he surrendered many of the activities he enjoyed one by one, and he did so with dignity, grace, and good humor. I would often remind my Dad that he had a lot to be thankful for. He would always respond, “I know.”

His greatest blessing in this life was my mother. She looked after him for almost 59 years with love and patience. He had the best in-house hospice care any man ever had. Another great blessing for my dad was the town of Sauk Centre. On behalf of my family, let me thank the people of this church and this town for being such good neighbors to my mom and dad for the past 34 years. My dad could not have picked a better place to settle and run a newspaper. And these past four days, you have shown your love through cards, phone calls, visits, and all that wonderful food that piled up in Mom’s kitchen.

Anyone who knew my Dad well, or maybe for 15 minutes, knew that he admired Abraham Lincoln. One of the characteristics of Lincoln that he told me he admired was that Lincoln was always thinking. Like his idol, my dad’s mind was always working—whether he was crafting an article or an argument, or solving an engineering problem at home or the newspaper. His ceaseless mental exercise kept him sharp to the end. When I was home for a brief visit only ten days ago, he was retrieving articles for me to read from the pouch of his walker. He had just finished reading David McCullough’s new book, 1776, and was reviewing it when he died.

There was much about my dad’s life to admire. Four years ago, on his 87th birthday, I sent him a letter, telling him the lessons I had absorbed from him over the years.

Dear Dad …

I enjoyed our telephone conversation today. You remain in good fighting form. If you thought I sounded good in articulating my arguments on C-SPAN on Saturday, you deserve a good chunk of the credit for teaching me how. I’ve been listening to you do basically the same thing for 40 years or so.

Other things I’ve learned from watching you at home and at work:

• Study history. It is more interesting than most stories people make up, it’s true, and it helps us understand our present condition. We can learn much from the examples of great and good men in history.
• Get your facts straight. People are persuaded by facts. If you get a fact wrong, your opponents will jump on it to undermine your credibility and cause.
• Stick to your principles. Friends and acquaintances come and go, but sound principles endure. They are worth fighting for.
• Deal honestly with people. No short-term gain from dishonesty is worth sullying your reputation.
• Work steadily. Show up for work at the same time each day, the earlier the better. A slothful man is next to worthless.
• Look at the big picture. Ask yourself how your actions contribute to making this a better society. Avoid petty personal squabbles.
• Support your family. Support them financially in comfort but not in luxury. Be faithful to your wife.
• Appreciate things for their usefulness, not the status they confer. This applies to meals, clothes, cars, houses, etc.
• Measure people by their character. Are they honest, do they think clearly, do they care about principles and the big picture? Money, big houses, and flashy cars mean nothing.
• Observe moderation in personal habits. Late nights, excessive drinking, and time-consuming hobbies distract from steady work, principles, and the big picture.
• Don’t demand or expect perfection in others. This applies to co-workers as well as children. I feel sorry for those men I meet or hear about who say, ‘I could never live up to my father’s expectations.’ You always took pleasure in my modest triumphs and always had a kind word, never harsh, when I stumbled.

Well, I’m sure I could think of more lessons I’ve learned from you, Dad, but I think these cover most of the major ones. I’m thankful to the Lord that I have been able to call you Dad for these almost 43 years. You and Mom have been wonderful parents. May you enjoy good health and many more birthdays.

Love, Dan.

Ninety years may seem to be a long time, but it is a brief moment in the eyes of God. The prophet Isaiah tells us in Chapter 40:

And in Chapter 55:

I thank God for such a wonderful dad.