Dad...You are the Reason... You are the reason I love to hike... all those long walks and hikes we took as kids has stuck with me for all of these years.  Now I take my own children for those same types of nature walks You are the resaon I like to fish.. I remember all our fishing times... both as a kid when we would go back to the rapids and put the boat in.. and you would have to bait my hook because I was too squemish.. and also in recent years when we would go up to the river. One of the memories you kept talking about was when the boat started filling up with water..and an 8 year old Rebecca started saying "major problem...major problem...we are going down".  You are the reason I love music. This is a big one...I know Jonny Cash, Wilf Carter, Hank Williams and many other artists because of you. I enjoy the fiddle...spoons and washboard because of you. I love live music because of you...I remember so many jam sessions and live concerts that we put on at the farm. I played music...because of you. You are the reason I am a hard worker and never give up. You instilled in me an attitude of 'keep working at something and you will succeed'. You worked hard all of your life...for yourself and your family.  You are the reason I enjoy life. Even though you worked hard, you also played hard. You found joy and laughter in so many things. You were the funniest.. most witty person I have ever known. I wish I was more like you. You are the reason I am outdoorsy and adventurous. All the go-carts, airplane rides, treehouses, snow machines... and all of the other amazing and fun things we did while growing up. You are the reason I am not afraid to try...the reason I am not afraid to get my hands dirty. If there was a job to be done...you just did it. I remember one spring when we were taking the boat across our flooded driveway, the shearpin broke on the motor. We started drifting downstream in the ice filled creek. You immediately jumped out of boat and pulled it safely to the other side. And instead of being mad..you just laughed and said "it is a good thing I have already had my kids". You are the reason for so many things Dad... more than you will ever know... more than I will ever realize. I love you with all of my heart... and I will miss you so much each and every day. Especially when I hear myself saying.."isn't that wild" or "you betcha". You will never be forgotten Dad. Please say hi to Mom on the other side. You are the reason.... Your loving daughter, Cindy