My grandfather is being laid to rest in Price Albert, SK. That is in Canada. He passed away last week and today is the funeral service. I realize this is not the typical entry I make on this blog, however, I feel completed to share with as many people as I can what a great man my grandpa was. I know everyone says the same about their grandfather, and it is true. Our grandparents come from a different time. They have been tempered by hardship, wars, and pandemics. From those trials they have developed such a strong character and quite strength that all we can do is hope that a small portion of those traits will pass on to us. My grandfather epitomizes the Greatest Generation.
My grandpa is Elmer Neil Bragg, (1926-2010), and he is survived by his wife of over 60 years, Mildred Bragg. He has 5 children and many grandkids and great grandkids. He grew up in the farming communities of the upper peninsula in Michigan. Until only a few years ago he still went back every year in order to hunt with his siblings and friends. He joined the army towards the end of WW2 and he was on plan to be in the first group of troops in the planned invasions of Japan. I often wonder what would have happened if that had taken place. Would he have survived? Would I even be here? Instead the war ended and he was based in Japan for a short period of time. Then the Korean War started. This one he did take part in. He was trained as an airborne trooper and he saw combat, that much I do know. When I was about 7 years old, and like all boys, very interested in playing war and being an army guy, I asked my grandpa a naive & ignorant question – “did you kill anybody?” I will never forget his response. Or I guess I should say lack of response, but only in a verbal sense. He stared at me with eyes that were sad. And up till that point I only knew a grandpa who was always happy, smiling, and ready with a joke or a hug. But these eyes where different. He continued to stare at me with those sad eyes. And I think there was a little fear, not of what he had seen, but that I may be called to experience such things that he had seen or done. I never got a direct answer to my question, and I didn’t want one. After looking away for a moment, he looked at me again and those familiar eyes had returned. I never brought up the subject again.
After the war, Elmer attended school and became an ordained minister. Although he had congregations, he true calling was to build churches. Which he did, everywhere! Canada, the US, and even Okinawa, Japan. And he did that one when he was in his late seventies! He could do everything from drawing up the plans to putting the lock on the front door at completion. Framing, electrical, plumbing, sheetrock, roofing, no problem!
He battled cancer and won about 8 years ago. The doctors gave him about a year to live due to the spread through his body. Well that didn’t sit well with Elmer. So through his faith, prayer, and nutritional adjustments to his diet, he beat the cancer. On his visit to the doctor, the x-ray showed a complete regression of the cancers. The doctors stated they had never seen anything like it before. I guess God wasn’t done with grandpa just yet!
There a many stories about my grandpa. Some sad, some funny, but all inspirational. That is why I will often ask myself when I am challenged, or tried, or frustrated…"what would my grandfather do?" My list of role models is short, but grandpa is at the top. I know my work ethic and desire to complete a task properly comes directly from Elmer. And I never litter. One of the few times I ever saw my grandfather angry was when I dropped a piece of trash on the ground and walked away. The details as to what happened next are not important. I never litter, period. And neither do my kids. That is the key to this message. My grandfather did not exist in a vacuum. He has had an impact on countless thousands of people. Not only the individuals he encountered directly, but even more breathtaking about this thought is all the people indirectly influenced by him. And his influence is positive and encouraging.
I have had conflicted emotions this past week. I am saddened he is gone, which I guess is for selfish reasons. I am also….pleased? Joyful? Yeah.. I think joyful is a better word. He is no longer in pain. He is with his Savior, whom he served so faithfully and diligently. And he earned all that God is blessing him with.
Goodbye grandpa. You can take a break now and rest.
Chris
