John H. Kaiser
November 3, 1916 - March 12, 2013
It's amazing what a first date to grab a Coke can do. It took me until I was 27 to really realize what a dreamboat my grandfather Jack was. I suppose that's why my mother's so beautiful?
If our family tree were a Christmas tree, this man would be the star on top. Although with the size of our family, it would probably be more of a small family shrub with both a star and an angel on top- my grandmother, Wandalee, right there next to him. She was an English teacher and I am 100% positive that is why I proofread emails three times before sending.
They were the matriarch and patriarch of our family my entire life. In 1943, my grandfather was drafted into the army, deployed to the Philippines and later sent to Kyushu, Japan, after the bomb was dropped on Nagasaki. He then returned home, had babies and ran Kaiser Furniture Co. with his parents and brother, Dick, in the teeny town of Paola, Kansas (population around 3,000ish at the time).
The street that Jack built.
Kaiser Furniture Co. was in the tall, brick building.
Today it is owned by a family friend's financial advising company.
Kyushu, Japan.
Time Magazine cover from August 20, 1945. 15 cents.
Although my favorite memory after my grandmother Wandalee passed away in 2003 was the gravy story, my second favorite memory was of our family going through telegrams from the war. Imagine if you explained to someone in 1943 what Skype or Google Hangout are. Witchcraft.
Some stories are saved until you're old enough that they are either A) appreciated or B) appropriate. I didn't know until the weekend of the service that apparently his parents would call the pool hall across the street from the furniture store and ask, "Is Jack there? He's needed at the store." He would bolt out the door and the pool hall owner would say, "Nope. Haven't seen him."
The family that Jack built.
My amazing, small but mighty family on the second floor of the store.
The current owners of the buliding are world travelers
and display their memorabilia upstairs.
My amazing, small but mighty family on the second floor of the store.
The current owners of the buliding are world travelers
and display their memorabilia upstairs.
Left to right:
Cousin Gretchen and Gretchen's husband, Erik (Chicago)
J.D.'s wife, Sevrin, and cousin J.D. (Denver)
Me and my husband, Rhett (Columbia, SC)
Aunt Sandy (Lawrence, KS)
Mom Nancy (Kansas City)
Sister Sadie and her husband, Matt (Austin)
"Okie" Mark (Sandy; Lawrence)
Kiddos: Jaks and Ava (J.D./Sevrin) and Clara Lee (Gretchen/Erik)
Some Kaiser Furniture Co. knickknacks still hang on the walls.
Some Kaiser Furniture Co. knickknacks still hang on the walls.
Military honor salute and "Taps" on the snow-dusted Paola cemetery during the service.
It was a service for the 21st century which began with,
"We have Rich in Saudi Arabia with us on the phone."
He got to hear the entire service.
Luckily mom is with him in Amsterdam as wespeak virtually share information.
Pallbearers Matt, Rhett, J.D., and Erik with military salute and flag.
Great grandson, Jaks, with the folded flag after the service.
It was a service for the 21st century which began with,
"We have Rich in Saudi Arabia with us on the phone."
He got to hear the entire service.
Luckily mom is with him in Amsterdam as we
Pallbearers Matt, Rhett, J.D., and Erik with military salute and flag.
Great grandson, Jaks, with the folded flag after the service.
Airport law enforcement calling for a background check on me.
No warrants and I was free to go. Woop woop!
Lesson here:
When flying home from a military burial,
don't put bullet shells in your pocketbook.
don't put bullet shells in your pocketbook.
Over the past few years during family gatherings, my grandfather would look around and say, "I can't believe I did all of this." It's amazing what a date to grab a Coke can do.
[photo sources: Anglonautes, Yellow Airplane, Japan Focus, Mom, Mrs. Cornelius, Mrs. WRCIV]
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