I have recently learned that a very good friend of the family has passed away. Although I share no blood ties to this man I call him my uncle and consider him a second father. I had hoped to have him walk me down the aisle with my father on my wedding day.
My uncle Tim was a wonderful human being. He had a laugh that would fill up the room and always kept me entertained with some newly learned fact or his latest conspiracy theory. His two favorite choices: aliens and government. Much like my Grandpa Jim, a man who did things in an old school small town way and a pocket full of WWII ex-marine stogies, uncle Tim did things the old fashioned way. He played football in his hometown where they almost went to state and he loved every minute. He joined the Army and served at the tail-end of Vietnam, where he became a sniper as he put it "just for fun". He returned to his small town where he eventually found employment as a prison guard where he met my father. The two of them would go hunting together and were best friends.
I've known my uncle Tim since I was about 8 years old. He showed me about football and life, he taught me how to stand my ground in an argument and be a good sport in softball when I won. He never missed a Christmas or an OSU Michigan game. These two things will not be the same this year. I have no one to brag about Michigan's victory (my team of choice) over OSU (his team) and I won't be able to see the glee on his face when he unwraps my carefully selected gift at Christmas. I will no longer be able to hear his infectious laugh while he sips his Coke. There will no longer be early morning whitetail hunting.
I have an empty void in my life that will no longer be filled with his laughter of guidance and I will miss him more than I can say. To the man that helped to shape me as a woman and as a human I love you. I will miss your guidance and assurance to do what is right.
I will always keep you in my heart.
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