Robert Kierpaul

Karen’s thoughts and reminiscences:

TO THE MEMORY NOTHING IS EVER REALLY LOST ….there are all the little things he taught me over the years:

HOW SIMPLE AND FRUGAL HAPPINESS IS: a cool evening breeze off the lake, a cardinal’s song, the flight of a hawk, cushioned foot steps on pine needles, the scurry of chipmunks across autumn leaves, the flick of a squirrel’s tail and his teasing chatter to the dog, a jay’s screech and flashing flight of blue, drifting decoys in the early light, wraiths of fog rising when he made a perfect cast on the still lake…

TO LAUGH WHILE: Debbie’s blue gill smacked him in the face while he worked to get a fish off my hook, taking screaming rides in the old blue station wagon over the chute-d-chutes of old Rifle River Trail, toasting marshmallows, chasing the toddlers through the house while roaring like a bear, tickling the grandkids and blaming it on the dog, driving like a maniac when Mom said her rosary, demanding 10 ponies a dowry from each son -in-law, letting the grandkids blow out his lighter, teaching the art of blowing smoke rings, holding a grandchild a few hours old and remarking, “I caught bigger fish”, looking down the table and remarking to my mother :look what you started !”, coming back from hunting with a beard, volunteering to “save us” from the uncertainty of eating Mon’s apple dumpling-he’d eat them all, dancing the famed ”4-step waltz”, enjoying a quiet game of cards with Henrietta and Zen at the cabin in late July, holding my hand as we walked into church, hunting with Phil, building the old Skidway Inn dance hall, pulling a car engine, belting out a hymn in church, hunting ducks with Curly, fishing with Roberta, building a house, walking over to see Joe at his shop, teaching Paul checkers and chess, sharing his drafting tips with Brendan, reading Robbie a book…

When we asked for gift suggestions he would say, “Give me a kiss…”

I never heard him envy what another man had, or lament what he did not - he often told me he had everything he wanted.

He has not left my life. As Shakespeare said: “In the end there is nothing lost that may be found, if sought…”

Famous Robert Sayings

• Shoot hard and sleep in the gutter

• I like my coffee cold and my women hot and I always get them the wrong way

• Measure twice and cut once

• Three things you never ask to borrow from a man: his hunting or fishing gear, his bird dog, or his wife. In that order.

• Numbers never lie.

General description:

Kind and warm-hearted with an easy going smile and teasing sense of humor; a man who reveled in the beauty of nature.

He thought it was equally a much fun to: wait for a 14 point buck in the cold, wrestle with an “intelligent” fish, stand hip deep in waders till you couldn’t feel your toes, hope you don’t drift too far off course to land in Canada.

Favorite color: Red

Favorite hobbies: Fishing, crossword puzzles, hunting, working with wood, watching John Wayne movies, reading Westerns

Favorite restaurant: None; because as he put it, nobody could cook better than Zen