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Schmidty
10-02-2007, 12:37 AM
I posted this on my myspace thingy. I know myspace is lame, but family communicates by it (although they don't do the friend thing at this point).

I debated doing this because I hate sharing myself on the internet, but mt grandpa is worth it. I lost my grandpa Schmidt last year, and now I lost my grandpa Babe this morning (10-1-2007).

I'm not up to being eloquent, so here's what I wrote for my family on myspace:

I found out this morning (October 1, 2007) that I lost my grandpa, Adolf "Babe" Stoppelberg. He died peacefully in his sleep.

Although the world may never know it, he was a great man. A paratrooper in WWII (which he never wanted to talk about), and a damned good man. He was gruff, but ALWAYS did everything he could to take care of his family, particularly my grandma. He was a gift from God, and I am so thankful that we were priveleged enough to share our lives with him.

He lost his first wife to cancer in 1973. After that, he met my beloved grandmother, Pauline Stoppelberg ( Pauline Schmidt at the time), fell in love, and soon they married. My grandmother had recently divorced my biological grandfather, Harold Jay Schmidt.

Grandpa Babe made it his life-long duty to protect and care for grandma. Even up until yesterday, he did just that, even though he could barely walk or breathe because of emphysema. He was always running errands, grocery shopping, cleaning, etc. because my grandma couldn't. To me, and definitely to grandma, he was a hero. He was a man of devotion and character. I wish I had told him that to his face.

It's amazing and sad that we often don't appreciate those close to us until they're gone. Please hug someone close to you for me, and tell them that you love them, even if it seems wierd to you and them at the time. You never know when they'll be gone, Someday you'll wish you had.
I love you grandpa, and I can't wait to see you again someday.

korme
10-02-2007, 12:42 AM
Sorry for your loss, Schmidty. :(

Chief Rum
10-02-2007, 12:54 AM
He sounds like a heck of a man. My condolences, Jay.

MrBug708
10-02-2007, 12:54 AM
:(

saldana
10-02-2007, 06:15 AM
my deepest condolences J, i will keep your family in my thoughts.

Raiders Army
10-02-2007, 06:25 AM
Grandpa Babe made it his life-long duty to protect and care for grandma. Even up until yesterday, he did just that, even though he could barely walk or breathe because of emphysema. He was always running errands, grocery shopping, cleaning, etc. because my grandma couldn't. To me, and definitely to grandma, he was a hero. He was a man of devotion and character. I wish I had told him that to his face.
That's awesome. Though you wish you could say something to him now, he knows. He knows.

JonInMiddleGA
10-02-2007, 06:32 AM
Very sorry for your loss, I know how hard this can be.

Toddzilla
10-02-2007, 07:24 AM
Sorry about your loss, Schmidty...

That you know so much about your grandfather and you shared your love of him with the rest of us, you can be sure that his memory will remain alive.

That was very moving what you wrote, and I'll be sure to drink a toast to him tonight. Godspeed, Babe.

Lorena
10-02-2007, 07:35 AM
It's amazing and sad that we often don't appreciate those close to us until they're gone. Please hug someone close to you for me, and tell them that you love them, even if it seems wierd to you and them at the time. You never know when they'll be gone, Someday you'll wish you had.
I love you grandpa, and I can't wait to see you again someday.

Beautifully said Schmidty, beautifully said. I'm sorry for your loss and know you and your family are in my thoughts.

Schmidty
10-10-2007, 02:41 AM
By the way, thanks for the comments.

I also wanted to mention that I just found out that while she was cleaning out his room, my grandma opened his cedar chest and looked through his things (he was very private). Unbelievably, she found a bronze star and purple heart that he never mentioned to anyone. I know that a lot of people got purple hearts in WW2, but to not even mention that he got a bronze star blows me away. He never even told grandma.

I am actually kind of mad at him about this. I can understand not wanting to talk about his time in the war, but to not even tell my grandma that he had those medals, seems kind of.....I don't know.

His ashes were buried at Fort Custer in Augusta, MI this past Saturday, and was given a 21 gun salute. I can only imagine how he would have felt about that, but I'm happy he was honored in that way.

Karlifornia
10-10-2007, 02:43 AM
By the way, thanks for the comments.

I also wanted to mention that I just found out that while she was cleaning out his room, my grandma opened his cedar chest and looked through his things (he was very private). Unbelievably, she found a bronze star and purple heart that he never mentioned to anyone. I know that a lot of people got purple hearts in WW2, but to not even mention that he got a bronze star blows me away. He never even told grandma.

I am actually kind of mad at him about this. I can understand not wanting to talk about his time in the war, but to not even tell my grandma that he had those medals, seems kind of.....I don't know.

His ashes were buried at Fort Custer in Augusta, MI this past Saturday, and was given a 21 gun salute. I can only imagine how he would have felt about that, but I'm happy he was honored in that way.

That's rad. Awesome way to go out. Sounds like a class dude, your grandfather.

Dr. Sak
10-10-2007, 08:18 AM
I am actually kind of mad at him about this. I can understand not wanting to talk about his time in the war, but to not even tell my grandma that he had those medals, seems kind of.....I don't know.

Don't be mad at him. Both of my grandfathers fought in WWII one was a POW for a year and the other (like yours) received the Bronze Star but wouldn't talk about it. They took it as their duty to go over and fight, it wasn't something that was glorified or heroic. To the men of that generation it was their job. They went, did their job, and came home. He didn't need any fanfare.

Some don't want to talk about it because of the horrific things that they saw. Imagine one second talking to your best friend and the next second he is gone. These guys spent years together training and the other soldiers were their family. Losing them was like losing a brother.

So don't get mad, just respect his silence. He sounded like a great man, proud, self-less, and humble. If you know what Division he was in I can help you get your hands on a book that talks about what it was like for them in the war. I recently found a book based on the 9th Infantry Division which my grandfather served in.

There are other books like D-Day, Citizen Solider, Band of Brothers, and the Greatest Generation that are all really good books about WWII. Also, in case you haven't already sign your grandfather up for the WWII memorial (http://www.wwiimemorial.com/). It is simple and it'll get his name in the records.

Sorry again for your loss.

cuervo72
10-10-2007, 08:56 AM
Condolences, Schmidty.