So what's your Dad up to?

[Strouty]

I feel I learned a lot from my Dad, but he is not yet interested in forums. I keep trying to get him to join, but he is always doing something. So in honor of all the things he taught me, I wanted to share some of his projects with my fellow GJ members. Feel free to post up some of the things your Dad is doing, big or small.

He recently installed the bridge to his bridge crane, there is still some more work to be done.








He is also working on a fifties pickup truck, a little adjustments to make the 4x4 duramax drivetrain fit. He is getting ready to move the engine back so the front wheels line up with the original fender openings.

 

[PugetDude]

My dad has been gone for 15 years.

 

[Strouty]

My dad has been gone for 15 years.

I figured this may bring up some good, bad, or sad feelings.

 

[Chevy-SS]

My Dad just turned 95 and still travels the world! He's a retired anesthesiologist and one of the finest men I have ever known. He's got a moral compass that always points the right way, and he's been a terrific role model for me.

-

 

[Kevin54]

My dad had just turned 95 and passed away in '11. I just hope he finally has some peace and is doing what he enjoys.

 

[Zrexxer]

My Dad just turned 89, and after a long distinguished career as a scientist, researcher, and university professor, he still spends most of his day working and writing. He's recently published scholarly articles written with co-authors around the country, and he's working on a book.

I've heard most of the stories before, but I never get tired of listening to him talk about being in the Glider Infantry in the 17th Airborne in WWII. I can't imagine the hardship, horrors, and sacrifices he endured before the age of 19, not only as a US infantryman in Germany, but having grown up in a poor East Texas farming family during the Great Depression.

He told me the other day "I heard that nearly 500 WWII vets are dying every day... You know, I went into the Army pretty young - I think I might have a real shot at being the last living WWII veteran someday!" I told him "I'm rooting for you Dad... I hope you are."

 

[Thumper68]

I can't even count the number of things I learned from my father, I'm so glad that he was patient enough to pass along his knowledge to a head strong young idiot.

The only shop/tool thing that he passed along is that, given time you can figure out how to do anything.

My old man was/is not shop savy, but in his defense his father was the type to hire stuff done so no one other than a few required shop classes he didn't have a role model to show him how to do shop stuff.

He has also supported me from a very young age in taking apart and fixing things.

 

[willymakeit]

I'm still remembering things my Dad taught me. He's been gone for almost 30 yrs.

 

[Strouty]

Without my Dad and his many lessons, I do not know where I would be today.

 

[Dan in Pasadena]

My Dad passed away in April, 1990 so just over 25 years ago. He was 66 and I just turned 60. Hmmm, that'll get you thinking.

My Dad loved me I'm sure though he ever said it to me. After he passed we found pictures of me from my high school track team in his wallet - I'd never known he had the slightest idea what I'd done. He was a terribly impatient man, I learned most anything from him out of self defense. He never sat down and showed me or instructed me in much, and yet I learned. All, this is true and yet I don't bear him any grudge or anything. He was just a man doing the best he could...but it has taken a lifetime for me to arrive at that understanding.

 

[theoldwizard1]

Dad's been gone 12 year. He died the day after Father's Day and the day before my birthday.

The last 3-4 years of his life he was in the first stages of Alzheimer's Disease. (I already have CRS !) To save my step-mother's sanity he was in an assisted living home for the last 18+ months. The only visitors he ever got were my sister and I (other siblings live out of state; his wife lived out of town).

Not much to look forward to.

 

[stikman56]

He's 85 and been working for the last 7 years. He had 18 years of retirement though.

 

[MrJason]

My dad, was complicated but I wouldn't have traded him for anything.

He passed away on December 31, 2000, 451pm.

I happen to believe that he's working in the Hot Rod garage in Heaven, along side Henry Ford and Boyd Coddington.

I miss my dad...

Jason

 

[bmxdad]

Retired Air Force fighter jock, flew Phantoms in VietNam, and then retired again as a director at DSHS in Washington state. He was an Ohio farm boy when he joined the Air Force at 16 or 17. Guy did inverted situps till a couple years ago ... gut is hard as rock.

He spent a lot of time in the air, but when he was around it was fun ... RC airplanes, fast cars ... '63 Impala SS and a '70 GTO Judge. Would rather build something, then buy it ... and he has skills. Trying to get him back into the wood working ... maybe this summer I can get him going. Love the guy ... dreading the time he starts slowing down.

 

[Lippyp]

My dad never really had much in the way of hobbies apart from growing veg in the garden and DIY around the house although I think that was more because we were hard up when I was young. He's never worked on his own cars, never played or followed sport etc. He's now 79 and in the early stages of dementia, can no longer drive or do as much.

He was a National Serviceman (conscript) in the RAF as a Radar operator in the 1950's and then worked his entire career at The Atomic Weapons Research Establishment Aldermaston as an electronics engineer including working on many of the UK's nuclear weapons tests at Mercury, Nevada during the 1960's and 70's.

 

[Stooge]

i would guess he's probably on facebook or on the internet as he's always been more of one of the "indoor kids" for as long as i can remember. never turned a wrench or built anything with him, although we used to do some domestic travelling for vacations and would take us to air shows when we were younger. i've been trying to make the effort to get on a little friendlier level with him the last few years, and especially recently when he was in the hospital for a few weeks back in feb/march and thought he might die. i was a pretty ****** teenager though, (im 27, he's 62) so i cant say that i dont own any of the blame for our somewhat distant relationship.

not to downplay, he's a really smart guy, him and my sister have a better relationship i think because they are both book smart, where as my mother and myself are more hands on/ practical mechanical/figure things out types

 

[countryroad82]

My Dad passed away 23 years ago just after I turned 10. I remember of what I DID get to do with him at that age, but I was attached to his hip from probably 3 on. Luckily I had plenty of people take me under their wing through the years and I still visit with all those great guys.

 

[raddksn]

My Dad just turned 89, and after a long distinguished career as a scientist, researcher, and university professor, he still spends most of his day working and writing. He's recently published scholarly articles written with co-authors around the country, and he's working on a book.

I've heard most of the stories before, but I never get tired of listening to him talk about being in the Glider Infantry in the 17th Airborne in WWII. I can't imagine the hardship, horrors, and sacrifices he endured before the age of 19, not only as a US infantryman in Germany, but having grown up in a poor East Texas farming family during the Great Depression.

He told me the other day "I heard that nearly 500 WWII vets are dying every day... You know, I went into the Army pretty young - I think I might have a real shot at being the last living WWII veteran someday!" I told him "I'm rooting for you Dad... I hope you are."

I'm rooting for him too! Please thank him for his service from me!

 

[kenewagner]

My dad been restoring and build Indian motorcycles all his life. He's 88 this July and still going strong and sharp as a tack. His whole basement is his workshop and it overflows into his garage storing bikes he has built. His only non Indian bike to date is his 1911 Wagner. The other picture is a 1941 Indian scout. He redesigned it a little with an electric start as its gets a little harder to kick these bike over to get them started. He has 8 bikes at the moment and is building an Indian 841. These were made for the army and have a shaft drive for use in northern Africa where they saw duty in the sands over there. I learned a lot from him over the years

Ken

 

[Strouty]

My dad been restoring and build Indian motorcycles all his life. He's 88 this July and still going strong and sharp as a tack. His whole basement is his workshop and it overflows into his garage storing bikes he has built. His only non Indian bike to date is his 1911 Wagner. The other picture is a 1941 Indian scout. He redesigned it a little with an electric start as its gets a little harder to kick these bike over to get them started. He has 8 bikes at the moment and is building an Indian 841. These were made for the army and have a shaft drive for use in northern Africa where they saw duty in the sands over there. I learned a lot from him over the years

Ken

I bet you learned a few things from him!

 

[sberry]

I keep mine working. Mostly cutting firewood.

 

[shoot summ]

My dad been restoring and build Indian motorcycles all his life. He's 88 this July and still going strong and sharp as a tack. His whole basement is his workshop and it overflows into his garage storing bikes he has built. His only non Indian bike to date is his 1911 Wagner. The other picture is a 1941 Indian scout. He redesigned it a little with an electric start as its gets a little harder to kick these bike over to get them started. He has 8 bikes at the moment and is building an Indian 841. These were made for the army and have a shaft drive for use in northern Africa where they saw duty in the sands over there. I learned a lot from him over the years

Ken

That's awesome!!

My Dad started a '41 Sport Scout after my Mom passed in 1998. Made good progress but then met a woman around 2000 and the bike sat. In 2005 he gave it to me, I made good progress on it, but it has sat for a few years, really need to get busy on it.

As far as Dad, he is 88 now, and spends most days driving his recliner, waiting to die, it's really sad as he has given up, his body just continues to atrophy away. We use him as the example of how we will NOT become when and if we are fortunate enough to live that long.

 

[rockwithjason]

knowing my pops he is at his church mowing lawns or fixing things. He can't stand still but his health has slowed him up some. with the weather being warmer he might be taking his60 parklane to the fomoco meets.

 

[rsieracki]

My father has been working in the great shop in the sky since Dec 10, 2007... thankfully he taught me lots of lessons on life and all about doing things the right way the first time before he left... and a few tools

 

[dr_clyde]

My old man is still working. Works in my friend's machine shop. Runs the bandsaw and drives forklift most of the day. Sometimes does some manual turning and milling. Gotta keep busy or you wither away to dust.

 

[tncatadjuster]

Helping me work around my shop, new fence. Always picks up lunch $ and buys the beer. He lives about an 1.5 hrs away and makes the trip weekly. He is 88 and brings his 94 year old brother some of the time.

 

[kenewagner]

Helping me work around my shop, new fence. Always picks up lunch $ and buys the beer. He lives about an 1.5 hrs away and makes the trip weekly. He is 88 and brings his 94 year old brother some of the time.

Now that's a privacy fence

Ken

 

[mikewoods]

My dad's not around, never has been. By my grandfather is a man of all men. At 76 he can still work circles around me. He cuts his 2 acre lawn with a push mower once a week. He maintains his fleet of vehicles with little more than a floor jack, jackstands and a toolbox full of tools that my grandmother bought him in 1958. I hope to be half that man he is someday.

 

[SteveH-CO]

My father is 91 and has terminal cancer. I suspect he won't make it through the year. He and I are on great terms and when he was in his 70s, I took him four-wheeling and camping in Colorado, exploring plane crash sites and old gold mines. I have succeeding in forging a friendship, beyond the relationship role of just father and son. You have to forget to stop acting like a child and expecting to be treated like one, and start treating your father as a regular old human being, with interests and passions of his own. Find what those are, and share what you can in those areas of common interest.

He had basic mechanic skills but had 4 sons, most of which eclipsed his skills - which he was ok with (why not have your kids fix your cars?). But, what he taught me is that you can make do with what you have (depression-era thinking), and fix/restore about anything. Every time I use his set of his old feeler gauges or another one of his tools, I'm taken back to the 1970s and 80s in Michigan, where we fixed cars and go-karts and he helped me fiddle around with mechanical things.

He's astounded at the Toyota Land Cruiser restorations I have done, and proud of me. I'm twice as proud of him! My job now is to let him know that and keep his spirits boosted, in spite of the inevitable. Dang - it's getting hard to see the computer screen again.

Steve

 

[boomer12831]

My father just passed away this past Oct 27 at 83 years old. He was in very poor health for several years. Even though he lived 2000 miles from me, we talked on the phone quite often. One of the greatest moments I ever spent with him was meeting him in Florida. My son and I flew down and he and my brother drove from Colorado. We went out on a fishing boat and watched
"his ship" the USS Oriskany as it was sunk off the coast of Pensacola. He was on the ship on its shake down cruise and through out the Korean war. After his funeral my mother had me take some of his tools that I remember as a kid. I brought them back and have a special place in my toolbox for them, Ed.

 

[ModelTBrian]

Tomorrow we are going for a Model T ride then pulling a motor out of a 1930 LaSalle 7 passenger touring car. Fun time together.

 

[ModelTBrian]

Going for a Model T ride then pulling the engine out of a 1930 LaSalle 7 passenger touring car. What a great day it will be.

 

[Hammer1963]

My dad is an awesome guy! He's the one that everyone turns to when a problem arises. At 78, he is a bit slower than he once was but that fire still burns blue! The amount of people he has tutored and helped along the way is unfathomable to most. I owe him my life and my respect. If I can be one half the man he is, I will have been successfull!

 

[Joe69]

My 70 year old Dad decided to take up welding this winter. Back in February, I loaded up my Lincoln mig, and made the 10 hour drive to see him. I gave him my welder, and spent a few days teaching him the basics.
Now he has enough experience to have questions. He's coming up here next month, and I'm going to take him out to my shop for another lesson.
We've always been close, but this has brought us closer. It's like a dream come true.
He had a mild stroke a few days before Christmas. That really made me stop and think about his mortality. I work a lot, and don't get to Georgia near often enough to see him.

Joe

 

[SEV22XS]

Yeah my dad passed away in 2011 at the age of 49. I'm now 32 I would love to know what he is doing... I still miss him everyday.

 

[jw3]

The old man has been gone almost 13 years. I grew up in his plumbing shop since the time I could walk and talk. I spent every waking moment I wasn't in a school house working with him. Many a life lesson he taught me while getting after it. My kid brother and I carried on the shop after he passed at 70. He nurtured every whim I ever had in the mechanical world. As a young kid I hated him for working me like a dog, but I wish he was here today so I could hug him around the neck and tell him thank you for keeping that foot in my tail. Love you old man, can't wait till we are back on the same crew up above.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[bczygan]

Pushing up daisies since 76' (Age 53), from alcoholism.

Actually not true. Body was donated to medical school and afterwards, the remains refused for burial by the family, so disposed of by the school. After what he put us through with the alcoholism, we didn't want any part of him (Literally and figuratively).

All you that had dads who were a net positive in your lives....treasure that.

Bill

 

[fnieto]

I lost my Pops in 2007. As a kid I was at the receiving end of many *** tannings for various infractions. As a teen, I was at the table talking about infractions. My Dad was a simple man with no special skills other than a green thumb. He worked as a labor and crane operator.
The one thing my old man had was common sense. He made sure I understood that my "name" is all I have and not to tarnish it.
After H.S. I left for the Navy. when I became a father, he was a different man. A true gentle soul. I went on work for my self , I would hire him on larger heavy jobs and I could see how
different he was as a co-worker. Ultimately, the Lucky Strikes took his lungs but I was able to find the real man he was.
BTW, my pop had two pensions as he was always loyal to his employers.
I miss the old man every day, for those of you who are lucky enough to still have a father,
tell them you love em.
The last words I heard prior to his passing "I love you son". I only heard these words once, but I knew he always did.

Ysidro Nieto
PFC US Marines
Korea

 

[8man]

My 82 year old dad works on his ranch and in his shop. He is currently re-building a CJ2A and operating his bulldozer clearing land. Today he and my 83 year old mom are taking his truck and trailer to go with my wife and me to pick up a 48 5 window Chevy truck that is in parts and pieces from a guy who started it but stopped. New project for my wife.

I worked at his side from early childhood until I left for college. We have always worked together - mostly on his stuff. He is a darned good mechanic on anything pre-EFI.

 

[Bigtee]

I just lost my dad last week.He was a great mechanic and wood craftsman. Taught me many things about building, mechanic work and just good work principles. He could still work men the ground till a couple of years ago.