Memorials
Joe Twardovski (3/6/1916 - 11/27/2004)
My Grandpa Joe meant more to me than anybody I've ever known. The earliest memory I have is of riding in a train with Joe and Grandma Mickey. I spilled my bowl of cereal on them.
In my youth, Joe was more of a dad to me than a grandfather. He was the person who taught me how to play baseball, and even coached a couple of my grade school teams. All the kids knew him as "Mr. Joe" and looked forward to him pulling up to the field with a trunk load of bubble gum.
As I grew older, we would work on cars together, build furniture, or just tinker around in his garage or at basement workbench. Truth be told, Grandpa did all the work- the extent of my involvement would be handing him a wrench or shining a flashlight on a troublesome bolt. The thing is, he never made me feel like I was in the way. We were a team, and we enjoyed each other's company as we'd discuss the events of the day over our latest project. Those are the moments with Joe that I will cherish the most.
Joe was the most unselfish, decent, honest, giving person I have ever known or will ever know. He cared only about the happiness of others, not his own. To me, he was a grandfather, dad and best friend rolled into one. He was one of a kind, and we will miss him terribly.
I could go on and on, but my brother Don summed up Grandpa's life perfectly in the following eulogy, and I'll let him have the final word.
Joe's Eulogy
How do you summarize 88 years of a man's life in 5 minutes? It struck me as my brothers and I were talking when one of them remarked that our grandpa had really set the bar high on how to live. What Grandpa showed was that somebody can live life as God intended: take care of family and friends, go to church regularly and give of yourself without asking anything in return and still enjoy a long, happy life. The saying goes, "Only the good die young," but Joe Twardovski is proof that not all the good die young.
Joe's father left his family when he was in sixth grade. So what did Joe do? He dropped out of school and went to work full time to support his mom, brother and two sisters. He gave up much of his childhood for the good of his family.
Joe met a girl that he thought the world of, but he was needed more at home. So what did Joe do? He gave up the girl so he could continue working for the family. When his mother finally gave him permission to date that girl, what did Joe do? He married Mickey, and for the next 63-plus years he woke up every morning offering the heartfelt words, "Good morning, Dolly. I love you."
Joe loved kids. He wanted 10 of them. He and Mickey had one, my mom Marilyn. So what did Joe and Mickey do? They took in foster kids and provided a good home for kids who had none.
Joe worked at the American Hoist during World War II. When the war ended he wanted a better life for his family. So what did Joe do? He opened a filling station and worked 16 hour days to make sure the business made it. Of course he still made sure that his little girl made it to every carnival or fair that came to town. When the Hoist called and wanted him to come back, he did so he could spend more time with his family.
He still wanted a better life for his family and that meant moving them. So what did Joe do? He built a house. He had no training or trade school. When asked how he did it, he said, "A lot of nerve." That house would be the home that he and Mickey would live for the rest of their time together. Oh, and if you were lucky enough to build a house in the same neighborhood as Joe, you got a free garage. He built you one.
Joe gave his time, money and attention without asking anything in return. He was the ultimate Grandpa. He and Mickey took my brother to Chicago when he was 4 so he could see Buckingham Fountain. When they arrived, the fountain wasn't on. So what did Joe do? He told his grandson to wait while he could see what he could do. He went to the operator building and came back saying that they would turn it on for him now. Voila! Let there be water. Of course years later they finally told him that the fountain came on at set times and Grandpa knew it was scheduled to go on. It was just more fun Grandpa's way. Whether it was buying me my first baseball mitt or buying my younger brother his set of tools, Grandpa took care of us and always worried about us.
What can you say about a man who was scared to death of flying but came with us to Disneyland, took his great grandson to Disney World and took Mickey to Hawaii.14 times? He was also scared of the water, so what did Joe do? He bought a boat so we could spend Sunday afternoons together on the St. Croix River.
Joe always kept busy, constantly in motion. He dreaded the day he had to retire from the Hoist. He was afraid he wouldn't have anything to do. So when the day came, what did Joe do? He took up golf at the age of 65 so he could enjoy long walks with Mickey. He even got pretty good at the game. In fact, rumor has it that at the age of 70 he beat his then 20-year-old grandson.
Joe loved music and dancing. He and Mickey had a gift, a gift that they shared with countless others, whether it was entertaining at senior homes or teaching dance for community education. They took countless trips together with friends to Chicago and three cruises in addition to the Hawaiian vacations. When asked if he would change anything in his life, he simply replied, "No, I don't think I would."
Don't get me wrong. Joe was no saint. He cussed. He enjoyed a nice Manhattan or a cold glass of beer on a hot summer day. He was a practical joker who dished it out better than he could take it, but there was no malice in Joe. He had the unique ability to always view the world through the eyes of a child.
In recent years Joe's body wouldn't allow him to get out golfing or dancing, so what did Joe do? He went to watch his great grandson Joe race his bike and his great granddaughter play softball.
Finally, with his body failing and his grandsons doing well, he decided his great grandson is the one who needed his help. So what did Joe do? He left our world for a better place, a place where he could help again. Little Joe did the peddling, and big Joe cleared the way for him as they teamed up one more time to win a BMX National Championship last weekend.
Life will not be the same without Joe, but it's a better life for anybody who had the privilege to know him. We all make choices every day here on Earth - how to treat our neighbors - how to treat our co-workers, friends and our family. Will we be happy today, or grouchy? Will we work hard for what we want or will we wait for a handout? How do we want people to remember us? If you need help in making those decisions I invite you to do as I will do. Remember these 4 letters: WWJD. That's right - ask yourself, "What would Joe do?"
Good-bye, Grandpa. Good-bye, Joe. We thank you and we love you.
- Delivered by my brother Don on December 1, 2004
Frosty (3/20/1989 - 12/12/2004)
Click here for pictures of Frosty
I bought Frosty at a pet store on Memorial Day, 1989. He was a 3 month old American Eskimo Dog. I knew he was the one for me when, in the store, he untied my shoelaces with his teeth, and peed on my foot. He was a loving and loyal companion for almost 16 years- a long, full life for a dog. In his younger days, we would go camping and hiking in the north woods of Minnesota. We went through thick and thin together, and whenever I had a bad day or felt down, he was always there with his unconditional love and affection to pick me up and keep me going. It won't be the same coming home without his enthusiastic greeting at the door. Rest in peace, old friend.
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